Today is the fortieth anniversary of country-rock icon Gram Parsons’s death in room 8 of the Joshua Tree Inn. Parson’s death by overdose was famously followed by two funerals: The first after the coffin containing his body was stolen from the Los Angeles Airport by his road manager so that he could be cremated in Joshua Tree National Park. The spot, near Cap Rock, is indicated with a crude marker which can still be found after some hardy searching. Relatives got the partially incinerated body back, and brought it to Florida. There’s a film about it: “Grand Theft Parsons,” which was not a critic’s favorite and glamorized the event. Parsons, whose death has been unevenly marked by hit-or-miss events in Joshua tree over the years, helped bring the country-rock sound influence to the forefront though five albums: the Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo, the Flying Burrito Brothers’ Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe, then the solo GP and Grievous Angel, and connections with other musicians of the time. He never had a hit record while he lived.
