We sadly note the passing of Doug Dillard: Founding member of the Dillards, a bluegrass band that made headway for the country folk/rock genre. The Dillards were also well-known for their recurring role the Darlings, a gritty and fun bluegrass family band regularly featured on the Andy Griffith Show. Doug Dillard passed away Wednesday, May 16th 2012, after prolonged illness.

Picking up the banjo at age 15, after ten years of playing guitar, Doug joined his brother Rodney to form the Ozark Mountain boys, and made appearances on local radio stations and clubs. They soon joined Dean Webb and Mitch Jayne to form the Dillards. The band had a notably progressive edge. They were among the very first to include electric instruments in their lineup, they were pioneers in the California folk-rock genre.

After making a substantial impact on American popular music, Doug Dillard joined the Byrd’s Gene Clark to form the Dillard and Clark duo, who incorporated dozens of notable session players from throughout the country rock genre.

Doug also had a role as “Farmer Clem” in the 1980 film Popeye, featuring Robin Williams.

In 2009, Doug and the rest of the Dillards were inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame.

Through his solo works and accomplishments with the Dillards, Doug Dillard created the firmament of the country folk-rock genre. He was 75.