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About the video
The Del McCoury Band sing "Get Down On Your Knees And Pray on the All Star
Bluegrass Celebration DVD. Recorded at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN
on January 16th 2002
About the artist
Delano Floyd McCoury was born in Bakersfield, CA in 1939. Two years later, his
family moved to Glen Rock, PA, where Del grew up.
His first musical venture was playing five-string banjo with Pennsylvania's Blue
Ridge Ramblers. He played with a handful of bands after that, but got his break
in 1963 when Bill Monroe hired Del's band to share some gigs in New York.
Monroe was so impressed with Del's banjo style that he hired Del to join the Blue
Grass Boys. Soon thereafter, Del began singing with Monroe's band and playing
rhythm guitar.
After one year with the Blue Grass Boys, Del left the band to join up with the
Golden State Boys. He continued to play with other bands until 1967, when he
started the Dixie Pals. The Dixie Pals stayed together for 20 years and enjoyed
extensive success in the bluegrass circuit.
In 1987, they renamed themselves the Del McCoury Band after two of Del's sons
joined up (Ronnie on mandolin and Robbie on banjo). The band gained new
popularity when they backed Steve Earle on his 1999 release, The Mountain.