Died On This Date (August 2, 2010) Mitch Jayne / The Dillards
themusicsover Mitch Jayne
July 5, 1930 – August 2, 2010
Mitch Janye was the long time bassist for influential bluegrass band, the Dillards. He was also the author of many of the groups most beloved songs. 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, Jayne authored several books, hosted a radio show, and spent time as a school teacher. Mitch Jayne was 80 when he passed away on August 2, 2010.
What You Should Own
Known as “Maryland’s Five String King,” Jack Sanbower and his No Leeway Band have been entertaining bluegrass fans for over 15 years. Teaching himself to play the banjo, guitar and bass at an early age, Sanbower quickly built a name for himself throughout the northeast due to his fierce picking on the 5-string banjo. In 1990, Sanbower formed the No Leeway Band who, over the next 15 years, dazzled audiences along the east coast bluegrass circuit and recorded close to a dozen albums for the Buck Hallow label. In 2006, Sanbower joined Rattlesnake Hill, quickly becoming their on-stage focal point for his rapid fire picking and lively antics. But the fun would not last long as Sanbower soon became diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He died as a result of the cancer on July 29, 2008. He was 47.
Clarence White started his professional career as founding guitarist for the Kentucky Colonels, a progressive bluegrass outfit formed with his brothers. The Colonels were making a name for themselves in the Los Angeles area in the early ’60s, but their dreams of fame were soon derailed by the one-two punch of the British Invasion, and Bob Dylan going electric. White quickly found plenty of session working on records by the likes of the Monkees, International Submarine Band, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, after which he landed with the Byrds. His tenure with the Byrds started in 1966 with the California-country years of 
Cullen Galyean was an influential bluegrass picker who was equally proficient at the guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bass and banjo on which he earned a reputation as one of the top players during the ’60s. By the time he was 16, Galyean was playing professionally in a bluegrass outfit called the Mountain Ramblers. Throughout his career, he was featured on records by the likes of the Virginia Mountain Boys, the Mountain Ramblers, and the Foot Hill Boys. Galyean reportedly played on the first album ever released in Australia, thus likely sparking that country’s bluegrass movement. Cullen Galyean was 71 when he passed away on July 13, 2010.
Bill Harrell was a bluegrass pioneer who helped build the scene in the acoustic music Washington DC/Baltimore area. He began playing the guitar as a child and by the time he was in college, bluegrass was his music of choice. Over the years, Harrell performed and recorded with many of the areas great players. He’s also performed on 