Rob McCoury (born 1971) is the banjo player in the Del McCoury Band, led by his father, and in the Travelin’ McCourys with his brother Ronnie. He started on bass in his father’s band at 15 and moved to banjo soon after. He won the IBMA banjo award in 2015 and IBMA Banjo Player of the Year in 2024.
Why McCoury matters
McCoury has held the banjo chair in his father’s band for more than 35 years. Del McCoury has led that band to ten IBMA Entertainer of the Year awards. For a jammer, Rob is a model of how a band banjo player supports a singer.
Life and career
McCoury was born on April 30, 1971, in York County, Pennsylvania. He grew up around his father’s band, Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals. At eight he saw the Osborne Brothers at Sunset Park in West Grove, Pennsylvania, and took up the banjo. In 1986, at 15, he played bass with his father’s band for the first time at a festival in Bath, New York. He played bass for about a year and a half, then moved to banjo when the chair opened.
He graduated from Susquehannock High School in 1989. In 2009 he and Ronnie received the school’s Distinguished Alumni award. He has played banjo with Del McCoury ever since and with the Travelin’ McCourys, a band with Ronnie, where Cody Kilby plays guitar. He won the IBMA banjo award in 2015 and Banjo Player of the Year in 2024.
Playing style
McCoury plays Scruggs-based banjo for a traditional band. The Osborne Brothers drew him to the banjo. In the Travelin’ McCourys he takes longer solos.
Influences and legacy
McCoury was drawn to the banjo by Sonny Osborne. He grew up beside his father Del and his brother Ronnie on mandolin. His father also started on banjo, after hearing Earl Scruggs.
Signature tunes and songs
Feudin’ Banjos Banjo Riff I Wonder Where You Are Tonight, with Del and Ronnie McCoury.
Awards and honors
IBMA Instrumental Performer of the Year, banjo (2015) IBMA Banjo Player of the Year (2024)
Watch and listen
McCoury plays a banjo riff live at WAMU’s Bluegrass Country.
The Del McCoury Band plays an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, with Rob on banjo.
What to learn from McCoury
Watch the Tiny Desk set and listen to the banjo behind Del’s voice. The technique to steal is backup that drives without crowding. Play rolls behind a singer, keep them steady, and save the louder licks for the gaps between lines.
Sources
Rob McCoury, Wikipedia International Bluegrass Music Awards, Wikipedia
Related players
See the banjo players hub and the bluegrass banjo guide for more pickers. McCoury plays with his father Del McCoury and with Cody Kilby in the Travelin’ McCourys. Sonny Osborne inspired him to start.