Del McCoury

Description: Bluegrass

Comparisons: Del McCoury makes no mistake about playing the old school style of Bluegrass. His music can be likened to the classics like Bill Monroe and Foggy Mountain Boys.

Trivia Fact: Del McCoury's astrological sign is Aquarius.

Starter CDs: High On A Mountain (Rounder, 1972). Don't Stop the Music (Rounder, 1988). The Company We Keep (McCoury Music, 2005).

Quote from Del McCoury: "I think I have just about the same personality I did when I was 20. I've just been cursed with this kind of music since I was a kid, I can't get away from it."

Del McCoury Biography: Delano Floyd McCoury was born in Bakersfield, CA in 1939. Two years later, his family moved to Glen Rock, PA, where Del grew up.

His first musical venture was playing five-string banjo with Pennsylvania's Blue Ridge Ramblers. He played with a handful of bands after that, but got his break in 1963 when Bill Monroe hired Del's band to share some gigs in New York.

Monroe was so impressed with Del's banjo style that he hired Del to join the Blue Grass Boys. Soon thereafter, Del began singing with Monroe's band and playing rhythm guitar.

After one year with the Blue Grass Boys, Del left the band to join up with the Golden State Boys. He continued to play with other bands until 1967, when he started the Dixie Pals. The Dixie Pals stayed together for 20 years and enjoyed extensive success in the bluegrass circuit.

In 1987, they renamed themselves the Del McCoury Band after two of Del's sons joined up (Ronnie on mandolin and Robbie on banjo). The band gained new popularity when they backed Steve Earle on his 1999 release, The Mountain.
Listen/Download Del McCoury