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 or York, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, banjo |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels | Rounder Records, McCoury Music |
Delano Floyd McCoury (born February 1, 1939) is a famous American bluegrass musician. He leads the Del McCoury Band, where he sings and plays guitar. His two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, play mandolin and banjo with him.
Del McCoury became a member of the famous Grand Ole Opry in 2003. This is a big honor for country and bluegrass musicians. In 2010, he received a special award for his lifetime achievements in folk and traditional arts. He was also chosen for the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
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Del McCoury's Musical Journey
Del McCoury has had a very long and successful career in bluegrass music. He started playing banjo for Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1963. Bill Monroe is often called the "Father of Bluegrass Music." Del first performed on the Grand Ole Opry with Monroe's band.
After a short time with another group, Del worked regular jobs in construction and logging. But he kept playing music as a hobby in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
The Del McCoury Band Forms
In the 1980s, Del's sons, Ronnie and Rob, started playing music with him. This was the beginning of the Del McCoury Band. Other talented musicians joined the group over the years, like fiddler Jason Carter and bassist Mike Bub. Later, Alan Bartram became the bassist.
As the band became more popular, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee, which is a big music city. The Del McCoury Band has toured all over the United States.
Del McCoury has played with many different bands and artists. These include Phish, The String Cheese Incident, and Donna the Buffalo. He also recorded music with Steve Earle. Del has even covered songs by artists like Tom Petty.
The band has performed at many big music festivals. Some of these include Bonnaroo, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and the Newport Folk Festival. They have also appeared on TV shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Del McCoury has a very dedicated fan base who call themselves the "Del-Heads."
In 2009, the Del McCoury Band started offering recordings of their concerts to fans. You could buy these recordings on USB flash drives right after the show!
In 2010, Del McCoury received a special lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts. This is one of the highest honors for folk artists in the U.S. In 2012, he also helped judge the Independent Music Awards, supporting new musicians.
DelFest: A Bluegrass Party
In 2008, Del McCoury started his own annual music festival called DelFest. It takes place in Cumberland, Maryland. The Del McCoury Band plays every night at the festival.
DelFest brings together many amazing bluegrass musicians. Famous artists like Steve Martin (who also plays banjo!) with the Steep Canyon Rangers have performed there. Other popular bands like Yonder Mountain String Band and Railroad Earth have also played.
Many great musicians have been part of DelFest over the years. These include Peter Rowan, David Grisman, and Old Crow Medicine Show. The festival was put on hold for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returned in May 2022.
Del McCoury's Music Albums
Del McCoury has released many albums throughout his career. He has recorded music as a solo artist, with his sons in the Del McCoury Band, with his brother Jerry as the McCoury Brothers, and with his earlier group, the Dixie Pals.
Albums with the Del McCoury Band
The Del McCoury Band has released many popular albums. Some of these include:
- 1996: The Cold Hard Facts
- 1999: The Family
- 2005: The Company We Keep
- 2016: Del and Woody
- 2017: Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass
- 2024: Songs of Love and Life
Del McCoury has also recorded with other artists, like Steve Earle on the album The Mountain and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on American Legacies.
Awards and Honors
Del McCoury has won many awards for his music. He has received 31 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards. This includes winning "Entertainer of the Year" nine times, four of them in a row! He has also been named "Male Vocalist of the Year" four times.
Grammy Awards
Del McCoury has won two Grammy Awards, which are very important music awards.
- In 2006, he won "Best Bluegrass Album" for The Company We Keep.
- In 2014, he won "Best Bluegrass Album" again for The Streets of Baltimore.
As mentioned before, he also received the National Heritage Fellowship in 2010. This is the highest honor the U.S. government gives to folk and traditional artists. In 2015, he received the Bluegrass Star Award for helping to share traditional bluegrass music with new audiences.
