Dallas-born to a family who loved music, Deryl Dodd grew up on gospel, bluegrass, country and rootsy rock and roll. He was heavily influenced by the soulful southern music at the Hasse Revival Center where his grandfather was pastor of the small town Pentecostal church. Deryl's first performances were there, singing harmony with his three siblings. Guitar at age seven, banjo at thirteen, pedal steel at sixteen - the young Dodd's hands nearly always gripped a stringed instrument.