Gram Parsons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gram Parsons
Parsons in 1972
Born	Ingram Cecil Connor III (1946-11-05)November 5, 1946 Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
Died	September 19, 1973(1973-09-19) (aged 26) Joshua Tree, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Gretchen Berrill ​ (m. 1971)​
Children	Polly Parsons
Musical career
Genres	Progressive country country rock folk rock Americana
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano organ
Years active	1963–1973
Labels	Reprise, A&M

Ingram Cecil Connor III (born November 5, 1946 – died September 19, 1973), known as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He played guitar, piano, and organ. He recorded music as a solo artist and with bands like the International Submarine Band, the Byrds, and the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Gram Parsons was famous for creating "Cosmic American Music." This was a special mix of different music styles. It combined country, rhythm and blues, soul, folk, and rock. He helped make country rock and alt-country music popular.

Parsons was born in Winter Haven, Florida. He became interested in country music while studying at Harvard University. He formed the International Submarine Band in 1966. Later, he joined the Byrds in 1968. He was very important to their album Sweetheart of the Rodeo, which was a key album for country rock.

After leaving the Byrds, Parsons and Chris Hillman started The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1969. Their first album, The Gilded Palace of Sin, was liked by critics but did not sell many copies. Parsons later began a solo career. He released his first solo album, GP, in 1973. He worked with singer Emmylou Harris on this album and his next one, Grievous Angel, which came out after he passed away.

Even though his career was short, Gram Parsons had a huge impact on music. He blended country and rock music in new ways. He is remembered for his unique sound and his influence on many artists who came after him.

Life and Music Career

Early Life (1946–1966)

Gram Parsons was born Ingram Cecil Connor III on November 5, 1946, in Winter Haven, Florida. His parents were Ingram Cecil Connor II and Avis Snively. His family lived in Waycross, Georgia. His mother was the daughter of a wealthy citrus fruit businessman. His father was a decorated pilot in World War II.

When Gram was 12, his father passed away. His mother later married Robert Parsons, who adopted Gram and his sister. They then took the last name Parsons. Gram went to the Bolles School and Winter Haven High School. His mother passed away in 1965, the same day he graduated from high school.

Gram became very interested in music. He saw Elvis Presley perform in 1956. As a teenager, he played in rock and roll bands. By age 16, he started playing folk music. In 1963, he joined his first professional group, the Shilohs. They played in coffee houses and schools.

Despite his grades, Parsons was accepted into Harvard University. He left after one semester in 1966. It was at Harvard that he first heard and became very interested in country music, especially the music of Merle Haggard.

The International Submarine Band (1966–1967)

In 1966, Gram Parsons and other musicians from Boston formed the International Submarine Band. They later moved to Los Angeles. The band signed with LHI Records and recorded their album Safe at Home in 1967.

This album included some of Parsons' well-known songs, like "Luxury Liner." It also had an early version of "Do You Know How It Feels." The album was released in 1968, but by then, the band had already broken up.

The Byrds (1968)

In 1968, the Byrds' bassist, Chris Hillman, noticed Parsons. Parsons joined the band in February 1968. He started as a pianist but soon also played rhythm guitar and sang.

Parsons played a big part in making the Byrds' album Sweetheart of the Rodeo. The band leader, Roger McGuinn, originally wanted to make a history of American music. But Parsons convinced the band to record a full country album in Nashville, Tennessee. This album included Parsons' songs like "One Hundred Years from Now" and "Hickory Wind."

While the Byrds were in England in 1968, Parsons left the band. He did not want to go on a planned concert tour of South Africa because of its apartheid policies. During this time, Parsons became friends with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. Parsons introduced Richards to more country music.

The Flying Burrito Brothers (1969–1970)

Parsons's suit in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville

After returning to Los Angeles, Parsons and Chris Hillman formed The Flying Burrito Brothers. They added bassist Chris Ethridge and pedal steel player Sneaky Pete Kleinow. Their 1969 album The Gilded Palace of Sin showed Parsons' musical vision. It mixed the Bakersfield sound of country music with soul and psychedelic rock.

The album had original songs like "Christine's Tune" and "Sin City." It also included versions of soul songs like "The Dark End of the Street." The album was praised by critics but did not sell well.

The band toured across the country. They also played at the Altamont Music Festival. This was a big concert where the Rolling Stones also performed. The Flying Burrito Brothers played a short set there.

