Dixie Dregs

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Dixie Dregs
Allen Sloan (left) and Andy West (center) of Dixie Dregs live in 1999
Background information
Also known as	Dixie Grit (1970-1971) Rock Ensemble II (1973) The Dregs (1981-1983)
Origin	Jazz rock instrumental rock progressive rock southern rock
Years active	1970–1983 1988–present
Labels	Capricorn Arista
Members	Steve Davidowski Rod Morgenstein Steve Morse Allen Sloan Andy West
Past members	Frank Brittingham Jordan Rudess Johnny Carr Gilbert Frayer Jerry Goodman Frank Josephs Dave LaRue T Lavitz Dave Morse Mark O'Connor Mark Parrish Bart Yarnold
Website	Official website

Dixie Dregs is an American rock band from Augusta, Georgia. Formed in 1970,^[1] the band is known for instrumental music that fuses elements of rock, classical music, country, jazz and bluegrass into an eclectic sound that is difficult to categorize. Recognized for their virtuoso playing, the Dixie Dregs were identified with the southern rock, progressive rock and jazz fusion scenes of the 1970s.

In 1975, the band recorded their

After Capricorn declared bankruptcy in 1979, the band signed with Arista Records, releasing the album Dregs of the Earth in 1980. The following year, the band changed their name to The Dregs, releasing two albums under this name, Unsung Heroes (1981) and Industry Standard (1982), which was the only album by the band to feature vocals. The band disbanded in 1983.^[3] After reuniting in 1988, the Dixie Dregs released Full Circle in 1994, and the live albums Bring 'Em Back Alive (1992) and California Screamin' (2000).

Dixie Dregs evolved from an Augusta, Georgia, band called Dixie Grit, formed by Steve Morse and Andy West in 1970.^[1] The band featured Morse's older brother Dave on drums, Frank Brittingham (guitar and vocals) and Johnny Carr (keyboards). Carr was later replaced by Mark Parrish. Shortly after Steve Morse's enrollment at University of Miami's School of Music in 1971, Dixie Grit was disbanded. Morse and West continued performing as a duo, calling themselves Dixie Dregs (the "Dregs" of "Dixie Grit").^[4]

In 1973, Steve Morse (guitar), Andy West (bass), Allen Sloan (violin) and Bart Yarnal (drums) met while students at the University of Miami's School of Music to play as Rock Ensemble II. West also attended Georgia State University for a year while studying cello and music theory and composition along with Parrish. Parrish remained at GSU during the academic school years only to return to Augusta, Georgia, during summer breaks - re-establishing the guitar/bass/keyboards/drums quartet with Morse, West, Parrish, and Gilbert Frayer (drums) performing as opening acts for concerts and headlining local gigs as Dixie Dregs.

During subsequent academic school years, the remaining members of the Dregs, including Andy West, returned to the University of Miami and Mark Parrish returned to Atlanta, Georgia, to complete his degree in music performance and composition at Georgia State University, under the study of William Masselos, with additional studies of electronic music at Columbia University in New York City under Alice Shields, a protégée of Wendy Carlos.

At the time, the University of Miami hosted a lively musical community, including future professional musicians Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Danny Gottlieb, T Lavitz and Bruce Hornsby. Rod Morgenstein was asked to fill in as drummer after a surfing accident disabled Yarnal. In 1974, during the school years at UofM, keyboardist Frank Josephs was added to their lineup. In 1975, the group's first effort, The Great Spectacular (named by ex-"Dixie Grit" second guitarist and singer, Frank Brittingham) was recorded at the University.^[5] Approximately 1,000 copies of the original LP were pressed. The album was reissued in 1997 in CD form.

Based on the strength of a three-song demo and a tip from former

Reunion

During the early 1980s, the British disc jockey Tommy Vance started using the Dixie Dregs track "Take It Off the Top" as his signature tune for the BBC radio show The Friday Rock Show.^[6]

In the late 1980s, the group reunited for a tour featuring former members Morse, Morgenstein (who was also playing with

The Mahavishnu Orchestra fame, filled in for Sloan, who was frequently absent as a result of his busy medical career. They signed a deal with former label Capricorn Records for their first studio album in years entitled Full Circle

in 1994.

