Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2004, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Chris Hillman, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 6 October 2004.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Chris Hillman who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Chris Hillman
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 6 October 2004.
‘Gene Watson’s voice is right up there in the major leagues with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) for pure country soul.
Gene’s recording of ‘Farewell Party‘, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007), is a roadmap for all aspiring singers’
Thank you, Chris Hillman, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Chris Hillman…
Chris Hillman, who is a third-generation Californian with deep roots in the cowboy history of the American West, was born in Los Angeles, California on Monday 4 December 1944.
The only authentic cowboy to ever be inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Chris Hillman spent his early years on his family’s ranch home in then rural North San Diego County ‘riding horses and doing ranch chores’.
Chris Hillman’s interests would soon change from spurs and saddles to guitars and mandolins.
Chris Hillman credits his older sister in turning him on to folk and country music; she was in college in the 1950s and, when she came back home with a bunch of folk albums, Chris Hillman was greatly influenced by their contents.
Chris Hillman also started watching ‘live’ country music shows on KTLA Channel 5 out of Los Angeles, shows such as ‘Cal’s Corral’ and ‘Town Hall Party’, and he soon got hooked on the music.
Chris Hillman’s mother encouraged him and bought him a $10 guitar in Tijuana, Mexico.
Chris Hillman also started listening to bluegrass music and, after hearing acts such as Flatt & Scruggs – Lester Flatt (Friday 19 June 1914 – Friday 11 May 1979) & Earl Scruggs (Sunday 6 January 1924 – Wednesday 28 March 2012) – and Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996), Chris fell in love with the mandolin.
In 1959, learning that a young bluegrass group, The Kentucky Colonels, were based out of Los Angeles, a very determined Chris Hillman convinced his family to let him go and see the group. When he met the group, their mandolin player Scott Hambly, offered him mandolin lessons.
Chris Hillman’s prowess on guitar and mandolin soon became well-known in San Diego’s tight-knit folk music community. The proprietors of The Blue Guitar Shop, Larry Murray and Ed Douglas, invited Chris Hillman to join their band, The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers.
The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, which lasted a mere two years and recorded but one album (‘Bluegrass Favourites’), nonetheless earned a well-deserved legendary reputation thanks to the skills and talents of its members. The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers line-up included such notable musicians as Kenny Wertz, Bernie Leadon, Larry Murray, Ed Douglas and Gary Carr.
When The Barkers called it quits at the end of 1963, Chris Hillman’s reputation, coupled with connections with other bluegrass musicians, paid off as he was invited to join The Golden State Boys who were then regarded as the premier bluegrass band in southern California.
The Golden State Boys featured future country music star, Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009), Vern’s brother, Rex Gosdin (1938 – Monday 23 May 1983), along with Don Parmley from The Bluegrass Cardinals.
The Golden State Boys soon morphed into what became known as ‘The Hillmen’. The group played the country music bars in the southern California area and performed weekly on ‘Cal’s Corral’, a ‘live’ country music show on Los Angeles Channel 13.
However, after approximately eight months together, the group folded. Chris Hillman was about to throw in the towel and would have considered enrolling at UCLA if not for the interest of The Hillmen’s former manager and producer Jim Dickson.
Jim Dickson invited Chris Hillman down to World Pacific Studios to hear three guys with acoustic guitars singing Beatles songs and a few original songs. Those three guys were Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark (Friday 17 November 1944 – Friday 24 May 1991) and David Crosby (Thursday 14 August 1941 – Wednesday 18 January 2023).
When Jim Dickson offered Chris Hillman the opportunity to join in, the young mandolin player was not only interested but eager to ‘plug in’.
With drummer Michael Clarke (Monday 3 June 1946 – Sunday 19 December 1993) in tow, Chris Hillman was recruited to play electric bass. The group were known initially as The Beefeaters but they soon became known as The Byrds.
The Byrds entered Columbia Records recording studio in Hollywood, California between Wednesday 20 January 1965 and Thursday 22 April 1965, and recorded Bob Dylan’s ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’, along with a combination of Dylan songs and their own compositions – they made rock & roll history as America’s answer to The Beatles.
The Byrds’ album, ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ (Columbia Records, 1965), was subsequently re-issued by Embassy Records in 1974.
For the first three albums from The Byrds, Chris Hillman stayed in the shadows with drummer Michael Clarke (Monday 3 June 1946 – Sunday 19 December 1993), providing a strong backbeat to the three-part harmonies of Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark (Friday 17 November 1944 – Friday 24 May 1991) and David Crosby (Thursday 14 August 1941 – Wednesday 18 January 2023), along with the jingle jangle of Roger McGuinn’s Rickenbacker 12-string guitar.
