Gram Parsons

Ingram Cecil Connor III (Gram Parsons) was born November 5th, 1946 in Winter Haven, Florida. He is often credited with being the worlds first Country/Rock? star. While not inventing the cross-over genre, Parsons was perhaps the first country musician to 'act' like a rock star. He was friends with the Rolling Stones, particularly Kieth Richards and shared some of Kieth's passion for excessive drinking and drugs. During the 70's Parson's efforts to blur the line between Country music and Rock & Roll was a key influence on many bands such as The Byrds, The Eagles, and the [Rolling Stones]?; his inspiration may also be heard in many alt-country? bands such as [Son Volt]?, The Jayhawks, and Wilco.

In 1971 Parson's heard [Emmylou Harris]? sing in a small club in Washington D.C. He asked her to join him in Los Angeles to record his first solo album "GP" and she later joined his band "Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels".

Gram Parsons died September 19th, 1973 in Joshua Tree, California at the age of 26 from concotion of drugs. In a story that has taken on legendary stature Parson's body was stolen from the Los Angeles International Airport, where it was being readied to be shipped to Louisiana for burial, by his road manager Phil Kaufman. Kaufman had heard a story that Gram had not wanted to be buried when he died, but instead would rather be taken out to Joshua Tree and burned. Kaufman and a friend managed to steal Parson's body from LAX and in a borrowed hears drove Parson's body to Joshua Tree where they cremated it.

For more info on Gram Parson's see: http://www.gramparsons.com/