|
Chris
Hillman
|
Biography,
discography & family tree
|
|
Chris
Hillman
|
Biography,
discography & family tree
|
At the age of 16 Chris Hillman formed together with Larry Murray, Gary Carr and Kenny Wertz the bluegrass group SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS. They started to perform at school-parties. In the summer of 1962 they recorded an album for Crown Records. It took them three hours to record the bluegrass standards. Even though the group performed live some of their own songs they were not allowed to record them for the album. Crown released the album "The Best Of Bluegrass Favorites" several times. Sometimes they even called the group KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN BOYS (as did the Dutch release on Ariola in the early seventies). Chris Hillman played mandolin with the SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS and many critics called him the next genius.
|
SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS
1 1958 - 1962 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Larry |
Carr gtr/vcl |
Douglas bs |
Kenny Wertz gtr/bjo |
| SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS album | |
|---|---|
 |
1961: SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS - Blue Grass Favorites (Crown Records) |
In 1962 Kenny Wertz left the SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS. He was replaced by Bernie Leadon. The group did not stay for long together though. They split up in 1962 Chris Hillman joined the GOLDEN STATE BOYS.
|
SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS
2 1962 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Larry |
Carr gtr/vcl |
Douglas bs |
Bernie Leadon gtr/bjo/vcl |
The GOLDEN STATE BOYS had been looking for a new mandolin player and when they heard Chris Hillman play with the SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS, they asked him to join.
|
GOLDEN STATE BOYS 2 1962 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman mdl/vcl |
Vern |
Gosdin bs/vcl |
Parmley bjo |
| Don Parmley album | |
|---|---|
 |
1962: Don Parmley - 5 String Banjo (GNP 98) |
Once Chris Hillman was a member of the group they wanted to change their name. At first they played as the BLUE DIAMOND BOYS.
|
BLUE DIAMOND BOYS 1963 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman mdl/vcl |
Vern |
Gosdin bs/vcl |
Parmley bjo |
In the end they called themselves the HILLMEN. They made some demo recordings and changed their name first to BLUE DIAMOND BOYS and then to HILLMEN. During this time the group recorded an album, which was released as "Don Parmley And The Five String Banjo". This album was originally intended to be just a solo-recording by Don Parmley. It has to be regarded as the first HILLMEN album though, as all four members play on all the tracks, even though they were augmented by several guest musicians. At the same time Chris Hillman also helped Tut taylor to record the album "12-string Dobro".
Jim Dickson was supervising the recordings of another album of the HILLMEN. Unfortunately they did not succeed in finding a record company to release the album. The recordings were kept in the shelves till the early seventies, when Together records decided to release it. In the meantime this album has been rereleased several times. Those rereleases coming from SugarHill Records deserve attention, as they offered additional tracks. Chris Hillman could explain the history of the group in the liner notes of the rerelease.
The HILLMEN disbanded in the summer of 1964, when Chris Hillman left to join the BYRDS.
|
HILLMEN 1963 - 1964 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman mdl/vcl |
Vern |
Gosdin bs/vcl |
Parmley bjo |
| HILLMEN album | |
|---|---|
 |
1963: HILLMEN - The Hillmen (Together Records St-T-1012) (released 1970) |
 |
1963: HILLMEN - The Hillmen (Sugar Hill Records SHCD 3719) (CD rerelease 1995 w/ 5 bonus tracks) |
| Chris Hillman sessions | |
|---|---|
 |
1963: Tut Taylor: 12-String Dobro (World Pacific GXC 2011) |
|
JET SET 3 1964 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Crosby gtr/vcl |
Gene Clark gtr/vcl |
The recording was fine but Dickson was convinced that the song could be done even better, so he got some session musicians and they rerecorded the song again. This time only the guitar of McGuinn and the vocals of McGuinn, Clark and Crosby came from the group. After discussing many different names the five musicians agreed that BYRDS would be the right name for them.
|
BYRDS 1 8/64
- 3/66
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Crosby gtr/vcl |
Gene
Clark gtr/vcl |
Their debut album was released in 1965 and it offered an interesting mixture of Bob Dylan tunes and Gene Clark compositions. All the songs on "Mr. Tambourine Man with the exception of the single version of "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "All I Really Want To Do" were recorded by the five musicians. In 1965 they even flew to England for their first European tour.
