Chris Ethridge should not be confused with Chris Etheridge.
| Chris Ethridge | |
| Birth Name: | John Christopher Ethridge |
| Birth Date: | 10 February 1947[1] |
| Birth Place: | Meridian, Mississippi, United States |
| Death Place: | Meridian, Mississippi, United States |
| Instrument: | Bass guitar, piano |
| Genre: | Country rock |
| Occupation: | Musician, songwriter |
| Years Active: | 1964–2012 |
| Past Member Of: | International Submarine Band, The Flying Burrito Brothers |
John Christopher Ethridge (February 10, 1947 – April 23, 2012) was an American country rock bass guitarist. He was a member of the International Submarine Band (ISB) and The Flying Burrito Brothers,[2] and co-wrote several songs with Gram Parsons. Ethridge worked with Nancy Sinatra, Judy Collins, Leon Russell, Delaney Bramlett, Johnny Winter, Randy Newman, Graham Nash, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Jackson Browne, and Willie Nelson.
Ethridge was born in Meridian, Mississippi, United States.[2] [3] He began playing in local bands in the South before moving to California aged 17,[2] having been spotted in Biloxi.[4] He played with Joel Scott Hill before joining Gram Parsons in ISB; in 1971, Hill and Ethridge would record a trio album (L.A. Getaway) with drummer John Barbata, best known for his work with The Turtles and Jefferson Starship.[2] He played with Parsons after the end of ISB, and again after Parsons left The Byrds, before cofounding the Burrito Brothers with him.[2] He played bass and piano on The Gilded Palace of Sin, but left before Burrito Deluxe due to creative differences. When Parsons left the Burritos, Ethridge briefly played with him again, touring with Byron Berline, Emmylou Harris, Clarence White, Gene Parsons, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, and Roland White in 1973.[5] After Parsons' death, Ethridge played in 1974 with the Docker Hill Boys,[2] an informal group which included Gene Parsons and Joel Scott Hill. These three refounded the Burritos in 1975 with Sneaky Pete and Gib Guilbeau,[2] [5] [6] recording Flying Again.
Ethridge left the Burritos again in February 1976, returning to session work.[7] He had been a session musician throughout his career, recording with many leading country-tinged acts, including Nancy Sinatra, Judy Collins, Johnny Winter, Ry Cooder, Leon Russell, Randy Newman, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds and Jackson Browne.[2] He also toured with Willie Nelson's band for almost eight years,[8] and later played with the Kudzu Kings.
Ethridge died on April 23, 2012, at age 65 at a hospital in Meridian, Mississippi of complications from pancreatic cancer.[9] [10]
On the following albums, Ethridge played bass unless stated otherwise:
| Year | Album | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Safe at Home | ||
| 1969 | The Gilded Palace of Sin | co-wrote "Hot Burrito No. 1 (I'm Your Toy)" and "Hot Burrito No. 2" with Gram Parsons | |
| 1969 | John Braden | John Braden | bass on "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", "Carriage House Song", and "Ribbons of Friendship" |
| 1970 | Greatest Hits | ||
| 1970 | Washington County | ||
| 1970 | Alone Together | ||
| 1970 | Ry Cooder | ||
| 1970 | The Candlestickmaker | bass on "Molly in the Middle", "Lazy Day", "All Time Green" and "To the City, To the Sea" | |
| 1971 | L.A. Getaway | ||
| 1971 | Just as I Am | Bill Withers | |
| 1971 | Songs for Beginners | ||
| 1971 | Home Grown | Johnny Rivers | |
| 1971 | White Light | ||
| 1971 | Rita Coolidge | ||
| 1972 | Full Circle | bass on "Get Up and Dance" | |
| 1972 | Sail Away | Randy Newman | |
| 1972 | Into the Purple Valley | Ry Cooder | |
| 1972 | Graham Nash David Crosby | ||
| 1973 | Baron Von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun | ||
| 1973 | GP | did not play; co-wrote "She" with Parsons | |
| 1973 | Maria Muldaur | played bass on 'Long Hard Climb', 'I Never Did Write You A Love Song', 'My Tennessee Mountain Home' and The Work Song' | |
| 1973 | Don't Cry Now | Linda Ronstadt | |
| 1974 | Heart Like A Wheel | played bass on 'Faithless Love' | |
| 1974 | Paradise and Lunch | ||
| 1975 | Flying Again | The Flying Burrito Brothers | |
| 1976 | Chicken Skin Music | ||
| 1977 | Simple Dreams | background vocals | |
| 1977 | Class Reunion | bass | |
| 1978 | Stardust | ||
| 1979 | Sings Kristofferson | bass guitar | |
| 1979 | Pretty Paper | ||
| 1980 | Honeysuckle Rose OST | also had a small role in the film | |
| 1991 | From Another Time | recorded live in 1975 | |
| 1994 | A John Prine Christmas | John Prine | |
| 1996 | Eye of a Hurricane | bass; vocals on one track | |
| 2002 | Red Album: Live Studio Party in Hollywood | recorded live in 1976 | |
| 2002 | Cherry Smiles: The Rare Singles | a collection of Sinatra's rare singles and B-sides from 1970 to 1980 | |
| 2007 | Junkyard Junky | Dan Penn |