The Dillards are an American bluegrass band from Salem, Missouri, popularly… Read Full Bio ↴The Dillards are an American bluegrass band from Salem, Missouri, popularly known for their appearance as "The Darlings" on The Andy Griffith Show.

Though The Dillards were already an established bluegrass band, their biggest claim to fame is performing musically as members of the fictional Darling family on The Andy Griffith Show, introducing bluegrass to many Americans who had never heard it. This was a recurring role and the Dillards were led by veteran character actor Denver Pyle as their father and jug player, Briscoe Darling. Maggie Peterson played Charlene Darling, their sister and the focus for the attentions of character Ernest T. Bass, played by Howard Morris. The appearances of the Dillards as the Darlings ran between 1963 and 1966. In 1986, the Dillards reprised the role in the reunion show Return to Mayberry. As part of their current tour, Rodney Dillard answers questions about the TV series. He says the songs such as "Dooley" are about people the family knew.

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 composition Feudin' Banjos (Dueling Banjos).

According to Jim Clark of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club, three albums have been produced with songs performed on the show. Clark says Songs That Make Me Cry is the only one currently available with real performances and has the three songs which included Maggie Peterson, who played Charlene. Back Porch Bluegrass: Live Almost includes five songs that were sung on the show, and Rodney Dillard released another album with the real performances of other songs.

The Dillards are notable for being among the first bluegrass groups to have electrified their instruments in the mid-1960s. They are considered to be one of the pioneers of the burgeoning southern California folk rock, country rock and progressive bluegrass genres, and are known to have directly or indirectly influenced artists such as The Eagles, The Byrds, and Elton John. In 1972, The Dillards joined Elton John on his first American tour. John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin has also acknowledged their influence, particularly in his decision to play the mandolin.

Rodney Dillard is a founding member of The Dillards - the group he formed with his brother, Douglas Dillard in the late 1950s. Credited throughout the years as the driving force behind the group's musical direction, success, and phenomenal longevity as a working act. Today, Dillard's musical duties include lead and harmony vocals, guitar, and dobro.

Beverly Cotten-Dillard is a native of Morrisville, North Carolina who performed with Janette Carter, Ola Belle Reed, Tommy Jarrell, and Doc and Merle Watson. She has appeared on Hee Haw and the Disney Channel and at Carnegie Hall. Cotten-Dillard is recognized as an authority on the traditional "clawhammer" banjo technique and is a featured member of The Dillards live shows. Her 1981 album Clog-In 'is considered an American folk classic."

George Giddens is a classically trained musician who is an awarded fiddler and mandolin player for the band.

Gary J. Smith was added to the lineup, having recorded double bass in the 2015 studio sessions for the new Dillards album. Smith is well known in Nashville circles after stints with Tom T. Hall, The Brother Boys, Ed Snodderly, and his long-time collaborator, Jeff Gilkinson.

Former member, Dean Webb, died at the age of 81, on June 30, 2018.

Cumberland Gap
The Dillards Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Cumberland Gap' by these artists:

2nd South Carolina String Band Lay down, Boys, and take a little nap, Lay down, Boys,…
Cisco Houston [Chorus] Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles from…
Cisco Houston; Sonny Terry; Woody Guthrie [Chorus] Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles fr…
David Rawlings Cumberland gap, it's a devil of a gap Cumberland gap, it's…
Donegan Lonnie Well, the Cumberland gap, Cumberland gap Fifteen miles on t…
Ezra Glenn The Cumberland Gap calls me home to the hills O, the…
Frank Fairfield Cumberland Gap is not my home I'm gonna leave old Cumberlan…
Frank Hutchison Lay down, boys, take a little nap Forty…
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit There's an answer here, if I look hard enough There's a…

Joe Meek Cumberland gap, Cumberland gap Fifteen miles on the Cumberl…
Lonnie Donegan Cumberland gap, Cumberland gap Fifteen miles on the Cumberl…
Lonnie Donnegan Cumberland gap, Cumberland gap Fifteen miles on the Cumber…
Osborne Brothers Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles from the Cumb…
Paul Brown Me and my wife and my wife's pap We all walked…
Pete Seeger Lay down boys take a lil' nap We're all going down…
Sonny Terry Woody Guthrie And Cisco Houston [Chorus] Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles from…
The 400 Unit There's an answer here, if I look hard enough There's a…
The Lisps Lay down boy an' take a little nap, We're all goin'…
The Osborne Brothers Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles from the Cumb…
The Vipers Skiffle Group Lay down, boys, and take a little nap We're all going…
Woody Guthrie [Chorus] Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles from…
Woody Guthrie (with Cisco Houston and Sonny Terry) [Chorus] Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles fr…
Woody Guthrie And American Folk Giants [Chorus] Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles from…
Woody Guthrie Cisco Houston & Sonny Terry [Chorus] Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap Seventeen miles fr…
Xiu Xiu Lay down boys, and take a little nap Snow knee-deep…

We have lyrics for these tracks by The Dillards:

Carry Me Off Take me to the mountains once again Sailing where the wind's…
Close the Door Lightly Turn around don't whisper out my name For like a breeze it…
Daddy Was a Mover Daddy was a mover and a gold creek miner Never had…
Darlin' Boys [E]Well up on the middle of the mountain side Where the…
Don't You Cry Every day, our lives, are filled with lows and highs We…
Dooley Dooley was a good ole man He lived below the mill Dooley…
EBO Walker Now Ebo Walker was born in Kentucky, and raised by…
Ground Hog Off to the woods for to catch a groundhog Oh, groundhog Run…
I've Just Seen a Face I've just seen a face, I can't forget the time or…
In My Life There are places I'll remember All my life, though some hav…
Introduction introduction…
Ive Just Seen a Face I've just seen a face, I can't forget the time or…
Lemon Chimes The October leaves They whisper in lemon chimes And ring a…
Let It Fly Way far off, I hear a lonesome cry Something′s caught and…
Love Has Gone Away Well the days go by I wonder where they're going It…
Man of Constant Sorrow I am a man of constant sorrow I′ve seen troubles all…
Nobody Knows Nobody knows Nobody ever knows No one knows when things…
Old Blue Well, I had an old dog and his name was…
Old Home Place It's been ten long years since I left my home In…
Old Man At the Mill Same old man sitting at the mill The…
Polly Vaughn Now come all ye hunters who follow the gun Beware of…
Rainin' Here This Mornin' I lost ten points just for being in the right…
Rainmaker First day in August, the last rain was in May When…
Reuben Ol Reuben made a train & he put it on…
Somebody Touched Me While I was singing, somebody touched me, While I was singin…
The Biggest Whatever It got Old Joe Wiggins while returnin' a glance Out to…
The Old Home Place It's been ten long years since I left my home In…
The Old Man At The Mill Same old man sitting at the mill The…
The Whole World 'Round I heard my neighbor's rooster crow Early in the day I heard…
There Is a Time There is no way, I can live without you There is…
Turn It Around Some folks live in worry, some people drown themselves in…
Walkin' Down the Line Walkin′ Down the Line Bob Dylan Well, I'm walkin′ down the …
What's Time to a Hog What's time to a hog What's a Nobel Prize to a…
Whole World 'Round I heard my neighbor's rooster crow Early in the day I heard…
Woman turn around Some folks live in worry, some people drown themselves in…
Yesterday Yesterday Love was such an easy game to play Now I need…

You've Got to Be Strong Lately I know it's so hard To make up your mind…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS