You know the story. A brilliant, underappreciated musician influences other stars but dies at a young age himself after recording his best album ever. Gram Parsons played with the Byrds, influenced Keith Richards’ country side of songwriting and birthed the career of Emmylou Harris. He set the standard for alt-country like The Eagles, the Flatlanders and later Uncle Tupelo, Neko Case and some band called Wilco, and even though Gram seemed to chase a rainbow called “hit record”, it’s the love of country music that can be heard throughout his music and the story of his life.
Yeah, Sweetheart of the Rodeo came first, and sounds like a bunch of Californians covering country music. When Gram released Grievous Angel as his second solo album, that’s when he got it right with Emmylou Harris, whose amazing harmonies and soulful connection with Gram inspired him to list her name with his on the album cover (a choice later denied by Gram’s wife when the album was assembled). In Keith Richards’ bio, Keith writes deeply about his relationship with Gram, sharing an opinion that Gram never got to a place where he felt appreciated by the industry, but that during the recording of Grievous Angel he still attempted to be as sincere and sober with his art as he ever was. Listen to him talk to the crowd during the live “Cash on the Barrelhead/Hickory Wind” medley and tell me that’s not pure joy. He never saw the release of the songs, though, or the influence that they had on others, as less than a month after the sessions ended his friends were pouring five gallons of gas in his coffin and cremating him by fireball in the desert near Joshua Tree. But that’s another story.
Gram, you lived a life that inspired others through tragedy and pain. It set our hearts on fire, but our love for you brings more than misery. It brings inspiration.
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