It Don’t Matter Who’s Selling Out Arenas, Del McCoury is Still The King
The International Bluegrass Music Association held their annual awards on September 26th. And it wasn’t bluegrass phenom Billy Strings who’s out there selling out arenas that walked away with the top award, or other top-rising performers like Molly Tuttle or the Po’ Ramblin Boys. It was the 85-year-old Del McCoury who was crowned as the IBMA’s 2024 Entertainer of the Year. And few if anyone would complain with the pick.
It really is remarkable to witness just how relevant Del McCoury and his band remain nearly 70 years into his career, and legitimately so. They are legends, torchbearers, influences, and current headliners. Del’s backing band The Travelin’ McCourys made up of sons Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo, along with fiddle player Jason Carter and Alan Bartram on bass also won for Instrumental Group of the Year, and Rob McCoury won for Banjo Player of the Year. They were nominated for Vocal Group of the Year as well.
Contrast this with country music, who would have put the whole lot of these musicians out to pasture decades ago. See George Strait, who is out there setting attendance records, and won’t sniff a CMA Award anytime soon. Bluegrass honors their legends.
Sure, bluegrass needs fresh blood too. Billy Strings won Entertainer of the Year from 2021-2023 and is sure to win it many times in the upcoming years. Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway walked away with their second Album of the Year in a row with City of Gold winning this year. East Nash Grass has been sparking tons of buzz, and are duly rewarded with New Artist of the Year honors.
The other big winner was stalwart bluegrass band Authentic Unlimited, who walked away with Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Fall in Tennessee,” while the band’s Jesse Brock won for Mandolin Player of the Year.
But let’s give a slow clap to Del and the whole McCoury clan who still put on an incredible bluegrass show. First joining Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1963, Del is a living link to the historic past of bluegrass and one of the discipline’s most revered traditionalists, while also being respected by the progressive side of bluegrass, and famous for collaborating with bands like Phish and the String Cheese Incident, which has opened up the avenue for more expansive forms of the subgenre.
Del McCory remains a bluegrass entertainer for all. The Del McCoury Band also won the award in 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Del McCoury and the Del McCoury Band have many other IBMA trophies as well. But this was the first time they’ve won Entertainer of the Year in 20 years.
See the full list of 2024 IBMA winners below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Del McCoury Band – WINNER
Sister Sadie
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sister Sadie
Authentic Unlimited – WINNER
Blue Highway
Del McCoury Band
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Travelin’ McCourys – WINNER
East Nash Grass
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited – WINNER
Songwriters: John Meador/Bob Minner
“Willow” – Sister Sadie
Songwriter: Ashley McBryde
“Too Lonely, Way Too Long” – Rick Faris with Del McCoury
Songwriter: Rick Faris
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster & Dolly Parton
Songwriters: Jim Cregan/Kevin Savigar/Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart
“Kentucky Gold” – Dale Ann Bradley with Sam Bush
Songwriters: Wayne Carson/Ronnie Reno
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
City of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – WINNER
Last Chance to Win – East Nash Grass
Jubilation – Appalachian Road Show
No Fear – Sister Sadie
So Much for Forever – Authentic Unlimited
GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“When I Get There” – Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Songwriter: Michael Feagan
“Thank You Lord for Grace” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
“Just Beyond” – Barry Abernathy with John Meador, Tim Raybon, Bradley Walker
Songwriters: Rick Lang/Mike Richards/Windi Robinson
“God Already Has” – Dale Ann Bradley – WINNER
Songwriter: Mark “Brink” Brinkman/David Stewart
“Memories of Home” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Rhapsody in Blue(grass)” – Béla Fleck
Songwriter: George Gershwin arr. Ferde Grofé/Béla Fleck
“Knee Deep in Bluegrass” – Ashby Frank – WINNER
Songwriter: Terry Baucom
“Panhandle Country” – Missy Raines & Allegheny
Songwriter: Bill Monroe
“Lloyd’s of Lubbock” – Alan Munde
Songwriter: Alan Munde
“Behind the 8 Ball” – Andy Leftwich
Songwriter: Andy Leftwich
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
East Nash Grass – WINNER
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Wyatt Ellis
The Kody Norris Show
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Brown’s Ferry Blues” – Tony Trischka featuring Billy Strings – WINNER
Songwriters: Alton Delmore/Rabon Delmore
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited with Jerry Douglas
Songwriters: John Meador/Bob Minner
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster, Dolly Parton
Songwriters: Jim Cregan/Kevin Savigar/Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart
“Bluegrass Radio” – Alison Brown and Steve Martin
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
