If You’re Checking in Riley, Check This Out
One day during football season I asked Riley Skinner if he had ever heard of Gram Parsons, the visionary singer/songwriter from the 1960s and early 70s who graduated from Bolles School in Jacksonville, the same school Skinner and many members of his family attended. I really didn’t expect Riley know know of Parsons, a tortured soul who died in 1973 at the tender age of 26. By way of explanation, I mentioned that it was Parsons who had “discovered’’ Emmylou Harris singing in a club in Washington, D.C. and had helped catapult her to fame.
When Riley, a self-professed fan of country music, said he had never heard of Emmylou Harris, I was surprised. Stan Cotten, the voice of the Deacons, and I chided Riley a bit, and said he should check Emmylou out. A couple of you guys in the Peanut Gallery wrote in to mention that Riley should be excused for this particular gap in his musical knowledge, given that he wasn’t even born until 1986, and I agreed that you were right.
I was reminded of our exchange a couple of days ago when a long-time pal, Billy Armour, sent me a link to a performance by Emmylou Harris and Ryan Adams of what is probably my favorite Gram Parsons song of all time, Return of the Grievous Angel. So to Riley Skinner and anyone else who doesn’t know Emmylou Harris, this is why you should. Return of the Grievous Angel
As a side note, I never really got Ryan Adams before. Now I do.
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 02/22/2010 (10:58 am)
Comments
Greg, you can bet that Alphonso is going to impart some advice. I’m sure he’s weighed in.
Dan on 02/24/2010 (12:45 am)
Dan,
Speaking of Riley Skinner, is there any word on what he and the other Wake Forest players have done to get ready for the start of the NFL combine tomorrow? A few of their former teammates went through this process last year. Have they been able to impart any words of wisdom? Thanks,
Greg
DC on 02/24/2010 (12:26 am)
Congratulations to Shane and Mr. and Mrs. Popham, indeed! It is not easy to excel academically at Wake Forest, so Shane’s accomplishments should not be taken for granted. If I am not mistaken, Shane was the only Demon Deacon named to the ACC All-Academic football team, and he managed to receive the honor two other years in addition to this one. Well done.
DC on 02/23/2010 (12:28 am)
Greg, Good for Shane for being such a great student and good for you for letting me know. Congratulations.
Dan on 02/22/2010 (5:37 pm)
Hello Dan: Blowing my kid’s horn. Shane Popham was named to the ACC All-Academic Football Squad from Wake Forest for the second year in a row. Thanks Greg
Greg Popham on 02/22/2010 (4:58 pm)
Hard to find Gram Parsons in the record stores these days but have heard this song and several others on this album. Doesn’t really do Adams justice. You should check out Heartbreaker and Gold, two of his early albums. Probably recognize some of it from various places, but it’s some of his strongest work.
Thoams on 02/22/2010 (4:55 pm)
Dan,
Your column on Riley and country song is sweeter music than writng ‘bout the State debaucle. So, thanks for not belaboring the latter.
BHG
bobby h griffin on 02/22/2010 (12:41 pm)
Dan
I was a big Gram Parsons fan back in the day but actually discovered him after his death. I was already a fan of Emmy Lou Harris after her first album, and then heard her signing “Love Hurts” with Gram from the Grievious Angel Album and was hooked. From there got into the Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds “Sweetheart of the Rodeo.” Great stuff. That was a time when Country and Rock music were not that far apart. I had no idea that Parsons and Riley had a link. I guess the Bolles School is a pretty diverse intstituion when it comes to producing stars.
Diamonddeacon on 02/22/2010 (11:36 am)
Page 1 of 1 pages
