Chris Ethridge (1947-2012)

Chris Ethridge was an American bass guitarist. He is best known for his collaborations with country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons. Ethridge played bass guitar in Parson's International Submarine Band, and the next year was a founding member of The Flying Burrito Brothers with Parsons, Chris Hillman and Pete Kleinow. In the Burritos, he played both bass and piano, and co-wrote two songs with Parsons on their fantastic debut album The Gilded Palace Of Sin. He left after this first album due to their lack of immediate success. A third Parsons/Ethridge composition, "She", appeared on Parson's first solo record, and was also covered by Emmylou Harris. In 1971 he recorded an album called L.A. Getaway with guitarist Joel Scott Hill and drummer Jonny Barbata, where he also sang lead vocals on two songs. In 1975 he joined a new lineup of the Burrito Brothers (with Hill) and appeared on Flying Again before he left them for the second time.
His brief membership of these bands aside, Ethridge is best known as a session musican, and his bass talents can be found on countless albums in the roots and country-rock genres. He has appeared on albums by Arlo Guthrie, Ry Cooder, Gene Clark, Steve Young, Graham Nash, Roger McGuinn, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, Maria Muldaur, Willie Nelson, Judy Collins and many more.