Gene Clark (Friday 17 November 1944 – Friday 24 May 1991) departed the group following the recording of ‘5-D’, so Roger McGuinn began to increasingly rely on his dependable bass player and Chris Hillman began to stretch out in singing and song-writing. The result was several brilliant Chris Hillman compositions on the next album, ‘Younger Than Yesterday’ (Columbia Records, 1967), which is Chris Hillman’s favourite Byrds recording.
‘Time Between’ saw Chris Hillman bring in his old bluegrass friend Clarence White (Wednesday 7 June 1944 – Saturday 14 July 1973) to play the Telecaster guitar solo on what is regarded by many critics and fans to be the first country-rock song.
Clarence White (Wednesday 7 June 1944 – Saturday 14 July 1973) also helped out on another country-flavoured Chris Hillman composition, ‘The Girl With No Name’; these songs paved the way for The Byrds next adventure – that of exploring country music.
With the departure of David Crosby (Thursday 14 August 1941 – Wednesday 18 January 2023) and Michael Clarke (Monday 3 June 1946 – Sunday 19 December 1993) by the beginning of 1968, The Byrds were down to just two original members, Chris Hillman and Roger McGuinn. The band recruited Chris Hillman’s cousin, Kevin Kelley, to replace Michael Clarke, but were still in need of another musician to round out The Byrds line-up.
Chris Hillman ran into a new kid in town by chance one day; that kid was Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973) and, together with Chris Hillman, he changed The Byrds’ musical direction and ushered in a new era of music, that of ‘country-rock’.
‘Sweetheart of The Rodeo’ (Columbia Records, 1968), their highly-acclaimed release, firmly cemented the merging of country music and rock. Its influence can be heard today in the music of a number of country music artists, including Brad Paisley, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, Jim Lauderdale and Dwight Yoakum.
While a Bob Dylan tune, ‘You Ain’t Going Nowhere’, propelled by Lloyd Green’s sweet steel guitar, kicked off the album, it was the compositions of newcomer Gram Parsons, Woody Guthrie, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and others, plus the array of great California country musicians Jay Dee Maness, Clarence White and Earl P. Ball, along with Nashville veterans, Lloyd Green and John Hartford (Thursday 30 December 1937 – Monday 4 June 2001), which brought The Byrds back to full throttle with a sound that mixed pure country with folk music.
When Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973) left the band shortly thereafter, Chris Hillman brought in his good friend Clarence White (Wednesday 7 June 1944 – Saturday 14 July 1973) to replace him, but the old magic of The Byrds was gone for him.
Chris Hillman exited The Byrds in September 1968 to join Gram Parsons, Sneaky Pete Kleinow (Monday 20 August 1934 – Saturday 6 January 2007) and Chris Ethridge (Monday 10 February 1947 – Monday 23 April 2012) in what soon became known as The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Their first release, ‘The Gilded Palace of Sin’ (A&M Records, 1969), created a new musical force to be reckoned with. The Burrito’s created the environment for ‘outlaw country’ and for much of the success experienced by a number of artists, including The Eagles, Poco and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Even the Rolling Stones were briefly influenced by The Burritos, with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards composing ‘Wild Horses’ in honour of their friends, The Flying Burrito Brothers.
One song off that seminal first album, ‘Sin City’, not only aptly described Los Angeles at the end of the 1960s but was later included in the Smithsonian Institute’s ‘History of Country Music’ collection.
The Burritos, however, were never really accepted in either musical environments back then. Diehard country fans mistrusted them, while rock ‘underground’ radio didn’t know what to make of them, or where they might fit in a play list.
Near the end of his tenure with The Burritos, Chris Hillman was performing with the band in Washington, DC when he happened to hear a wonderful girl singer playing in a nearby folk club; the ‘girl’ was Emmylou Harris.
Chris Hillman was so impressed with Emmylou Harris that he recommended her to Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973) and musical history was made.
A phone call from old friend Stephen Stills set Chris Hillman on a new musical journey; with Stills he formed the eclectic band ‘Manassas’. The first Manassas album accomplished what Roger McGuinn had considered doing before ‘Sweetheart of The Rodeo’, combining major elements of most forms of American contemporary music and fusing them together. There were bits and pieces of rock, country, bluegrass, salsa and blues blended together on the two albums the group created.
Manassas broke up by the fall of 1973 and it was by this time too that Chris Hillman faced two major tragedies in his personal life, the deaths of his close friends Clarence White (Wednesday 7 June 1944 – Saturday 14 July 1973) and Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973).
Emmylou Harris recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Sin City’, which was co-written with Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973), and included the track on ‘Elite Hotel’ (Reprise Records, 1975); the track featured supporting vocals from John Starling (Tuesday 26 March 1940 – Thursday 2 May 2019) and Herb Pedersen.