In 1966 their second album "Turn Turn Turn" was released. After the recording of two new songs - "Eight Miles High" and "Why" -, which were released as the BYRDS' next single. Gene Clark, who didn't like flying, left the group in 1966.
| BYRDS - session | |
|---|---|
 |
1965: Jackie deShannon - Splendor In The Grass b/w Come And Get Me (Single; Reprise 66171) |
When David Crosby spoke on stage about the political situation in America the conflicts within the group got stronger.
|
BYRDS 2 3/66
- 10/67
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Crosby gtr/vcl |
| BYRDS - session | |
|---|---|
 |
|
|
BYRDS 3 10/67
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Clark gtr/vcl |
|
BYRDS 4 10/67
- 11/67
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
| BYRDS - single | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| BYRDS - recordings | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| BYRDS - album | |
|---|---|
 |
|
|
BYRDS 5 11/67
- 4/68
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Kelley dr/pcs |
|
BYRDS 5a 12/67 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Clark gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/gtr/mdl/vcl |
Kelley dr/pcs |
Of course Roger McGuinn continued as the leader of the BYRDS.
Their album "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" was one of the most important records of country rock.
|
BYRDS 6 4/68
- 7/68
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Kelley dr/pcs |
Parsons gtr/pno/vcl |
| BYRDS - singles | |
|---|---|
 |
|
 |
1968: BYRDS - I Am A Pilgrim (traditional) b/w Pretty Boy Floyd (Woody Guthrie) (Single; CBS 203752) |
| BYRDS - album | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1968: DILLARD & CLARK - The Fantastic Expedition Of Dillard And Clark (A&M SP 4158) |
|
BYRDS 7 7/68
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Kelley dr/pcs |
Bernal gtr/vcl |
After their return to the United States Of America Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman restructured the BYRDS again.
|
BYRDS 8 8/68
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Kelley dr/pcs |
White gtr/vcl |
|
BYRDS 9 9/68-10/68
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Parsons dr/pcs/bjo/ harm/vcl |
White gtr/vcl |
|
FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 4 12/68 - 1/69 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsons gtr/vcl |
Peter |
Hillman gtr/vcl |
Ethridge bs/pno/vcl |
Jon Corneal dr/vcl |
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS album | |
|---|---|
 |
1969: FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - The Gilded Palace Of Sin (A&M 212 067) |
The FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS, who had started with Jon Corneal as their drummer felt that Jon Corneal was playing country drums and so they asked Michael Clarke to replace Jon Corneal.
|
FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 5 2/69
- 7/69 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsons gtr/vcl |
Peter |
Hillman gtr/vcl |
Ethridge bs/pno/vcl |
Michael Clarke dr/pcs |
The album "Burrito Deluxe" was more rock music then country and presented a then unreleased composition by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ("Wild Horses").
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 6 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsons gtr/vcl |
Kleinow pdl steel |
Hillman bs/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Bernie Leadon gtr/bjo/vcl |
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS album | |
|---|---|
 |
1970: FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - Burrito Deluxe (A&M AMLS 983) |
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS compilation | |
|---|---|
 |
1969 - 1971: FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - Honky Tonk Heaven (A&M 87 593 XDT) |
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 7 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman bs/vcl |
Kleinow pdl steel |
Leadon gtr/bjo/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
|
FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 8 4/70 - 4/71 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Kleinow pdl steel |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Leadon gtr/bjo/vcl |
Rick Roberts gtr/vcl |
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS album | |
|---|---|
 |
1971: FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - The Flying Burrito Brothers (A&M AMLS 64295) |
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - singles | |
|---|---|
 |
1971: FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - White Line Fever (Merle Haggard) b/w Colorado (Rick Roberts) (Single; A&M 1277) |
The FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS toured extensively and early 1971 they returned to the studio to start with the recording of their next album. Even Sneaky Pete Kleinow had two composition that he wanted the group to record. "Beat The Heat" was recorded but not considered strong enough to be included on the next album - some years later it was released on the compilation album "Honky Tonk Heaven". Another Kleinow composition - "Wings That Make Birds Fly" - was not recorded. Sneaky Pete Kleinow, who was disappointed, left the group immediately.
|
FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 9 5/71 - 7/71 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Perkins pdl steel/ gtr/bjo/dobro |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Leadon gtr/bjo/vcl |
Rick Roberts gtr/vcl |
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS recording | |
|---|---|
 |
1971: FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - Steel Guitar Rag (Leon McAuliffe) (released on: "Al Perkins - Snapshots"; Kleartone Records KLR-0016) |
Bernie Leadon was not lucky with his situation within the band and therefore left to form the EAGLES.
