Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
Band · Active 1967–1988 · York County, Pennsylvania
Contemporary Bluegrass
Traditional Bluegrass
Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals was the name under which Del McCoury led his band for two decades — from his first album as a bandleader in 1967 through the late 1980s, before renaming the group the Del McCoury Band in 1988 (see separate entry). This era covers the Pennsylvania/Baltimore years when McCoury held a day job as a logger and played weekends, building the traditional-bluegrass sound that would become his signature.
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- McCoury formed the Dixie Pals in 1967 after leaving Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1963–1964) and a brief California stint with the Golden State Boys. First lineup included brother Jerry McCoury on bass, Larry Smith on banjo, and Dick Laird on mandolin.
- Debut album Del McCoury Sings Bluegrass (Arhoolie, 1968) featured Billy Baker on fiddle, Bill Emerson on banjo, Wayne Yates on mandolin, and Tommy Neal on bass.
- High on a Mountain (Rounder, 1972, credited to Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals on the cover) is considered the band's first masterpiece; the Ola Belle Reed title track remains one of McCoury's signature songs.
- Rebel Records releases include Livin' on the Mountain (1971, released 1976), Del McCoury: Rain and Snow (1975), Our Kind of Grass (1978), and the retrospective The Best of Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals (Reb-1610).
- Dixie Pals lineups rotated frequently over 20 years. Notable members included banjoists Larry Smith, Don Eldreth, Walter Hensley, Bill Runkle, and Dick Smith; mandolinists Dick Staber, Donnie Eldreth, and Herschel Sizemore; fiddlers Bill Poffinberger and Sonny Miller; and bassist Dewey Renfro.
- Take Me to the Mountains (Leather, 1982, reissued by Rebel) introduced a new lineup (Dick Smith on banjo, Herschel Sizemore on mandolin, Sonny Miller on fiddle, Jerry McCoury on bass) and signature McCoury originals “Dreams,” “This Kind of Life,” and “A Good Man Like Me.”
- Sawmill (Rebel, 1984) introduced 13-year-old Ronnie McCoury as the new mandolinist — the moment the band began transforming into the family group that would become the Del McCoury Band.
- Toured Japan in 1979 and 1983, producing live recordings including the Japanese-issued Strictly Bluegrass Live.
- Robbie McCoury joined on banjo in 1987; the band was rechristened the Del McCoury Band in 1988, and the Dixie Pals name was retired.
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Classic Bluegrass1991 · Rebel CD 1111
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Sawmill1985 · Rebel REB 1636
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Our Kind of Grass1978 · Rebel SLP 1569
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Collector’s Special1976 · Grassound GR 102
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Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals1975 · Revonah 916
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Del McCouryPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Dewey RenfroPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Bill RunklePlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Dick StaberPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Bill PoffinbergerPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Buddy SpicherPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Don EldrethPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Jerry McCouryPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Jim BuchananPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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John FarmerPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Jon GlikPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Mike GarrisPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Paul SilviusPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Ronnie McCouryPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Billy SagePlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Dick SmithPlayed on recording with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Herschel SizemorePlayed on recording with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Sonny MillerPlayed on recording with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
