Chris Ethridge
1947 – April 23, 2012
Chris Ethridge was an American musician who is best remembered for playing in the International Submarine Band and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Ethridge was already playing in local bands by the time he moved to Los Angeles at 17. It was there that he joined the International Submarine Band, playing alongside with Gram Parsons. The year was 1967, and Ethridge played on that year’s release, Safe At Home. Parsons left ISB the following year and Ethridge followed suit. He worked with Parsons on solo projects even co-writing several of his songs. In 1968, Ethridge co-founded the Flying Burrito Brothers with Parsons, Chris Hillman, and Sneaky Pete Kleinow. Although Ethridge played on just the band’s first album, The Gilded Palace Of Sin before leaving in 1969, it can’t be denied that he played a role in the birth of country rock while influencing the likes of the Eagles, Wilco, and Ryan Adams. In 1975, he participated in a reformed version of the Burrito Brothers for the recording of Flying Again. Over the course of his career, Ethridge played on records by such acts as Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Randy Newman, and Ry Cooder. He also spent more than seven years playing in Willie Nelson’s live band. Chris Ethridge was 65 when he passed away on April 23, 2012. He was 65. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Bruce Kilgour at Slipped Disc Entertainment for the assist.
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