Gram Parsons

Gram Parsons
Parsons in 1972
Born
Ingram Cecil Connor III

(1946-11-05)November 5, 1946
Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
DiedSeptember 19, 1973(1973-09-19) (aged 26)
Joshua Tree, California, U.S.
Spouse
  • Gretchen Berrill
    ​
    (m. 1971)​
ChildrenPolly Parsons[1]
Musical career
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • organ
Years active1963–1973
LabelsReprise, A&M
Formerly of
Websitegramparsons.com

Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973), known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. He recorded as a solo artist and with the International Submarine Band, the Byrds, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, popularizing what he called "Cosmic American Music", a hybrid of country, rhythm and blues, soul, folk, and rock.[3][4]

Parsons was born in Winter Haven, Florida, and developed an interest in country music while attending Harvard University. He founded the International Submarine Band in 1966, but the group disbanded prior to the 1968 release of its debut album, Safe at Home. Parsons joined the Byrds in early 1968 and played a pivotal role in the making of the Sweetheart of the Rodeo album, a pioneering country rock album and a seminal progressive country recording.[5] After leaving the group in late 1968, Parsons and fellow Byrd Chris Hillman formed The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1969; the band released its debut, The Gilded Palace of Sin, the same year. The album was well received critically but failed commercially. After a sloppy cross-country tour, the band hastily recorded Burrito Deluxe. Parsons was fired from the band before the album's release in early 1970. Parsons spent the first half of 1971 with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, living in his French villa Nellcôte during the recording sessions for Exile on Main Street, though he contributed very little to the recording process itself. After traveling around Britain with friends in late 1971, he was treated for heroin addiction and returned to the U.S., where he was introduced to Emmylou Harris, who assisted him on vocals for his first solo record, GP, released in 1973. Although the record received enthusiastic reviews, it failed to chart. His health deteriorated due to several years of drug abuse, foreshadowing his death from a toxic combination of morphine and alcohol in 1973 at the age of 26. A posthumous solo album, Grievous Angel, peaked at number 195 on the Billboard chart.

Parsons's relatively short career was described by AllMusic as "enormously influential" for country and rock, "blending the two genres to the point that they became indistinguishable from each other."[6] He has been credited with helping to found the country rock and alt-country genres. His posthumous honors include the Americana Music Association "President's Award" for 2003 and a ranking at No. 87 on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."[7]

  1. ^ Cromelin, Richard (July 8, 2004). "The hier to a parent". LA Times.
  2. ^ Triplett, Gene (February 26, 1982). "Poco, Burrito Brothers Now Exist in Name Only". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Leggett, Steve. "Gram Parsons Archive, Vol. 1: Live at the Avalon Ballroom 1969 review". Allmusic. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  4. ^ Schinder, Scott; Schwartz, Andy (2008). Icons of Rock: An Encyclopedia of the Legends Who Changed Music Forever. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 274. ISBN 978-0-313-33845-8.
  5. ^ Tunis, Walter (October 22, 2018). "Marty Stuart thankful opening for Chris Stapleton, 'the man carrying the flag for country music'". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen. "Gram Parsons Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  7. ^ Rolling Stone 2005.