The late, great Gram Parsons refused to let anyone call his music "country rock." With the soul of a true cowboy, he just couldn't be fenced in. His vision was much more grandiose than the words "country rock" would allow. The cosmic American music of Gram parsons celebrated diversity. Sure, the broken hearted sentiment of country music was firmly rooted in his musical upbringing. But so was the burning urgency of soul music's dramatic melodies as well as the sweet, uplifting, revelatory harmonies of gospel choirs and of course the hip shaking, hand clapping strut and boogie of rock and roll music. Thirty years after his untimely death in Joshua Tree, CA., musicians and music lovers still name check Gram Parsons with the utmost awe and respect. He saw beyond labels and boundaries in music and in life. In his time he influenced the music of his protege Emmylou Harris, as well as his friends the Rolling Stones and the Byrds. He was the first longhaired country boy - just ask any of the outlaws from Willie Nelson to Kris Kristofferson - someone who could bring country music to the closed minds of those who previously dismissed it as "hillbilly" or "hick" while turning on many a good ol' boy to the sounds of sweet soul music. Staying true to her fathers' vision of diversity in music, his daughter Polly organized Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons. She recruited both close friends and ardent fans of her father and his music as well as contemporary artists inspired by his work and vision

• Sin City All Stars
  
• John Doe
  
• Steve Earle
  
• Jay Farrar
  
• Jim James
  
• Norah Jones
  
• Jim Lauderdale
  
• Raul Malo
  
• Susan Marshall
  
• Keith Richards
  
• Lucinda Williams
  
• Dwight Yoakam