|
FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 10 7/71 - 8/71 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Perkins pdl steel/ gtr/bjo/dobro |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Wertz gtr/bjo/vcl |
Rick Roberts gtr/vcl |
When Chris Hillman recognized that he had got a bluegrass band within the BURRITOS he asked Byron Berline to join with his fiddle to complete the bluegrass section. Together they toured till the end of October. One of their concerts was recorded and later on released as "Last Of The Red Hot Burritos".
|
FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 11 9/71 - 10/71 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Perkins pdl steel/ gtr/bjo/dobro |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Wertz gtr/bjo/vcl |
Rick Roberts gtr/vcl |
Byron Berline fdl/mdl/vcl |
| FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS Album | |
|---|---|
 |
1972: FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - Last Of The Red Hot Burritos (A&M SP 4343) |
Chris Hillman and Al Perkins left the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS to join Stephen Stills in his new band MANASSAS.
Stephen Stills had called some friends to come together to record his next solo album. While recording the new songs these musicians found out that they really liked playing together. They decided to form a group. For Chris Hillman and Al Perkins it ment that they had to leave the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS. The new group was called MANASSAS. The group was able to play many different styles of music. During their existence of almost two years the group released one two record set and a single album. They toured extensively in America as well as in Europe. In concert as well as on the records the group presented a gret variance of music, they offered bluegrass, country, country-rock, folk-rock, blues-rock, rock and even latin music. In addition to the songs off their records they played material coming from the BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD, the BYRDS, the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS or from CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG.
The concerts followed the same concept as those of the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS or those of CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG. They started with some rocking music, followed by acoustic music (sometimes this became the Stephen Stills solo showcase) and bluegrass music, after that it was country music and for the final part they turned to rock-music again. Songs one could hear included "Hot Burrito # 2", "It Doesn't Matter", "So You Want To Be A Rock'n'Roll Star", "He Was A Friend Of Mine", "You're Still On My Mind" as well as most of the songs the group had recorded in the studio plus many Stephen Stills compositions. Most of the year 1972 saw MANASSAS touring.
|
MANASSAS 1 11/71 - 1/73 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stills gtr/kybds /vcl |
Al |
Hillman gtr/mdl /vcl |
Harris kybds |
Dallas Taylor dr/pcs |
Lala pcs |
Samuels bs |
| MANASSAS album | |
|---|---|
 |
1972: MANASSAS - Manassas (Atlantic K 60 021) |
 |
1973: MANASSAS - Down The Road (Atlantic K 40 440) |
| MANASSAS DVD | |
|---|---|
 |
1972: MANASSAS - The Best Of Musikladen (Pioneer 13023 19309) |
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1972: Rick Roberts - Windmills (A&M Records SP 4372) |
 |
1972: Gene Clark - Roadmaster (A&M 87 584) |
The tour endet in the summer of 1973. In September the group split in two parts: Stephen Stills, Joe Lala and Kenny Passarelli built the nucleus of the new STEPHEN STILLS BAND, whereas Chris Hillman, Al Perkins and Paul Harris went on to form the SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND.
|
MANASSAS 2 1/73 - 9/73 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stills gtr/kybds /vcl |
Al |
Hillman gtr/mdl /vcl |
Harris kybds |
Dallas Taylor dr/pcs |
Lala pcs |
Passarelli bs |
|
BYRDS 14 3/73
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Lala dr/pcs |
White gtr/vcl |
|
BYRDS 15 3/73 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Crosby gtr/vcl |
Gene Clark gtr/vcl |
| BYRDS album | |
|---|---|
 |
1973: BYRDS - Byrds (Asylum Records SYLA 8754) |
The music critics did not like the album and so it mostly got negative reactions. A reunion tour, which they had discussed never materialized. The BYRDS and especially Roger McGuinn had not expected such a bad criticism. That was the end of the BYRDS.
There have been several groups picking up the name as "BYRDS FEATURING MICHAEL CLARKE" or "TRIBUTE TO THE BYRDS" or "BYRDS CELEBRATION" but none of these groups were the "real" BYRDS", so the story ends here. All the details of the other groups can be found in the individual chapters of the musicians envolved.
