Danny Dill b. September 19, 1924 / Dollar Hill, Tennessee Singer / Songwriter

Webmaster's note: I received this delightful personal note of correction to an all too bland Danny Dill page on the LINER NOTES. DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING MYSELF.? DANNY DILL WAS BORN 9/19/1924 AT DOLLAR HILL TN. ON A '' COLD DARK NITE '' SO I OPENED ''LONG BLACK VEIL '' THE SAME WAY.'' YEP IT'S OLE' DANNY, AND I LIKE YOUR VERSION OF THE SONG 'MAYBE ' THE BEST, THANKS MY VERRY HIGHEST REGARDS DANNY DILL

One of Danny Dill's mentors, Whitey Ford, aka "The Duke Of Paducah", impressed upon Danny early on that "quality is always in style".

At a recent "International Folk Music Festival" in Vancouver, B.C. Danny Dill was introduced as "Part of the North American Historical Cultural Memory". Many backstage, and in the audience nodded in full agreement as Danny dug into his vast store of talent and experience to give an unforgettable performance.

Seventy years of trial and errors have honed the Dill of today into a completely delightful composite of songs, recitations, and comedy.

Danny came to the Grand Ole Opry in 1946 with his wife Annie Lou. They joined the greats of the day in eleven years of Opry and road-show work.

In a day when one was just called the emcee, Danny fronted for the likes of Ernest Tubb, Eddy Arnold, The Duke Of Paducah, and yes, Hank Williams.

In the '50's, Danny joined the first great wave of writers; Willie Nelson, Wayne P. Walker, Mel Tillis, Marijohn Wilkin, and Roger Miller in setting the tone, and pace for all of the thousands of writers that came later.

Lately, Dill has done acting chores in many music videos; "Walls Can Fall" - George Jones, "Tips Of My Fingers" - Steve Wariner, "Put Yourself In My Shoes" - Clint Black, "That's Good" - Tim Mencey, and for Prarie Oyster, Johnny Cash, and Sawyer Brown.

Danny has recorded for Victor, MGM, Liberty ABC Paramount, and Bulbitt Records. The standards "Long Black Veil", and "Detroit City" have been recorded in 22 languages, and these songs alone, not to mention the hundreds of others, were enough to hoist Danny into the select world of Hall Of Fame writers in the National Songwriters Association International.

Get to know Danny Dill, and you'll find a complete entertainer, walking calmly with style and grace, to ever greater accomplishments.

 - CD Baby.com

Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975, Danny Dill is one of country music's greatest songsmiths. His tune, "Long Black Veil", written with Marijohn Wilkin, has been recorded by everyone from Lefty Frizzell and Johnny Cash to the Band, Jerry Garcia and Jason, The Scorchers [and the Kingston Trio as well.]. Bobby Bare scored a major hit with his song, "Detroit City", in 1963. Both "Long Black Veil" and "Detroit Hits" have become international hits, translated and recorded in more than two dozen languages.

Additional songs by Dill have been recorded by Carl Smith, George Morgan, Eddy Arnold, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Cowboy Copas, Faron Young, Billy Grammer and Jim Reeves.

A native of Tennessee's Carroll County, Dill was only twenty-one when he, and his wife, Annie Lou, were invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1946. During the next dozen years, they toured with Opry and road shows, opening shows for such country artists as Ernest Tubb, Eddy Arnold and Hank Williams.

The first songwriter to sign with the Nashville-based Cedarwood Publishing Company, in 1952, Dill became a writer/consultant for Buckhorn Music in the mid-1970s.

Dill has made guest appearances in a number of music videos including Steve Wariner's "Tips Of My Fingers" and Clint Black's "Put Yourself In My Shoes". ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide.

Last revised: September 03, 2006.