Jerry Douglas in Los Angeles

About Jerry Douglas

Jerry Douglas is the guy who made the dobro sound like an instrument that could do anything. He's been playing since the 1970s, when he was already bending steel on albums with Boone and Crockett and sitting in with basically everyone worth hearing from. He's worked with bluegrass lifers like Del McCoury and Sam Bush, but he's also proven you can take a slide guitar into progressive territory without pretending you invented anything. His solo records show someone more interested in texture and melody than showing off, even when the technical skill is obvious. He's won Grammys, been in and out of various bluegrass lineups, and somehow stayed relevant without chasing trends. Most people know him from session work or late-night festival slots where he just quietly reminds everyone why the dobro matters.

His shows are quiet and you have to actually pay attention. Crowds lean in rather than jump around. The dobro cuts through everything, and he doesn't waste time between songs. When he plays, people stop talking.

Known for Little Lion Man, Flint Hill Special, Salt Creek, Little Maggie, Steel Rails

Jerry Douglas + Los Angeles

Jerry Douglas has maintained a steady presence in Los Angeles, where his dobro work continues to find audiences across the city's roots and acoustic music venues. His December 9, 2023 show at Saban Theater showcased why he remains essential to modern bluegrass and beyond—the dobro singing its familiar wail through a setlist that balanced his most recognizable moments with deeper cuts. Douglas has always had a way of making the steel-bodied guitar sound both ancient and contemporary, a skill that resonates particularly well in a city that prides itself on genre-blending. His Los Angeles performances tend to draw longtime fans alongside curious newcomers, testament to his influence across multiple generations of acoustic musicians.

Jerry Douglas in Los Angeles News

• Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas Announce First Tour Dates Since 2015 Shore Fire Media · Dec 3, 2024
• Jerry Douglas, family patriarch on ‘The Young and the Restless’ for 30 years, dies Los Angeles Times · Nov 12, 2021
• 'The Young And The Restless' Actor Jerry Douglas Dies At Age 88 CBS News · Nov 11, 2021
• Jerry Douglas Dies: Longtime ‘The Young And The Restless’ Actor Was 88 Deadline · Nov 10, 2021
• ‘The Young and the Restless’ star Jerry Douglas dies at 88 FOX 13 Tampa Bay · Nov 10, 2021

Live Music in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has long been an unlikely but genuine hub for bluegrass and acoustic music, sitting comfortably alongside its more famous country and rock histories. The city's roots music community appreciates virtuosity without pretense, which is exactly what Douglas brings. Venues here treat acoustic music seriously, and audiences tend to be attentive listeners rather than casual background listeners. Douglas fits naturally into this landscape—he's never been a novelty act, just someone whose instrument and sensibility align with what the city's most engaged music fans actually want to hear.

Los Angeles road trip to see Jerry Douglas?

Stay in Los Feliz, where you can walk tree-lined streets and catch views from Griffith Observatory. Dinner at Republique in the Arts District—refined French-inspired food in a restored factory space that feels more Paris than LA. Spend an afternoon at the Huntington Library in San Marino, a world-class art collection that justifies the drive. The city's recording studio history is everywhere; walk through Hollywood and you're literally surrounded by the spaces where hits were made. End the night at a jazz bar like The Fonda Theatre or catch live music on Sunset Boulevard.