Editing Gram Parsons (section)

===The Byrds (1968)===
{{Main article|The Byrds}}
[[File:Gram Parsons with The Byrds 1968.jpg|thumb|Parsons during his time with the Byrds, 1968]]
By 1968, Parsons came to the attention of [[The Byrds]]' [[bassist]], [[Chris Hillman]], via business manager Larry Spector, who was looking for a new band member following the departures of [[David Crosby]] and [[Michael Clarke (musician)|Michael Clarke]].<ref name="timeless">{{cite book|author=Rogan, Johnny.|pages=250–253|year=1998|title=The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited|edition=2nd|publisher=Rogan House|isbn=0-9529540-1-X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Byrds Biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3810|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> In February 1968, Parsons passed an audition for the band, being initially recruited as a [[Jazz piano|jazz pianist]] but soon adding [[rhythm guitar]] and vocals.<ref name="timeless"/><ref name="legacy">{{cite book|author=Fricke, David.|year=2003|title=Sweetheart of the Rodeo: Legacy Edition (2003 CD liner notes)}}</ref>

Although Parsons was an equal contributor to the band, he was not regarded as a full member by the band's label, [[Columbia Records]].<ref name="timeless2">{{cite book|author=Rogan, Johnny.|pages=253–256|year=1998|title=The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited|edition=2nd|publisher=Rogan House|isbn=0-9529540-1-X}}</ref> Consequently, when the Byrds' recording contract was renewed on February 29, 1968, it was only original members [[Roger McGuinn]] and [[Chris Hillman]] who signed it.<ref name="timeless2"/> Parsons, like fellow new recruit [[Kevin Kelley (musician)|Kevin Kelley]], was hired as a [[sideman]] and received a salary from McGuinn and Hillman.<ref>{{cite book|author=Hjort, Christopher.|page=159|year=2008|title=So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965-1973)|publisher=Jawbone Press|isbn=978-1-906002-15-2}}</ref> In later years, this led Hillman to state, "Gram was hired. He was not a member of the Byrds, ever. He was on salary; that was the only way we could get him to turn up."<ref>{{cite book|author=Scoppa, Bud.|year=2001|title=Sacred Hearts Fallen Angels (2001 CD liner notes)}}</ref> Parsons and Kelley were given equal billing alongside McGuinn and Hillman on the ''[[Sweetheart of the Rodeo]]'' album, and in press coverage.<ref>{{cite book|author=Hjort, Christopher.|pages=168–193|year=2008|title=So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965-1973)|publisher=Jawbone Press|isbn=978-1-906002-15-2}}</ref>{{quote box|width=22em|"Being with The Byrds confused me a little. I couldn't find my place. I didn't have enough say-so. I really wasn't one of The Byrds. I was originally hired because they wanted a keyboard player. But I had experience being a frontman and that came out immediately. And [Roger McGuinn] being a very perceptive fellow saw that it would help the act, and he started sticking me out front."|—Gram Parsons reflecting on his time with the Byrds<ref>{{Citation|author=Jacoba Atlas|author-link=Jacoba Atlas|newspaper=[[Melody Maker]]|title=Gram Parsons|location=London|date=25 July 1970}}</ref>}}

''Sweetheart of the Rodeo'' was conceived by McGuinn as a double-album history of [[American popular music]].<ref name="fricke">{{cite book|author=Fricke, David.|year=1997|title=Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1997 CD liner notes)}}</ref> It was to begin with [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]], then move through [[Country music|country and western]], [[jazz]], [[rhythm and blues]], and [[rock music]], before ending with [[electronic music]].<ref name="legacy"/> However, as recording plans were made, Parsons persuaded the other members to leave Los Angeles and record the album in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]].<ref name="timeless2"/> McGuinn's concept was jettisoned in favor of a country project, which included Parsons' songs "One Hundred Years from Now" and "[[Hickory Wind]]", and songs by [[Bob Dylan]], [[Woody Guthrie]] and [[Merle Haggard]].{{sfn|Byrd Watcher1}}

Recording sessions for ''Sweetheart of the Rodeo'' commenced at Columbia Records' recording studios in the [[Music Row]] area of Nashville on March 9, 1968.<ref name="legacy"/> Mid-way through, the sessions moved to Columbia Studios, Hollywood and were completed on May 27, 1968.<ref name="legacy"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Rogan, Johnny.|pages=624–625|year=1998|title=The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited|publisher=Rogan House|isbn=0-9529540-1-X}}</ref> However, Parsons was still under contract to LHI Records and Hazlewood threatened legal action over Parsons' appearance on the album.<ref name="fricke"/> As a result, McGuinn replaced three of Parsons' lead vocals with his own; in 1973, in an interview with [[Cameron Crowe]], Parsons said  that McGuinn "erased it and did the vocals himself and fucked it up."{{sfn|Fong-Torres|1991|p=94}} Parsons remained as lead vocalist on the songs "You're Still on My Mind", "Life in Prison", and "[[Hickory Wind]]".{{sfn|Byrd Watcher1}}

While in England with the Byrds in the summer of 1968, Parsons left the band over a planned concert tour of South Africa and his opposition to [[South Africa under apartheid|apartheid]].<ref name="legacy"/> During this period Parsons became acquainted with [[Mick Jagger]] and [[Keith Richards]] of [[The Rolling Stones]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gram Parsons and The Byrds: 1968|publisher=ByrdWatcher: A Field Guide to the Byrds of Los Angeles|url=http://ebni.com/byrds/memgrp3.html|access-date=25 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028025309/http://ebni.com/byrds/memgrp3.html|archive-date=28 October 2010}}</ref> After leaving the band, Parsons stayed at Richards' house and the pair developed a close friendship, with Parsons reintroducing the guitarist to country music.<ref>{{cite book|author=Hjort, Christopher.|page=179|year=2008|title=So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965-1973)|publisher=Jawbone Press|isbn=978-1-906002-15-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Kaufman, Phil.|author2=White, Colin|pages=89–91|year=1993|title=Road Manager Deluxe|publisher=White Boucke Publishing|isbn=0-9625006-5-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article220248025.html |title= Marty Stuart thankful opening for Chris Stapleton, 'the man carrying the flag for country music'|last=Tunis|first=Walter |date=October 22, 2018|work=Lexington Herald-Leader |access-date=2023-07-23}}</ref>