Today

The Dregs to this day remain a loose collection of its former members, reuniting briefly for short tours and rare studio work. 1997's releases were The Great Spectacular in April and King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents (originally recorded in 1979 for the King Biscuit radio show) in September. California Screamin' (2000) is a curious mix of live recordings from the performances at the Roxy Theatre in August 1999. This release features older compositions and covers of the Allman Brothers Band's "Jessica", and Frank Zappa's "Peaches en Regalia" (with Dweezil Zappa sharing guitar lead). 20th Century Masters: The Best of the Dixie Dregs and the DVD Sects, Dregs and Rock 'n' Roll were released in 2002.

On July 3, 2017, Rod Morgenstein announced a reunion tour beginning February 2018 in a YouTube video for Rock, Roots, & Blues - Live.^[7]

The first show of the reunion tour dubbed "Dawn of the Dregs" took place on February 28, 2018, in Clearwater, Florida. It featured the original lineup of Steve Morse (guitar), Andy West (bass), Rod Morgenstein (drums), Allen Sloan (violin), and Steve Davidowski (keyboards)

Musical style

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2023)

Dixie Dregs' performances consist entirely of instrumentals, with

The Boston Herald described the band's music as a fusion of rock, jazz, country, and classical music.^[14] The Chicago Tribune categorized Dixie Dregs' music as a fusion of jazz rock and country music.^[15] The Christian Science Monitor defined Dixie Dregs' music as being a fusion of bluegrass and classical music.^[16] The Times described Dixie Dregs' music as a fusion of progressive rock, heartland rock, and jazz.^[17]

Personnel

Members

Current members Steve Morse – guitar (1970–1983, 1988–present) Andy West – bass guitar (1970–1983, 1988, 1999, 2017–present) Rod Morgenstein – drums (1973–1983, 1988–present) Allen Sloan – violin (1973–1981, 1988–1992, 1999, 2017–present) Steve Davidowski – keyboards (1975–1977, 2017–present)

Former members Frank Brittingham – guitar, vocals (1970–1971) Dave Morse – drums (1970–1971) Johnny Carr – keyboards (1970) Mark Parrish – keyboards (1970–1971, 1973, 1977–1978) Bart Yarnall – drums (1973) Gilbert Frayer – drums (1973) Frank Josephs – keyboards (1974–1975) T Lavitz – keyboards (1978–1983, 1988–2010; his death) Mark O'Connor – violin (1981–1983) Dave LaRue – bass guitar (1988–2017) Jerry Goodman – violin (1992–2017)

Substitute musicians Jordan Rudess – keyboards (1994, 2024)

Timeline

Lineups

1970 As "Dixie Grit"	1970-1971 As "Dixie Grit"	1971-1973	1973
Frank Brittingham - guitar, vocals Johnny Carr - keyboards Dave Morse - drums Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar	Frank Brittingham - guitar, vocals Dave Morse - drums Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Mark Parrish - keyboards	Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar	As "Rock Ensemble II" Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Allen Sloan - violin Bart Yarnall - drums As "Dixie Dregs" Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Mark Parrish - keyboards Gilbert Frayer - drums
1973-1974	1974-1975	1975-1977	1977-1978
Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Allen Sloan - violin Rod Morgenstein - drums	Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Allen Sloan - violin Rod Morgenstein - drums Frank Josephs - keyboards	Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Allen Sloan - violin Rod Morgenstein - drums Steve Davidowski - keyboards	Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Allen Sloan - violin Rod Morgenstein - drums Mark Parrish - keyboards
1978-1981	1981-1983	1983-1988	1988-1992
Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Allen Sloan - violin Rod Morgenstein - drums T Lavitz - keyboards	Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass guitar Rod Morgenstein - drums T Lavitz - keyboards Mark O'Connor - violin	Group disbanded	Steve Morse - guitar Rod Morgenstein - drums T Lavitz - keyboards Dave LaRue - bass guitar Allen Sloan - violin
1992-2010	2010-2017	2017–present
Steve Morse - guitar Rod Morgenstein - drums T Lavitz - keyboards Dave LaRue - bass guitar Jerry Goodman - violin	Steve Morse - guitar Rod Morgenstein - drums Dave LaRue - bass guitar Jerry Goodman - violin	Steve Morse - guitar Andy West - bass Allen Sloan - violin Rod Morgenstein - drums Steve Davidowski - keyboards

