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Gram Parsons

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Vocalist

The Resume

    (November 5, 1946-September 19, 1973)
    Birth name is Cecil Ingram Connor
    Former member of the bands the International Submarine Band, The Byrds and The Flying Buritto Brothers
    Recorded albums include 'Sweethearts Of The Rodeo' as part of the Byrds, 'The Gilded Palace of Sin' and 'Burrito Deluxe' as part of The Flying Burrito Brothers, and 'G.P.' and 'Grievous Angel' during his solo career
    Pioneer of country rock

Why he might be annoying:

    He attended Harvard to study theology, but dropped out because he spent more time with his music than his classes.
    His International Submarine Band's first album went on sale after they disbanded.
    Starting in 1969, he abused drugs and alcohol and eventually died of a lethal mix of morphine and tequila.
    His drug addiction was heavily influenced through his friendship with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
    He used his trust fund to supply his drug habit.
    He changed his name to Gram Parsons at 13 after his mother married Robert Parsons.
    His rhinestone-laced outfits during his solo career were ridiculous.
    While his stepfather wanted his body taken back to New Orleans for burial, his road manager, Phil Kaufman, stole his body and drove it to the Joshua Tree desert. Kaufman cremated Parsons' body in an open fire, in accordance with his wishes.
    His charred body was eventually taken to New Orleans for burial.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His country rock style is very noticeable in The Byrds' album 'Sweethearts of the Rodeo.'
    His grandfather, Cecil Snively, owned one-third of all the citrus fields in Florida.
    He learned to play piano at the age of nine. He decided to become a musician that same year after seeing Elvis live.
    His father, Coon Dog Connor, committed suicide when Gram was twelve.
    His mother died of alcohol poisoning on the same day he graduated high school.
    He left The Byrds in the fall of 1968 because they were slated to perform in South Africa, and he was against apartheid.
    Keith Richards said 'Like I know the blues, Gram Parsons knew country music. But he also had intelligence and honesty. That's the kind of guy I like to hang with.'
    During his solo career, he hired Emmylou Harris as one of his back-up singers.
    He didn't sell many records during his lifetime but his influence has been felt after his death. His music style has been emulated by musicians from Emmylou Harris to Elvis Costello.
    The kidnapping and torching of his body was spoofed in the 2003 movie 'Grand Theft Parsons' in which Johnny Knoxville plays Phil Kaufman and Gabriel Macht plays Gram.

Credit: Nebraska Boy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 33 Votes: 69.70% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 117 Votes: 64.10% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 30 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 92 Votes: 55.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 173 Votes: 56.65% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 54 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 73 Votes: 53.42% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 46 Votes: 43.48% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 55 Votes: 50.91% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 36 Votes: 52.78% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 83 Votes: 65.06% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 182 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 255 Votes: 58.82% Annoying