When we think of the genre country-rock our minds automatically go to The Eagles (early Eagles), Pure Praire League, Little Feat, Creedene Clearwater Revival, and many more. All of those bands wouldn't be household names if it wasn't for the genius of the late great Grahm Parsons. To call Grahm Parsons a trailblaizer would be an understatement. From a young age, Grahm was always an Elvis Prelsey fan and would be a crtiical role model in his musical upbrinding along with many other artists including Bakersfield sound pioneers Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. Flash forward to the year 1968. Laurel Canyon legends The Byrds were at a pivotal road block. Founding member David Crosby was on thin ice with the band thanks to his politcal rants in between the bands setlist at the Monterey Pop festival the previous year. Crosby is soon let go and Parsons comes in full force. As mentioned, many of Grahm Parson's country influences come from Merle Haggard and Buck Owens along with saluting female country superstars Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. With Grahm at The Byrds arosnel, the band would go on to release the country-rock masterpiece Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. The album was controvrsal for the time becuase The Byrds were known for their California/folk influence so it took listners by surprise. However, over time the ablum has been hailed as the bands best work and spawned hits as the Bob Dylan covered "You Ain't Goin Nowhere" and the Parson's penned "Hickory Wind". After Grahm Parsons left The Byrds, he would form the country rock band The Flying Burrito Brothers with a then up-and-coming Bernie Leadon who would go on to be one of the founding members of The Eagles. The Flying Burrito Borthers spawned the country rock classic 'Sin City" along with a stellar cover of The Rolling Stones "Wild Horses". Speaking of The Rolling Stones, Grahm Parsons and Keith Richards had a very tight friendship and its becuase of Grahm Parsons that the Stones would go on to appreciate country music and would be the driving force and inspiration behind "Sweet Virginia", "Far Away Eyes", and "Dead Flowers". After The Flying Burrito Borthers disbanded Grahm would go on to tragically release only two critcally alcaimed solo albums GP and Grievious Angel which was released posthumously. During this time, he would form a tight friendship with the legendary Emmylou Harris who would duet with him on "Return Of The Grevious Angel" and "Love Hurts". Parson's life would be tragically cut short when he died of a drug overdose at 26. Decades after his passing , Grahm Parson's legacy continues to be celebrated and a driving force for Alt Country acts like Wilco and Ryan Adams.
