Chris Ethridge, Former Flying Burrito Brothers Bassist, Dead at 65

Chris Ethridge, the bassist for '60s rock band Flying Burrito Brothers, has died. He was 65.

According to Billboard, the musician was hospitalized last week. The Los Angeles Times reported Ethridge died in Meridian, Mississippi of complications from pancreatic cancer.

The Mississippian moved to California in his teenage years and joined the International Submarine Band with the late Gram Parsons. Both Ethridge and Parsons would perform together again in the Flying Burrito Brothers with Ethridge playing on the group's 1969 album The Gilded Palace of Sin.

"Chris was multi-talented; a great bass player, and a great songwriter," Chris Hillman, the lone surviving member of Flying Burrito Brothers, told Billboard via email. "His collaborations as co-writer, with Gram Parsons, on 'Hot Burrito 1,' 'Hot Burrito 2' and 'She,' are classics. He was a joy to work with and a joy to know."

After leaving the Flying Burrito Brothers, Ethridge continued working with Parsons until his death in 1973. Ethridge would later work as a session musician with several artists ranging from Ry Cooder to Jackson Browne to Leon Russell and Linda Ronstadt. He also appeared on the Doors' song "Get Up and Dance" on the band's Full Circle album.

Ethridge would also hook up with country icon Willie Nelson, touring with Nelson's Family Band for nearly a decade.

"WN&F are sad to hear of the passing of Family member & friend Chris Ethridge he was a talented musician & we were honored to call him Family," a tweet on Nelson's account said yesterday.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.