The music of Alton and Rabon Delmore continues to influence generations of singers and songwriters across multiple genres. From their first appearance as the Delmore Brothers at the 1926 Athens Fiddlers Convention, their intricate harmonies took them to the Grand Ole Opry in 1933. In 1944, joined by Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones, they formed the Brown’s Ferry Four, one of the first commercially successful gospel quartets, and finally, into the full band and boogie-woogie sound of the late 1940’s, their adaptability and creative drive impacted multiple forms of music. Their number one hit in January 1950, Blues Stay Away from Me was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
Billy Blue Records has announced the release on 1st October 2026 of A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers, a centennial celebration of the pioneering duo whose songs and harmonies helped shape the sound of country, bluegrass, folk, and American roots music for generations. The tribute was produced by Jerry Salley and executive-produced by the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, in conjunction with the Athens State University Foundation.
Salley says, “The Delmore Brothers are a national treasure whose songs, harmonies, musicianship, and pioneering spirit helped shape the very foundation of American roots music. Their influence can be heard in generations of artists who followed, including Woody Guthrie, Bill Monroe, The Everly Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Bob Dylan, Jim & Jesse, The Osborne Brothers, The Band, and, more recently, Billy Strings.”
“A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers” track listing and featured artists:
1. Honey, I’m Ramblin’ Away (2:56) – Junior Sisk & Don Rigsby
2. I’ve Got the Big River Blues (3:05) – Marty Raybon & Jimmy Fortune
3. When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing (3:21) – Doyle Lawson & Jerry Salley
4. Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar (3:11) – Trey Hensley & Del McCoury
5. Put Me on the Trail to Carolina (3:28) – The Malpass Brothers
6. Brown’s Ferry Blues (3:14) – The SteelDrivers
7. Will You Be Lonesome Too? (3:45) – The Grascals (feat. Charlie McCoy)
8. Field Hand Man (3:21) – Wood Box Heroes
9. Hillbilly Boogie (2:59) – Alex Miller & Carson Peters
10. The Fugitive’s Lament (3:23) – Riders in the Sky
11. Blue Railroad Train (3:32) – Bradley Walker & Ricky Skaggs
12. Life’s Too Short (3:36) – The Gibson Brothers
13. Blues Stay Away from Me (3:19) – Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
14. Bound For The Shore (2:41) – Appalachian Road Show
15. Sweet, Sweet Thing (3:05) – Darin and Brooke Aldridge (feat. Charlie McCoy)
Billy Blue Records has released When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing, as the first single. Originally a Top 3 hit on Billboard’s Hillbilly chart in 1941, the song is newly recorded by bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson and producer Salley.
“When I was asked by the Athens State University Foundation to produce a tribute album to The Delmore Brothers, Doyle Lawson was the first artist I asked to sing on it. He is a lifelong Delmore Brothers fan, and I have always wanted to sing tenor to Doyle’s legendary voice. When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing was one that we have both always loved, so we chose that one for our song. It was such an honour to record this with him,” says Salley.
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