Emmylou Harris recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Wheels’, which was co-written with Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973), and included the track on ‘Elite Hotel’ (Reprise Records, 1975); the track featured supporting vocals from Jonathan Edwards and Herb Pedersen.
From Manassas and a short-lived original Byrds reunion, Chris Hillman was contacted by entrepreneur, David Geffen, who wanted to put together a ‘new’ Crosby, Stills & Nash. David Geffen approached Chris Hillman, John David Souther (Friday 2 November 1945 – Tuesday 17 September 2024) and Richie Furay, who then became The Souther, Hillman, Furay Band.
Their first album was full of good songs, including ‘Heavenly Fire’, Chris Hillman’s heartfelt tribute to Gram Parsons, but the three never jelled together as song-writing partners or as personalities. The band finally went its separate way after a second album that failed to live up to the promise of the first.
Chris Hillman then went back into the studio and recorded two solo albums, ‘Slippin’ Away’ (Asylum Records, 1976) and ‘Clear Sailing’ (Asylum Records, 1977). Chris Hillman toured for a year and a half with his own band and, following a British tour in 1977, reunited with Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark; they formed the trio, McGuinn, Clark & Hillman.
McGuinn, Clark & Hillman saw the release of three albums on Capital Records and achieved two Billboard Top 10 country music hit singles.
James Dee (J.D.) Crowe (Friday 27 August 1937 – Friday 24 December 2021) & The New South recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Devil In Disguise’, which was co-written with Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973), and included the track on ‘J.D. Crowe & The New South’ (Rounder Records, 1977).
By the beginning of the 1980s, Chris Hillman returned to his roots in bluegrass and country music. Chris Hillman recorded two critically acclaimed acoustic and steel flavoured recordings and, in doing so, was reunited with his long-time folk and bluegrass pal, Herb Pedersen.
Herb Pedersen and Chris Hillman literally grew up in music, having become close friends in their late teens.
Chris Hillman also found a song-writing partner and good friend in Steve Hill. The stage was set for the next evolution in the career of Chris Hillman – the incomparable Desert Rose Band.
Emmylou Harris recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Devil in Disguise’, which was co-written with Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973), and included the track on ‘Last Date’ (Reprise Records, 1982).
Emmylou Harris recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Juanita’, which was co-written with Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973), and included the track on ‘Last Date’ (Reprise Records, 1982).
Bluegrass Album Band, which consisted of Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020) (guitar, vocals), James Dee (J.D.) Crowe (Friday 27 August 1937 – Friday 24 December 2021) (banjo, vocals), Doyle Lawson (mandolin, vocals), Bobby Hicks (violin), Jerry Douglas (Dobro, vocals) and Todd Philips (bass), recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Devil In Disguise’, which was co-written with Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973), and included the track on ‘Bluegrass Album, Volume 3’ (Rounder Records, 1983).
The genesis of The Desert Rose Band began when both Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen were asked by fellow country rock aficionado and Manassas fan, Dan Fogelberg (Monday 13 August 1951 – Sunday 16 December 2007), to record with him in the studio and accompany him on his ‘High Country Snows’ tour in 1985.
Dan Fogelberg’s ‘High Country Snows’ (Full Moon Records / Epic Records, 1985) included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Go Down Easy’ (written by Joe Bolotin) (No.56, 1985) / this track also reached No.85 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1985, No.6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in 1985, No.7 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Chart in 1985 and No.32 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1985
‘Down The Road’, which was written by Lester Flatt (Friday 19 June 1914 – Friday 11 May 1979) and Earl Scruggs (Sunday 6 January 1924 – Wednesday 28 March 2012), and ‘Mountain Pass’ (written by Dan Fogelberg) (No.33, 1985) / this track also reached No.28 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1985
Dan Fogelberg’s ‘High Country Snows’ (Full Moon Records / Epic Records, 1985) also included the following tracks:
‘Sutter’s Mill (written by Dan Fogelberg)
‘Wolf Creek (written by Dan Fogelberg)
‘High Country Snows (written by Dan Fogelberg)
‘The Outlaw’ (written by Jay Bolotin)
‘Shallow Rivers (written by Dan Fogelberg)
‘Wandering Shepherd (written by Dan Fogelberg)
‘Think of What You’ve Done’, which was written by Carter Stanley (Thursday 27 August 1925 – Thursday 1 December 1966)
‘The Higher You Climb’ (written by Dan Fogelberg)
Personnel involved in the recording of Dan Fogelberg’s ‘High Country Snows’ (Full Moon Records / Epic Records, 1985) included the following:
Dan Fogelberg (Monday 13 August 1951 – Sunday 16 December 2007) (synthesizer, acoustic guitar, guitar, piano, electric guitar, keyboard, vocals, handclapping)
Anita Ball, Dianne Davidson and Tracy Nelson (background vocals)
David Briggs (piano)
Jim Buchanan (fiddle, violin)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro, guitar, vocals)
Vince Gill (guitar, high tenor vocals)
Emory Gordy Jr. (bass)
David Grisman (mandolin, mandola)
Michael Hanna (synthesizer, keyboard)
Chris Hillman (mandolin, vocals)
Russ Kunkel (drums, tambourine, handclapping)
Charlie McCoy (harmonica)
Dan Murakami (handclapping)
Herb Pedersen (banjo, bass vocals, vocals, tenor vocals)
Al Perkins (pedal steel, steel guitar)
Ricky Skaggs (violin, vocals, harmony vocals)
Doc Watson (Saturday 3 March 1923 – Tuesday 29 May 2012) (acoustic guitar, guitar)
Dan Fogelberg’s ‘High Country Snows’ (Full Moon Records / Epic Records, 1985) reached No.30 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1985.
When Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen returned to Los Angeles, Chris Hillman enlisted Bill Bryson (Sunday 10 November 1946 – Sunday 30 April 2017) to play bass and multi-instrumentalist John Jorgenson to play guitar.
Bill Bryson (Sunday 10 November 1946 – Sunday 30 April 2017) was a veteran of such great bands as The Bluegrass Cardinals and Country Gazette, while John Jorgenson had played the same Disneyland bluegrass circuit as a much younger Chris Hillman had done nearly twenty-five years earlier.
Content as an acoustic band, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen discovered how good they sounded ‘plugged in’ and brought on board steel guitarist Jay Dee Maness, a veteran of ‘The Sweetheart Sessions’, along with former Rick Nelson (Wednesday 8 May 1940 – Tuesday 31 December 1985) and Stone Canyon Band drummer Steve Duncan.
Between 1987 and the end of 1993, The Desert Rose Band recorded seven albums, and scored 16 Billboard top country hit singles, the majority of them riding high in the Billboard Top 10 country music singles chart. The Desert Rose Band also garnered a number of awards from both the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the Country Music Association (CMA).
Among these awards were the following:
Academy of Country Music
Touring Band of the Year: 1988, 1989 and 1990
Nominee, Best Vocal Group Award: 1989 and 1990
Country Music Association
Horizon Award: 1989
Vocal Group of the Year: 1990
Amidst those strong vocals, fine harmonies and excellent instrumentation were two things which made The Desert Rose Band so special. The songs themselves, which addressed current issues in our culture. Not only were the songs written by Chris Hillman and full of honesty and sometimes wit, they were also sung by a confident singer who not only had found his own voice after so many bands, but who sang with power, grace and conviction in what he had written.
On Tuesday 2 June 1987, The Desert Rose Band saw the release of their first studio album, ‘The Desert Rose Band’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1987), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Ashes of Love’, which was written by Jack Anglin (Saturday 13 May 1916 – Friday 8 March 1963), Jim Anglin and Johnnie Wright (Wednesday 13 May 1914 – Tuesday 27 September 2011) (No.26, 1987)
‘Love Reunited’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.6, 1987)
‘One Step Forward’ (written by Chris Hillman and Bill Wildes) (No.2, 1987)
‘He’s Back & I’m Blue’ (written by Robert Anderson and Michael Woody) (No.1 for one week in June / July 1988)
The Desert Rose Band’s first studio album, ‘The Desert Rose Band’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1987), also included the following tracks:
‘Leave This Town’ (written by Chris Hillman and Bill Wildes)
‘Time Between’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘One That Got Away’ (written by Chris Hillman and Peter Knobler)
‘Once More’ (written by Dusty Owens)
‘Glass Hearts’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Hard Times’ (written by Jon Brandford, Chris Hillman and Bill Wildes)
The Desert Rose Band’s first studio album, ‘The Desert Rose Band’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1987), reached No.24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1987.
Dan Fogelberg (Monday 13 August 1951 – Sunday 16 December 2007) recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ (co-written with Stephen Stills) and included the track on ‘Exiles’ (Full Moon Records / Epic Records, 1987).
