The Byrds' sixth album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968) was the first country-rock album and probably one of the most important recordings in popular music. The driving force behind its sound was the band's newest member, Gram Parsons, a twenty-one year-old Harvard theology student from central Florida, who gave up university life when he heard country music (Merle Haggard, according to the legend). After moving to Los Angeles, he formed the International Submarine Band, with whom he recorded one album, Safe at Home (1968). Then came the Byrds, who followed his influence into making the ground-breaking recording mentioned above. Parsons wrote two songs for the record (the rest were covers): "Hickory Wind" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VX-GdOTw9A) and "One Hundred Years from Now" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_9AXakWgxQ&feature=related). More on the short, brilliant career of GP tomorrow.