Gram Parsons
With a rather strange family background involving his real father’s suicide, and his mother’s descent into alcoholism, it’s maybe not so surprising that Gram’s life was short although he packed into his time on Earth more than most people accomplish in three score years and ten.
Gram’s interest in music is rumored to have been kick-started by seeing Elvis Presley in concert, but his first ventures into the music scene were folk-tinged, with a group called “The Shilos” influenced by The Kingston Trio
From there, after getting an interest in country music by going to a Merle Haggard concert, he and friends formed “International Submarine Band” who issued the revered album “Safe At Home” featuring two well-known tracks written by Parsons, “Blue Eyes” and “Luxury Liner” later to be recorded by Emmylou Harris, with whom Parsons would form a wonderful musical partnership later in his brief life.
The International Submarine Band underwent numerous personnel changes including Parsons leaving them to collaborate with the magical Byrds. Roger McGuinn later insisted that Gram Parsons was never an official member of the band, and that he was merely hired to take part in the group’s legendary country rock album “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo”. His time with the group was filled with musical disagreements as he attempted to mould the Byrds into pure country-rock, and they soon parted company.
Parsons next venture was to form “Flying Burrito Brothers” with the Byrds’ Chris Hillman – a group which included at various times Chris Ethridge, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Bernie Leadon and many others. Like so much in Gram’s convoluted life, this group too had it’s complications, as “Flying Burrito Brothers” had also been the name of a band formed by the remaining members of the “IInternational Submarine Band” and that group continued to tour, adding the word “East” to the name of the band!
The Burrito’s “Gilded Palace of Sin” is another seminal country rock album, revered by thousands, and included “Christine’s Tune (Devil In Disguise)” and “Hot Burrito #2” later covered by Elvis Costello. The group opened for the Rolling Stones and Gram’s life took another strange turn when he formed a close relationship with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, and claimed to have influenced their style of music.
Gram’s life would take even more twists and turns. Watch this space for part two of the story…..
Gram Parsons MP3 downloads on Amazon
“Gram Parsons & the Fallen Angels: Live 1973”
“The Complete Reprise Sessions”
“Another Side Of This Life”
“G.P.”
“Grievous Angel”
- Posted in: Country Music
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