Desert Rose Band

by Steve HueyA contemporary vehicle for country-rock pioneer Chris Hillman (ex-Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers), the Desert Rose Band formed in 1985 with primary songwriter Hillman on lead vocals, guitar, and mandolin. Other members, culled mainly from southern California session players, included banjoist/guitarist Herb Pedersen, guitarist John Jorgenson, steel guitarist Jay Dee Maness, bassist Bill Bryson, and drummer Steve Duncan. Their first single was a 1986 cover of Johnnie & Jacks Ashes of Love, which climbed into the country Top 30. Their self-titled debut album followed in 1987 and spawned a number one hit in Hes Back and Im Blue, plus two more Top Tens in Love Reunited and One Step Forward. 1988s Running produced the number one smash I Still Believe in You, the number two Summer Wind, and the number three She Dont Love Nobody. 1990s Pages of Life brought their final Top Ten hits in Story of Love and Start All Over Again. Major personnel turnover followed; Maness was replaced by steel guitarist Tom Brumley, Jorgenson by guitarist Jeff Ross, and Duncan by drummer Tim Grogan. This lineup recorded three albums — 1991s True Love and two in 1993, Traditional and Life Goes On — but failed to duplicate the success of the bands first incarnation. After the Desert Rose Band broke up, Hillman and Herb Pedersen continued to work together on a sporadic basis.