Nashville Music Scene

Doug Dillard, who died this past Wednesday, influenced a generation of musicians with his exquisite banjo playing and his love of collaborating with other country, bluegrass, pop and rock musicians. Whether performing solo, playing with his brothers in the bluegrass group The Dillards or appearing with the group as The Darlings on The Andy Griffith Show, Doug was a joy to behold and wonder to hear. To John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Doug was not just a long-time friend, but a true mentor. Here’s what John had to say about the passing of his friend.

                                                                            Douglas Flint Dillard

My mentor, the person who showed me that music was exciting and fun to play on stage for people . . . the one who was ‘impickable’ with the execution of his art . . . Douglas Flint Dillard (left) . . . whose grin would hit the back of the wall from any stage he was on . . . has passed away.

There were many times, after I became a ‘hanger on’ at 17 years old, the Dillards allowed me to hang out in their dressing room as they tuned up to go on for yet another sold out L.A. club show. I would sit there pretending to read a book, but listen like a hawk watches, trying to pick up new nuances of notes. Often, on the way to the stage, Douglas would turn to me and play an incredible previously unheard lick to impress me, and I would ask where that came from. He’d mention another player that he was emulating at that moment, and tell me to check them out. I did. Then he went on stage and played his own style that kept me mesmerized.

So often I went to see them, sometimes 2-3 times a week when they did the L.A. club circuit (usually a week at each place, and there were 8 of them), that my mother told me after that first year of two that I should change my last name to Dillard. Changing my college major from math to banjo was an easy decision that came along then. The fire to be a musical performer had been ignited.

One time, at an after show picking party at the club owner’s house, Doug broke a string on his banjo. I always brought mine along, but never played in front of him. I spent many hours studying his attack, strings, setup of his instrument, method of playing, stance, tone . . . all in vain to try to make mine sound like his. My banjo just did not sound like his. I offered him the use of mine while I changed the string. He started playing it, and . . . it sounded just like his. That is when I learned ‘it’s the archer, not the bow’.

I am grateful to have been able to call Dillard a friend.

There would not have been a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with me in it if it had not been for Doug . . . consequently, there would not have been a “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” album if not for him. I am grateful to Doug Dillard for what he did for me.

John McEuen

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Producer of A Night in the Ozarks with the Dillards

Matt Kennon hits the top spot for the first time with “You Had To Pick On Me” (Roaddawg). Brantley Gilbert gets to know the the second spot with “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” (Valory) and Marlee Scott is on the fast track in the number three position with “Train Wreck” (Heaven).

Check Nashville.com every Friday for the latest Renegade Radio / Nashville.com Hot 40 Countdown and don’t forget to listen to Renegade Radio Nashville and Captain Jack while you’re checking it out or just keep it on all the time like we do!

Contact: jerry@nashville.com

Exclusive interview. It’s been a long road for the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama, a vocal group that was founded more than 70 years ago and has earned accolades around the world, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Grammys and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Whether performing traditional gospel classics or contemporary spiritual music, the Boys have put their unique interpretations into every appearance they’ve made, and have appeared on recordings by Bonnie Raitt, Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Charlie Musselwhite, Susan Tedeschi, Solomon Burke and many others. And, with the recent release of their latest CD, Take the High Road, the Blind Boys have added another accomplishment to their dazzling resume by performing more than a dozen great gospel tunes with some of country music’s brightest stars, including Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Lee Ann Womack, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr. and the Oak Ridge Boys on the excellent title cut. Founding member Jimmy Carter recently took time out to chat with Nashville.com about the group’s latest project, as well as about how he knows he was “born to sing.” If you don’t yet have this cd, you need to get it. And, if you want the ultimate treat, go check out the Blind Boys in person tonight when they perform at the Franklin Theatre in Franklin. For ticket information, go to: franklintheatre.com/tickets/music/. Here’s some of what Jimmy Carter had to say.

Nash: I love the new record and I think you and all the others in the group are singing as well as I’ve ever heard you.

Carter: Thank you. This is our first effort as far as doing a country project, but we are testing the water.

Nash: I know you were exposed to country music early in your life . . .

Carter: Oh, yeah, I love it.

Nash: Were there some early artists or early songs that particularly attracted you to country?

Carter: Country music had a story. In every situation that you’re in, country music has a story about that. If you lost your woman, they’ve got a story for that. Just stories about everything.

Nashville: It’s a little similar to the blues in that respect.

Carter: It is, exactly. Yeah.

Nash: Were you ever an Opry fan? Could you pick it up where you lived in Alabama?

Carter: Oh yeah. WSM, sure. That goes back to the early ‘40s.

