Originally the band was called Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals with Del on guitar and his brother Jerry on bass. The band went through a number of changes in personnel until the 1980s when the band solidified its line-up, adding McCoury's sons, Ronnie and Robbie on mandolin and banjo, respectively.[1] In 1988, the "Dixie Pals" name was dropped in favor of the current name. Fiddler Tad Marks and bass player Mike Brantley joined in the early 1990s while the band became a national touring act.[2] The addition of fiddler Jason Carter and bassist Mike Bub in 1992 created a lineup that was unchanged for 13 years. Bub left the band in 2005 and was replaced by Alan Bartram.
Awards
In 1999 the Del McCoury band was named "Entertainer of the Year" at the International Bluegrass Music Awards.[3]
In 2004 they were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for It's Just the Night,[4] and in 2006 they won that category for The Company We Keep.[5]
The band has also often performed in recent years with the Lee Boys, with setlists mixing bluegrass, funk and gospel with extended jams on many songs.[8]
Travelin' McCourys
The Travelin' McCourys are an offshoot of the Del McCoury Band, featuring all current (2009) members of the band minus Del, augmented by guitarist Cody Kilby on live performances.[9]
The Travelin' McCourys also often play joint concerts with the Lee Boys.[8]
^Bluegrass Awards Crown McCoury, Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (30 October 1999). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 30–. ISSN0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
