Close-up of legendary bluegrass musician Del McCoury smiling widely while playing an acoustic guitar on an outdoor stage, surrounded by microphones and band members; Photo by Sterling Munksgard.
Del McCoury Band plays Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia on Sept. 4, 2014. Credit: Sterling Munksgard / Shutterstock

The phrase “living legend” gets tossed around pretty casually in the algorithm age. Few artists encapsulate its true meaning like Del McCoury.

The 86-year-old, pompadour-rocking picker and songwriter wields a tenor from heaven and is the most-awarded artist in the history of bluegrass.

His longevity has landed him on stages with pioneers of the movement (Bill Monroe) and also on festival lineups alongside jam-scene giants like Phish.

Refusing to become a legacy act, McCoury’s and his band arrive supporting a 2024 album, Songs of Love and Life, a clinic on storytelling that includes reimagined Elvis cuts (“If You Talk In Your Sleep”) and takes on songs by less-known luminaries like Lech Wierzynski (“Just Because”).

Tickets to see Del McCoury band play Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater on Saturday, Nov. 15 are still available and start at $51.

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This article appears in Nov. 6 – 12, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...