Gram Parsons

In memory of Gram Parsons!



November 5, 1946 / September 19, 1973

On September 19, 1973, Gram Parsons formerly of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, died under mysterious conditions in Joshua Tree, California. His death was attributed to heart failure but later was officially announced as a drug overdose. His coffin was stolen by two of his associates, manager Phil Kaufman and Michael Martin, a former roadie for The Byrds, and was taken to Cap Rock in the California desert, where it was set alight, in accordance to Parson's wishes. The two were later arrested by police.

The Strange Death of Gram Parsons

Source: This Day in Music.com

I would suggest Gram`s double album G.P.and Grievous Angel, Gram Parsons recorded these superb solo albums shortly before his death in 1973. These two albums are compiled on one CD for around $12 US.



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Happy Birthday to the Late Gram Parsons!



November 5, 1946 / September 19, 1973





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On November 6, 1973....Michael Martin and Phil Kaufman were charged and fined $300 each for the theft of a coffin containing Gram Parsons body. The court heard that the two men were merely carrying out Parson's wishes to be cremated in the desert.

September 19, 1973, while on vacation, Gram died in a motel in Joshua Tree, CA, a hauntingly beautiful part of the Mojave / Sonoran Deserts. The coroner ruled "natural causes." Phil Kaufman stole the body and burned it in the Joshua Tree National Monument, fulfilling a pact that he and Gram had made.

Source: Gram Parsons

Anita Pallenberg and Gram Parsons and Keith Richards on a trip to Joshua Tree / 1969.



69`Desert Trippin` photo by Michael Cooper.

1969 DESERT TRIPPIN’ | GRAM PARSONS, ANITA PALLENBERG & KEITH RICHARDS

"As a songwriter, Gram worked very much like I do, which is knock out a couple of chords, start to spiel and see how far it can go. Rather than sitting around with a piece of paper and a pen, trying to make things fit neatly together, if you just get on the microphone, things come to you. Lines come to you that you wouldn’t dream of, because they have to come to you in a split second. Gram liked to do that. But he would also work very hard — harder than I ever did — on honing it down. It’s difficult for me to pick one of his songs as a favorite. ‘Sin City’, on the Flying Burrito Brothers’ first album, is great. I love ‘I Can’t Dance’, on GP. But you’ll never get a full portrait of him from one or two songs."

~ Keith Richards ~





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