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1973: Rick Roberts - She Is A Song (A&M Records SP 4404) |
 |
1973: Roger McGuinn - Roger McGuinn (CBS 65 274) |
 |
1973: POCO - Crazy Eyes (Epic 65631) |
If you have an original member of the BYRDS (Chris Hillman, who is without a group after the end of MANASSAS), one of the front men of BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD (Richie Furay, who has just left POCO) and a well known singer/songwriter (John David Souther), that's all to form a supergroup. The success will be guaranteed. Sometimes it is not as easy as this. The group we are talking about, the group which has almost the same ingredients as CROSBY, STILLS & NASH is called - and that's really an original idea - SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND. In 1974 they release their debut album, simply called "S.H.F. Band". You really can't say that the album is bad, but compared to the expectations and the potential of those musicians, it could have been better. The tour demonstrated that this group knew how to play but the originality was missing. There is absolutely no doubt about the vocal and instrumental abilities of the group. One has to mention the SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND on the same level as POCO, the BYRDS or the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS. The only problem was, you had already heard these ideas. There was nothing new about it. Even if you look at the song material the group was playing, there was nothing really new. "Devil In Disguise" didn't sound different to the version the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS were playing; "Kind Woman" had nothing to add to the version of POCO. Even the new songs sounded as though they had already been played in the musical past of the musicians. In the end you can't say the group was lacking success, the only thing missing was an original musical style.
|
SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND 1
74 - 2/75 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Souther gtr/vcl |
Al |
Hillman gtr/mdl /vcl |
Harris kybds |
Jim Gordon dr/pcs |
Furay gtr/vcl |
| SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND album | |
|---|---|
 |
1974: SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND - The S.H.F. Band (Asylum AS 53 004) |
In April 1975, the second album had just been completed, the SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND parted company and the three front men went their separate ways.
|
SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND 2
2/75 - 6/75 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Souther gtr/vcl |
Al |
Hillman gtr/mdl /vcl |
Harris kybds |
Ron Grinel dr/pcs |
Furay gtr/vcl |
| SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND album | |
|---|---|
 |
1975: SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND - Trouble In Paradise (Asylum 7E 1036) |
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 1 6/75 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Rick |
Andes bs/vcl |
Bartley gtr/vcl |
Michael Wooten dr/pcs |
Chris Hillman started to record his first solo album. With the exception of John David Souther and Richie Furay the SOUTHER, HILLMAN, FURAY BAND was in the studio. They were augmented by Rick Roberts, Herb Pedersen, Timothy B. Schmit and many many more.
| Chris Hillman 1976 |
|---|
| Hillman mdl/vcl |
| Chris Hillman album | |
|---|---|
 |
1976: Chris Hillman - Slippin' Away (Asylum AS 53 041) |
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1976: Dirk Hamilton - You Can Sing On Left Or Bark On The Right ( ? ) |
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 2 5/76 -
10/76 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl /vcl |
John |
Marx gtr/vcl |
Dupont kybds |
Merel Bregante dr/pcs /vcl |
Stahely bs |
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 3 10/76 -
2/77 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl /vcl |
John |
Marx gtr/vcl |
Edwards kybds/pdl steel |
Merel Bregante dr/pcs /vcl |
Sims bs/vcl |
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1977: Dan McCorison - Dan McCorison (MCA Records MCA-2276) |
Early 1977 the group was augmented by Al Garth (fiddle, saxophone). This line-up toured Europe in April and May 1977 - together with THUNDERBYRD and the KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN BAND.
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 4 2/77 -
6/77 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl /vcl |
John |
Marx gtr/vcl |
Edwards kybds/pdl steel |
Merel Bregante dr/pcs /vcl |
Sims bs/vcl |
Garth fdl/sax |
| Chris Hillman single | |
|---|---|
 |
1977: Chris Hillman - Heartbreaker (David Wolfert / Carole Bayer Sager) b/w Lucky In Love (Chris Hillman / Peter Knobler) (Single; Asylum 45428) |
| Chris Hillman album | |
|---|---|
 |
1977: Chris Hillman - Clear Sailing (Asylum 7E 1104) |
 |
1977: McGuinn - Hillman - Clark - 3 Byrds Land In London (Strange Fruit SFRSCD 001) |
After their return to America the CHRIS HILLMAN BAND dissolved and just John Brennan and Skip Edwards stayed with Chris Hillman.
For the American concerts they were joined by Kim O'Kelly (vocals), Tom Duncan (bass) and Mike Keene (drums). In October 1977 Chris Hillman joined Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark to form McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN.