On Tuesday 6 September 1988, The Desert Rose Band saw the release of ‘Running’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1988), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Summer Wind’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.2, 1988)
‘I Still Believe In You’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill) (No.1 for one week in March 1989)
‘She Don’t Love Nobody’ (written by John Hiatt) (No.3, 1989)
‘Hello Trouble’, which was written by Orville Couch (Thursday 21 February 1935 – Sunday 26 May 2002) and Eddie McDuff (Thursday 20 June 1935 – Friday 3 May 1968) (No.11, 1989)
• The original version of this track was recorded by Orville Couch for Vee-Jay Records in 1962; Orville Couch’s version of the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1962
• This track was also recorded by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006) & The Buckaroos, who included it on ‘Together Again’ (Capitol Records, 1964)
• This track was also recorded by LaWanda Lindsey, who included it on ‘This Is LaWanda Lindsey’ (Capitol Records, 1974); LaWanda Lindsey’s version of the track reached No.62 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1974
• This track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘My Heroes Have Always Been Country‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014)
The Desert Rose Band’s ‘Running’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1988) also included the following tracks:
‘Running’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘For The Rich Man’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Step On Out’ (written by Chris Hillman and Peter Knobler)
‘Homeless’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Livin’ In The House’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Our Songs’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
The Desert Rose Band’s ‘Running’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1988) reached No.26 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1989.
On Wednesday 20 September 1989, Dwight Yoakam saw the release of ‘Just Looking For A Hit’ (Reprise Records, 1989), his first ‘greatest hits’ compilation; the album included two newly recorded tracks, one of which was ‘Sin City’, which was written by Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973) and Chris Hillman.
On Tuesday 16 January 1990, The Desert Rose Band saw the release of ‘Pages of Life’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1990), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Start All Over Again’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.6, 1989)
‘In Another Lifetime’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.13, 1990)
‘Story of Love’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.10, 1990)
A music video was created for ‘In Another Lifetime’, whilst The Desert Rose Band made television appearances for the three singles, which included such shows as ‘Nashville Now’, an American country music television talk show, which was presented by Ralph Emery (Friday 10 March 1933 – Saturday 15 January 2022).
The Desert Rose Band’s ‘Pages of Life’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1990) also included the following tracks:
‘Missing You’ (written by Chris Hillman, Tom Russell and Richard Sellars)
‘Just A Memory’ (written by Chris Hillman and John Jorgenson)
‘God’s Plan’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Darkness On The Playground’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Our Baby’s Gone’ (written by Herb Pedersen)
‘Time Passes Me By’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Everybody’s Hero’ (written by Chris Hillman and Michael Woody)
‘Desert Rose’ (written by Chris Hillman and Bill Wildes)
During 1990, The Desert Rose Band embarked on a tour to promote ‘Pages of Life’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1990), where they headlined the majority of the dates. They also spent a week in Las Vegas opening for The Oak Ridge Boys. As a marketing attempt, the album cover, as well as the band’s publicity photos only featured Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson.
John Jorgenson explained: ‘That was some kind of marketing deal, done on the theory that the audience could recall three of us easier than six guys. But the other guys are fully-fledged members of The Desert Rose Band and they all make a big contribution’
The Desert Rose Band’s ‘Pages of Life’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1990) reached No.17 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1990.
On Friday 4 January 1991, The Desert Rose Band saw the release of ‘A Dozen Roses – Greatest Hits’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1991), which included the following tracks:
‘Love Reunited’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.6, 1987)
‘One Step Forward’ (written by Chris Hillman and Bill Wildes) (No.2, 1987)
‘He’s Back & I’m Blue’ (written by Robert Anderson and Michael Woody) (No.1 for one week in June / July 1988)
‘She Don’t Love Nobody’ (written by John Hiatt) (No.3, 1989)
‘Summer Wind’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.2, 1988)
‘I Still Believe In You’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.1 for one week in March 1989)
‘Hello Trouble’, which was written by Orville Couch (Thursday 21 February 1935 – Sunday 26 May 2002) and Eddie McDuff (Thursday 20 June 1935 – Friday 3 May 1968) (No.11, 1989)
‘Start All Over Again’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.6, 1989)
‘Story of Love’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.10, 1990)
‘Will This Be The Day’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.37, 1991)
‘Come A Little Closer’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman) (No.65, 1991)
‘The Price I Pay’ (written by Chris Hillman and Bill Wildes) / this track featured guest vocals from Emmylou Harris
It was also in 1991, while a member of The Desert Rose Band, Chris Hillman’s landmark band, The Byrds, were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which was a fitting tribute to one of the most influential bands of the 20th Century.
On Tuesday 1 October 1991, The Desert Rose Band saw the release of ‘True Love’ (Curb Records, 1991), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘You Can Go Home’ (written by Chris Hillman and Jack Tempchin) (No.53, 1991)
‘Twilight Is Gone’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill) (No.67, 1992)
The Desert Rose Band’s ‘True Love’ (Curb Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:
‘It Takes A Believer’ (written by Chris Hillman and Michael Woody)
‘No One Else’ (written by Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen)
‘A Matter of Time’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Undying Love’ (written by Peter Rowan) / this track featured guest vocals from Alison Krauss
‘Behind These Walls’ (written by Chris Hillman and Michael Woody)
‘True Love’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
‘Glory & Power’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
‘Shades of Blue’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
In 1992, following the commercial failure of ‘True Love’ (Curb Records, 1991), The Desert Rose Band were dropped by MCA Records.
