Everyone who is even mildly musically inclined knows to some degree the poet and Doors' front man Jim Morrison. Love him or hate him, famous or infamous, his name is immortalized in music history.
This article, while somewhat about him, is more an exploration of the life of the redheaded, milky pale skinned Irish fireball he referred to as his "cosmic mate."
I am writing this because beside, not behind, every great man is an even greater woman.
Pamela Susan Courson was born December 22,1946 to Columbus "Corky" Courson and his wife Penny in Weed, California. She went to school in Orange, California though it is unclear whether she ever actually graduated. Her years in high school were tumultuous to say the least. With her fiery red hair she definitely stood out. Ironically the looks that people in Orange shunned her for(probably due to jealousy) were greatly appreciated by the avant garde artistic crowds of L.A.
At 19, while she was an art student at Los Angeles City College she met James Douglas Morrison. Exactly how they met, and where, are debated to this day.
The general consensus of people close to the couple is that Jim doted on her and they loved each other. They also, however, had a very volatile relationship.The fights of Jim Morrison and his "little girl" as he often called Pamela, were legendary.
I have heard many people insinuate that Pamela was a user, a gold digger. This is, however, far from true. She met Jim when the band was just starting out; there was no gold to dig. Pamela had no reason to sponge from Jim anyway, she ran a successful clothing store called Themis.
She may be the only one who ever loved Jim the person, rather than Jim the Rock Star. They inspired each other, lived for each other and, above all else loved each other.
He was the poet, she was his muse....for anyone who doesn't know what a muse is, it's someone who gives inspiration.
It has been said by people who knew the two well (friends and band mates) that they were "two halves of the same person." I have to say I believe this sums it up. After all, they would know.
Jim wouldn't call her his soul mate for nothing, she was obviously close to his heart.
She stayed with Jim from the time they met until his death five years later at the age of 27.
Many people unfairly blame Pam for his death.(This is due to complete ignorance and assumptions surrounding the circumstances of his death.)
On April 25, 1974 three years after Jim's death, Pamela joined him. Her last known words were "It's time to be with Jim now."
God rest their souls.
always a fan
Brenda Hernandez