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 5 6/77 -
10/77 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl /vcl |
John |
Edwards kybds/pdl steel |
O'Kelly vcl |
Mike Keene dr/pcs |
Duncan bs |
After only a few weeks Chris Hillman whose band had split up after several personal changes in the line-up, joined the duo for some more concerts. In February 1978 the three were playing on the stage of the Boarding House in San Francisco. Suddenly David Crosby came on the stage too and they played an acoustic evening of BYRDS music. The group played old BYRDS songs as well as solo material by McGuinn, Clark and Hillman. They even had a few new songs to offer. David Crosby was not interested in a BYRDS reunion but Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark and Chris Hillman wanted to play and record again.
|
McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN
# 1 10/77 - 02/78 |
||
|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Clark gtr/vcl |
Hillman gtr/mdl/vcl |
They were looking for a drummer and met George Grantham, who had just left POCO. They rehearsed together and then flew to Australia and New Zealand for a short tour together. The group was playing as the FOUNDERS OF THE BYRDS.
|
FOUNDERS OF THE BYRDS 2/78 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Clark gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/gtr/vcl |
Grantham dr/pcs/vcl |
After their return to America George Grantham joined Ricky Skaggs.
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1978: Richie Furay - Dance A Little Light (Asylum 6E115) |
The former members of the BYRDS started calling themselves McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN. They selected Greg Thomas who had already played with McGuinn's THUNDERBYRD as their new drummer.
|
McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN
# 2 2/78 - 11/78 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Clark gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/gtr/vcl |
Thomas dr/pcs |
Roger McGuinn had always liked to have a lead guitar playing in the group. When they were searching for the right musician they asked George Terry to join. George Terry was a well known session musician so he had no problems to join Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Greg Thomas for the recordings they were planning.
| McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN # 3 11/78 - 1/79 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Clark gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/gtr/vcl |
Thomas dr/pcs |
George Terry gtr/vcl |
Chris Hillman introduced the group to the Albert brothers and they all agreed to have their debut album produced by Ron and Howard Albert. When the album was completed they had some recordings that were the most commercial recordings ever heard from former BYRDS musicians. Unfortunately the McGuinn trademark guitar playing got lost in the mix.
| McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN - album | |
|---|---|
 |
1979: McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN - McGuinn, Clark & Hillman (Capitol 1 C 064-85 785) |
George Terry could not play live with the group, as he had too many session commitments.
George Terry was replaced by John Sambataro. McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN started their first tour in early 1979.
| McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN # 4 2/79 - 10/79 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Clark gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/gtr/vcl |
Thomas dr/pcs |
John Sambataro gtr/vcl |
McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN present the complete album plus material from their past. While many BYRDS fans were disappointed by the sound of the album they were more then satisfied by the concerts. The new songs sounded like new BYRDS recordings. The 12-string guitar and the typical BYRDS harmonies were well presented by the group. The tour lasted almost all of the year. Everybody could hear that the group really enjoyed their music.
At the end of the year 1979 the problems started again. At first Greg Thomas left the group in October. John Sambataro introduces the others to a friend of his, Scott Kirkpatrick. Scott Kirkpatrick could not only play the drums, but he also was an excellent harmony singer, so he was accepted as the new drummer.
| McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN # 5 10/79 - 1/80 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Clark gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/gtr/vcl |
Kirkpatrick dr/pcs/vcl |
John Sambataro gtr/vcl |
They returned to the studio to mrecord their second album. During the recordings Gene Clark's problems with his health became stronger. During the summer tour Gene Clark was already missing at some concerts but now his problems forced him to miss some recording sessions. In the end he leaves the group and only two of his compositions are included on the second album. The group had more control in the recordings and therefore the album sounded much better than the debut.
| McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN singles | |
|---|---|
 |
|
 |
|
| McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN - album | |
|---|---|
 |
1979: McGUINN, CLARK & HILLMAN - City (Capitol 7777-12 043) |
Due to the departure of Gene Clark the group called itself McGUINN & HILLMAN.
|
McGUINN &
HILLMAN # 1 1/80 - 3/81
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/gtr/vcl |
Kirkpatrick dr/pcs/vcl |
John
Sambataro gtr/vcl |
During the American tour the group had announced that they would be coming to Europe in 1980. The European fans had hoped to see all three former BYRDS members but now they could only see Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman. The concerts presented again most of the new material from both albums - only the Gene Clark songs were missing - plus lots of old BYRDS songs. It was interesting to notice that Gene Clark's old song "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" remained in the set. At the end of 1980 Capitol records released a third album, the first credited to McGUINN & HILLMAN. The music sounds like a mixture of the BYRDS and the ROLLING STONES. But the album looks like a half-hearted affair. Most of the songs were written by people outside the group.
| McGUINN & HILLMAN singles | |
|---|---|
 |
1981: McGUINN & HILLMAN - Turn Your Radio On (Roger McGuinn / Chris Hillman) b/w Making Movies (Roger McGuinn) (US: Capitol 4952) |
|
1981: McGUINN & HILLMAN - Love Me Tonight (Robbie Seidman) b/w King For A Night (Roger McGuinn / Chris Hillman) (Capitol) |
| McGUINN & HILLMAN - album | |
|---|---|
 |
1980: McGUINN & HILLMAN - McGuinn & Hillman(Capitol 7777-12 108) |
The group played only a few more concerts and disbanded in March 1981. John Sambataro and Scott Kirkpatrick join FIREFALL.
