As Gram Parsons’ daughter, I tend to live life with one foot in the present and another in the past.
And the soundtrack is amazing. There is always more to learn, and people both past and present to teach you about who you are and the rich tapestry of where you came from.
Every decade or so it seems a slow steady rumble bubbles up as if Gram is restless in the heavens and wants to kick up some dust, to jam with his friends and to make himself known. He is indeed with us all in spirit and has some surprises left in store.
This has been one of those decades.
Lanky and lean like her Grandfather, my daughter Harper Lee started this year off traveling with me to dad’s original stomping grounds of Winter Haven, Florida. Steeped in southern gothic rock and roll tradition and historical tales of my family, the river carried us along, listening to music at the Gram Parsons Derry Down surrounded by genuine people keeping dad’s memory and music alive and well.
Back at home, Sound As Ever was created, inspired by Gram’s style and flair, bringing that cosmic uniqueness into our hearts and homes of the people we love and the community we share.
Little did we know at the time, we would make our debut at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, getting an amazing welcome at their latest exhibit, Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock in Nashville Tennessee. If you haven’t experienced it yet, it’s one of the finest weavings into the how, what, where, and when we all came to the pivotal moment when Country and Rock blended and changed music forever.
But he was just getting started!
Cut to: A buried treasure chest of never-before heard recordings of Gram and Emmylou, sourced from the vocal mics at the Bijou Cafe in Philadelphia. We are now working to bring to light Gram’s final show through Amoeba Music’s Kickstarter campaign beginning on November 17th.
Rounding this year off as one for the GP records. A whole gang of folks continue to get together yearly on the high seas, joining Sixthman Productions/Sirius XM and The Outlaw Country Cruise, who lovingly welcomed me into the fold to celebrate along side artists like Jim Lauderdale, Lucinda Williams, John Doe, Social Distortion - along with a plethora of talented artists. Every one of them Outlaws, just like Dad.
Perpetuating Gram’s legacy can be a never ending lesson in remaining teachable. It’s humbling to say the least. It can be both a fire hose level blast of learning and a warm embrace of rich history and family ties to the musicians who continue to blaze the trail he kicked up. I must admit there is a lot to learn, and sometimes I stumble.
But one thing remains constant for sure: In the collective consciousness of music lovers and the deep soil of Country Music and Rock and Roll, Gram Parsons never ceases to make his presence known.
Sound As Ever
— Polly Parsons
November 22nd 2022
Austin Texas
And the soundtrack is amazing. There is always more to learn, and people both past and present to teach you about who you are and the rich tapestry of where you came from.
Every decade or so it seems a slow steady rumble bubbles up as if Gram is restless in the heavens and wants to kick up some dust, to jam with his friends and to make himself known. He is indeed with us all in spirit and has some surprises left in store.
This has been one of those decades.
Lanky and lean like her Grandfather, my daughter Harper Lee started this year off traveling with me to dad’s original stomping grounds of Winter Haven, Florida. Steeped in southern gothic rock and roll tradition and historical tales of my family, the river carried us along, listening to music at the Gram Parsons Derry Down surrounded by genuine people keeping dad’s memory and music alive and well.
Back at home, Sound As Ever was created, inspired by Gram’s style and flair, bringing that cosmic uniqueness into our hearts and homes of the people we love and the community we share.
Little did we know at the time, we would make our debut at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, getting an amazing welcome at their latest exhibit, Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock in Nashville Tennessee. If you haven’t experienced it yet, it’s one of the finest weavings into the how, what, where, and when we all came to the pivotal moment when Country and Rock blended and changed music forever.
But he was just getting started!
Cut to: A buried treasure chest of never-before heard recordings of Gram and Emmylou, sourced from the vocal mics at the Bijou Cafe in Philadelphia. We are now working to bring to light Gram’s final show through Amoeba Music’s Kickstarter campaign beginning on November 17th.
Rounding this year off as one for the GP records. A whole gang of folks continue to get together yearly on the high seas, joining Sixthman Productions/Sirius XM and The Outlaw Country Cruise, who lovingly welcomed me into the fold to celebrate along side artists like Jim Lauderdale, Lucinda Williams, John Doe, Social Distortion - along with a plethora of talented artists. Every one of them Outlaws, just like Dad.
Perpetuating Gram’s legacy can be a never ending lesson in remaining teachable. It’s humbling to say the least. It can be both a fire hose level blast of learning and a warm embrace of rich history and family ties to the musicians who continue to blaze the trail he kicked up. I must admit there is a lot to learn, and sometimes I stumble.
But one thing remains constant for sure: In the collective consciousness of music lovers and the deep soil of Country Music and Rock and Roll, Gram Parsons never ceases to make his presence known.
Sound As Ever
— Polly Parsons
November 22nd 2022
Austin Texas
Where to begin?….First congrats to this wonderful website which I just discovered a few days ago. Meanwhile I bought the Bijou Café LP and a new turntable. When I first read about the release of the Bijou Café LP (probably on youtube), I thought I’m gonna wait until it’ll be released on CD. But now I couldn’t wait anymore. It must have been more than 10 years since I bought my last LP (maybe Gram’s Early Years). While writing this I’m listening to Side 3 of the new LP. Wonderful recording! I especially dig the tracks that weren’t on the Sierra release Gram Parsons & the Fallen Angels Live 1973. I don’t know exactly when I discovered Grams music; it must have been in the late seventies when a record store dealer turned me on to Gram by showing me an LP entitled Gram Parsons on Shiloh Records with a beautiful young Gram on the black and white sleeve. The LP was actually the ISB record. I played Blue Eyes over and over again and I was into Gram from then on. GP (first solo LP) was of heavenly beauty for me. Both solo LP’s were issued on CD in the early nineties and that CD was played on my birthdays and also during holidays in a remote hut with my then young children playing on the green grass… my kids are now in their thirties….When the tribute CD Return of the Grievous Angel was released in 1999 (and I had just gotten my first computer) I started numerous exchanges with fans in America. Some of them might even have posted here with a new surname (Michelle? Rebecca?). And 20 years ago was the big event Return to Sin City (organised by you Polly) which was too far from Switzerland (where I live happily) for me to go there :-( . But after maybe a year of waiting the DVD was released. So again and again I return to Grams music which is Cosmic American Music that keeps the spirit of the 70’s and much more alive (obviously I’m running out of words..). Thank you Polly again! You’re not only doing great work to keep young people drug free but also in keeping your father’s legacy alive. And as you say he’s very alive in heaven which is just behind a light curtain from earth. If you want to know moreabout me visit: nathanmedium.ch Love!