Gram Parsons was born pn 5 November 1946 and died on 19 September 1973.
He was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and pianist. He was also known as Ingram Cecil Connor III.
He recorded solo and with the Byrds, International Submarine Band, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, promoting what he called “Cosmic American Music,” a fusion of rhythm and blues, country, soul, folk, and rock.
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Gram Parsons: Biography
Gram Parsons, also known by his birth name Ingram Cecil Connor III, was a multifaceted American musician born on November 5, 1946.
He left an indelible mark on the music industry before his untimely death on September 19, 1973. In this article, we will explore his life and legacy as a pioneer of Cosmic American Music.
Gram Parsons was born into a wealthy family in Winter Haven, Florida. He developed a passion for music at an early age, and his parents encouraged him by providing him with piano lessons. As a teenager, he discovered the guitar and began playing in local bands.
In 1965, Parsons moved to Los Angeles to attend Harvard University, but he soon dropped out to pursue a career in music.
He joined the International Submarine Band, a country-rock group that signed with Lee Hazlewood’s LHI Records. Their debut album, Safe at Home, was released in 1968.
After leaving the International Submarine Band, Parsons joined the Byrds, one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. He contributed to their landmark album Sweetheart of the Rodeo, which blended traditional country music with rock and roll.
In 1968, Parsons left the Byrds to form the Flying Burrito Brothers with fellow musician Chris Hillman.
The band’s first album, The Gilded Palace of Sin, was released in 1969 and is considered a cornerstone of the country-rock genre.
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Gram Parsons: Coined The Term Cosmic American Music
Parsons coined the term “Cosmic American Music” to describe his musical style, which blended country, soul, folk, rock, and rhythm and blues.
He believed that the different genres had common roots and that they could be combined to create a new sound that would appeal to a wider audience.
Parsons’ influence on the music industry was significant, and many artists have cited him as a major inspiration. His music continues to resonate with fans, and his legacy lives on.
Gram Parsons: Married Life With Wife Gretchen Parsons Carpenter
Gram Parsons, the American musician and songwriter, was married to Gretchen Parsons Carpenter, an actress and songwriter who was born Gretchen Lisl Berrill on May 15, 1952 in Los Angeles, California, USA.1
The couple first met in the early 1970s, during which Gram was already an established superstar and Gretchen an aspiring actress. They exchanged vows on September 13, 1971, at Parson’s stepfather’s estate in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Although initially happy, the relationship eventually became unstable due to Gretchen’s jealous and needy nature. Rumor has it that Parsons put an end to Gretchen’s budding film career, a decision which did not sit well with her.
Close friends and associates of Parsons have claimed that he was planning to file for divorce from Gretchen before his untimely death.
The couple had already separated prior to Parsons passing away, and his high school sweetheart Margaret Fisher had re-entered his life. Even though Parsons had not formally divorced Gretchen at the time of his death, he had already moved on with Fisher.
On September 19, 1973, Gram Parsons died at the young age of 26 in Joshua Park Inn, near Joshua Tree National Park.
Before his death, he had confided in his manager Phil Kaufman his desire to be cremated and have his ashes scattered in the park should he die.
After Parsons’ death, Gretchen remained unmarried until she married Bob Carpenter, the keyboardist of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Following their marriage, Gretchen took on the surname Parsons Carpenter.
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Gram Parsons Has A Daughter:Â Polly Parsons
Gram Parsons is a name synonymous with country and rock music, but what many people don’t know is that he had a daughter named Polly Parsons.2
Polly Parsons was born in late 1967 to Gram Parsons’ ex-girlfriend Nancy Ross, with whom he had a short affair. Despite the brief nature of their relationship, Nancy became pregnant with Gram’s child, and Polly was born shortly after their split.
After Polly’s birth, Nancy moved to Santa Barbara with her daughter to start a new life. As a single mother, Nancy had a difficult time raising Polly on her own, and Polly had a tumultuous upbringing.
Growing up, Polly Parsons faced several challenges and struggles, including alcohol and cocaine addiction as a teenager. Despite these difficulties, she persevered and eventually overcame her addiction.
Today, Polly is an inspiration to many who have struggled with addiction and serves as a reminder that it’s possible to overcome even the most difficult obstacles.
Today, Polly Parsons resides in Austin, Texas, in the United States, where she has built a successful career for herself.
She is also a proud mother to her daughter Harper Lee, who she shares with her husband, musician Jonathan Wilson.
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Gram Parsons: Death Cause Explored!
The press was duped into believing that the minstrel had passed away due to natural causes. Nevertheless, the post-mortem examination revealed that he had succumbed to drug toxicity.3
The urinalysis test established the existence of some cocaine traces in his bloodstream. Parsons was widely known to have been a consistent user of alcohol and narcotics. It is unsurprising that he had a history of drug dependency. The demise of Gram Parsons did not come as a surprise to individuals who were familiar with his lifestyle.
Despite being aware of the risks associated with combining alcohol and opiates, he persisted. After his passing, Kaufman disposed of the remaining drugs in the desert to elude an investigation by the police.
A few days earlier, he and his cohorts embarked on a sojourn to Joshua Tree Inn, as stated by Dale McElroy to Ben Fong-Torres. Parsons, after imbibing alcohol, proceeded to consume several doses of cocaine infused with morphine in the town.
A few hours later, Fisher notified McElroy that the guitar virtuoso had overdosed and lapsed into unconsciousness. With no alternatives, Fisher contacted an ambulance.
All attempts to resuscitate him proved futile. The medical team that attended to him noted that CPR was ineffective at that time, so he was rushed to High Desert Memorial Hospital in an ambulance.
Ultimately, his complications led to his demise. He was declared dead at 12:15 a.m. on September 19, 1973. During the police inquiry, Fisher and Alan Barbary, the hotel owner’s son, provided contradictory accounts of what had transpired that evening.
Therefore, the actual cause of his passing remains a tale of ambiguity and exaggeration. It was reported that he had devoted friends who consistently stood by him. T
he friendship between Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris was one such relationship that aided the musician in his profession.
Gram Parsons: Drug Addiction
Gram Parsons was embroiled in a drug addiction struggle. During the year 1968, Gram Parsons joined the Byrds as a member and traveled to England.4
During this period, he befriended Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones guitarist. Richards stated that Parsons had an exceptional understanding of country music, and he could appreciate every subtle nuance and every excellent country song that was ever created.
Additionally, Parsons was fond of indulging in drugs, which proved to be a bonus for Richards at that time.
As per the Stones’ recommendation, Parsons quit the Byrds due to his reluctance to play in South Africa, which was plagued by apartheid. Consequently, he became homeless and moved in with Richards.
During this time, they jammed together constantly, and Richards acknowledged Parsons’ hard-working nature, which surpassed even his own.
However, the pair were also consuming large quantities of drugs and alcohol, with Parsons becoming addicted to opiates, which Richards believes was a pre-existing issue even before their friendship began.
According to Richards, Parsons never quite clicked with his bandmate Mick Jagger on a personal level, although they did form a strong professional bond. Parsons’ country influence helped the Stones create their masterpiece, “Wild Horses,” according to musical associate Pamela Des Barres.
He even accompanied the band to France to record their 1971 album, Exile on Main Street. Parsons’ drug addiction had spiraled out of control by that point, and he was strongly addicted to heroin, making the Rolling Stones uncomfortable.
As a result, Parsons was asked to leave the group’s inner circle.
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