McGUINN & HILLMAN were booked for one more tour in April 1981, so they had to find some new sidemen. The choose Thom Mooney from the group NAZZ as their drummer and Al Perkins joined the group as lead guitar and pedal steel guitar player.
|
McGUINN &
HILLMAN # 2 4/81
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/gtr/vcl |
Mooney dr/pcs |
Perkins gtr/pdl steel |
| McGUINN & HILLMAN recording | |
|---|---|
|
|
Once the tour was over Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman went separate ways again. But of course their careers would cross some more times...
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1981: Dan Fogelberg - The Innocent Age (Epic / Full Moon 37393) |
 |
1981: Various Artists - God Loves Country Music (Maranatha! Music MM0080) |
|
HILLMAN & ROBERTS 1981 |
|
|---|---|
| Hillman bs/vcl |
Rick |
| Chris Hillman single | |
|---|---|
|
1982: Chris Hillman - Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues (Danny O'Keefe) b/w ? (Single; Stony Plain Records) |
| Chris Hillman album | |
|---|---|
 |
1982: Chris Hillman - Morning Sky (Sugar Hill SH 3729) |
Out of the sessions for Gene Clark's album, where Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen helped out, another group venture started: FLYTE. They were completed by Al Perkins. This line-up made together with Michael Clarke on the drums some recordings, which remain unreleased. For the concerts they were joined by Emmylou Harris. People who were lucky to attend one of the few concerts reported that it was magic.
|
FLYTE 1982 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl/vcl |
Clark gtr/vcl |
Pedersen bjo/gtr/vcl |
Perkins pdl steel/ dobro |
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 6 1982 -
1984 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl/vcl |
Bernie |
Perkins gtr/dobro/vcl |
Scheff bs |
| Chris Hillman single | |
|---|---|
|
1982: Chris Hillman - Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues (Danny O'Keefe) b/w ? (Single; Stony Plain) |
 |
1984: Chris Hillman - Somebody's Back In Town (D. Helms / T. & D. Wilburn) b/w Desert Rose (Chris Hillman / Bill Wildes) (Single; Stony Plain 1034) |
|
1985: CHRIS HILLMAN BAND - Don't Let Them Take The Bible Out Of Our School Rooms (George Donald McGraw) b/w Boat Of Love (James W. Smith) (Single; Maranatha! Music) |
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1984: Herb Pedersen - Lonesome Feeling (Sugar Hill SH3738) |
 |
1984: Gene Clark - Firebyrd (Takoma TAK 7112) |
 |
1984: Stephen Stills - Right By You (Atlantic 7567 80177) |
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 7 1984 -
1985 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl/vcl |
Bernie |
Perkins gtr/dobro/vcl |
Bryson bs/vcl |
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 8 1985 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl/vcl |
John |
Perkins gtr/dobro/vcl |
Bryson bs/vcl |
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1985: Dan Fogelberg - High Country Snows (Epic 01-026274-20) |
The members of the DESERT ROSE BAND played very good together. The harmony vocals of Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, John Jorgenson and Bill Bryson were by far the best vocals one could hear. Within the frame of one concert the group could play bluegrass, country-rock and rock-songs with equal competence. It was fascinating to hear the many different guitar styles of John Jorgenson. Jaydee Maness could demonstrate why he is regarded as one of the most versatile pedal steel guitarist in America.
A concert of the DESERT ROSE BAND often lasted more than ninety minutes, sometimes they even played for more than two hours. If one compares the studio-sound of the DESERT ROSE BAND to the stage sound one has to admit that there is almost no difference.
