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Gram Parsons

American musician
Also known as: Ingram Cecil Connor III

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Gram Parsons was an American musician, born November 5, 1946, in Winter Haven, Florida. He was a pivotal figure in the development of country rock music. Parsons was a founding member of the band The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1968, after his influential work on the Byrds' country rock album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo.1

His music blended traditional country and western sounds with rock, heavily featuring pedal-steel guitar. Parsons's influence extended to artists like Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, and even The Rolling Stones, who incorporated country elements into their music after his friendship with Keith Richards.1

Parsons died on September 19, 1973, at the age of 26, from a drug and alcohol overdose. His life and music have left a lasting legacy on American popular music.12

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