On Monday 26 January 1993, The Desert Rose Band saw the release of ‘Traditional’ (Curb Records, 1993), which was their second compilation album; it included ten country songs from the band’s previous albums, which were never released as singles:
‘Undying Love’ (written by Peter Rowan)
‘Once More’ (written by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Dusty Owens)
‘Price I Pay’ (written by Bill Wildes and Chris Hillman)
‘True Love’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
‘Step On Out’ (written by Chris Hillman and Peter Knobler)
‘Time Between’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Our Songs’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
‘Missing You’ (written by Chris Hillman, Tom Russell and Richard Sellars)
‘Desert Rose’ (written by Bill Wildes and Chris Hillman)
‘Hard Times’ (written by Bill Wildes, Chris Hillman and Jon Brandford)
The front cover photograph, which was used for The Desert Rose Band’s ‘Traditional’ (Curb Records, 1993), was taken during the same photograph session for the ‘True Love’ (Curb Records, 1991) album two years before in 1991.
The Desert Rose Band’s ‘Traditional’ (Curb Records, 1993) was released half a year before the band’s final studio album, ‘Life Goes On’ (Curb Records, 1993), and failed to make an appearance on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. No singles were released from the compilation.
On Tuesday 21 September 1993, The Desert Rose Band saw the release of their final album, ‘Life Goes On’ (Curb Records, 1993), which was released in Europe only; the album was never released in the United States.
The Desert Rose Band’s final music video, which was directed by Michael Merriman, was created for the album’s leading single, ‘What About Love’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill), which reached No.71 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
The Desert Rose Band’s final album, ‘Life Goes On’ (Curb Records, 1993), also included the following tracks:
‘Night After Night’ (written by Chris Hillman and Michael Woody)
‘Walk On By’ (written by Chris Hillman and R. Alan Thornhill)
‘Love’s Refugees’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
‘Life Goes On’ (written by Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen)
‘That’s Not The Way’ (written by Chris Hillman and Michael Woody)
‘Til It’s Over’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
‘Hold On’ (written by Herb Pedersen)
‘Little Rain’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
‘Throw Me A Lifeline’ (written by Chris Hillman and Steve Hill)
By the beginning of 1994, saddened by the passing of his close friends and band members, Gene Clark (Friday 17 November 1944 – Friday 24 May 1991) and Michael Clarke (Monday 3 June 1946 – Sunday 19 December 1993), and wishing to spend more time with his family and watching his children grow, Chris Hillman decided to call it a day for The Desert Rose Band.
The Laurel Canyon Ramblers recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Love Reunited’ (co-written with Steve Hill) and included the track on ‘Rambler’s Blues’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1995).
On ‘Bakersfield Bound’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1995), Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen revisited their classic California roots; the album included the following tracks:
‘Playboy’, which was written by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, Edward Monroe ‘Eddie’ Miller (Wednesday 10 December 1919 – Monday 11 April 1977) and Bob Morris
‘Which One Is To Blame’, which was written by Robert Charlebois, Sunny Dull and Redd Stewart (Sunday 27 May 1923 – Saturday 2 August 2003)
‘Close Up The Honky Tonks’, which was written by Red Simpson (Tuesday 6 March 1934 – Friday 8 January 2016)
‘Brand New Heartache’, which was written by Boudleaux Bryant (Friday 13 February 1920 – Thursday 25 June 1987) and Felice Bryant (Friday 7 August 1925 – Tuesday 22 April 2003)
‘Congratulations, Anyway!’, which was written by Jesse McReynolds and Jim McReynolds (Sunday 13 February 1927 – Tuesday 31 December 2002)
‘It’s Not Love (But It’s Not Bad)’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Glenn W. Martin (Thursday 30 June 1932 – Sunday 12 May 2019)
‘He Don’t Deserve You Anymore’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006)
‘There Goes My Love’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006)
‘My Baby’s Gone’, which was written by Hazel Marie Houser (Saturday 3 June 1922 – Friday 14 June 1996)
‘The Lost Highway’, which was written by Leon Payne (Friday 15 June 1917 – Thursday 11 September 1969)
‘Time Goes So Slow’, which was written by Skeeter Davis (Wednesday 30 December 1931 – Sunday 19 September 2004) and Marie Wilson
‘Just Tell Me Darlin’ (written by Chris Hillman and Bill Wildes)
‘Bakersfield Bound’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
The Laurel Canyon Ramblers recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘The Words She Writes Tonight’ (co-written with Herb Pedersen) and included the track on ‘Blue Rambler 2’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1996).
