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The band in 1976. Background information Also known as The Dirt Band, The Toot Uncommons Origin, Genres,,,,, Years active 1966–present Labels,,,,,,,,,, Associated acts Website Members Bob Carpenter Jimmie Fadden Jaime Hanna Ross Holmes Past members Ralph Barr Merel Bregante Michael Buono John Cable Jackie Clark Michael Gardner Al Garth Richard Hathaway Bruce Kunkel Vic Mastrianni Les Thompson The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, an American band, has existed in various forms since its founding in, in. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band. Constant members since the early times are singer-guitarist and drummer Jimmie Fadden. Multi-instrumentalist was with the band from 1966 to 1986 and returned during 2001, staying 16 years, then departing again in November 2017. Keyboardist Bob Carpenter joined the band in 1977. The band is often cited as instrumental to the progression of contemporary country and roots music.

The band's successes include a of 's '. Albums include 1972's, featuring such traditional country artists as,,,,,. A follow-up album based on the same concept, was released in 1989, was certified gold, won two, and was named at the. Villiers engine serial number.

Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • History [ ] 1966–69 [ ] The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was founded around 1966 in Long Beach, California, by singer-guitarist and singer-songwriter guitarist Bruce Kunkel who had performed as the New Coast Two and later the Illegitimate Jug Band. Trying, in the words of the band's website, to 'figure out how not to have to work for a living,' Hanna and Kunkel joined informal at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Long Beach. [ ] There they met a few other musicians: guitarist/ Ralph Barr, guitarist- Les Thompson, and player Jimmie Fadden, and guitarist-vocalist. As Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the six men started as a and adopted the burgeoning southern California musical style, playing in local clubs while wearing pinstripe suits and cowboy boots. Their first paying performance was at the in. Browne was in the band for only a few months before he left to concentrate on a solo career as a.

He was replaced by on,,,. McEuen's older brother, William, was the group's manager, and he helped the band get signed with, which released the group's debut album, during 1967. The band's first single, 'Buy for Me the Rain,' was a Top 40 success, and the band gained exposure on, as well as concerts with such disparate artists as. A second album,, was released later during the year and was less successful than their first. Kunkel wanted the band to 'go electric', and include more original material. Bruce left the group to form WordSalad and Of The People. He was replaced by multi-instrumentalist.