Del McCoury, one of the last great Bluegrass legends of the founding generation, will host the International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA) on October 2.
Del, dubbed “the king” of today’s Bluegrass by mandolin player Sam Bush, is hosting the most important Bluegrass awards ceremony as a commemoration of his fiftieth anniversary of an active Bluegrass career.
As pictured in the photograph to the left, Del performed last year at the IBMAs with his band, The Del McCoury Band. Del’s supporting cast includes his eldest son Rob on banjo and his youngest, Ronnie, on mandolin.
Jason Carter plays fiddle and Alan Bertram holds down the rhythm on bass fiddle. The band will play at the Grand Ole Opry Sept. 26, 27 and 30 in the week leading up to the IBMAs.
Del has won nine Entertainer of the Year awards at the IBMAs and is nominated this year as well.
Now 69 years old, Del has enjoyed one of the most successful Bluegrass careers; having been a part of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in his youth and now having shared the stage with his sons for a decade, Del would say, “it just doesn’t get much better.”
