The Dillards are an American bluegrass and

country rock Country rock is a music genre that fuses rock and country. It was developed by rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These musicians recorded rock records using country themes, vocal sty ...

band from

Salem, Missouri Salem is the county seat of Dent County, Missouri, Dent County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,608 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, which allows Salem to become a List of cities in Missouri, Class 3 city in Missouri; ...

. They are notable for being among the first bluegrass groups to have electrified their instruments, and they are considered to be pioneers of

and progressive bluegrass. In 2022, the band was inducted into the

Bill Monroe William Smith Monroe ( ; September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American mandolinist, singer, and songwriter who created the bluegrass music genre. Because of this, he is often called the " Father of Bluegrass". The genre takes its n ...

Bluegrass Hall of Fame.

Biography

The band was originally brothers

Doug Dillard Douglas Flint Dillard (March 6, 1937 – May 16, 2012) was an American musician noted for his banjo proficiency and his pioneering participation in late-'60s country rock. Biography Early life Dillard, who grew up on a farm near Salem, Missouri ...

and Rodney Dillard, plus Mitch Jayne and

Dean Webb Dean Webb (born Michael Eaton in 1940) is an English rock and roll singer, actor, and composer. Background Webb was born in Portsmouth as Michael Eaton. A short time later the family moved to Reading. He was educated at St. Annes Roman Catholic ...

. They had had some successful singles in Missouri and moved to Los Angeles in 1962. Within weeks of their arrival, they were signed by both

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

and the

William Morris Agency The William Morris Agency (WMA) was a Hollywood-based talent agency. It represented some of the best-known 20th-century entertainers in film, television, and music. During its 109-year tenure it came to be regarded as the "first great talent ...

, who soon had them booked on ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The series ...

'', playing a family of mountain musicians called "

The Darlings The Darlings are a fictional family of musically inclined hillbillies in the American TV sitcom '' The Andy Griffith Show''. Overview The Darlings (usually pronounced "Darlin's") lived in a mountain shack somewhere in the mountains neighboring ...

". This was a recurring role, running from 1963 to 1966. In 1986, the Dillards reprised the role in the reunion show ''

Return to Mayberry ''Return to Mayberry'' is a 1986 American made-for-television romantic comedy film based on the 1960s sitcoms ''The Andy Griffith Show'' and '' Mayberry R.F.D.''. The film premiered on April 13, 1986, on NBC, and was the highest- rated televis ...

''. On the October 1963 episode " Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee", the Dillards performed the first wide-scale airing of the 1955

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith Arthur Smith (April 1, 1921 – April 3, 2014) was an American musician, composer, and record producer, as well as a radio and TV host. He produced radio and TV shows; ''The Arthur Smith Show'' was the first nationally syndicated country music ...

composition Feudin' Banjos (Dueling Banjos). Several albums have since featured songs performed on the show. The Dillards released four albums in quick succession but, in 1967, Doug wrote and performed the banjo music for the soundtrack of the movie ''

Bonnie and Clyde Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (October 1, 1910May 23, 1934) and Clyde Chestnut "Champion" Barrow (March 24, 1909May 23, 1934) were American outlaws who traveled the Central United States with their gang during the Great Depression, committing a ser ...

''. That led to an invitation to tour with

The Byrds The Byrds () were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the so ...

, and he left the band; later, he would release solo albums and form the band Dillard and Clark. In 1968, with Doug Dillard replaced by

Herb Pedersen Herbert Joseph Pedersen (born April 27, 1944, in Berkeley, California) is an American musician, guitarist, banjo player, singer-songwriter, and actor who has played a variety of musical styles over the past fifty years including country, blueg ...

, The Dillards released the album "

Wheatstraw Suite ''Wheatstraw Suite'' is the fourth album by American band The Dillards. Released in 1968, the album showcased an "unpredictable" mix of bluegrass, country, folk, rock and pop. For the album's sessions, the band recorded with a full orchestra, ...

", which Elektra founder

Jac Holzman Jac Holzman (born September 15, 1931) is an American record executive. He is the founder of the record labels Elektra Records and Nonesuch Records. Holzman helped commercially launch the CD and home video formats, as well as the pilot program wh ...

called "one of the most innovative bluegrass albums of all time". The album "broke all the rules of bluegrass music", said Rodney Dillard. "We put strings on it, we went electric, we used drums, and we put layered vocals on it." There was backlash from the Bluegrass community but the album inspired artists such as

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. Known for Steve Martin filmography, his work in comedy films, television, and #Discography, recording, he has received List of awards a ...

Don Henley Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American musician who is a founding member of the rock band the Eagles, for whom he is the drummer and co-lead vocalist, as well as its sole continuous member. Henley sang the lead vocals on Eagles ...

and

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

John Paul Jones John Paul Jones (born John Paul; July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792) was a Scottish-born naval officer who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. Often referred to as the "Father of the American Navy", Jones is regard ...

, who attributed his decision to play the mandolin to their influence. In 1970, the band released ''

Copperfields ''Copperfields'' is the fifth album by American band the Dillards. Further distancing themselves from traditional bluegrass music, the album draws from bluegrass, rock, folk and country music, with prominent orchestra and increased use of drums ...

