Gram Parsons

Gram Parsons (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973) was born Ingram Cecil Connor III in Winter Haven, Florida to a wealthy family of fruit growers with extensive properties both there and in Waycross, Georgia, where he was raised. A singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist, he is best known for a series of recordings which anticipate the so-called country rock and alt-country movements of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Wary of labels, Parsons described his records as "Cosmic American Music." He died of a drug overdose at the age of 26.

Further reading

• In The Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music, Nicholas Dawidoff, Vintage Books, 1998. ISBN 0-375-70082-x
• Are You Ready for the Country: Elvis, Dylan, Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock, Peter Dogget, Penguin Books, 2001. ISBN 0-140-26108-7
• Dreaming Out Loud: Garth Brooks, Wynonna Judd, Wade Hayes and the changing face of Nashville, Bruce Feiler, Avon Books, 1998. ISBN 0-380-97578-5