Pennsylvania bassist and vocalist Jeff Dillard has announced that he is stepping away from his spot with The Blades of Grass after 15 years, and launching his own group, The Jeff Dillard Band.
The Blades of Grass was formed by banjo player Jeff Blevins and Kevin Nutter on mandolin. Jeff’s dad, Mike Dillard, joined them a couple of years later on guitar, with Jeff following suit on bass a few years after that. Prior to that time, he had worked with Across the Track, Heart and Soul, and Summit Hill.
With his new group, Dillard will continue the Stanley-style sound from his dad, with some Charlie Moore influence as well, and some traditional country thrown in for good measure. He tells us that he’s such a Charlie Moore fan that he gave his dog that name.
Joining Jeff on bass are Jared Keeny on guitar, Steve Stanislaw on guitar, Grant Eller on banjo, and Mike Hartnett on fiddle. All are from southeastern Pennsylvania and northeastern Maryland. Dillard is from Oxford, PA, which he says is near the old Sunset Park that featured bluegrass and country shows starting in the 1940s.
Jeff’s enthusiasm for bluegrass and performing has grown even stronger in recent years, following some severe health issues a few years ago.
He explained it thusly.
“Back in 2022 I was hospitalized from COVID for 101 days, with 60 of those days in a coma. I was on an ECMO [heart/lung] machine and ventilator. During that time my good family friend Danny Paisley of the Southern Grass put on a big benefit for me and my family.
After I healed up I went through physical therapy where I had to relearn how to walk, and I had to get movement back in my left arm and hand. It didn’t take long before I was back to playing bluegrass.”
Bluegrass folks always take care of their own.
Best of luck to The Jeff Dillard Band. They can be reached through Facebook.
