By Bill Jorgenson

Sunday February 3rd as most of the country watched the Super Bowl my good friend passed on. Most people will remember Dallas as part of the Bluegrass Icon team of the Smith Brothers: Bobbie, Dallas, and Ken. Dallas was a traditional 1st generation Bluegrass performer who most recently headlined with The Boys from Shiloh. I'd like to share from personal experience the warmth and whit that I remember when thinking of Dallas.

Dallas Smith

14 years ago when bluegrass was in one of its quiet times here in Wisconsin, Dallas and Bobby visited Jerry Florian's Midsummer in the Northwoods Bluegrass Festival at Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. I have to admit I was getting frustrated because bluegrass was not as popular as I wanted it to be and I felt that if I could interact with some real down home bluegrass pickers I could pick up some inspiration. Dallas welcomed me into their motor home and soon had me pickin' with brother Bobbie and Harold Jones, a wonderful fiddle player. Dallas had me grinning with his down home stories and gentle country whit. In the morning he climbed in the back of my car and we headed off to breakfast. We had a new young waitress and Dallas, with a twinkle in his eye, asked her, "If these were hen's eggs on the menu?" She yelled back for the whole restaurant to hear, "Are these hens eggs?" The cook yelled back. "Well I guess so, as they come from a chicken!" All during the 5-day festival I was energized by Dallas's easy acceptance of me and his constant encouragement. He was always saying how "Bluegrass was coming back around," and that, "I should just keep playing."

Dallas with Bill Monroe

Last year Dallas called me when Oh Brother Where Are Thou became the album of the year and attendance's shot up at bluegrass events all across the country. "I told yah," he would say, "bluegrass is here to stay." Just a week ago he sent me a copy of his latest CD called Return to Possum Hollow.

Dallas returned the following year to Manitowish Waters and told stories of walking the fences with Bill Monroe. It was that summer he gave me one of Bill Monroe's hats. He said was too big for him and that he felt I should have it. He told me of walking the fences in the hot sun with Bill Monroe and listening to his troubles and of Bill offering him his hat. I treasure that hat not only because it was Bill Monroe's, but also because a fine gentleman like Dallas gave it to me (read an article with photo).

Dallas was also responsible for my first Nashville CD. He and Bobbie had asked me to play on Bill Monroe's show but we put it off too long and Bill passed on. Dallas kept after me until Rob and I made the drive to Nashville last January to do the CD. Dallas lined up the Studio in the United Artists Tower and also said he would "Get a few of the boys to play along." Well, a few of the boys turned out to be Kenny Baker on fiddle, Josh Graves on Dobro, Larry Perkins on banjo, Doug Mounts on Guitar, and Joe Pointer on Bass. What a thrill. Dallas drove us all over town and helped us complete the CD in a couple of days. During the long hours at the studio he was always laughing and making everyone feel relaxed and good about themselves. I try to model my behavior after his encouraging and gentle style.

Last summer I invited Dallas and Ken Smith and Kenny Baker and Josh Graves and the Boys from Shiloh up to my festival. It was a 12-hour motor home drive but he never complained once about the long trip. We had dinner together and he was excited to play in the NORTH as he called it. Having played the Wisconsin State Fair a number of years and at Manitowish and Mole Lake he had many bluegrass fans in the state. The day of the festival it was dark and cloudy and he patiently waited for his set. Once on stage he kidded with the audience over whether he would make it through before the skies opened up. He made it just barely... Raindrops were dancing off his hat as he came off the stage, but his smile at the warm reception was from ear to ear. Later that night playing indoors he put on a wonderful set and then helped ad-lib a final number with me.

Bill Jorgenson with Dallas:

I hope people will remember Dallas the man as well as Dallas the performer. His gentle nature and encouraging enthusiasm for people helped him be so much more than just a performer. I am sure there are hundreds of people like my self to whom Dallas brought a smile and a laugh and a genuine excitement for this music we call Bluegrass. My heart goes out to his family as we expected to have Dallas around a lot longer.

Bluegrass fans, I just want you to know he was one of the good ones, one of the very best....

Bill Jorgenson Visit Bill

Bill Jorgenson, the father of Wisconsin Bluegrass has been performing for over 50 years. While he plays about every bluegrass instrument, he does not type. This story was recited to Rob Billings who wrote it down for him. Magic Balloon Books 2002 Write to Rob Billings

5th February 2002