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Name: Del McCoury
Group: The Del McCoury Band
Date: Tuesday August 14th, 2007
Time: 12:00am EDT
Website: www.delmccouryband.com
Interviewer: Uncle Billy Dunbar
Description:
Delano Floyd McCoury wasborn February 1, 1939 in Bakersville, North Carolina. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury who play mandolin and banjo respectively.
McCoury has had a long career in bluegrass. Originally hired as banjo player, he sang lead vocals and played rhythm guitar for Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys in the 1960s. It was with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys with whom he first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 1963. McCoury briefly appeared with the Golden State Boys, before taking a series of day jobs in construction and logging, while continuing to work as an amateur musician in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. In the 1980s his sons began performing with him. Fiddler Tad Marks and bass player Mike Brantley joined Del's group in early 1990s. Del's group toured widely throughout the US. They relocated to Nashville, Tennessee as they began to attract attention.Fiddler Jason Carter and Mike Bubb bassist joined in 1992. Del became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in October of 2003.
McCoury has influenced a great number of bands, including Phish, with whom he has shared the stage several times.He has also performed with String Cheese Incident and Donna the Buffalo, and recorded with Steve Earle. McCoury has covered songs by artists as diverse as The Lovin' Spoonful, Tom Petty, and Richard Thompson. McCoury has appeared at numerous festivalsl His television appearances include "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Late Show with David Letterman." Del has a very enthusiastic fan base, known as the Del-Heads. |
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