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Gram Parsons

United States of America

Gram Parsons

American musician Gram Parsons died on September 19, 1973, at the Joshua Tree Inn near Joshua Tree National Park in California. Encouraged by his road manager Phil Kaufman, Parsons again visited the park after completing his latest recording sessions. Earlier, he had confessed to Kaufman his wish to

be cremated and his ashes scattered in the park in case he died. Parsons traveled to Joshua Tree with Michael Martin (his assistant), Margaret Fisher (Parsons' high school girlfriend), and Dale McElroy (Martin's girlfriend). Parsons spent time in the desert during the day and at local bars at night, consuming barbiturates and alcohol every day. On September 18, after being injected with morphine, Parsons overdosed. On September 19, he was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Following Parsons' death and in order to fulfill his desires, Kaufman and Martin arrived at Los Angeles International Airport in Martin's personal Cadillac Hearse impersonating mortuary workers. Under the impression that the pair had been hired by the Parsons family, Western Airlines released the body to them. They then took it to Joshua Tree and set it on fire. The burning casket was reported by campers to the...

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