Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Member & Country Rocker Chris Darrow Dies
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Chris Darrow, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, country rock pioneer and member of multiple influential bands including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Corvettes who backed up Linda Ronstadt, has passed away according to his representatives. He was 75-years-old.
A centerpiece to the country rock movement spanning from the mid 60’s into the 70’s, Chris Darrow’s list of contributions and accomplishments are vast, including being one of the founding members of California’s influential bluegrass outfit the Dry City Scat Band in 1964, playing with David Lindley, Richard Greene and others, and hanging out with Chis Hillman of The Byrds at the time. Darrow would follow Hillamn as a bluegrass musician transitioning into more rock-oriented music, doing time in The Floggs, and eventually the well-known psychedelic band Kaleidescope in the mid 60’s along with fellow Dry City Scat member David Lindley.
1967 is when Chris Darrow’s name would go more national when he joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, replacing Bruce Kunkel, recording two albums with the outfit, Rare Junk and Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy, as well as appearing in the Clint Eastwood Western musical film, Paint Your Wagon with the band.
From there he formed The Corvettes with fellow Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Jeff Hanna in 1969, and they were soon tapped to be the backing band for Linda Ronstadt just as her country rock career was exploding. Jeff Hanna eventually left The Corvettes to return to Nitty Gritty, and was replaced by Bernie Leadon, which put together one of the early building blocks of The Eagles—speaking to how deep Chris Darrow was embedded in the earliest incarnations of country rock.
From there Chris Darrow launched a solo career, releasing a total of 10 records between 1972 and 2006, while composing songs and playing on multiple recordings from numerous artists, including James Taylor, John Stewart, Hoyt Axton, Harry Chapin, and others. Chris Darrow was also considered a mentor to Ben Harper, who recorded his song “Whipping Boy” on his 1994 record Welcome to the Cruel World. Ben Harper posted upon hearing about the death of Chris Darrow,“I didn’t go to college, I went to Chris Darrow…”
Born Christopher Lloyd Darrow on July 30th, 1944 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he grew up in Southern California in the Los Angeles suburb of Claremont. His father was a jazz clarinet player, and Darrow began to play ukulele at an early age, transitioning to guitar at 13. His interest in American roots music came from attending Pitzer College in Claremont where he studied folk and bluegrass music under well-known musicologist and musician Guy Carawan. He also attended the Claremont Graduate school, eventually earning a master’s degree in art. Darrow’s first professional gigs were playing with the Dry Scat Band at Disneyland, and at the famous Ash Grove folk club in Hollywood.
Darrow was also passionate about photography, and was responsible for numerous cover photos for records.
“The number of musicians he supported, inspired and helped launch made him a godfather of California’s country rock of the late sixties,” said Everloving Records upon his passing, who reissued his well-regarded 1973 self-titled release in 2009.
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More information on Chris Darrow’s passing when it is available.
January 16, 2020 @ 5:43 pm
This is a truly big loss for the California country-rock community, given Chris’ involvement with the early Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and with Linda Ronstadt, the latter of whom he remained in close touch with. He may not have had quite the “name” that others did, but I can tell you that Linda and all the others who worked with him are likely in shock over his passing.
January 16, 2020 @ 6:43 pm
It seems like these artists are dropping like flies lately. Who’s next? I don’t want to know. Sad.
January 16, 2020 @ 8:03 pm
It was a pleasure to have known him & shared the NGDB days and the PAINT YOUR WAGON days. Chris was a joy to be around. Another phenomenal musician making magical music “in the sky Lord, in the sky”.
January 17, 2020 @ 11:03 pm
That’s awful last year I went to the Colorado music hall of fame and saw their plaque. They performed with my favorite singer john denver multiple times. May he rest in peace.
January 18, 2020 @ 3:34 pm
Chris and I grew up together in Claremont from k-12 he was a good friend and special soul he will be missed by many who knew him throughout his life
January 19, 2020 @ 6:24 pm
Not particularly religious he lived life as almost a true Christian. My lifelong friend and musical partner for 52 years was loved by so many for his kindness of spirit and outreach to so many. My major solace is in knowing he brought so much joy into countless lives of and I was fortunate enough to be there for major portions of it. I am also thankful for the many records, cd’s and tapes that keep the music we and all of his friends made alive. For at least his last decade he always used his favorite Duke Ellington quote on all of his messages – “Music is my mistress and plays second fiddle to no one.” May he rest in perfect peace.