(Text by Thomas Aubrunner) The Dillards met original mandolin player Dean Webb at "The Ozark Opry" in 1960. Dean started playing in a band with two cousins, Duane and Clifford Webb. The group played for hospitals and retirement homes in Independence and Kansas City on a volunteer basis. He also took a job as a bass player in a local band which played dance music in the various honky tonks.

He eventually hooked up with a young banjo picker, Lonnie Hoppers and Bob Penny to form a bluegrass band, the Ozark Mountain Boys (this was a different band than Doug Dillard's band with the same name).

Today Dean Webb is recognized as an expert mandolin player in the tradition of Bill Monroe. He is currently pursuing several opportunities in bluegrass and beyond.