Christopher "Chris" Hillman (born December 4, 1944 in
Los Angeles,
California, United States) is an American musician. He was one of the original members of
The Byrds, which in 1965 included
Roger McGuinn,
Gene Clark,
David Crosby and
Michael Clarke. With frequent collaborator
Gram Parsons, Hillman was a key figure in the development of
country rock, defining the genre through his work with The Byrds,
The Flying Burrito Brothers,
Manassas and the country-rock group
Desert Rose Band.