On Tuesday 14 January 1997, Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020), Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006), Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen saw the release of ‘Out of The Woodwork’ (Rounder Records, 1997), which included the following tracks:
‘Hard Times’
‘Lord Won’t You Help Me’
‘Somewhere On The Road Tonight’
‘No One Else’
‘Streetcorner Stranger’
‘So Begins The Task’
‘Dimming of The Day’ (written by Richard Thompson)
‘Just Me & You’
‘Do Right Woman’
‘Change Coming Down’
‘Story of Love’
‘Only Passing Through’
Personnel involved in the recording of Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020), Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006), Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen‘s ‘Out of The Woodwork’ (Rounder Records, 1997) included the following:
Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020) (guitar)
Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006) (mandolin, vocals)
Chris Hillman (bass, guitar, vocals)
Herb Pedersen (banjo, guitar, vocals)
Jerry Douglas and Mike Auldridge (Dobro)
Ronnie Simpkins (bass)
Rickie Simpkins (violin)
Emerson & Newton (Bill Emerson & Mark Newton) recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Wheels’, which was co-written with Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973), and included the track on ‘A Foot In The Past, A Foot In The Future’ (Pinecastle Records, 1997).
The Woodys (Michael & Dyann Woody) recorded Chris Hillman’s ‘Second Wind’ (co-written with Michael Woody) and included the track on ‘The Woodys’ (Rounder Records, 1998).
On Tuesday 16 June 1998, Chris Hillman saw the release of ‘Like A Hurricane’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1998), which included the following tracks:
‘Back’s Against The Wall’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Angels’ Cry’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Sooner Or Later’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Carry Me Home’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Run Again’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Second Wind’ (written by Chris Hillman and Michael Woody)
‘When You Walk In The Room’ (written by Jackie DeShannon)
‘Like A Hurricane’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Living On The Edge’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Forgiveness’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘I’m Still Alive’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Heaven’s Lullaby’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
On Tuesday 5 October 1999, Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020), Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006), Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen saw the release of ‘Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen’ (Rounder Records, 1999), which included the following tracks:
‘Doesn’t Mean That Much Anymore’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Side Effects of Love’, which was written by Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006)
‘One of These Days’ (written by Earl Montgomery)
‘Never Ending Song of Love’, which was written by Bonnie Bramlett and Delaney Bramlett (Saturday 1 July 1939 – Saturday 27 December 2008)
‘Friend of The Devil’ (written by John Dawson, Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter)
‘Out Among The Stars’ (written by Adam Mitchell)
‘Moonshine’
‘Moment of Glory’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘The Year of El Nino’, which was written by Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006)
‘Hearts Overflowing’ (written by Mike Brewer)
‘I Will’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘The Walkin’ Blues’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘I’ll Be On That Good Road Someday’ (written by Bruce Philips)
Personnel involved in the recording of Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020), Larry Rice, Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen‘s ‘Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen’ (Rounder Records, 1999) included the following:
Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020) (guitar)
Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006) (mandolin, vocals)
Chris Hillman (bass, guitar, vocals)
Herb Pedersen (banjo, guitar, vocals)
Jerry Douglas and Mike Auldridge (Dobro)
Ronnie Simpkins (bass)
Rickie Simpkins (violin)
On Tuesday 30 October 2001, Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020), Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006), Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen saw the release of ‘Running Wild’ (Rounder Records, 2001), which included the following tracks:
‘San Antone’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘You’re Running Wild’, which was written by Ray Edenton (Wednesday 3 November 1926 – Wednesday 21 September 2022) and Donnie Winters
‘Things We Said Today’, which was written by John Lennon (Wednesday 9 October 1940 – Monday 8 December 1980) and Paul McCartney
‘4 + 20’
‘Two of A Kind’ (written by Jon Ims)
‘Just Passin’ Through’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘The Mystery That Won’t Go Away’, which was written by Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006)
‘Take Me Back Again’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006)
‘Maybe She’ll Get Lucky’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Hard Hearted’, which was written by Jesse McReynolds and Jim McReynolds (Sunday 13 February 1927 – Tuesday 31 December 2002)
‘It’s A Long Way To The Top of The World’ (written by Don Wayne)
‘About Love’, which was written by Larry Rice (1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006)
On Saturday 13 May 2006, Larry Rice passed away.
