The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band came together in California in 1966 as a country rock jug-band. Their first hit single was Buy For Me The Rain.
Will The Circle Be Unbroken (1972) was a monumental album conceived by the band’s manager, Bill McEuen, who wanted the country-rock band to be taken more seriously by their label.
Without asking for a budget, he booked a Nashville studio and invited legendary local luminaries like Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis and Doc Watson, as well as such revered pickers as Vassar Clements on violin and Norman Blake on dobro, to become part of this ambitious project.
The plan worked and this became the band’s first gold album.
John McEuen
Banjo, guitar, mandolin, accordion
Jeff Hanna
Washboard, guitar, drums, vocals
Les Thompson
Guitar, bass, mandolin, vocals
Jimmy Fadden
Guitars, vocals, autoharp, jug, tuba
Jim Ibbotson
Drums, guitar, piano, accordion, vocals