'', a more progressive album with more orchestra and more drums. It was a further step away from traditional Blue Grass but continued to progress the genre and keep it in the public eye. One artist who was profoundly influenced by both albums was

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

, who said that, on his first trip to America, his first act was to see a Dillards concert. In 1973, The Dillards joined John on his ''

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' is the seventh studio album by English singer, pianist, and composer Elton John. A double album, it was released on 5 October 1973, by DJM Records. Recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in France, the album became ...

'' tour. During the tour, The Dillards released ''Roots and Branches'', which became their most commercially successful album. In 1989,

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (sometimes abbreviated NGDB), also known as the Dirt Band, is an American band founded in Long Beach, California, in 1966. Since 2018, the band has consisted of Jeff Hanna and his son Jaime Hanna, both guitarists and voc ...

co-founder

John McEuen John McEuen, born December 19, 1945, in Oakland, California, is an American folk musician and a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Career Solo work John McEuen was born in Oakland, California. In 1964, at age 18, he became intereste ...

, a long-time Dillards fan, wanted to capture the spirit and energy of The Dillards on film; the result was the 80-minute video ''A Night In The Ozarks''. In 2002, The Dillards performed with Arlo Guthrie and

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and social activist. He was a fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s and had a string of hit records in the early 1950s as a member of The Weav ...

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

. In 2008, Guthrie and The Dillards released ''32 Cents, Postage Due'', an album of

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, and composer widely considered to be one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American Left, A ...

songs. Over the years, the band has seen many personnel changes. Rodney and his wife, Beverly Cotton-Dillard, are the only remaining full-time members. Beverly is a native of

Morrisville, North Carolina Morrisville is a town located primarily in Wake County, North Carolina, United States (a small portion extends into neighboring Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County). According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the populatio ...

who performed with

Janette Carter Janette Carter (July 2, 1923 – January 22, 2006), daughter of musicians A.P. and Sara Carter, was an American musician involved in the preservation of Appalachian music. Carter was born on July 2, 1923, in Maces Spring, Virginia. She and her ...

Ola Belle Reed Ola Belle Reed (August 18, 1916 – August 16, 2002) was an American Appalachian folk singer, songwriter and banjo player. Early life Reed was born Ola Wave Campbell in the unincorporated town of Grassy Creek, Ashe County, North Carolina. Sh ...

Tommy Jarrell Thomas Jefferson Jarrell (March 1, 1901 – January 28, 1985) was an American fiddler, banjo player, and singer from the Mount Airy region of North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains. Biography He was born in Surry County, North Carolina, United ...

, and

Doc DOC, Doc, doc or DoC may refer to: People and characters * Doc, an abbreviation of doctor * Doc (nickname) * Doc (mascot), the Towson University mascot Persons * The D.O.C., American rapper (born 1968) * Doc Gallows (born 1983), ring nam ...

and

Merle Watson Eddy Merle Watson (February 8, 1949 – October 23, 1985) was an American folk and bluegrass guitarist. He was best known for his performances with his father, Doc Watson. Merle played and recorded albums together with his father from age 15 unti ...

. Cotton-Dillard is recognized as an authority on the traditional

Clawhammer Clawhammer, sometimes called down-picking, overhand, or most commonly known as frailing, is a distinctive banjo playing style and a common component of American old-time music. The style likely descends from that of West African lutes, suc ...

banjo technique and her 1981 album ''Clog-In: An American Folk Dance Classic'' is considered an American folk classic. The Dillards continue to release new music. For their most recent album, 2020's ''Old Road New Again'', they called upon Herb Pedersen,

Ricky Skaggs Rickie Lee Skaggs (born July 18, 1954), known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, ma ...

Sam Bush Charles Samuel Bush (born April 13, 1952) is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival. ...

Bernie Leadon Bernard Matthew Leadon III ( ; born July 19, 1947) is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Eagles, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of thr ...

and Don Henley.

Past members

Byron Berline Byron Douglas Berline (July 6, 1944 – July 10, 2021) was an American fiddle player who played many American music styles, including old time, ragtime, bluegrass, Cajun, country, and rock. Life and career Berline was born in Caldwell, Kansas ...

(d. 2021) *Buddy Blackmon *Douglas Bounsall (d. 2012) *Bill Bryson (d. 2017) * Billy Constable (d. 2015) *Steve Cooley * Douglas Dillard (d. 2012) *Irv Dugan * George Giddens *Jeff Gilkinson *Jim Glaspy *Richard Godfrey * Pete Grant *John Humphreys *

Mitchell F. Jayne Mitchell Franklin "Mitch" Jayne (July 5, 1928 – August 2, 2010) was an American musician, best known as emcee and upright bass player in The Dillards bluegrass band, the band often remembered for their several Andy Griffith Show appearances as ...

(d. 2010) *Shane Lail * Billy Ray Latham (d. 2018) * Dewey Martin (d. 2009) *Rick McEwen *Seth Pappas *

*Eddie Ponder (d. 2018) * Gary Smith *Joe Villegas *

(d. 2018) *Ric Williams * Tony Wray *Paul Yorks

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Singles

References

External links

History
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dillards, The American bluegrass music groups Musical groups from Missouri American country rock groups Elektra Records artists Progressive bluegrass music groups