The Dillards are an American bluegrass and country rock band from Salem, Missouri. The band is best known for introducing bluegrass music into the popular mainstream with their appearance as "The Darlings" on The Andy Griffith Show. Band members The Dillards originally consisted of: Douglas Dillard (born March 6, 1937, Salem, Missouri – May 16, 2012) – banjo Rodney Dillard (born May 18, 1942, Salem, Missouri) – guitar, dobro Dean Webb (born Roy Dean Webb, March 28, 1937, Independence, Missouri – June 30, 2018) – mandolin Mitchell Franklin "Mitch" Jayne (born July 5, 1928, Hammond, Indiana – August 2, 2010) – double bass In 1968, Doug Dillard left to form Dillard and Clark. He continued to play occasionally with his brother until a few years before his death, in 2012. The 2015 lineup included: Rodney Dillard and his wife Beverly Cotten-Dillard – clawhammer banjo, vocals Tony Wray, featured guest – guitar, banjo, harmony vocals Jeff Gilkinson – cello, bass, harmonica, porchboard, harmony vocals Gary Smith – double bass George Giddens – fiddle, mandolin, harmony vocal Other members of the band have included: Dewey Martin – drums John Humphreys – drums Herb Pedersen – banjo, guitar Billy Ray Latham – banjo, guitar, electric guitar Ray Park – fiddle Paul York – drums Jeff Gilkinson – bass, cello, harmonica, banjo Douglas Bounsall – electric guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle Byron Berline – fiddle Irv Dugan – bass Bill Bryson – bass Glen D. Hardin – keyboards Seth Papas – drums Buddy Blackmon – banjo Rick McEwen – bass Ric Williams – drums Joe Villegas – bass Eddie Ponder – drums Pete Grant – banjo, steel guitar Steve Cooley – banjo, guitar, upright bass Wilburn Pace – banjo, fiddle Richard Godfrey – drums Shane Lail – guitar Jim Glaspy – banjo, guitar Billy Constable – guitar. The Andy Griffith Show Though The Dillards were already an established bluegrass band, their biggest claim to fame is performing musically as members of the fictional Darling family on The Andy Griffith Show, introducing bluegrass to many Americans who had never heard it. This was a recurring role and the Dillards were led by veteran character actor Denver Pyle as their father and jug player, Briscoe Darling. Maggie Peterson played Charlene Darling, their sister and the focus for the attentions of character Ernest T. Bass, played by Howard Morris. The appearances of the Dillards as the Darlings ran