CMT News

Rolling Stone Keith Richards has taken a movie option on a book about the life and death of the late alt-country pioneer Gram Parsons. Ben Fong-Torres, author of the book Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons, tells CMT.com that he was pleased that an artist of Richards' stature picked his book. "Every year since Hickory Wind came out," Fong-Torres says, "I've heard from one agent or movie executive or star or another that they'd like to option the book. But there's always been one stumbling block or another -- usually lack of money or music clearances. I think Keith Richards has the connections to the music and to Gram Parsons as a friend to be able to hurdle those barriers and make the movie." Richards and Parsons were friends and musical collaborators. Fong-Torres said no further details about the project are yet available. Another Parsons project is underway, based on a book by Parsons' long-time road manager Phil Kaufman. That movie is set to star Johnny Knoxville. 11/21/02