The Desert Rose Band

Biography

The Desert Rose Band was an American country rock band from Los Angeles, California, founded in 1985 by Chris Hillman (formerly of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers), with Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson. The original lineup included Bill Bryson on bass guitar, JayDee Maness on pedal steel guitar, and Steve Duncan on drums. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band charted several hit singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts until disbanding in February 1994.

Formation

The Desert Rose Band was formed in 1985 by frontman Chris Hillman (born December 4, 1944), formerly a member of The Byrds, and co-founder along with the late Gram Parsons of the Country Rock band The Flying Burrito Brothers. Hillman was touring that year with Dan Fogelberg in support of his Newgrass album High Country Snows as well as appearing on the album. Additional members of Fogelberg's band were recruited by Hillman as members including Herb Pedersen (born April 27, 1944), responsible for the vocal arrangements (Herb also appeared on the High Country Snows album); John Jorgenson (born July 6, 1956), who was mainly responsible for the instrumental arrangements of the songs, and bassist Bill Bryson (1946-2017). Pedal steel player JayDee Maness (born January 4, 1945) and drummer Steve Duncan (born July 28, 1953) rounded out the group. Jorgenson and Pedersen sang three-part harmony with Hillman. Each Desert Rose Band album featured Pedersen on one lead vocal.

1987-1989: The Desert Rose Band and Running

Their eponymous debut album was issued in 1987 on MCA/Curb. It contained their first hit "Ashes of Love", which was originally a Johnnie & Jack song from the early 1950s. It was the second time Hillman and Pedersen recorded "Ashes of Love," the first being on Hillman's just prior album Desert Rose on the Sugar Hill label. The Desert Rose Band's debut also featured a remake of Chris Hillman's "Time Between" which he previously wrote and recorded as a member of the Byrds, as well as the band's first chart-topper "He's Back and I'm Blue".
Their second album Running×Running1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1She Don’t Love Nobody2:572Running4:083Hello Trouble2:034I Still Believe in You4:125Summer Wind3:276For the Rich Man4:197Step On Out2:458Homeless4:459Livin’ in the House2:4710Our Songs3:25 (1988) featured the John Hiatt-penned hit "She Don't Love Nobody", "Running", and a remake of Buck Owens's "Hello Trouble". The Desert Rose Band also reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks in November of 1988 with the first single released from the Running album, "Summer Wind."

1990-1993: Pages of Life, True Love and Life Goes On

The third album Pages of Life×Pages of LifeFebruary 1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Story of Love2:332Start All Over Again4:313Missing You3:534Just a Memory3:325God’s Plan4:116Darkness on the Playground4:537Our Baby’s Gone2:448Time Passes Me By3:019Everybody’s Hero3:1810In Another Lifetime4:5111Desert Rose2:44 (1990) featured a remake of "Desert Rose" as well as a remake of Pedersen's folk song about his daughter "Our Baby's Gone" which was originally recorded on his 1976 album Southwest. JayDee Maness left the band in 1990 and was replaced on pedal steel guitar by Tom Brumley whom Jay Dee replaced in the Buckaroos. Maness would again play with Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen on their post Desert Rose Band duo albums Bakersfield Bound and Way Out West.
The fourth studio album, True Love×True Love1991 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1You Can Go Home3:342It Takes a Believer3:353Twilight Is Gone3:414No One Else3:195A Matter of Time4:036Undying Love2:477Behind These Walls3:248True Love3:079Glory and Power3:2510Shades of Blue3:26, was released in 1991. It was followed by 1993's Life Goes On, released only in Europe. Several prominent country and bluegrass musicians made guest appearances on Life Goes On including Sam Bush on fiddle, Tony Rice and Larry Park (of Boy Howdy) on guitar, and Al Perkins on dobro. Before the release of this final studio album, was the 1993 compilation Traditional×Traditional26 January 1993 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Undying Love2:492Once More3:463The Price I Pay3:024True Love3:095Step On Out2:476Time Between2:257Our Songs3:288Missing You3:569Desert Rose2:4810Hard Times2:54.
John Jorgenson and Steve Duncan left the band in 1991. Jorgenson went on to form the Hellecasters with Will Ray and Jerry Donahue; Duncan also joined the Hellecasters. John Jorgenson is currently playing gypsy jazz with his John Jorgenson Quintette. Chris and Herb recorded an acoustic album called The Other Side in 2005. They continue to tour as an acoustic duo. Former Buck Owens steel guitarist Tom Brumley played with Joey Riley's band in Branson, Missouri. He died on February 3, 2009.

Band members

Final lineup

Chris Hillman – lead vocals, guitars (1985–1994)
Herb Pedersen – guitars, vocals (1985–1994)
Tom Brumley – pedal steel guitar (1990–1994; died 2009)
Tim Grogan – drums, percussion (1991–1994)
Jeff Ross – guitars, vocals (1991–1994)
Former members

Bill Bryson – bass guitar, vocals (1985–1991; died 2017)
Steve Duncan – drums, percussion (1985–1991; died 2025)
John Jorgenson – guitars, vocals (1985–1991)
JayDee Maness – pedal steel guitar (1985–1990)