“Too Old to Die Young” – Bobby Osborne and CJ Lewandowski
Songwriters: Scott Dooley/John Hadley/Kevin Welch
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dan Tyminski
Greg Blake
Del McCoury
Danny Paisley – WINNER
Russell Moore
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Molly Tuttle
Jaelee Roberts – WINNER
Dale Ann Bradley
AJ Lee
Rhonda Vincent
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kristin Scott Benson
Gena Britt
Alison Brown
Béla Fleck
Rob McCoury – WINNER
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Missy Raines
Mike Bub
Vickie Vaughn – WINNER
Todd Phillips
Mark Schatz
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jason Carter
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Deanie Richardson – WINNER
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Justin Moses
Rob Ickes
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Gaven Largent – WINNER
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle
Trey Hensley
Bryan Sutton
Cody Kilby – WINNER
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sierra Hull
Sam Bush
Ronnie McCoury
Jesse Brock – WINNER
Alan Bibey
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Willow” – Sister Sadie
Label: Mountain Home
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited – WINNER (tie)
Label: Billy Blue Records
“The City of New Orleans” – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
Label: Upper Management Music
“I Call Her Sunshine” – The Kody Norris Show
Label: Rebel Records
“Alberta Bound” – Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero, and Claire Lynch – WINNER (tie)
Label: Compass Records
September 29, 2024 @ 8:13 am
I’ve become a bluegrass fan more over the past few years. I’d always liked a few bluegrass songs, folks like the Osborne Brothers (who were more of a country/bluegrass mix). Not too familiar with a few of the nominees, as a lot of the bluegrass I play is local Ohio bluegrass artists. But Del is certainly a torch bearer of the traditional bluegrass sounds of Bill Monroe, Jim & Jesse, and others. Glad to see a genre that doesn’t try to hide their past and heritage unlike country music.
September 29, 2024 @ 9:10 am
Saw del just a couple weeks ago. Was expecting Ronnie and rob to do most of the work and del to sing a few songs and mostly harmonies. Not a lot of 85 year olds can sing an entire almost two hour performance and make no mistakes.
It was a transcendental experience.
I’ve seen lots of shows and that was one of the best.
Ronnie and Rob are stellar (although rob is very conservative in his playing)
Jason Carter Is probably second only to Billy Contreras when it comes to being the best fiddler not named Michael Cleveland (both Jason and Billy (I saw Billy with Ricky Skaggs last fall) are progressive inventive and dynamic. BUT Michael Cleveland is the most authentic at Benny Martin style fiddling… and Benny… is the truest country / bluegrass fiddler. Benny played for smoky mountain boys AND bluegrass boys AND flatt and Scruggs and remains, in my estimate, the rawest form of old-time evolved into bluegrass fiddling. And everyone else, is more progressive, and more explorative.
Billy and Jason push the envelope more then Michael does but Michael is spot on at blasting out those bluegrass tunes just like Benny and can play a waltz better than either of them
I saw Jesse Brock playing with Cleveland and flamekeeper and THAT GUY IS THE CHIEF when it comes to mandolin. David McLaughlin is probably still the top active mandolinist (stylistically) in the bluegrass discipline (Marty Stuart could outplay them both but he’s a country player and exempt from consideration) BUT Jesse (like Michael Cleveland) reigns supreme at playing a specific way. McLaughlin is more… unique, and I prefer creativity in solos, but Jesse has uncanny ability to match the phrasing of the people around him, like a chameleon that can adapt to any song with any musician.
Also Michael cleveland is a better guitarist than Billy strings but we’re not gonna get into that
September 29, 2024 @ 5:25 pm
My wife and I saw Del and his band 2 weeks ago as well, at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts in Bay Harbor, MI. So impressed at how great he still sounds and plays! Talked with Ronnie after the show, very nice guy.
September 29, 2024 @ 6:22 pm
I was at that show. Were you at the preceding bluegrass jam?
September 29, 2024 @ 7:49 pm
Unfortunately, I was not. Wanted to Sierra Hull, but had my own gig to play on Friday night at Muskrat Distilling in Boyne City.
September 29, 2024 @ 5:54 pm
Jason Carter can’t do a lot of what Michael Cleveland or Billy Contreras do technically, but in terms of what he contributes to the band he’s probably the greatest bluegrass fiddler of all time IMO. Other than Del and Ronnie’s vocals, which are of course iconic, the sound of that band is really all about Jason Carter’s fiddle accompaniment. The only thing i can think of to compare it to is maybe Don Rich’s telecaster in Buck Owen’s band. Just my opinion.
September 29, 2024 @ 6:26 pm
I’m not sure I agree but I don’t disagree.
Here’s the thing: when Michael or Billy plays a fiddle tune or a solo tour de force they’re on a whole other level but in a BAND setting where they’re not able to go virtuoso mode and just throw in awesome licks, suddenly Jason IS on their level because he’s able to do so much stuff in a band context that Michael Cleveland just… doesn’t?
