Fiddle man and vocalist Jason Carter is stepping away from the Del McCoury Band after 33 years to focus on his soaring solo career. He is also vacating his spot with The Travelin’ McCourys, which is the same group, with Cody Kilby swapped out for Del.
Press for Jason’s 2022 solo project, Lowdown Hoedown, was universally positive, as was the response from the public and bluegrass radio. That, along with the strong reaction to three recent singles from an upcoming duo album with Michael Cleveland, Carter & Cleveland, have given him the confidence to stake out a claim and pursue music under his own name.
In a comprehensive statement this morning, Jason explains why now is the time to put away his sideman’s cap and start leading his own band, as he says goodbye to the first family of bluegrass.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to spend the last 33 years making music with The Del McCoury Band. After a considerable amount of thought, I’ve decided to say my farewell to Del and the Travelin’ McCourys in order to pursue my solo career as The Jason Carter Band.
I feel so much gratitude to these guys for nearly a lifetime of education in bluegrass music. I consider them to be not only the best musicians in the world, but the finest people you’d ever meet, and I couldn’t have picked a better boss or co-workers to be on this bluegrass journey with.
From the moment I heard Del, I wanted to play in his band. At first, I played guitar and mandolin. I talked so much about playing with Del as a kid that eventually my Dad had to tell me that Del’s sons played banjo and mandolin and Del was the guitar player, so if I wanted to be in this band, I would probably have to learn fiddle or bass, and we had a fiddle at the house. I was so obsessed with his music that every day of my senior year in high school, my mother drove me to school and we’d listen to I Feel The Blues Moving In. That song was the perfect length of time to go from our driveway to the doorstep of the school.
When I graduated high school, I realized the chances of even being in the same place as Del and his band were slim to none because they lived in Pennsylvania and I lived in Kentucky. I wound up getting a job with the Goins Brothers right out of high school and six months later, in February 1992, we were in Nashville at the same festival as Del. Tad Marks was the fiddle player in his band and he told me that the McCourys were moving to Nashville and he wasn’t making the move. He knew that I wanted his job and he encouraged me to go talk to Del. So I gave Del my number and a couple weeks later he called our home. He said I was the first to ask for the job so I was the first to get to try out if I wanted to. I’ve been there ever since.
I have to give a huge thank you to the band for practically molding me into the player I am today. Del never told me that I had to play a song a certain way; he always encouraged me to play it how I felt. In those days he would drive the bus, and there were many nights I would ride shotgun all night and play fiddle trying to learn solos to his songs. Del would sing melodies to me and I would try to play them back to him. I can’t begin to list all the experiences that we had, but I’m extremely proud of every moment. We played everything from college town bars to Carnegie Hall, and the biggest festivals in the world. I’m so proud of all the music that we played together.
I also feel I owe a lot to the guys in the Travelin’ McCourys. I’m extremely grateful to be able to have been part of that band since the beginning. I’m very much excited to watch their growth and all they will accomplish, too. I’ll be their biggest cheerleader!
Not long ago, I realized that when Del made the move to Nashville in 1992 and I started with his band, he was close to the same age I am now. This is just another example of how I have been inspired by Del McCoury. At this point in time, I feel that everything in my world is pointing me in the direction of starting my own band and pursuing my solo career. After releasing my latest solo record, Lowdown Hoedown, I have really enjoyed touring and fronting my own shows. I have a new record coming out with my friend, Michael Cleveland, in March, and I’m very excited about playing some shows with him. And, I’m preparing to begin recording my second solo project very soon. I am so excited about this new chapter and for the chance to share my own music with the world.”
Over the weekend, Jason played the Grand Ole Opry with Michael Cleveland, performing their latest single, With a Vamp in the Middle. Helping out were Bryan Sutton on guitar, Cory Walker on banjo, Harry Clark on mandolin, and Alan Bartram on bass and harmony vocal.
Judging by that audience reaction, Jason is on solid ground.
Carter has announced some early dates for 2025, with many more sure to be added.
- February 20 – Nashville, TN;The Station Inn with Michael Cleveland
- February 21 – Fort Meyers, FL; Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center with Michael Cleveland
- April 2 – Savannah, GA; Ships Of The Sea Maritime Museum with Michael Cleveland
- June 14 – Lake Cowichan, BC, Canada; Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival
- September 12 – Louisville, KY; Bourbon & Beyond with Michael Cleveland
- September 14 – Flagstaff, AZ; Pickin’ In The Pines with Michael Cleveland
The Jason Carter Band will be managed by Billy Maupin with Resounding Strategies, and represented by Carter Greene with the WME Agency.
