Chris Ethridge, R.I.P.

I know it's a bit of belated tribute. But somehow I missed it. On April 23rd, piano and bass player Chris Ethridge died of pancreatic cancer. He was 65.

Ethridge spent many years as a studio musician working with the likes of Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt and the late Gene Clark and was also a mainstay of Willie Nelson's touring band. But his finest work came in his collaboration with the late Gram Parsons first with the International Submarine Band and then with the Flying Burrito Brothers. Ethridge and Parsons co-wrote "Hot Burrito #1" and "Hot Burrito #2" which appeared on the Flying Burrito Brothers' 1969 debut album The Gilded Palace of Sun.

Here is Ethridge with the Flying Burritos on "Christine's Tune (Devil in Disguise)". Ethridge is the tall, bearded fellow playing bass who is dressed like Parsons.