Parsons died of an overdose in 1973 at age 26, and Saturday's induction arrives 53 years later. The Black Crowes and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers also played. The set covered his work with the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers and his solo career.
Harris and Parsons sang together for less than two years. In that time they made some of the most heartaching harmonies ever recorded. Before "Love Hurts" with Campbell, Harris told the room, "Gram taught me this one. We did it a lot of times." Then she added, quietly, "But not enough."
Harris was an unknown folk singer when Parsons met her at a club in Washington, D.C. She went on to a stellar country career and lent her harmonies to Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Neil Young. Now 71, she sang with Hall of Famers Costello, Crow and Campbell, and the night at times felt like a happy hootenanny as much as a memorial. It honored her, too.
Parsons gets the Early Influence Award. He never had a hit record, but everyone he touched came away a little more honky-tonk.