Milestone: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Celebrate 50 Years of Dirt [WATCH]

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has reached a great milestone in music this weekend, celebrating 50 years making music.  The band made their first public appearance 50 years ago May 13, 1966.

I was part-time and doing a weekend show on the Hawk circa.1987, when I went to see their concert at the Harford Fair and had the opportunity to sit on the bus and interview the group.  "Fishin' In The Dark" was about to hit #1 on the country charts and the band could not have been nicer to this 20 something -year-old kid that was totally enthralled by their sound.  In fact, Taste of Country ranks "Fishin' In The Dark", #53 in the Top 100 Country Songs of All-Time.

"Fishin' In The Dark" might be a favorite of yours but it was the Jerry Jeff Walker written "Mr. Bojangles" that brought the band to superstar status back in 1968. The story of Uncle Charlie and his dog Teddy is considered a music mainstay and is still being re-recorded today, including most recently by Garth Brooks for his 'Lost Sessions' album.

"We never could've imagined being able to do this, a job we all love so much, for 50 Years! Our biggest thanks goes out to our amazing fans!!" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band said in a recent press release.

The band is still out there 50 years later, selling out concert halls and music festivals world-wide.  The closest they will be to Binghamton will be at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA on May 20th.

Be on the lookout for an all-star special with the original members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band including Jimmy Ibbotson and (Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) and early NGDB member Jackson Browne.  The special will air on PBS during their Pledge Drive specials and will also feature appearances by Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas.