Gram Parsons, the Southern-born singer and songwriter who injected rock and roll’s counterculture spirit and R&B/soul music’s religious and rhythmic sensibilities into the traditional country sounds out of Nashville and California, was born on this day in 1946. In honor of Gram’s birthday, Riffs & Rhymes is sharing a clip of he and his band, The Fallen Angels, performing live at Max’s Kansas City on their 1973 tour. One of the few live recordings of Gram Parsons during his brief solo career, this heartbreaking rendition of this Parsons classic spotlights his shaky Southern tenor alongside Emmylou Harris’ golden harmonies and the poignant interplay between pedal steel phenom Neil Flanz and guitarist Jock Bartley.
Last fall, Riffs & Rhymes published a special series entitled Week of Gram in celebration of Gram Parsons’ musical legacy. Stream a specially-curated playlist from the series of GP’s most essential songs below.
Riffs & Rhymes 