Country singer-songwriter Gram Parsons died of a drug overdose at a hotel near Joshua Tree National Park in California at the age of 26 on September 19, 1973. At the time, Parsons had taken to spending large amounts of time at Joshua Tree and succumbed to a lethal dosage of morphine and alcohol. In a bizarre turn of events following Parsons’ death, his body was stolen from the Los Angeles International Airport as it was being transported to Louisiana for burial. His casket was driven by friends back to Joshua Tree where they attempted a makeshift cremation in the woods. When authorities were drawn to the smoke, Parsons’ half-burned remains were recovered. A memorial for the singer has since been created on the site. During his career, Parsons performed as a member of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers and is perhaps best known for his song “$1000 Wedding.”