Noted bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer David Grisman started his musical career in 1963 as a member of Even Dozen Jug Band. His nickname, "Dawg" was affectionately assigned by his close friend Jerry Garcia back when they used to host the old time fiddlers convention together in NC. "Dawg Music" is what Grisman calls his mixture of bluegrass and jazz, as first highlighted on his 1977 album "Hot Dawg".