Singer. Born Dorothy Ann Dillard, she was a tenor harmony vocalist, best know for being a member of “The Anita Kerr Quartet”. Formed in 1949, the quartet began singing on popular radio programs such as the Grand Ole Opry, Ozark Jubilee, Arthur Godfrey Show and Tennessee, station WSM television morning shows. By the early 1960s, the group besides their own records was featured on a quarter of all the country music records being made in Nashville, Tennessee. They also sang background vocals for recording artists to include Brook Benton, Perry Como, Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, Connie Francis, Roy Orbison and Burl Ives. In 1966, the quartet won two Grammy awards, one for best vocal group on a religious album, "George Beverly Shea Sings Southland Favorites with The Anita Kerr Quartet" and the other for best vocal group for the album, "We Dig Mancini". She also had a her own hit single record with “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” (1954) and won a Grammy with Bob Dylan for his first self-titled album in 1962. After a career of over thirty years in music, Dillard retired in 1981. She died of natural causes at age 91.
Singer. Born Dorothy Ann Dillard, she was a tenor harmony vocalist, best know for being a member of “The Anita Kerr Quartet”. Formed in 1949, the quartet began singing on popular radio programs such as the Grand Ole Opry, Ozark Jubilee, Arthur Godfrey Show and Tennessee, station WSM television morning shows. By the early 1960s, the group besides their own records was featured on a quarter of all the country music records being made in Nashville, Tennessee. They also sang background vocals for recording artists to include Brook Benton, Perry Como, Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, Connie Francis, Roy Orbison and Burl Ives. In 1966, the quartet won two Grammy awards, one for best vocal group on a religious album, "George Beverly Shea Sings Southland Favorites with The Anita Kerr Quartet" and the other for best vocal group for the album, "We Dig Mancini". She also had a her own hit single record with “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” (1954) and won a Grammy with Bob Dylan for his first self-titled album in 1962. After a career of over thirty years in music, Dillard retired in 1981. She died of natural causes at age 91.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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