Gram Parsons Illustration

Gram Parsons Illustration, illustrated here, age 22, June, 1968, at Nudie Cohn’s shop in North Hollywood, CA.

Parson popularized the decorative rhinestone suits designed by Nudie Cohn, who was a Ukrainian-born American tailor; whose suits were
known popularly as “Nudie Suits” and other elaborate outfits for some of the most famous celebrities of his era.

Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country music genre; he also popularized what he called “Cosmic American Music”,
a hybrid of country, rhythm and blues, soul, folk, and rock. Besides recording as a solo artist, he played with the International Submarine Band, The Byrds, and The Flying Burrito Brothers.

His relatively short career is described as “enormously influential” for country and rock, “blending the two genres to the point that they became indistinguishable from each other.”
Since his death, Parsons has been recognized as an artist credited with helping to found both country rock and alt-country. He never agreed with the term “country rock”,
as he felt his work should not be categorized into a single genre because it was rather a unique blend of many genres and styles of music with his own personal twang.

Parson’s father was a World War II flying ace; his mother, the daughter of a citrus fruit magnate. Both were alcoholics. His father committed suicide when Gram was 12. His mother died of alcoholism the day Parson’s graduated from High School.

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, releasing their debut,
“The Gilded Palace of Sin”, the same year. After leaving the band in 1970, Parsons met Emmylou Harris through his friend and former bandmate Chris Hillman.
She assisted him on vocals for his first solo record, “GP”, released in 1973 and with his subsequent album “Grievous Angel”.

Parson’s greatest hits: “Return Of The Grievous Angel”, “Hickory Wind”, “Hot Burrito #1”, “She”, “A Song For You”, “In My Hour Of Darkness”, “Ooh Las Vegas”, “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man”, “Hearts On Fire” and “Love Hurts”.

In the late 1960s, Parsons became enamored of Joshua Tree National Monument (now Joshua Tree National Park) in southeastern California.
After splitting from his wife, aspiring actress Gretchen Burrell, Parsons would frequently spend his weekends in the area. Parsons was scheduled to begin another tour in October 1973.
Parsons decided to go on one more excursion before this tour. Less than two days after arriving at the Joshua Tree Inn in Room #8, Parsons was discovered unresponsive in his bedroom.
Attempts to revive him failed and death was officially pronounced at 12:15 am on September 19, 1973 at Hi-Desert Memorial Hospital.

Parsons was 26 years old at the time of his death and the official cause of death was an overdose of morphine and alcohol.