Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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DILLARDS, The

US bluegrass/country-rock musicians: Douglas Flint Dillard (b 6 March 1937; d 16 May 2012, Nashville), Rodney Adean Dillard (b 18 May 1942), both b East St Louis IL. Grew up across the river in Salem MO playing guitar and banjo; took part in two revivals of bluegrass, in '60s and later 'progressive' bluegrass. First single made in St Louis got local airplay '58; to L.A. and first Elektra LP Backporch Bluegrass '63, with Roy Dean Webb on mandolin (b 28 March 1937, Independence MO), Mitchell Jane on bass (b 5 July 1930, Hammond IN), then The Dillards Live -- Almost '64, Pickin' And Fiddlin' '65. They played the dim-witted Darling family on Andy Griffith TV show, also showcased music; upset purists with amplifiers at Newport Folk Festival '64, added drummer Paul York '68: Doug went solo that year, replaced by Herb Pederson for Wheatstraw Suite '68, Copperfields '69; Pedersen left to form Country Gazette '71. Roots And Branches '72 appeared on Anthem/UA, Tribute To The American Duck '73 on Poppy; with personnel changes, they carried on playing festivals, etc.

Meanwhile Doug toured with the Byrds, formed Dillard and Clark Expedition with Gene Clark (album on RCA), sessioned (film soundtrack work included Bonnie And Clyde '67, Vanishing Point '71), acted; organized Doug Dillard Band Featuring Byron Berline for 'gospel-grass' LP Heaven '79 on Flying Fish, later Jackrabbit and What's That? As interest in folk-roots grew the original band, still led by Rodney, turned up on Flying Fish as well: The Dillards vs. The Incredible L.A. Time Machine '77, Mountain Rock '78 on Crystal Clear (direct-to-metal mastered), Decade Waltz '79 with Pederson back on Flying Fish. Both Dillards appeared in film The Rose '79. Also Dillard-Hartford-Dillard (with John Hartford from St Louis days on fiddle) for Glittergrass From The Nashwood Hollyville Strings and Permanent Wave (later combined on one CD). Salem celebrated Dillard Day '79 with Homer Earl Dillard Sr on fiddle, his grandson Earl on banjo and everybody in between (Homecoming And Family Reunion); Rodney's At Silver Dollar City '86 and Let The Rough Side Drag '92, Doug's Heartbreak Hotel '89 all on Flying Fish; Doug's The Banjo Album '96 on Sierra with Hartford, Gene Clark and Bernie Leadon. Flying fingers, fine ballads and comedy never failed; they were sending up Joan Baez before it was fashionable.