The latest edition of eBULLET, the official newsletter of the Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club, is a special issue remembering Doug Dillard both for his contributions to the show as part of the Darling Family, and for his larger contributions to the bluegrass and banjo worlds.
It includes a detailed career overview, comments from fellow cast members on the show, and text of the lovely eulogy delivered at Dillard’s funeral by his friend, Bernie Leadon. Any fan of Doug Dillard, or the banjo generally, will want to read the whole thing, but let me quote just the concluding paragraphs.
“Earl Scruggs was excited about what Snuffy Jenkins was playing, Doug was excited about what Earl and Don Reno were playing, me and the other players coming up were excited about what Doug was playing and so on. There have now been several generations of players who have matured after Doug, many of them great indeed, but none of them have the same attack, directness and flat-out fire that Doug played with. He is, and will always remain, one of a kind.
God bless, Doug. We are all extremely blessed that you passed our way. God Speed.”
eBULLET also reminds its readers about the Douglas Dillard Legacy Fund, established to perpetuate Doug’s musical legacy. Donations can be sent to:
Douglas Dillard Legacy Fund
PO Box 90537
Nashville, TN 37209
