Gram Parsons: Our Patron Saint

We unearthed a little nugget from the No Depression magazine archive that may be of interest to those who consider the late Gram Parsons the patron saint of Americana music (we also consider Parsons the patron saint of the Narrows).

This Gram is not to be confused with Graham Parker, who is British and very much alive. Gram Parsons was a rich kid out of Florida who went to Harvard but then threw it all away in the late 1960s and early 1970s to merge country and rock. He was a member of the Byrds for a few months, contributing to the "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" album, played a big role in discovering Emmylou Harris (though Narrows alum Chris Hillman actually saw her perform first, we understand), was a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers and paved the way for the Eagles, Pure Prarie League and others. Parsons died of a drug overdose out in the desert in California, and is buried at a lonely gravesite in New Orleans, we hear.

Anyway, if you dig Gram Parsons, or want to learn about him, click right here