The Dirt Band

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since the original founding in California in 1965. The group's membership has had at least a dozen iterations over the years, including

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since the original founding in California in 1965. The group's membership has had at least a dozen iterations over the years, including five years, between Dirt, Silver & Gold (1976) and Let's Go (1983), when the band performed and recorded as The Dirt Band. The band's best-known song was a 1970 cover of Jerry Jeff Walker's folk song "Mr Bojangles". Their greatest critical acclaim has been for a 1971 album of country and folk standards, recorded in Nashville in collaboration with more traditional country artists, entitled Will the Circle Be Unbroken.

"Will the Circle be Unbroken was a collaboration album recorded in 1972 by the Dirt band with Traditional artists such as Mother Maybell Carter, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Merle Watson, Jimmy Martin, Junior Huskey, Normal Blake and Pete Oswald Kirby (known to Grand Ole Opry fans as Bashful Brother Oswald). Vasser Clements, not widely known then, was tapped for fiddle duties which led to greater noteriety and success for him. The album featured classic Bluegrass and Folk standards written by A.P Carter, Doc Watson and others. The title comes from the song of the same name but indicates what the Dirt Band was trying to achieve. The long haired boys from California were making an effort to reach out to the older veterans of American music and unite them in a divided America. Two other editions were released, one in the 80's and another after Sept. 11, 2001.