Finished Th 1/14/16
One of my books and I first read and finished this on Fr 12/9/05. I'm not sure if this is before or after I visited The Joshua Tree Motel, but many of the details were somewhat familiar.
Can't know too much about Gram, and goes nicely with Phil Kaufman's bio that's been 'bathroom reading book' for several weeks.
Review at Publishers Weekly-
Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons
Ben Fong-Torres, Author, Leslie Wells, Editor
This entertaining biography examines the eventful life of singer/guitarist Gram Parsons, who collaborated with the Byrds on the album Sweetheart of the Rodeo , founded the Flying Burrito Brothers with Chris Hillman and worked with country singer Emmylou Harris. Although Parsons achieved only minimal stardom prior to his 1973 drug-related death at age 26, his fusion of country and rock influenced such bands as the Eagles and the Grateful Dead. Fong-Torres ( The Motown Album ) describes the free-spirited, flamboyant musician's privileged but troubled Southern background and interviews individuals including the Byrds' Roger McGuinn, the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards and loyal road manager Phil Kaufman, who, according to Parsons's wishes, attempted--unsuccessfully--to cremate Parsons's body in Joshua Tree National Monument, a park in California. Fong-Torres drops music-biz names and reports on the colorful 1960s and '70s fast lane with finesse; Parsons's profound, continuing impact is felt in admiring testimonies from friends and fans.
customer comments at Amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/Hickory-Wind-Life-Times-Parsons/dp/0312194641
I wish Gene Clark had a biography that was this 'in depth'. And, now I want to know more about Chris Hillman. So many talented guys had their start in The Byrds. My LP copy of 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo' is framed and hanging in the dining room. Gotta take this down and give it a listen!
No comments:
Post a Comment