Chris Hillman with Herb Pedersen at PLNU Symposium by the Sea: 2011
Chris Hillman with Herb Pedersen at PLNU Symposium by the Sea: 2011
Chris Hillman, the legendary bassist and founding member of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, performed with bluegrass musician Herb Pedersen at Point Loma Nazarene University's Symposium by the Sea. Seeing a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer in such an intimate setting was a rare privilege.
The Legend
Chris Hillman's musical resume is extraordinary. He was a founding member of The Byrds, the band that pioneered folk-rock and psychedelic rock in the 1960s. He played bass on "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Turn! Turn! Turn!," and "Eight Miles High" - songs that defined an era.
After The Byrds, he co-founded The Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons, pioneering country-rock and creating "The Gilded Palace of Sin," one of the most influential country-rock albums ever made. He's also played with Manassas (with Stephen Stills), The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, and the Desert Rose Band.
In 1991, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Byrds. By 2011, he was in his late 60s and still making music.
The Duo Format
For this performance, Hillman partnered with Herb Pedersen, a renowned bluegrass singer and multi-instrumentalist. Pedersen had played with The Dillards, The Corvettes, and numerous bluegrass and country acts. The duo format allowed them to focus on songs, harmonies, and stories without needing a full band.
Hillman on guitar and mandolin, Pedersen on banjo and guitar, both singing - this stripped-down format showcased the quality of their musicianship and the strength of their material.
The Performance
They played songs from across Hillman's career - Byrds classics, Flying Burrito Brothers songs, material from his various projects. Hearing "Turn! Turn! Turn!" (Pete Seeger's adaptation of Ecclesiastes that The Byrds made famous) in an acoustic duo format was special. The song's message about peace and cycles of life resonated in the intimate setting.
From The Flying Burrito Brothers, they played country-rock classics that showed Hillman's commitment to blending rock energy with country traditions. These songs influenced countless alt-country and Americana artists who came after.
Their harmonies were beautiful. Both men have been singing together (on and off) for decades, and their voices blend naturally. Bluegrass and country music value harmony singing, and Hillman and Pedersen delivered.
Between songs, Hillman told stories - about The Byrds recording with Bob Dylan, about Gram Parsons and the birth of country-rock, about the LA music scene in the 1960s and 1970s. These weren't just stories; this was music history from someone who lived it.
Country-Rock Pioneer
The Flying Burrito Brothers' fusion of country music and rock didn't sell millions of records, but it influenced everyone from The Eagles to Uncle Tupelo to Wilco. Hillman and Gram Parsons showed that you could love country music's traditions while bringing rock's energy and attitude.
This was radical in 1969. Rock audiences dismissed country as conservative and unsophisticated. Country audiences viewed rock as dangerous and corrupting. Hillman and Parsons didn't care - they made the music they loved, creating something new in the process.
The Symposium by the Sea
PLNU's Symposium by the Sea brings speakers, artists, and thinkers to campus for lectures, performances, and discussions. Booking Chris Hillman showed the event's commitment to bringing significant artists to students and community members.
The venue was intimate - a campus auditorium that seated a few hundred. Seeing a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer in such a setting, without arena production or massive crowds, allowed focus on the music and stories.
Bluegrass Roots
Before rock and roll, Hillman played bluegrass mandolin. He was a serious bluegrass musician before joining The Byrds. That background informed his playing throughout his career - his bass lines had bluegrass melodicism, his mandolin playing was rooted in tradition.
Performing with Herb Pedersen brought Hillman back to those roots. The duo format is common in bluegrass and old-time music - two musicians, acoustic instruments, harmonies. It's music stripped to essentials.
Longevity and Integrity
By 2011, Hillman had been making music professionally for nearly 50 years. He'd been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 20 years. He could have retired, lived on royalties, or just played nostalgia shows for big money.
Instead, he continued making new music, touring with partners like Herb Pedersen, and sharing his love of country, bluegrass, and rock with anyone who'd listen. That commitment is admirable.
The Verdict
Chris Hillman with Herb Pedersen at PLNU was a masterclass in American roots music from a true legend. His stories brought the 1960s LA music scene to life, his musicianship showed decades of skill, and his partnership with Pedersen demonstrated the beauty of acoustic duo performance.
If you love The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, country-rock, or American roots music history, seeing Chris Hillman is essential. He lived the history, created some of the most important music of the 1960s and 1970s, and continues to honor those traditions while moving forward.
Thank you, Chris and Herb, for an evening of great music and stories from someone who was there when rock and country music collided and created something new.