|
DESERT ROSE BAND 1 1986 - 1991 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Herb |
Jorgenson gtr/mdl/vcl |
Bryson bs/vcl |
Steve Duncan dr/vcl |
Maness pdl steel |
| DESERT ROSE BAND singles | |
|---|---|
 |
1987: DESERT ROSE BAND - One Step Forward (Chris Hillman / Bill Wildes) b/w Glass Hearts (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) (Single; MCA 53 201) |
 |
1987: DESERT ROSE BAND - He's Back And I'm Blue (Michael Woody / Robert Anderson) b/w One That Got Away (Chris Hillman / Peter Knobler) (Single; MCA 53 274) |
 |
1987: DESERT ROSE BAND - Ashes Of Love (Jack & Jim Anglin / Johnnie Wright) b/w Leave This Town (Chris Hillman / Bill Wildes) (Single; MCA 53 048) |
|
1987: DESERT ROSE BAND - Love Reunited (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Hard Times (Chris Hillman / Bill Wildes / Jon Bradford) (Single; MCA 53 142) |
|
1988: DESERT ROSE BAND - Summer Wind (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Hello Trouble (Eddie McDuff / Orville Couch) (Single; Curb Records 53 354) |
|
1988: DESERT ROSE BAND - Summer Wind (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w He's Back And I'm Blue (Michael Woody / Robert Anderson) (Single; Curb Records 53 594) |
|
1988: DESERT ROSE BAND - Summer Wind (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Our Songs (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) (Single; US, Curb Records 53 354) |
 |
1988: DESERT ROSE BAND - Hello Trouble (Eddie McDuff / Orville Couch) b/w Homeless (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) (Single; Curb Records 53 671) |
|
1988: DESERT ROSE BAND - I Still Believe In You (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Living In The House (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) (Single; Curb Records 53 454) |
 |
1988: DESERT ROSE BAND - She Don't Love Nobody (John Hiatt) b/w Step On Out (Chris Hillman / Peter Knobler) (Single; Curb Records 53 616) |
|
1990: DESERT ROSE BAND - In Another Lifetime (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Just A Memory (Chris Hillman / John Jorgenson) (Single; Curb Records 53 804) |
 |
1990: DESERT ROSE BAND - Start All Over Again (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Fooled Again (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) (Single; Curb Records 53746) |
 |
1990: DESERT ROSE BAND - Story Of Love (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Darkness On The Playground (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) (Single; Curb Records 79 052) |
|
1990: DESERT ROSE BAND - Come A Little Closer (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Everybody's Hero (Chris Hillman / Michael Woody) (Single; MCA 54 107) |
|
1990: DESERT ROSE BAND - Will This Be The Day (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Our Baby's Gone (Herb Pedersen) (Single; MCA 54 002) |
The eighties ended with a reunion of Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman and David Crosby. In 1989 Michael Clarke was performing with various musicians as MICHAEL CLARKE'S BYRDS. McGuinn, Hillman and Crosby did not like that Michael Clarke had taken the name so they tried to get the rights to use that name. They played a few concerts - like the Roy Orbison tribute - and they even recorded a few songs, which were later on released on the 4-CD-retrospective. For the concerts they were accompanied by John Jorgenson and Steve Duncan from Chris Hillman's DESERT ROSE BAND.
|
McGUINN,
HILLMAN & CROSBY 89
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Crosby gtr/vcl |
Jorgenson gtr |
Steve
Duncan
dr/pcs |
Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman also participated at the recordings of the NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND's second volume of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken".
The year 1991 first brought the induction of the original BYRDS into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. At the evening the induction of the BYRDS was announced, the lights went off and everybody heard the first sounds of "Mr. Tambourine Man". The lights went on again and on the stage were Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Gene Clark and Michael Clarke. They were playing together again for the first time in more than 20 years. Everything looked fine again and some people already started dreaming about a new beginning for the original BYRDS.
|
BYRDS 16 1991 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGuinn gtr/vcl |
Hillman bs/mdl/vcl |
Clarke dr/pcs |
Crosby gtr/vcl |
Gene Clark gtr/vcl |
The hopes of a BYRDS reunion came finally to an end, when Gene Clark died of "natural causes" on May 24, 1991.
