Bill Runkle
Musician · Brogue, Pennsylvania
Best known for
Banjo
Bill Runkle was a Pennsylvania-born banjoist whose eight-year tenure with Del McCoury's Dixie Pals (c. 1969–1977) included the classic 1973 Rounder LP "High on a Mountain" — later co-founder of Square Deal and bandleader of Smith Hollow.
- Old-school three-finger banjo player from York County, Pennsylvania (born and died in Brogue/Laurel, PA on his 82nd birthday).
- Banjo player in Del McCoury's Dixie Pals from approximately 1969/1970 to 1977 — about eight years.
- Played banjo on Del McCoury's classic 1973 Rounder LP "High on a Mountain"; also recorded on "I've Endured" and "Rain Please Go Away" with the Dixie Pals.
- Wrote "I'm Lonely Tonight," a track on the High On A Mountain LP.
- After leaving the Dixie Pals, co-founded Square Deal with other ex-Dixie Pals plus guitarist/vocalist Dee Gunter; recorded "Country Boy Rock N Roll" in 1985.
- Led his own band Smith Hollow in later years; released the CD "Lonely Tonight" on Patuxent Records in 2015 at age 75.
- Cited Del McCoury, Porter Church, J.D. Crowe, Bill Emerson, Walter Hensley, and Earl Scruggs as banjo influences.
- Honored by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2017 for contributions to bluegrass music; died of COVID-19 on January 7, 2021.
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Del McCoury and the Dixie PalsPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals
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Del McCouryPlayed on recordings with Del McCoury