Another Visit With Gram Parsons

Several readers have asked me for more information about my recent visit to Gram Parsons’ resting place.

The spot is near New Orleans in the Garden of Memories Cemetery, Metairie, Louisiana (Jefferson Parish).

Most requests were for a closer look at his beautiful, elaborate marker, and a listing of what’s printed on it. The marker bears an amazing image of Gram on stage.

"Gram Parsons, Nov. 7, 1946-Sept. 19, 1973"

“Another young man safely strummed his silver-string guitar.

And he played to people everywhere.

Some say he was a star

But he was just a country boy.

His simple songs confess, and the music he had in him, so very few possess.”

"From 'In My Hour of Darkness' "

“Your soul lives on through your music.

Your spirit lives on in our hearts.”

One question is, since Gram is resting near New Orleans, what on earth is he doing in-ground? Please don’t be concerned! Gram is well outside New Orleans and it’s infamous below-sea-level ‘bowl.’ He is in an area where it’s common for loved ones to be laid to rest in-ground.

 That being said, there remains one in-ground cemetery near New Orleans City Park. The Holt Cemetery, owned by the city, was established in 1897 and burials are still going on there. Loved ones’ families, and many groups including the Funeral Service Education students at Delgado Community College next door to the site, work hard to restore the plots that need help and are suffering damage and deterioration.

Let’s get back to Gram!

Gram’s passage from the place of his death, the Joshua Tree National Park in California, to South Louisiana, was bizarre and tragic. The biographies suggested to you in the previous visit will fill you in on the startling details.

If you’d also like a fictionalized, motion picture account, Johnny Knoxville and Christina Applegate star in an entertaining one from 2003: Grand Theft Parsons.



 The film begins with Gram’s death, and then attempts to be a comedy! It has been hard for many of Gram's fans to watch, but I believe this could be an excellent entry point to interest your uninitiated friends in the music. Several excellent duets with Emmylou Harris are featured in the film.

Thanks for sharing your love of country music’s past, including Gram Parsons. And thanks for participating in country music’s present, and for helping build our beloved music’s future.

See you next post!