Dillard & Clark Expedition

The Dillard & Clark Expedition

The Dillard & Clark Expedition I (1968 - 1969)

Doug Dillard - banjo - b. March 6, 1937, Salem, Missouri - formerly with The Dillards.
Gene Clark - vocals/tambourine/guitar - b. Harold Eugene Clark on November 17, 1941, Tipton, Missouri; died May 24, 1991, Sherman Oaks, California - formerly with The New Christy Minstrels and The Byrds.
Bernie Leadon - guitar/vocals - b. July 19, 1947, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Don Beck - dobro/mandolin
David Jackson - bass

Album:

"The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard and Clark" (1968)

The Dillard & Clark Expedition II (1969) (split)

Doug Dillard - banjo
Gene Clark - vocals/tambourine/guitar
Bernie Leadon - guitar/vocals
Byron Berline - fiddle
Jon Corneal - drums
Donna Washburn - guitar

Album:

"Through the Morning, Through the Night" (1969)

Bernie Leadon joins The Flying Burrito Brothers. Doug Dillard and Gene Clark go solo.

Compilations:

"Fantastic Expedition // Through the Night" (1999)

Links:

"DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" - by John Einarson; published by Cooper Square Press - Let me say right up front that I have been a big fan of country rock music ever since hearing the "Pickin' Up The Pieces" single from Poco's debut album. Poco has remained a favorite of mine through the years, although I always believed they were overlooked as a significant influence on popular music into the 1970s and the "new country" movement in the 1990s. Thankfully, this oversight is corrected by John Einarson in his book, "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock", which traces the history of country rock's rise in Southern California from the early days in the late 1960s up to The Eagles (unquestionably the most commercially-viable country rock band of all time). Having previously read one of Mr. Einarson's biographies on The Guess Who, I was anxious to see how he approached my favorite type of music...I was not disappointed. "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" is an intricate tale of musicians struggling to be heard amidst the psychedelic and hard-rock sounds flooding the airwaves at the time...and these early country rockers did make themselves heard...The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Poco, Buffalo Springfield, Clarence White, The Eagles, Michael Nesmith (remember The Monkees?...Nesmith made some great country rock music after that gig was over), The Dillards, Rick Nelson and The Stone Canyon Band, The Dillard and Clark Expedition, Linda Ronstadt, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band...the list could go on and on. This book covers the early days of country rock from it's beginnings in the late 1960s to the tragic year of 1973 (when the music world lost two country rock pioneers: guitarist-extraordinaire Clarence White and Gram Parsons) and examines the influence this music has had on second-generation country rock bands such as Pure Prairie League and Firefall. In addition, the impact of these early country rockers on the "new country" music of the 1980s and the "alternative country" movement of the late-1990s and beyond is explored from a "roots" perspective. This is a tale masterfully woven by Mr. Einarson, based on more than 60 exclusive interviews with the originators and innovators of country rock. The amount of information and level of detail contained in these 288 pages is astounding, and there are 31 black and white photographs (some of which I've never seen before). The only improvement that I would recommend is the inclusion of a comprehensive index in the next edition (this would really help in finding information on specific artists). Even though I've been following country rock music for years, I learned a lot from this book. The quotes gleaned from Mr. Einarson's interviews during research for this book are particularly helpful in understanding the origin and development of country rock. "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" is required reading for all fans of country rock or anyone interested in late-1960s to early-1970s music. Highly recommended.