EASTON, Pa. — A country rock band that for six decades had nearly 25 albums and 40 singles hit the charts has started what it says is its farewell tour — and it will stop at Easton's State Theatre.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, best known for its 1970 Top 10 hit "Mr. Bojangles" and its 1987 platinum Country chart hit "Fishin' in the Dark," will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, the theater announced.
Tickets, at $65-$105, go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 31 at the venue website and at the box office at 453 Northampton St.State Theatre
Tickets, at $65-$105, go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 31 at the venue website and at the box office at 453 Northampton St.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who melded soft-rock with country, bluegrass, pop and folk elements, started in 1966 with singer Jackson Brown briefly as a member.
The group released its self-titled debut album in 1967, but found widespread success in 1970 with its hit version of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles."
That song became a Top 10 hit, and helped the group's album "Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy" chart high on the Billboard Albums chart, with the follow-up minor hit "House on Pooh Corner."
Band's biggest success
Its most successful album was 1972's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," which featured collaborations with famous bluegrass and country-and-western players, including Roy Acuff, Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs and Merle Travis.
The album reached No. 4 on the Country albums chart, and a follow-up, 1989's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two," featuring Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash and Emmylou Harris, peaked at No. 5.
The group still has two original members — guitarist/vocalist Jeff Hanna and drummer Jimmie Fadden. Keyboardist/vocalist Bob Carpenter has been with the band since its 1980s run of success.Nitty Gritty Dirt Band publicity
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had its most sustained success in the 1980s, when it adopted a more country sound and had 16 Top 10 Country hits, including its biggest-seller, "Fishin' in the Dark."
It also hit No. 1 on the Country chart with 1984's "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)" and 1985's "Modern Day Romance."
A 1986 compilation album, "Twenty Years of Dirt," also reached platinum sales and reached the Top 10, and another compilation, 1989's "More Great Dirt," had gold sales.
A 2016 compilation album, "Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years," hit No. 1 on the Bluegrass chart.
Its most recent album was 2022's "Dirt Does Dylan."
The group still has two original members — guitarist/vocalist Jeff Hanna and drummer Jimmie Fadden.
Keyboardist/vocalist Bob Carpenter has been with the band since its 1980s run of success.
