Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973), known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons recorded as a solo artist and with the International Submarine Band, the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers. He popularized what he called "Cosmic American Music", a hybrid of country, rhythm and blues, soul, folk, and rock.
Parsons was born in Winter Haven, Florida and developed an interest in country music while attending Harvard University. He founded the International Submarine Band in 1966, but the group disbanded prior to the 1968 release of its debut album, Safe at Home. Parsons joined The Byrds in early 1968 and played a pivotal role in the making of the seminal Sweetheart of the Rodeo album. After leaving the group in late 1968, Parsons and fellow Byrd Chris Hillman formed The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1969; the band released its debut, The Gilded Palace of Sin, the same year. The album was well received but failed commercially. After a sloppy cross-country tour, the band hastily recorded Burrito Deluxe. Parsons was fired from the band before the album's release in early 1970. Emmylou Harris assisted him on vocals for his first solo record, GP, released in 1973. Although it received enthusiastic reviews, the release failed to chart. His next album, Grievous Angel, peaked at number 195 on the Billboard chart. His health deteriorated due to several years of drug abuse and he died in 1973 at the age of 26.
Parsons's relatively short career was described by AllMusic as "enormously influential" for country and rock, "blending the two genres to the point that they became indistinguishable from each other." He has been credited with helping to found the country rock and alt-country genres. His posthumous honors include the Americana Music Association "President's Award" for 2003 and a ranking at No. 87 on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."
Links to Peel[]
Peel played some of Gram Parsons' music, including his work with the International Submarine Band, the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, throughout much of the 70's. However, he seemed to prefer Parsons' work with the above-named groups to the singer's solo records, judging by the few plays they received.
He revisited the early albums by the Flying Burrito Brothers in the 1990s, once describing The Gilded Palace of Sin (the LP which made Gram Parsons' reputation as a songwriter) as one of the great albums of all time. Peel's friend and colleague Andy Kershaw is a big fan of Parsons' solo work and included his song, 'Return of the Grievous Angel', as one of his favourite tracks on Desert Island Discs (Andy Kershaw) in 2007.
Shows Played[]
- 08 January 1974: She
- 19 March 1974: Love Hurts (with Emmylou Harris)
- 1976
- 28 April 1976: In My Hour Of Darkness (LP - Grievous Angel) Reprise
- 10 August 1976: Kiss The Children (album - GP) Reprise
- 1986
- 04 November 1986: Return Of The Grievous Angel (LP - Gram Parsons) Warner Bros.
- 1987
- 19 January 1987: We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning (LP - GP) Reprise