Gram Parsons: God's Own Singer

Though I have not read "Hickory Wind", I found this new one to be fairly thorough. It answered alot of questions and fleshed out some details merely hinted at in Sid Griffin's "A Musical Biography". As interesting as most of Griffin's collection of interviews and essays were, I still was left wondering what actually happened that fateful day in Joshua Tree. Well, I got my answer. It may not have been pretty, but the circumstances were a lot less sordid that rumor would lead you to believe. However, I wasn't so much interested in Parsons death as I was in what and who inspired him to create what he did. Walker's research shows. "God's Own Singer" is not only respectful but enlightening. He tackles Parsons troubled childhood and his copious drug use with a vividness that never comes off as exploitive. It also clued me in on his activities doing during those 2 years off between the Burritos & "GP". Whereas, Keith Richard's influence on Parsons has been noted, it was also nice to know how much Parsons had in turn on ol'"Keef". Though he never played on such classics as STICKY FINGERS, LET IT BLEED & EXILE ON MAINSTREET, he certainly had a hand in turning The Stones on to the joys of Country Music. Walker's work is also good at cutting through the countless rumors. For instance, he never sang on EXILE's "Sweet Virginia" and contrary to popluar belief did not die from a morphine overdose. Needless to say, Parsons story is sad but I was thankful for Walker's lack of ghoulishness---all too present in many "died-too-young" bios.Walker's prose is direct and readable, though at times a little whimsical. The only negative criticism I have is that Walker ended it all a little too apruptly, as if he suddenly lost interest in his subject or didn't know how to tie up loose ends. A little summing up would have been nice. If you want a good profile of Parsons, this is a far from painful read. He also cues you in to the fact that part of Parsons' genius lay in his abillity to collaborate others. Talents like Chris Hillmen, Pete Kleinow and Emmy Lou Harris had a lot to do with shaping Parsons' musical legacy and Walker never lets you forget that.