[2] The group were formed as the Country Gentlemen in 1956 in Alabama by banjo player Rual Yarbrough,[3] mandolin player Herschel Sizemore and guitarist Jake Landers.
Soon, Jake Landers entered military service but was discharged the next year in 1957.
During these early years, they toured the south eastern USA and also made personal appearances on both local radio and television stations.
Their efforts bore fruit and they made their recording debut in 1959 for the tiny and obscure Blue Sky label.
The Dixie Gentlemen disbanded in 1966 after having made their last album together with fiddler Vassar Clements and dobro player Tut Taylor.