Nash: Now, you and the rest of the group have performed on the Opry, haven’t you?

Carter: We’ve been to the Opry. Yes we have.

Nash: What was that first time like?

Carter: Oh, my goodness. When we got out there I said, “I’m honored to be on this Grand Ole Opry stage.” To be on the same stage as such people as George Jones and Jim Reeves, all those guys. Jim Reeves is my favorite singer of all time. That was at the Ryman.

Nash: I know your first meeting with Jamey Johnson was at an Alabama Hall of Fame ceremony. And he asked if you’d ever considered doing a country album . . . and then helped you get other country acts involved in the project. What was it like working with him in the studio?

Carter: When the session was over, I told him, “Jamey, I have recorded many records in many studios. And I have enjoyed this session more than I ever have enjoyed anyone.” It was just like a family. And he made it fun. It was a fun project.

Nash: Shouldn’t it always be fun? Obviously, it’s not going to be fun if you’re singing at a funeral, but . . .

Carter: I know what you mean. And you’re right. It should be always fun. And there’s never a dull moment with Jamey. When we first got to Nashville, I was telling him that George Jones has been a hero of mine for years. And I never had a chance to meet him. Jamey Johnson made that possible. I met the possum!

Nash: What were the circumstances.

Carter: He came in the studio while we were recording. He wanted to get on the project, but his allergies were bad at the time. Other than that, he would’ve been on there.

Nash: I understand this project just took a few days. Do you always work that fast?

Carter: We always try to get through it as quick as possible. It usually takes three or four days.

Nash: Talk about the mix of tunes. I really like that you had some old, classic tunes and some newer ones as well.

Carter: Jamey Johnson and our other producer, Chris Goldsmith, came up with most of the songs and Jamey’s idea to get most of the artists together. But we all agreed that we liked the songs.

Nash: I love the opening tune and title cut, “Take the High Road.” It sounds like a Pentecostal tent revival.

Carter: That was Jamey’s intention.

Nash: With the Oak Ridge Boys singing on it, the chorus sounded a little like “Elvira.”

Carter: It did, it did! They’re good friends.

Nash: “Take the High Road” is just about the best advice you can give someone on how to make it through life, isn’t it?

Carter: That’s right, that’s right. Take the high road.

Nash: Have you always been able to do that? Or has it been a struggle sometimes?

Carter: Oh, sometimes you come to a fork in the road where you’re gonna have to make a decision.

Nash: Was there one big fork for you?

Carter: There were some, there were some. I remember we were in Los Angeles, California, one time. We were offered a chance to cross over and do R&B. Sam Cooke did it, I’m sure you know him. We were in the same studio at the same time when they offered him the chance to do that. And they offered The Blind Boys the same opportunity. We thought about it, but we were determined to stick to gospel. Because we were all brought up in a Christian environment. We love God and we love to sing his praises. So we turned it down.

Nash: Any regrets?

Carter: No regrets.

Nash: And now you’ve reached the point where you can sing with those people, without having to abandon what you love.

Carter: That’s right. It worked out perfect.

Nash: I’m thinking about that song, “Take the High Road.” Have there ever been any times when you’ve wondered if God heard your prayers? Maybe because the answer wasn’t what you wanted or because it took so long to even get an answer?

Carter: No, I know he heard mine. And I’ll give an example. I was born without sight. And I always prayed to God to let my mother live to see me get grown. I didn’t want my mother to die and leave me as a child. He didn’t only let her live to see me get grown, she just passed away in 2009. She was 103.

Nash: What a great, long life.

Carter: Yes sir. Can’t nobody tell me about God. I know about him. 

Nash: Mind if I ask how old you are now?

Carter: I don’t usually tell that, but I’ll tell you. I’m 79. [He’s turned 80 since our interview]

Nash: Well, you don’t look it. And you don’t sound like it.

Carter: (laughs) Usually when people ask me that, I tell them I’m past 50!

Nash: Let’s talk about Vince Gill’s song on the record. That’s probably one of my very favorites on the record.

Carter: I like that one, too. I like the way Vince Gill presents it. We told him how we wanted it, and he did it exactly the way we wanted it done.

Nash: I think he’s probably one of the three or four most talented people in this town in terms of his guitar playing, his song writing and his singing . . .

Carter: He’s a good producer, too. And a great fella.

Nash: Did you ever hear Hank Williams live or get a chance to meet him?

Carter: Never did. I would have loved to have met him. I just heard his records.

Nash: I would imagine he was one you heard as a child.

Carter: Yeah, I heard Hank Williams, The Delmore Brothers, Wayne Raney and those kinds of guys.

Nash: You mentioned earlier that you’ve never had sight. I was thinking specifically of the song you did here with Hank Jr., “I Saw the Light.”  Is that something you’re really looking forward to when you do, as the song says, take that “bridge to heaven?”

Carter: I would love to be able to see. But people have told me that I’m not missing anything! (big laugh)

Nash: I guarantee you’re not missing anything sitting here with me!

Carter: I would have liked to have known what the world looks like. But God has a way, when he decides to take a sense away, he always gives you something to rely on. You can tell me about an object or scenery, and I can see that in my mind. I’ve got my own image, and it’s usually pretty good.

Nash: Let’s go back to “I Saw the Light.” Can you hear Hank Jr’s daddy in his voice?

Carter: I can hear him clearly. I can.

Nash: Did you come from a musical family? Anyone else who sang or played an instrument?

Carter: No, I’m the only one. My mom sang around the house and all that. But I’m the only guy who was gifted to sing. Singing to me was a gift. I was born to sing.

Nash: Have you always known that?

Carter: I think so. I knew it when I was five and six years old. I’d sing around the house and used to have a snuff box for a microphone. (laughs)

Nash: That’s a real gift, isn’t it? Knowing what you want to do early in life.

Carter: Right, that’s right. I have to say this. I believe if God had not taken my sight from me, I don’t think I’d be doing this. Because I think that’s why he took it, why he didn’t let me have it. He can see way farther down the road. And I think he took it because he wanted me to do this work for him. I think this is my calling. That’s why we try to touch as many lives as we can. Because I think this is what God meant for us to do. And I used to ask him. I had five brothers. I was the sixth one. I was the youngest. And I was the only one who couldn’t see. So I questioned him. Now I know why. He wanted me to do what I’m doing.

Nash: Do you think if you’d had sight, you would’ve been out playing baseball, running around and doing things that would’ve taken you away from music?

Carter: Yeah. And I always wanted to go in the military. After that, I wanted to be a lawyer. But he didn’t want that. He wanted me to do just what I’m doing.

Nash: I think he made the right choice.

Carter: I think so, too.

Nash: I think we’re about out of time, but I’ve really enjoyed talking with you. This has been a treat. Thanks so much for your time.

Carter: Thank you. It’s so easy to talk to you. I wish all the people were like that.

Nash: You make it easy.

—David Scarlett

 Contact: dscarlett@nashville.com or jerry@nashville.com

Legendary singer Donna Summer, one of the greatest vocalists in the past 50 years, died of cancer in Florida today at age 63, according to a report by TMZ. Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Boston, she gained international fame during the ‘70s disco era with such classic hits as “I Feel Love,” “Hot Stuff,” “Last Dance,” “MacArthur Park,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All the Lights,” “On The Radio,” “Heaven Knows” and others. Summer was a five-time Grammy winner, had four No. 1 singles in the United States in a 13 month period and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach the top of the Billboard charts.

A lover of the visual arts, Summer and her family moved from Los Angeles to Nashville in 1994, where she took a break from music to focus on painting. Rest in peace, Donna.

—David Scarlett

Contact: dscarlett@nashville.com or jerry@nashville.com

Country foursome Little Big Town is back to host the 2012 Ride For a Cure Sunday, June 10 with proceeds benefitting the T.J. Martell Foundation. This will be the group’s 6th consecutive year hosting the ride.

The event will stay true to form with the exception of a new starting location for registration and the pre-ride Jam Session that will be Mickey Roo’s (509 Hillsboro Road, Franklin, TN 37069) in the Kroger Independence Square parking lot on Hillsboro Pike (see below link and QR code for specific directions). Registration begins at 8am.

At this pre-ride location guests and riders can expect performances by Cali Rodi and others on the welcome stage and then will depart at 10:30am for the Harley-Davidson Columbia Superstore.

Post-ride festivities will begin at 12pm and include a lunch hosted by Applebee’s, an All-Star Jam Session with performances by Lauren Alaina, Dean Alexander, Love and Theft and Little Big Town as well as a live auction for all attendees.

To date over $260,000 has been raised for the T.J. Martell Foundation since the beginning of Ride For a Cure. There have been over 2,500 motorcycle riders to participate in the ride, and an additional 2,000 people have joined us over the last three years at the Harley-Davidson Columbia Superstore for the post-ride All Star Jam concert. Past performers and supporters include Martina McBride, Jamey Johnson, The Band Perry and Luke Bryan among others.

Link to purchase tickets:
www.nashvillerideforacure.com

Directions to new starting location, Mickey Roo’s:
http://tinyurl.com/84elsn4

Contact: jerry@nashville.com