Chris Hillman

Chris Hillman (born December 4, 1944, in Los Angeles, California), was one of the original members of The Byrds (1965) with Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke.

Related Topics:
December 4 - 1944 - Los Angeles, California - The Byrds - 1965 - Roger McGuinn - Gene Clark - David Crosby - Michael Clarke

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Coming to The Byrds with an extensive background in folk and bluegrass music (his first band was the legendary Scottsville Squirrel Barkers. whose members included Larry Murray and future Eagle Bernie Leadon), Hillman is arguably one of the pioneers who created the musical genre known as California country rock.

Related Topics:
Folk - Bluegrass - Country rock

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Upon leaving the Byrds in 1968 he formed The Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons. The Burritos were anxious to create "Cosmic American Music" where hippies and truckers would share common ground. While not a major success, they were indeed a major influence that propelled the Eagles, the "Outlaw" brand of Country music, and successful country artists such as Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Travis Tritt, Emmylou Harris and others.

Related Topics:
The Flying Burrito Brothers - Gram Parsons - The Eagles - "Outlaw" - Country music - Garth Brooks - Brad Paisley - Travis Tritt - Emmylou Harris

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From the Burrito experience, Hillman went on to be Stephen Stills' "second-in-command" in Manassas, one of the major concert acts of the early 1970s, then joined former Buffalo Springfield and Poco member Richie Furay and Eagles songwriter J.D. Souther in the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (1973-1975). Following the break-up of S-H-F Hillman reunited with Byrds colleagues McGuinn and Gene Clark to form McGuinn-Clark-Hillman.

Related Topics:
Stephen Stills - 1970s - Buffalo Springfield - Poco - J.D. Souther - 1973 - 1975

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At the beginning of the 1980s Hillman had returned to his country and bluegrass roots. Together with longtime friend and noted session musician Herb Pedersen, Hillman formed The Desert Rose Band in 1986.

Related Topics:
1980s - 1986

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In The Desert Rose Band, Hillman emerged as a powerful and confident singer, while the songs that he had co-written with Steve Hill showed much more substance and conscience than anything Nashville was putting out then - or now. The Desert Rose Band put California country rock back in business for the next seven years, along with a string of number one and top ten recordings before the band called it quits at the end of 1993.

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Currently Hillman still records and does occasional bluegrass and country rock shows (along with Pedersen and bassist Bill Bryson) in the U.S. and Europe. He recently recorded The Other Side (2005) on SovereignArtists records.

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While perhaps not as well known as some of his contemporaries, Hillman nonetheless has carved a permanent and positive niche in Americana music.

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