Rural Rhythm Records recently added Rodney Dillard & The Dillard Band to their roster of artists. The band’s new CD, I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry, will be released on the Rural Rhythm label this September (9/28/2010).

Rodney has a long history in bluegrass music. From my home state of Missouri, he was part of the legendary family band, The Dillards, who made many appearances on The Andy Griffith Show as the Darling family.

In 2009, The Dillards were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. My wife and I had the privilege of sharing a table with Rodney and his family at the Special Awards Luncheon where the induction ceremony took place, and you couldn’t hope to meet a nicer bunch of people.

Rural Rhythm Records has a nice write up about Rodney, including a bit of interesting history concerning the band’s involvement with The Andy Griffith Show.

In 1962, THE DILLARDS, who had a new recording contract with Elektra Records, were asked by the producers of The Andy Griffith Show to play a bluegrass-playing family (The Darlings), whose patriarch was to be played by popular Hollywood actor Denver Pyle… and to this day THE DILLARDS are seen nearly every day somewhere in the world thanks to the still enormous popularity of The Andy Griffith Show re-runs. October 2010 is the 50th Anniversary of the first airing of this popular show.

Rodney Dillard wrote and collaborated with others to write such classic songs as “There Is A Time”, “The Darlin’ Boys”, “Ebo Walker”, and “Dooley.”   These songs, plus more DILLARD and MAYBERRY classics, can be found on their upcoming album.

In addition to these classic Dillards tunes, the CD also contains four new original songs, and five episodes of the popular radio show Mayberry Minute.

Coinciding with the CD’s release, Rodney Dillard & The Dillard Band will be performing at the 2010 World of Bluegrass in Nashville, TN as an official showcase performer.