(Published by Helter Skelter)
 |
Gram Parsons is the patron saint of Americana and, like all the best patron saints, he had the good grace to live fast and die young in a spectacular way in 1973. Gram Parsons: God’s Own Singer is a biography of the musician by Australian writer Jason Walker who evidently is more than half-way in love with his subject and well able to communicate that passion to readers.
Parsons was a poor little rich boy. Being surrounded by wealth could not make up for the suicide of his father when he was 12 or the death of his mother from alcohol poisoning on his graduation day, just six years later. Addiction and death were close companions for the young Parsons, something which added an edge of despair and loneliness to his haunting voice. Dead at the age of 26, this story of his short life is constantly overshadowed by the foreknowledge of his well documented demise – and it’s fiery desert aftermath.
Although Parsons was involved in the music industry for less than ten years, he left behind a rich legacy. He was involved in the making of eight albums, from the Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo, through The Gilded Palace of Sin with the Flying Burrito Brothers and including his own superb solo albums, GP and Grievous Angel. Parsons has been credited with the invention of country rock – what he preferred to call Cosmic American Music – and his influence still permeates bands such as The Jayhawks, Wilco and any amount of pretenders that turn up on the annual Uncut Americana CD.
Walker’s biography is an intensively and meticulously researched book – no easy task given he is based in Sydney – but it could have done with some tightening up. Occasional interjections from the author are unnecessary and sometimes facts are repeated but overall this is a damn good read about a fascinating musical figure. Just make sure you get your hands on some of the albums too. 
