Billy Blue Records will release A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers on October 1, celebrating 100 years since Alton and Rabon Delmore first began performing together at the Athens Fiddlers Convention in 1926.
The 15-song collection brings together a new generation of bluegrass and country performers to revisit the music of the influential brothers, whose blend of country, blues, gospel, and string-band music helped shape American roots music.
Produced by songwriter and Billy Blue Records co-founder Jerry Salley, the project features an impressive lineup of artists, including Del McCoury and Trey Hensley, Ricky Skaggs and Bradley Walker, The SteelDrivers, The Grascals with Charlie McCoy, Riders in the Sky, The Gibson Brothers, Appalachian Road Show, and others.
The album's lead single, "When It's Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing," pairs bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson with Salley. Originally recorded by the Delmore Brothers in 1941, the song reached the Top 3 of Billboard's Hillbilly chart.
Bluegrass Today has described the new recording as "a gem," drawing attention to its connection to the original Delmore Brothers recording.
Salley said Lawson was the first artist he approached for the project, noting their shared appreciation for the Delmore Brothers and the song.
Lawson, an International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member, also expressed his appreciation for being part of the tribute, calling the song special and highlighting its role in introducing the upcoming album.
The Delmore Brothers' influence extends well beyond their own era. Their music reached artists including the Louvin Brothers, Everly Brothers, Bill Monroe, Woody Guthrie, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, The Band, Bob Dylan, and Billy Strings.
Their 1950 country No. 1 "Blues Stay Away from Me" was later inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2007, further reflecting the lasting impact of their songwriting and recordings.
A Century of Delmore Brothers Music
The tribute album arrives a century after Alton and Rabon Delmore began making music together. The brothers went on to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1933 and became influential figures in country, bluegrass, gospel, and American roots music.
During the 1940s, they also formed the gospel group Brown's Ferry Four with Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones before expanding their musical sound through recordings with a full band and boogie-woogie influences.
The Delmore Brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
The new album brings their catalog to today's audiences through performances from established bluegrass and country artists, offering fresh interpretations of songs that have influenced generations of musicians.
Alton Delmore's youngest daughter, Debby Delmore, said she is honored to see her father and uncle's music shared again through the project and expressed gratitude to the artists and organizations involved in preserving their legacy.
The album is executive produced by the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention in conjunction with the Athens State University Foundation.
Track Listing
A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers features:
- "Honey, I'm Ramblin' Away" - Junior Sisk & Don Rigsby
- "I've Got the Big River Blues" - Marty Raybon & Jimmy Fortune
- "When It's Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing" - Doyle Lawson & Jerry Salley
- "Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar" - Trey Hensley & Del McCoury
- "Put Me on the Trail to Carolina" - The Malpass Brothers
- "Brown's Ferry Blues" - The SteelDrivers
- "Will You Be Lonesome Too?" - The Grascals featuring Charlie McCoy
- "Field Hand Man" - Wood Box Heroes
- "Hillbilly Boogie" - Alex Miller & Carson Peters
- "The Fugitive's Lament" - Riders in the Sky
- "Blue Railroad Train" - Bradley Walker & Ricky Skaggs
- "Life's Too Short" - The Gibson Brothers
- "Blues Stay Away from Me" - Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
- "Bound For The Shore" - Appalachian Road Show
- "Sweet, Sweet Thing" - Darin and Brooke Aldridge featuring Charlie McCoy
Fans can stream the album here and learn more about the project through Billy Blue Records.
The Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention is also involved in the centennial tribute project, helping preserve and celebrate the enduring musical legacy of the Delmore Brothers.