Later, the band recorded Burrito Deluxe, released in 1970. This album included the first released recording of the Rolling Stones' song "Wild Horses." Parsons left the band after this album. Hillman felt that Parsons was not professional enough.

Solo Career and Touring with Emmylou Harris (1970–1973)

Parsons signed a solo record deal with A&M Records in 1970. He tried to record an album with producer Terry Melcher, but it was not very productive.

He then spent time with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones in France. Parsons hoped to be signed to the Stones' new record label. He was with Richards during the recording of the album Exile on Main St..

Parsons returned to the U.S. and met Emmylou Harris. He heard her sing in a club and asked her to join him in Los Angeles. They worked together on his first solo album, GP, released in 1973. This album featured musicians from Elvis Presley's band. It had new songs by Parsons and country covers.

Parsons and Harris toured the United States in 1973 as Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels. The band improved as they played more shows. They received good reactions at places like Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas. Harris helped the band practice and create a set list. However, the album GP did not sell well.

For his next and final album, Grievous Angel, he again worked with Harris and the same musicians. This album was released after his death in 1974. It received even better reviews than GP. Parsons was very excited about his new music and seemed focused on his career.

In the summer of 1973, Parsons' home burned down due to a cigarette. He lost most of his belongings. This event also led to the end of his relationship with his wife, Gretchen Burrell.

Personal Life

Gram Parsons had a daughter named Polly Parsons, born in 1967.

In 1971, Parsons married Gretchen Burrell. Their relationship was not always easy. Many of his friends believed he was planning to divorce her before he passed away. They had already separated.

Before breaking up with Gretchen, Parsons reconnected with Margaret Fisher, a high school friend from Waycross, Georgia. They started a relationship, and she would visit him in Los Angeles.

Passing Away

In the late 1960s, Parsons loved visiting Joshua Tree National Park in California. After separating from his wife, he often spent weekends there with Margaret Fisher and his friend Phil Kaufman. Parsons was planning to go on tour again in October 1973. He decided to take a trip to Joshua Tree on September 17.

Gram Parsons passed away on September 19, 1973, in Yucca Valley, California. He was 26 years old.

Before he died, Parsons had said he wanted his body to be cremated at Joshua Tree. He wanted his ashes spread over Cap Rock, a famous rock formation there. However, his stepfather arranged a private ceremony in New Orleans. Gram's friends from the music industry were not invited.

Parsons' makeshift memorial in Joshua Tree, California

Legacy and Influence

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said that Parsons was "enormously influential" for both country and rock music. He blended the two styles so well that they became hard to tell apart. His influence can still be heard today. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones noted that even though Parsons' recorded music was not a lot, his "effect on country music is enormous."

In 2003, the Americana Music Awards gave Gram Parsons the President’s Award. His daughter, Polly Parsons, accepted it. She said her father always wanted to be accepted by the country music world.

A documentary film about Gram Parsons, called Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel, was released in 2006.

Emmylou Harris has continued to honor Parsons' work. She has covered many of his songs throughout her career. Her songs "Boulder to Birmingham" and "The Road" are tributes to him. The song "My Man" by the Eagles is also a tribute to Gram Parsons.

A music festival called Gram Fest, or the Cosmic American Music Festival, was held every year in Joshua Tree, California, from 1996 to 2006. It celebrated Parsons' music and the styles he influenced. Another festival, the Gram Parsons Tribute, is held in Waycross, Georgia, where he grew up.

Even with his big influence, Parsons has not yet been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Many people believe he should be. The Gram Parsons Petition Project was started in 2008 to support his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In 2004, Gram Parsons' daughter Polly Parsons produced two tribute concerts called "Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons." Famous artists like Keith Richards and Norah Jones performed. The money from these concerts went to help musicians in need.

In 2009, a musical play called Grievous Angel: The Legend of Gram Parsons premiered. It was based on an interview Parsons gave shortly before he passed away. In 2012, the Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit released a song called "Emmylou." The song's chorus talks about the singing partnership between Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris.

In 2022, "Last Roundup" tapes featuring Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris were rediscovered. A campaign was launched to release them. In 2023, the album The Last Roundup: Live from the Bijou Café in Philadelphia 3/16/1973 was released.

Discography

Filmography

• The Trip (1967) – as a band member
• Saturation 70 (1969) – contributed to the soundtrack and had a role

Tribute Albums

• Conmemorativo: A Tribute to Gram Parsons (1993)
• Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons (1999)

See also

In Spanish: Gram Parsons para niños