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Ronnie McCoury

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Ronnie McCoury
Ronnie McCoury (center with mandolin) with Del McCoury Band in 2013
Background information
Birth nameRonald Delano McCoury[1]
Born (1967-03-16) March 16, 1967 (age 57)
York County, Pennsylvania
GenresBluegrass music
Occupation(s)Vocalist
Mandolinist
Songwriter
Producer
InstrumentMandolin
Years active1981–present
LabelsMcCoury Music
Rounder

Ronald Delano McCoury, known as Ronnie McCoury, (born March 16, 1967) is an American mandolin player, singer, and songwriter.[2] He is the son of bluegrass musician Del McCoury, and is best known for his work with the Del McCoury Band[3] and the Travelin' McCourys.[4]

Biography

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Ronnie McCoury was born in York County, Pennsylvania[5] on March 16, 1967.

He was exposed to bluegrass from a young age, as his father had his own band, Del McCoury &The Dixie Pals. Ronnie lists his musical influences as Bill Monroe, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Alan O'Bryant, and The Osborne Brothers.

At the age of 9 he started taking violin lessons. He took lessons for two years before giving the violin up for sports.[6]

When he was 13, after seeing Bill Monroe perform, he decided to try the mandolin. He practiced it for six months before his dad invited him to join the Del McCoury Band in 1981.

He has been named the International Bluegrass Music Association mandolin player of the year eight consecutive years from 1993-2000.[7]

McCoury graduated from Susquehannock High School in 1985, and in 2009 he and his brother Rob both won the High School's Distinguished Alumni Award.[8]

Recordings

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In 1995 he and his brother Rob McCoury released a self-titled CD on Rounder Records.

In 1999, he teamed up with David Grisman to release "Mandolin Extravaganza" on the Acoustic Disc label. This CD was nominated for a Grammy Award and also won Instrumental Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year at the IBMA awards show in October 2000.[9]

2000 also brought along with it McCoury's first solo project, Heartbreak Town. Along with members of the Del McCoury Band, the album is supported by appearances from Jerry Douglas, David Grisman, Bela Fleck, and Stuart Duncan.[6]

He has also recorded with a number of artists including Garth Brooks, Jack Clement, Charley Pride, Crystal Gayle, Jeff Foxworthy, and Martina McBride,

As a producer he has co-produced most of father's albums since 1996. He has also co-produced The Bluegrass Extravaganza with David Grisman, and Steve Earle. Co-produced The Mountain (Steve Earle album) with Steve Earle.

Personal life

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McCoury currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He is married to Allison Bliss, and has two sons and a daughter.

Discography

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Solo recordings

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With Rob McCoury

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  • 1995: Ronnie & Rob McCoury (Rounder)

With The Del McCoury Band

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  • 1992: Blue Side Of Town (Rounder)
  • 1993: A Deeper Shade Of Blue (Rounder)
  • 1996: The Cold Hard Facts (Rounder)
  • 1999: The Family (Ceili Music)
  • 2001: Del And The Boys (Ceili Music)
  • 2003: It's Just the Night (McCoury Music)
  • 2005: The Company We Keep (McCoury Music / Sugar Hill)
  • 2006: The Promised Land (McCoury Music)
  • 2008: Moneyland (McCoury Music)
  • 2009: Family Circle (McCoury Music)
  • 2011: American Legacies with Preservation Hall Jazz Band (McCoury Music)
  • 2011: Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe (McCoury Music)
  • 2013: The Streets of Baltimore (McCoury Music)
  • 2016: Del And Wood (McCoury Music)

As primary contributor

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  • 1995: Various Artists: A Picture Of Hank: The New Bluegrass Way (Mercury Nashville) - track 10, "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle"
  • 2011: Audie Blaylock and Redline - I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky: A Bill Monroe Celebration (Rural Rhythm)

As guest musician

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References

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  1. ^ "HURTING, HAUNTING MEMORY". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Jay Orr (October 19, 2000). "McCourys Rack Up at Annual Bluegrass Awards". CMT. Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  3. ^ "The Del McCoury band will play May 10". The Cedartown Standard. May 8, 2003. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  4. ^ "The Travelin' McCourys". Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  5. ^ "McCoury's Delfest bridges old-school bluegrass and other music genres..." Winnipeg Free Press. June 3, 2010. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  6. ^ a b Gray, Michael (23 June 2003). "Son of Bluegrass: Ronnie McCoury, Mandolinist for the Great Del McCoury Band, Releases Debut Solo CD". CMT. Archived from the original on July 21, 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. ^ BGS Staff (2 October 2015). "Here is your full 2015 IBMA Award winners list". Bluegrass Situation. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  8. ^ http://www.sycsd.org/alumni.cfm?subpage=1028578 [dead link]
  9. ^ Metzger, John (1 July 1999). "Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza". Music Box. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Ronnie McCoury Heartbreak Town". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
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