When Jaydee Maness return to studio works in 1991, that was the first change in personel since the foundation of the group some five years earlier. The group still had some concert committments for 1991, so they continued without a pedal steel player. In the studio, where they recorded their next album, they were assisted by Paul Franklin on pedal steel guitar and Skip Edwards on keyboards.|
DESERT ROSE BAND 2 1991 - 1992 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Herb |
Jorgenson gtr/mdl/vcl |
Bryson bs/vcl |
Steve Duncan dr/vcl |
| DESERT ROSE BAND singles | |
|---|---|
|
1991: DESERT ROSE BAND - Glory And Power (Chris Hillman / Chris Hill) b/w You Can Go Home (Chris Hillman / Jack Tempchin) (Single; MCA 54188) |
|
1991: DESERT ROSE BAND - Twilight Is Gone (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) b/w Shades Of Blue (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) (Single; Curb 54 316) |
| DESERT ROSE BAND album | |
|---|---|
 |
1991: DESERT ROSE BAND - True Love (Curb / MCA MCAD 10407) |
| Chris Hillman recording | |
|---|---|
 |
1992: Chris Hillman - Little Birdie (traditional) (released on: "Herb Pedersen & Jay Levy - Country Music For Kids"; Disney Records 5008 60837 2) |
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1992: David West - Arcane (Taxim Records tx 3003) |
|
DESERT ROSE BAND 3 1992 - 1993 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Herb |
Jorgenson gtr/mdl/vcl |
Bryson bs/vcl |
Steve Duncan dr/vcl |
Brumley pdl steel |
In the first five years the mandolin had been played by John Jorgenson, now Chris Hillman returned to this instrument. Herb Pedersen played in addition to his acoustic guitar and his banjo also the dobro. Jeff Ross was playing a rock guitar. The result was a stronger rock orientation for the group on stage. If everybody had expected a rock album by the DESERT ROSE BAND, the result was something completely different. Chris Hillman was demonstrating that he loved the acoustic music more than anything else. The record company did not know what to do with this new musical style. But despite all the problems the DESERT ROSE BAND went on tour again in 1993. They even came to Europe to play some concerts.
|
DESERT ROSE BAND 4 1993 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Herb |
Ross gtr/vcl |
Bryson bs/vcl |
Tim Grogan dr |
Brumley pdl steel |
| DESERT ROSE BAND single | |
|---|---|
|
1993: DESERT ROSE BAND - What About Love (Chris Hillman / Steve Hill) (Single; Curb D1049) |
 |
1993: DESERT ROSE BAND - Night After Night (Dance Mix) (Chris Hillman / Michael Woody) (Single; Curb) |
| DESERT ROSE BAND album | |
|---|---|
 |
1993: DESERT ROSE BAND - Life Goes On (Curb Records CUR 7514-2) |
| Chris Hillman session | |
|---|---|
 |
1993: Ronna Reeves - What Comes Naturally (Mercury 314 514710 2) |
The DESERT ROSE BAND was playing their last concert on February 26th, 1994. At this time Chris Hillman announced that the group would dissolve by the end of that month. Everybody who had followed the developments of the last six months of the group, had expected something like that.
|
DESERT ROSE BAND 5 1993 - 2/94 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Herb |
Monahan gtr/vcl |
Bryson bs/vcl |
Tim Grogan dr |
Brumley pdl steel |
|
HILLMAN & PEDERSEN 1994 - ... |
|
|---|---|
| Hillman mdl/vcl |
Herb |
| HILLMAN & PEDERSEN album | |
|---|---|
 |
1996: HILLMAN & PEDERSEN - Bakersfield Bound (Sugar Hill SHCD 3850) |
 |
2002: HILLMAN & PEDERSEN - Way Out West (Backporch Records 724381-19782) |
| Chris Hillman 1994 - ... |
|---|
| Hillman mdl/vcl |
| Chris Hillman album | |
|---|---|
 |
1998: Chris Hillman - Like A Hurricane (Sugar Hill SHCD 3878) |
 |
2005: Chris Hillman - The Other Side (Soverign) |
| Chris Hillman single | |
|---|---|
 |
|
|
HILLMAN, PEDERSEN & BRYSON 1996 - ... |
||
|---|---|---|
| Hillman mdl/vcl |
Herb |
Bryson bs/vcl |
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 9 1997 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl/vcl |
Jim |
Bryson bs/vcl |
Nichols pcs |
|
HILLMAN, PEDERSEN, RICE &
RICE 1996 - ... |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl/vcl |
Herb |
Rice gtr |
Rice mdl/gtr/vcl |
The SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS
reformed in 2003 for a few concerts. Gary
Carr, who had died a few years ago was replaced by a friend of the musicians,
Doug Jefford. The musicians for the reunion shows in 2003 were: Kenny Wertz,
Chris Hillman, Larry Murray, Ed Douglas (all four were founding members), Bernie
Leadon (who was a latter-day member of the band, but also a member of "The
Flying Burrito Brothers" and "The Eagles") and Doug Jeffords.
|
SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS
3 2003 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/vcl |
Larry |
gtr/vcl |
bs |
Bernie Leadon gtr/bjo/vcl |
Wertz bjo/gtr/vcl |
For a short European tour Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen built a new CHRIS HILLMAN BAND featuring Bill Bryson on bass and Al Perkins on guitar and dobro. This line up also played in the Netherlands.
|
CHRIS HILLMAN BAND 10 2004 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillman gtr/mdl/vcl |
Herb |
Perkins gtr/dobro/vcl |
Bryson bs/vcl |
