On June 13, 2009, the Second Annual Delmore Days will take place at Beasley Field in Athens, Alabama. The entertainment schedule includes lots of bluegrass, country, and local music which can be sampled online.
In the 1930’s Alton and Rabon Delmore, from Limestone County, AL, comprised one of the great brother duos known for their early country harmonizing. They were skilled songwriters as well as entertainers who sang on the Grand Ole Opry and WSM radio. One of the Delmore daughters, Debbie, currently maintains a website about the Delmore brothers which includes a dearth of biographical information and local lore.
Though old-time country music fans put the Delmore Brothers alongside other famous country music duos, including the Louvin Brothers, the Blue Sky Boys, the Monroe Brothers, the McGee Brothers, and the Stanley Brothers, saying "Delmore Brothers" in a crowded theatre probably won't win you many familiar looks. Who were the Delmore Brothers, and why do they matter?
Born the sons of tenant farmers in Elkmont, Alabama, the Delmore Brothers were amid poverty and traditional gospel music. Their mother wrote and sang gospel songs for their local church, and her influence is woven into the Brothers' music, which blends gospel harmonies with the quick-picking guitar of folk music and blues. The Delmore Brothers stood out not only for their harmonies, but also for their choice of instruments. In addition to the standard six-string guitar, they also used the tenor guitar, a rare four-string instrument used mainly in vaudeville shows.
Their influence on the emergence of country music cannot be overemphasized. In fact, the Delmore Brothers gave Roy Acuff his first big break when they discovered him at an amateur audition and hired his band for their road show.
Even Bob Dylan admitted his debt to the Delmores in a 1985 interview with the Chicago Tribune where he exclaimed, "The Delmore Brothers, God, I really loved them! I think they've influenced every harmony I've ever tried to sing..." In addition to the undying love of their fans, the Delmore Brothers have secured the public's immortal attention by being featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame, Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Alabama Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
For more on the Delmores and Delmore Days:
- Athens, Alabama, a lovely small town to visit.
- "The Delmore Brothers", a nostalgic essay by John Lilly for Native Ground.
- The Limestone County Historical Society takes care of historical treasures in Athens and environs.
- City of Athens map of historic districts.