Cleveland is more conservative in vocal or group numbers versus ‘fiddle performances’ and Carter knows how to be in both spaces at the same time.
September 29, 2024 @ 9:03 pm
Fuzzy, I love me some Jesse Brock mandolin playing, and David McLaughlin is a legend, but the latter is not really very active these days since he suffered some hearing losses about 15-20 years ago. Ronnie McCoury is probably more of an active Monroe-style mandolin player than DM is for the past 20 years, and Mike Compton is pretty universally recognized as the prime bearer of the Bill Monroe mandolin style since the Johnson Mountain Boys broke up, gosh almost 30 years ago which is hard to believe. But any of those mandolin players on the finalist list can tear it up!
Anyway, I am glad other folks have had great experiences at Del McCoury concerts, as have I over the years- but the last handful of times I’ve seen him, he’s lost his place in the song, or forgotten words that he’s probably sung thousands of times, and the band has had to pick up the slack or remind him how the verse goes.
There are people in every profession who hang on just a little too long, and while I have the utmost respect for Del, personally I think he might be one of them. Then again, maybe he’s bounced back since I last saw him- at Grey Fox festival, I think- and if so, great.
September 29, 2024 @ 10:00 am
That’s incredible. And so well deserved.
September 29, 2024 @ 10:08 am
Great to see awards that seem to be based far more on merit than just being a popularity contest.
September 29, 2024 @ 11:31 am
Incredible news! Amazing they would let an older man, from the old guard of bluegrass, win their biggest award!. Well deserved. I now see people in the IBMA talking in the shadows and they are gonna make it a point that next year to have a new, young, marketable, diverse artist get the award.
September 29, 2024 @ 12:39 pm
To be honest, I have been following the IBMA for a few years now and it seems favoritism and popularity is at play, all the time. Regarding Del, he deserves this award, totally. But, the nominations for the past few years have almost been predictable.
September 29, 2024 @ 1:22 pm
Anybody here listen to Del & Sons SiriusXm show on Monday mornings? I really wish that every single comment or statement they make wasn’t followed by a round of dry little laughs, guffaws, chuckles, chortles, or whatever that is! Bad habit they’ve developed. Very annoying!
September 29, 2024 @ 2:38 pm
No. Is that on the bluegrass station?
That’s every show. I used to love the Johnny Knoxville show, but it’s filled with high laughter.
September 29, 2024 @ 5:02 pm
Yes, that’s on Bluegrass Junction.
September 29, 2024 @ 3:40 pm
Del McCoury is a national treasure. He has his Delfest every year in my hometown of Cumberland, MD and invites bluegrass groups and an eclectic group of musicians to join in-Warren Hayes, Trey Anastasio, Richard Thompson. His sons and Mr. Carter also conduct the Delfest Academy to instruct musicians on traditional Bluegrass instruments. Del-Yeah!
September 29, 2024 @ 7:36 pm
Cumberland is a beautiful little town. Ditto Frostburg. I love western Maryland. Most people have no idea what western Maryland is actually like.
September 29, 2024 @ 7:28 pm
Appreciate the insight Fuzzy. You responded to my John McEuen article awhile back when I mentioned Vassar Clements. McEuen told me he sees Michael Cleveland as the closest of the new generation to Vassars technical proficiency. Having seen Cleveland live in person, I can attest to his technical virtuosity. Double stops, Triple Stops? No problem. The guy is a genius and a madman at the same time with intensity.
Bobby Hicks was pretty great as well.
Jason Carter is definitely in the conversation though. He’s a beast of a player, who steals the show. I first saw Del and the boys with Jason, back in 2002. I’ve been a fan ever since. Though they were on my radar in the late 90s when they did The Mountain with Steve Earle. For me when I’m watching them live I go back and forth between Ronnie and Jason, those two put the excitement onstage every night. You are right, Rob is an in the pocket banjo player, and only gets flashy every now and then, but he gives enough that you realize he’s got it.
Happy to see Trig writing about Del, he’s a national treasure. Honestly, they really are about as good as you will find anywhere in the trad grass world. By the way, Del put out a killer version of Rain and Snow years ago, that’s definitive. If you are lucky, he may play it in his live set every now and then. The recording he did back in the day featured the ominous 3rd verse to that song and is well worth tracking it down.
September 30, 2024 @ 8:25 am
Trigger you wrote that East Nash Grass was “dully rewarded”. I think you meant “duly rewarded”.
Also how far outside independent country do things have to be before you decide not to cover them? Are there Cajun music awards, Norteño, something for traditional music in Canada, or Australian country music that is just too far outside the purview of the site to cover?
September 30, 2024 @ 11:37 am
Excited to see Gaven Largent in the winners list. Crazy good dobro player.