Herb Pedersen

Herb Pedersen with Laurel Canyon Rambler's

band mate, Bill Bryson.

Herb Pedersen was born on April 27, 1944 in Berkeley, Calif. and grew up immersed in the Bay Area's folk-music scene.

Herb began his career in Berkeley, California in the early 60's playing 5 string banjo and acoustic guitar with people like David Grisman, Butch Waller, David Nelson, and Jerry Garcia.

He formed his first band, the Pine Valley Boys, while still a teenager and in 1961, he moved to Nashville.

He found immediate success, working with David Grisman and Vern and Ray through the 1960s. Herb played with The Dillards from 1967 to 1972.

After releasing two albums with The Dillards, Pedersen worked extensively in L.A. studios, collaborating with Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris and John Prine.

While in Los Angeles, Pedersen also worked for television, scoring the music to popular shows such as "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Rockford Files."

Pedersen founded the country-rock Desert Rose Band in 1986, with former Byrds member, Chris Hillman.

In the '90s Pedersen has released several bluegrass albums with the Laurel Canyon Ramblers, as well as a 1996 album with Hillman, Bakersfield Bound.

Television and motion picture sound tracks are something multi-instrumentalist, Herb has been involved in since the early 70s. Shows like The Rockford Files, Smokey and The Bandit, the Maverick movie with Mel Gibson, Hunter, The Simpsons, have used Herb either on 5 string banjo, or vocals for many years.

Herb at Hart High Concert with Grateful Dudes' Dennis Fetchet, Bill Bryson and Rodger Phillips.

Herb has done well in adding his talents to the recordings of many folk and country music
artists of today. Artists like John Denver, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Johnny Rivers, Dan Fogelberg, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Jennifer Warnes, John Prine and Jesse Winchester have used Herb's talents in the past, and in all probability will continue to do so.

With his lifelong pal, Chris Hillman, Herb is in the process of continuing type of music they both grew up playing and singing. There is a work in progress most of the time and that's the way Herb likes it.

For the last thirty years, Herb has lived in southern California, and participated in select music groups, either in recording, or traveling on the road doing concerts. His recording discography is like a who's who of the singer/songwriter scene, so prevalent in the 70s and 80s.

Herb with bass player, Eric White.

His solo albums include:

"Southwest" (1976)
"Sandman" (1977)
"Lonesome Feeling" (1984)
"Double Bass" (1994)
"Lonesome Feeling" (1995)
"Bakersfield Bound" (1996) (with Chris Hillman)
"Out of the Woodwork" (1997) [with Chris Hillman and The Rice Brothers (Tony Rice)]
"Way Out West" (2002) with Chris Hillman

Herb Pedersen with Kenny Blackwell [Laurel Canyon Ramblers], Bill Bryson [Laurel Canyon Ramblers & Grateful Dudes] and Dennis Fetchet [Grateful Dudes & Billy Hill and the Hillbillies] at Vincenzo's Pizzeria.

Chris Hillman [The Byrds & Flying Burrito Brothers], Herb Pedersen [The Laurel Canyon Ramblers], Bill Bryson

and Bill Knoft at Vincenzo's