"Now in its ninth year, Delfest was founded by the patriarch of bluegrass, Del McCoury, to showcase the talents of his brood and to cultivate an all-ages atmosphere that revolves around a distinct, down-home vibe and unparalleled musicianship. "

Two masterful musicians from different genres have come together for a new CD despite the fact that one of them passed away nearly a half century ago. The legendary Del McCoury releases a collaborative work with the late Woody Guthrie titled Del and Woody this Friday, April 15. McCoury didn’t set out to do the project. It just kind of fell into his lap when he was performing in a memorial concert for Woody a few years ago in Tulsa, OK. 

 Indeed, there’s a joyfulness to these recordings, perhaps to be expected from a singer who can perform heart-stopping spirituals. For example, “Left in This World Alone,” a lonely traveler’s lament that could be performed as a heart-breaking ballad, is elevated to a jaunty but impassioned mid-tempo plea in McCoury’s caring hands.

Del and Woody is the realization of two distinctly, genuinely American voices: Woody’s common-man vernacular and Del’s common-man sound.  Perhaps the keenest observer of mid-century American life and particularly American dialogue, Woody Guthrie’s take on life is perfectly reflected in these little moments.  A man taking his car to the garage to get fixed, a just-released prisoner working on a post-depression work project, a young father marveling about the beauty of his toddler son.