Del McCoury’s long career traces back to a move from his native North Carolina to Pennsylvania where he began playing professionally. Later, he and the Virginia Mountain Boys were asked to play with Bill Monroe in New York in 1963. Monroe hired the picker, and he was soon elevated to lead vocalist. After recording one single with Monroe, McCoury left for North Carolina and marriage.
In 1967, McCoury formed the Dixie Pals and played with the band for over 20 years, before renaming it the Del McCoury Band and added his two sons to the group. The band carefully bridged the gap between the interesting song choices and instrumentation of the best progressive bluegrass groups, while still retaining the high lonesome style of traditional bluegrass. In early 1999, the band reached a whole new group of listeners when it backed singer/songwriter Steve Earle on his successful traditionally themed album The Mountain.
In 2008, McCoury started DelFest, an annual bluegrass festival in Maryland. The festival continues to draw a wide range of brands that represent the crossover sounds pioneered by McCoury.
His career has exposed a whole new audience to bluegrass through his appearances at non-traditional festivals for bluegrass artists like Bonaroo and the Newport Folk Festival. Continuing his collaborative work, McCoury has appeared on stage many times with Phish and Donna the Buffalo.
Del McCoury is a member of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and has received a National Heritage Fellowship lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
