Folk Instrumentals

Nothing connotes “dulcimer” better than the Kentucky mountains. Jean Ritchie, singing the songs of her Kentucky Mountain family, is in great part responsible. Her husband, George Pickow, constructed many of her dulcimers in a studio under the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn.

Playing at breakneck speed has been an honored tradition in bluegrass and The Dillards (hailing from the Ozarks) did it faster and better that most — as in this revision of Old Joe Clark. From their experience on The Andy Griffith Show, The Dillards developed a complete act: comedy, stage presence, musicianship and style. Doug and Rodney Dillard, Dean Webb and Mitchell Jayne did nearly as much to popularize bluegrass music as did the hillbilly Clampetts of Beverly Hills. The Dillards also had a marked influence on the West Coast musicians who later ignited Southern California’s country rock movement in the late 60s.

The musicianship of the group seems perfectly balanced on this ballad where the trio of lead players trade off, no one ever upstaging or overshadowing the others — Mitch, of course, sticking to his supporting role throughout.