Del McCoury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Del McCoury
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McCoury in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Delano Floyd McCoury |
| Born | February 1, 1939 Bakersville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, banjo |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels | Rounder Records, McCoury Music |
Delano Floyd McCoury, born on February 1, 1939, is a famous American bluegrass musician. He leads the Del McCoury Band, where he plays guitar and sings. His two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, also play in the band. Ronnie plays the mandolin, and Rob plays the banjo.
Del McCoury became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2003. This is a very special honor for country and bluegrass musicians. In 2010, he received a lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts. This award is called the National Heritage Fellowship. In 2011, he was chosen for the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
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Del McCoury's Early Life and Music Career
Del McCoury was born in Bakersville, North Carolina. His mother, Hazel, loved to sing and play many instruments. His brother Jerry plays the bass. Another brother, G. C., taught Del how to play the guitar. This sparked Del's interest in bluegrass music. In 1941, the McCoury family moved to York County, Pennsylvania.
Del was inspired by the famous banjo player Earl Scruggs. He learned to play the banjo and bought his first one, a Gibson. He joined a band called The Stevens Brothers. Later, he played with Keith Daniels and the Blue Ridge Ramblers. They even recorded an album in 1962.
In 1963, Del joined Bill Monroe's band, The Blue Grass Boys. Bill Monroe is known as the "Father of Bluegrass Music." The band already had a banjo player, so Del played guitar and sang. While with them, he performed at the Grand Ole Opry and recorded several songs.
Del left Bill Monroe's band in 1964. He played with other groups in California. But he soon returned home to work with his father. He also played music gigs on weekends. In 1967, he recorded his first album, Del McCoury Sings Bluegrass.
In the 1980s, Del's sons, Ronnie and Rob, started playing music with him. The band grew and became very popular. They moved to Nashville, Tennessee, a big music city. Del McCoury officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in October 2003.
Del McCoury has influenced many bands and artists. He has performed with groups like Phish and The String Cheese Incident. He also recorded music with Steve Earle. Del has played at major music festivals like Bonnaroo and the Newport Folk Festival. He has even appeared on TV shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Del has many dedicated fans who call themselves "Del-Heads."
In 2009, The Del McCoury Band started offering recordings of their concerts to fans. These recordings were available right after the shows on USB flash drives. In 2010, Del received the National Heritage Fellowship award. This is the highest honor for folk and traditional artists in the U.S.
DelFest: A Bluegrass Festival
In 2008, Del McCoury started his own annual bluegrass music festival called DelFest. It takes place in Cumberland, Maryland. The Del McCoury Band plays every night at the festival.
Many famous bluegrass artists have performed at DelFest. These include Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Béla Fleck. The festival was put on hold for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in May 2022 for its 14th year.
Del McCoury's Music Albums
Del McCoury has released many albums throughout his career.
Solo Albums
- 1968: Del McCoury Sings Bluegrass
- 1971: Livin' on the Mountain
- 1975: Del McCoury
- 1988: Don't Stop The Music
- 1993: A Deeper Shade of Blue
- 2002: I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
- 2005: Classic Bluegrass
Albums with the Del McCoury Band
- 1992: Blue Side of Town
- 1996: The Cold Hard Facts
- 1999: The Mountain (with Steve Earle)
- 1999: The Family
- 2001: Del and the Boys
- 2003: It's Just the Night
- 2005: The Company We Keep
- 2006: The Promised Land
- 2008: Moneyland
- 2009: Family Circle
- 2011: American Legacies (with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
- 2012: Old Memories
- 2013: The Streets of Baltimore
- 2016: Del and Woody
- 2017: Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass
- 2018: Almost Proud
- 2024: Songs of Love and Life
Other Albums
- 1987: The McCoury Brothers (with Jerry McCoury)
- 1973: High on a Mountain (with the Dixie Pals)
- 1998: Del Doc & Mac (with Mac Wiseman and Doc Watson)
Awards and Honors
Del McCoury has won many awards for his bluegrass music. He has received 31 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards. He won Entertainer of the Year nine times, including four years in a row! He also won IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year four times.
Grammy Awards
Del McCoury has won two Grammy Awards. He was nominated for a Grammy fifteen times.
- In 2006, he won Best Bluegrass Album for The Company We Keep.
- In 2014, he won Best Bluegrass Album for Streets of Baltimore.
Other Major Awards
- In 2010, he received the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. This is the highest honor in the U.S. for folk and traditional arts.
- In 2015, he received the Bluegrass Star Award. This award honors artists who help share traditional bluegrass music with new audiences.
