The Flying Burrito Brothers

The Profile

The Flying Burrito Brothers are an American country rock band formed in 1968 by Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman after their stint in The Byrds. Their debut, The Gilded Palace of Sin, became a cornerstone of country rock and Parsons’ self-styled Cosmic American Music, with the group influencing generations of Americana and roots artists.

Founders: Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman; early members included Sneaky Pete Kleinow (pedal steel) and Chris Ethridge (bass). Pioneers of country rock and advocates of Parsons’ “Cosmic American Music.” Key albums include The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969), Burrito Deluxe (1970), and The Flying Burrito Brothers (1971).

Three DeBaser reviews trace The Flying Burrito Brothers from the landmark The Gilded Palace of Sin to Burrito Deluxe and the post-Parsons self‑titled set. The writers spotlight Parsons’ Cosmic American Music vision, stellar songwriting, and the group’s blend of country, soul, and rock. Burrito Deluxe is praised for its rock-leaning bite and key covers, while the 1971 album is seen as strong but less extraordinary. Publicly known: formed in 1968 by Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, American pioneers of country rock.