by Dino Ciliberti

Created on: February 22, 2009   Last Updated: February 27, 2009

Has anyone ever heard of The Flying Burrito Brothers?

Probably not. The group, which came about in the late 1960s, has one of the coolest names ever.

But little is known about this California band because they never enjoyed any commercial success.

Before The Eagles, the Burrito Brothers took off out of the ashes of The Byrds. While band leader Roger McGuinn kept The Bryds afloat for a few more years, he lost founding bassist Chris Hillman after "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" appeared. While this album did little on the sales charts, its significance in influence on the music industry continues to blossom. Out of this came a move toward traditional country, led by pioneer Gram Parsons, who steered The Byrds toward this genre.

Parsons had the musical knowledge and the background. And for one album with The Byrds, he changed the group's direction single-handedly. When Parsons and Hillman hooked up to form The Flying Burrito Brothers, the alternative country genre was born.

Some have labeled this Country Rock. But the Burritos were a lot more. Armed with "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow on pedal steel guitar, the Burritos took off on their debut, "The Gilded Palace of Sin."

Kleinow cooked on pedal steel, turning the instrument into a weapon that McGuinn had done for The Byrds' sound with his signature jingle-jangle Rickenbacker guitar. The pedal steel was out of this world and Kleinow used all the gadgetry to create a sound that no one had really heard before.

Matched with the Everly Brothers-like harmonies of Parsons and Hillman, the group produced such now classics as "Devil in Disguise," "Sin City," "Hot Burrito No. 1" and "Hot Burrito No. 2." The ache in Parsons' voice on the latter two had women in the audience tearing up during their concerts.

But the Burritos couldn't generate album sales off that magic. And while Hillman had a solid work ethic, Parsons was too interested in becoming a star than honing his craft. So after the follow-up "Burrito Deluxe," Parsons was ousted.

To this day, with an early death due to a drug overdose, Parsons has attained legendary cult status while Hillman hasn't earned the credit he deserves as being a Country Rock pioneer.

The Eagles took the Burritos' formula to the top of the charts and became one of the biggest selling bands in American music history. In fact, "Their Greatest Hits" is the top selling album of all time.

Yet the Burritos somehow remain in obscurity.

This should change. And the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame is the best place for The Flying Burrito Brothers to receive the accolades they deserve. They influenced a generation of musicians and created two music genres: Country Rock and Alternative Country.

Not bad for a group that really only produced two albums with its original tandem.

Learn more about this author, Dino Ciliberti.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.