In 2002, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen again revisited California country music with the release of the wonderful ‘Way Out West’ (Back Porch Records, 2002), which had the flavour of old California music halls, and included the following tracks:
‘Backporch Boy’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘There You Go’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Invitation To The Blues’, which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992)
‘No Longer A Sweetheart of Mine’, which was written by Don Wesley Reno (Monday 21 February 1927 – Tuesday 16 October 1984), Arthur Lee ‘Red’ Smiley (Sunday 17 May 1925 – Sunday 2 January 1972) and B. Smith
‘Problems’, which was written by Boudleaux Bryant (Friday 13 February 1920 – Thursday 25 June 1987) and Felice Bryant (Friday 7 August 1925 – Tuesday 22 April 2003)
‘Better Man Than That’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘The Old Cross Road’, which was written by Charlie Monroe (Saturday 4 July 1903 – Saturday 27 September 1975)
‘Sugar Cane’ (written by Herb Pedersen)
‘After All Is Said & Done’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘You Done Me Wrong’, which was written by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013)
‘Save The Last Dance For Me’, which was written by Doc Pomus (Saturday 27 June 1925 – Thursday 14 March 1991) and Mort Shuman (Thursday 12 November 1936 – Saturday 2 November 1991)
‘Are You Missing Me?’, which was written by Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 – Wednesday 26 January 2011) and Ira Louvin (Monday 21 April 1924 – Sunday 20 June 1965)
‘That’s The Way It Was’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘You’re Learning’, which was written by Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 – Wednesday 26 January 2011) and Ira Louvin (Monday 21 April 1924 – Sunday 20 June 1965)
‘Our Love It Don’t Come Easy’ (written by Herb Pedersen)
‘Good Year’ (written by Steve Hill and Chris Hillman)
‘Backporch Boy’ (outro) (written by Chris Hillman)
In 2004, Chris Hillman was honoured by his peers as the recipient of The Americana Music Association‘s ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance’.
In 2005, Chris Hillman received recognition from The Mojo Honours List as the recipient of the ‘Roots Award’, as well as a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ presented to his first band, The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, by the city of San Diego.
On Tuesday 21 June 2005, Chris Hillman saw the release of ‘The Other Side’ (Sovereign Artists Records, 2005), which included the following tracks:
‘Eight Miles High’, which was written by Gene Clark (Friday 17 November 1944 – Friday 24 May 1991), David Crosby (Thursday 14 August 1941 – Wednesday 18 January 2023) and Roger McGuinn
‘True Love’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Drifting’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘The Other Side’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Heaven Is My Home’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Touch Me’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘The Wheel’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘True He’s Gone’ (written by Jim Sullivan)
‘Heavenly Grace’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘It Doesn’t Matter’ (written by Chris Hillman and Stephen Stills)
‘Missing You’ (written by Chris Hillman, Tom Russell and Richard Sellars)
‘The Water Is Wide’
‘I Know I Need You’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Our Saviour’s Hands’ (written by Chris Hillman)
In 2007, Chris Hillman was a featured soloist, singing ‘What Does She See’, on ‘The Gift’ (Stony Plain Records, 2007), a tribute album to Ian Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022).
On Tuesday 21 September 2010, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen saw the release of ‘Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen At Edward’s Barn’ (Rounder Records, 2010), a ‘live’ concert recording, which was recorded in a barn in Nipono, California, and included the following tracks:
‘Going Up Home’, which was written by Avril Gearheart and Ralph Stanley (Friday 25 February 1927 – Thursday 23 June 2016)
‘Love Reunited’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is A Season)’, which was written by Pete Seeger (Saturday 3 May 1919 – Monday 27 January 2014)
‘If I Could Only Win Your Love’, which was written by Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 – Wednesday 26 January 2011) and Ira Louvin (Monday 21 April 1924 – Sunday 20 June 1965)
‘Tu Cancion’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Our Saviour’s Hands’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Wheels’, which was written by Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973)
‘Have You Seen Her Face’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Eight Miles High’, which was written by Gene Clark (Friday 17 November 1944 – Friday 24 May 1991), David Crosby (Thursday 14 August 1941 – Wednesday 18 January 2023) and Roger McGuinn
‘Together Again’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006)
‘Desert Rose’ (written by Chris Hillman and Bill Wildes)
‘Sin City’, which was written by Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973)
‘The Cowboy Way’ (written by Chris Hillman)
‘Wait A Minute’ (written by Herb Pedersen)
‘Heaven’s Lullaby’ (written by Chris Hillman)
On ‘Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen at Edward’s Barn’ (Rounder Records, 2010), Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen were joined by three expert musicians who they had worked with before, guitar player Larry Park, fiddle player David Mansfield and bass player Bill Bryson (Sunday 10 November 1946 – Sunday 30 April 2017).
Chris Hillman is active in his community, involved in his church, and is a strong supporter of artists’ recording rights and traditional family values.
Chris Hillman has lectured at The Library of Congress, The Grammy Museum, U.C.L.A., Point Loma Nazarene University and The Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Chris Hillman is also deeply involved in passing on his (musical) gifts to others, teaching and encouraging new players and singers.
• Visit Chris Hillman’s official site at chrishillman.com