Del McCoury 50 Year Retrospective - Coming 05/12/09

Celebrating 50 Years Of Del Mccoury - Bluegrass Icon’s Quintessential Restrospective

“Del gives hope to everybody…To keep the purity that you need to do this kind of music, and the drive and energy, that takes a special kind of guy.”– Elvis Costello

Nashville, TN, McCoury Music is proud to announce the upcoming May 12th release of CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DEL McCOURY.

CELBRATING 50 YEARS OF DEL McCOURY is a stunning 5-disc special edition box set collection encapsulating a 50-year legacy of brilliant, heartfelt music from the Bluegrass icon, who recently celebrated another milestone by turning 70 years old. With more than 30 new recordings of songs from Del’s first 40 years of performing and an additional 18 from the Del McCoury’s Band most essential tracks of the last decade, this quintessential box set is complete with a 12-page full color booklet of photographs from the McCoury family archives–some which have never been seen.
From classics that he first sang back in the late 1950s to such stunning originals as “High On A Mountain,” “Are You Teasing Me,” “Dark Hollow,” “Bluest Man In Town,” “Rain And Snow,” “Good Man Like Me, “Rain Please Go Away,” as well as “Nothin’ Special” and “Never Grow Up Boy” from the Grammy-winning, The Company We Keep, it’s truly a life’s work being handed down.
“Del gives hope to everybody—fifty years is a long time to be playing music in any field,” says Elvis Costello. “But to keep the purity that you need to do this kind of music, and the drive and energy, that takes a special kind of guy.”
Elvis’ words are echoed by other master musicians and fans alike whose support for Del has only intensified over the years. The onetime Bill Monroe sideman is now the music’s spiritual and artistic heir. Since the early 90’s, Del’s popularity has soared. In addition to countless awards, including a Grammy and 3 dozen IBMA’s (and an unprecedented 9 Entertainer of the Year trophies), Del’s influence reaches well beyond his Bluegrass disciples, from 2008 Grammy Album of the Year winner Alison Krauss, to Dierks Bentley, Steve Earle, Vince Gill, and jamband fav’s Phish, Leftover Salmon and Yonder Mountain String Band.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DEL McCOURY was recorded in a marathon session that lasted only a few days. As befits a living legend, and a lively one at that, he brings a fresh and inspired take to all the tracks, particularly those that have been part of his repertoire since the beginning.
“We went through the songs pretty quickly,” says son Ronnie, who plays mandolin. “Take after take, it was just great. Dad sounds better than ever on here. We had a list of songs that the three of us made, with fifteen or twenty songs from each of the decades and the albums that he made before he started owning his own recordings, and he would just pick some things to record on each session—and then we just went in and knocked them out. So they all have a real live feel to them.”
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DEL MCCOURY is far from a swan-song. If Del’s summer tour schedule is any indication, it’s going to be a lively celebration indeed. Details are forthcoming about a rigorous schedule, including a much coveted slot at Bonnaroo, one of the nations biggest summer festivals. Del will also be hosting the 2nd Annual Delfest in Cumberland, MD in May. For more information, as well as late-breaking news, visit: McCoury Music.
For any elements you might need (art, bio, photos, etc), visit the 50 years of Del McCoury info page.