Thursday 31 May 2012

Doug Dillard, the pioneering country rock banjo-player, has died aged aged 75, according to reports.
Dillard had first found fame in the Dillards, a bluegrass group formed with his brother Rodney, who made regular appearances on successful American sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show, where they played a fictional band called 'The Darlings'.
After leaving the Dillards in 1968, Doug Dillard teamed up with former Byrd, Gene Clark, to form Dillard & Clark.
Dillard & Clark released two albums - The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark (1968) and Through The Morning, Through The Night (1969) - which are both considered country rock classics.
The musicians who played on Dillard & Clark's two albums reads like a Who's Who of country rock's A list: The Byrds' Chris Hillman and Michael Clark, The Eagles' Bernie Leadon and Flying Burrito Brothers' Sneaky Pete Kleinow.
Two tracks from Through The Morning, Through The Night - the title song itself and "Polly" - were later covered by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on their 2007 album, Raising Sand.
In 2011, Dillard had been admitted to a Nashville hospital suffering from a collapsed lung.
According to country and bluegrass website The Boot, a family spokesperson confirmed that Dillard was taken to a Nashville emergency room on Wednesday night [May 16] and died shortly thereafter.
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How did I miss this sad, sad news???

ACTA rejected by EU Parliament committees in crucial vote

Pete Rock's Vinyl Collection (Crate Diggers)

Crate Diggers profiles people with extraordinary vinyl record collections, with owners displaying and telling the stories behind their collections. In this episode Pete Rock, the legendary DJ and producer for rappers like Nas, Notorious B.I.G, and members of the Wu-Tang Clan, talks about his early days with cousin Heavy D, his love of funk, and a rare Marvin Gaye record.
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The Rolling Stones to celebrate 50th anniversary with free exhibition in London

The Rolling Stones: 50
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood
A Free Photographic Exhibition at Somerset House
13 July – 27 August 2012
‘This is our story of fifty fantastic years. We started out as a blues band playing the clubs and more recently we’ve filled the largest stadiums in the world with the kind of show that none of us could have imagined all those years ago’.
- Mick, Keith, Charlie & Ronnie
On 12 July 1962 the Rolling Stones went on stage at the Marquee Club in London’s Oxford Street. A phenomenal 50 years later, and to celebrate this milestone, Somerset House will present a free photographic exhibition documenting the last half-century and looking back at their astounding career. This exhibition will also coincide with the release of the book by the same name, published by Thames & Hudson.
With privileged access to a wealth of unseen and rare material, this one-off exhibition will include over seventy prints ranging from reportage photography, live concert and studio session images, to contact sheets, negative strips and outtakes from every period of the band’s history – from performing in the smallest blues clubs to the
biggest stadium tours of all time.
Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to purchase limited edition prints, copies of the book and other merchandise.
INFORMATION
Dates: 13 July – 27 August 2012
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm Daily
Address: East Wing Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Admission: Free
Transport: Nearest Underground Stations – Temple, Embankment, Charing Cross
Further Information: www.somersethouse.org.uk
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