Discography

Studio albums

• Free Fall (May 27, 1977) (Note: the LP label lists the title as Freefall)
• What If (March 1978)
• Night of the Living Dregs (1979)
• Dregs of the Earth (1980)
• Unsung Heroes (1981)
• Industry Standard (1982)
• Full Circle (June 7, 1994)

Demo releases

• The Great Spectacular (1976 - released on CD April 1997)
• Off the Record (1988) (demo for Ensoniq synthesizers)

Live albums

• Bring 'Em Back Alive (1992)
• King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents (September 16, 1997)
• California Screamin' (February 1, 2000)
• From the Front Row... Live! (Dolby 5.1 DVD-Audio, 2003)

Compilations

• Best of the Dixie Dregs (1987)
• The Best of the Dregs: Divided We Stand (1989)
• 20th Century Masters: The Best of the Dixie Dregs (March 26, 2002)

Video albums

• Sects, Dregs and Rock 'n' Roll (DVD, December 2002)
• Live at Montreux 1978 (DVD, 2005)

Singles

• 1976: "Cruise Control"/"Refried Funky Chicken"/"Cosmopolitan Traveler" (self-released)
• 1978: "Take It Off the Top"/"Little Kids"
• 1979: "Punk Sandwich"/"Country House Shuffle"
• 1980: "Pride O' the Farm"/"The Great Spectacular"
• 1981: "Cruise Control"/"Go for Baroque"
• 1982: "Crank It Up"/"Bloodsucking Leeches"

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "The Dixie Dregs - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
2. ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1980 – Grammy Award Winners 1980". Awardsandshows.com. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
3. ^ "Obituary of Terry Lavitz". Sullivanfuneralhome.net. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
4. ^ "Loading..." Stevemorse.info. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
5. ^
   ISBN 0-85112-939-0
   .
6. ^ Van der Kiste, John (2016). Pop Pickers and Music Vendors. Stroud: Fonthill Media.
7. ^ Rock, Roots, & Blues - Live! (July 3, 2017). "Rod Morgenstein Reunion Promo for Rock, Roots, & Blues - Live". Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2017 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. ^ Gioffre, Daniel (2011). "Industry Standard - The Dregs | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
9. ISSN 0006-2510
   . Retrieved April 24, 2021 – via American Radio History.
10. ^ "The Dixie Dregs rise again". New Jersey Herald. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
11. ^ "Rod Morgenstein with the Dixie Dregs". Moderndrummer.com. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
12. ISBN 9781858285344
    .
13. ^ Allen, Jim (February 28, 2018). "Dixie Dregs' Classic Lineup Returns to Revive the Band's Southern-Fried Fusion Legacy". Indy Week. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
14. ^ "Steve Morse gets the Dixie Dregs back together for tour". Boston Herald. March 18, 2018.
15. ^ Heim, Chris (October 29, 1992). "GWAR, RAMONES, DIXIE DREGS ON TAP FOR HALLOWEEN". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
16. ^ Waters and Herron, Celia, Timothy R. (December 17, 1981). "Classical mixed with bluegrass? Call them the Dregs". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
17. ^ Tady, Scott (March 23, 2018). "Dixie Dregs dazzle with virtuosity in Munhall". The Times. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dixie Dregs.

• Official website
• Dixie Dregs at
  AllMusic
• The Dixie Dregs first promo photograph, by Michael Mastro, who also shot the photographs on the back of What If