The Dillards
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The Dillards was a country and bluegrass band formed by Doug Dillard (1937-2012) and Rodney Dillard (* 1942) in Salem , Missouri .
The brothers Doug and Rodney played in the youth band Ozark Mountain Boys from 1956 to 1959 . Together with Dean Webb (mandolin) and Mitch Jayne (bass) they formed the quartet The Dillards in 1962 . They tried to gain a foothold on the west coast and came into contact with the "progressive" country scene (Dean Webb later arranged the vocal harmonies for "Mr.Tambourine Man" of the Byrds ). Their first album "Back Porch Bluegrass" was released at the end of 1962, followed by the live album "Live ... Almost". In 1964 they had sessions together and toured with the Byrds in 1965. The third album was "Pickin 'and Fiddlin'", a purely instrumental album with Byron Berline fiddle.
Doug Dillard left the group and was replaced by Herb Pedersen . This was followed by the albums "Copperfields" and "Wheatstraw-Suite" which represent a musical turn to the "new" country music with orchestral sound, electric pedal steel and drums ( Paul York ).
The greatest sales success was in 1972 the album "Roots and Branches" ( Billy Ray Lathum replaces Herb Petersen).
With a constantly changing line-up, Rodney continued to lead the group until the late 1990s.