Died On This Date (May 16, 2012) Doug Dillard / Banjo Great; The Dillards

By themusicsover May 16, 2012 #Andy Griffith, #Doug Dillard, #Elton John, #Gene Clark, #Joan Baez, #Johnny Cash, #Linda Ronstadt, #New Grass Revival, #Ricky Skaggs, #Sam Bush, #String Cheese Incident, #the byrds, #The Darlings, #The Dillards, #The Eagles, #The Flying Burrito Brothers, #The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Doug Dillard
March 6, 1937 – May 16, 2012

Doug Dillard was a world-renowned banjo player and founding member of the Dillards. Formed in 1962, the pickers eventually added electric guitars, drums and keyboards to the mix which in turn, laid the foundation for country rock to come in the early ’70s, and newgrass in the ’80s and ’90s. Artists who have taken a cue for the Dillards include the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Eagles, New Grass Revival, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sam Bush, String Cheese Incident, Ricky Skaggs, and the Byrds. The Dillards made their mark on television as well. During the ’60s, they had a recurring role as the Darlings, a bluegrass band that performed on the Andy Griffith Show. The group continued to release albums well into the ’90s. Outside of the Dillards, Doug also performed alongside the Byrds‘ Gene Clark as the Dillard and Clark Band. Throughout his career, he either performed or recorded with the likes of Elton John, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, and Linda Ronstadt. Doug Dillard was 75 when he passed away on May 16, 2012.