Grover Cleveland “G.C.” McCoury II
(February 14, 1930- February 27, 2017)
By Walt Saunders and Ronnie McCoury
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine
May 2017, Volume 51, Number 11
Grover Cleveland McCoury II, 87, passed away February 27, 2017, at Gettysburg (Pa.) Hospital. Affectionately known to the family as G.C., he was a longtime resident of Thomasville, Pa., and was considered one of the founding fathers of bluegrass in York County, Pa. Born February 14, 1930 in Buladean, Mitchell County, N.C., he was the mentor for his younger brothers, Del and Jerry. Nearly forgotten for decades, G.C. started his younger brothers Del and Jerry on their bluegrass odysseys. He is best remembered now for the popular McCoury Family segments at DelFest in Cumberland, Md.
Del’s son Ronnie wrote about G.C., and we’d like to quote from his heartfelt letter. “Uncle G.C. was my father’s first musical teacher showing him guitar chords at the age of nine years old. In the early days. Dad and G.C. would play and sing in their Missionary Baptist church. By the late 1940s, G.C. was playing in hillbilly bands in and around the local area of York County, Pa. He was a talented musician and strong singer with quite a vocal range. It was during this time that he discovered this new music from the Grand Ole Opry that was in his words ‘hot as fire!’ It didn’t have a name yet, but would eventually be called ‘bluegrass.’ He said, ‘It hit me and Del pretty hard.’
“When G.C., who was nine years older than Del and could buy 78 rpm records, brought home Flatt & Scruggs’ 1951 recording of ‘Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms,’ my dad’s life was changed forever. Earl Scruggs’ banjo playing captivated Dad and he had to learn to play the banjo, and G.C. had to learn bluegrass rhythm guitar. My dad said he wore the 78 record’s hole oblong, playing it over and over figuring out Earl’s playing. They would play together till G.C. got married and started a family and Dad began playing with Keith Daniels. This would put my dad on his musical journey which continues to this day.
“Because of our move to Nashville in 1992, our time was so limited with Uncle G.C., but I always looked forward to the McCoury Family show at DelFest, featuring G.C., Dad, and Uncle Jerry. This is what I consider my roots in music, and it was so rewarding to the family to have these moments. So many people come up to me throughout the year on the road and sincerely thank us for doing the McCoury Family show. I know he will be there in spirit, smiling and watching from above. Uncle G.C. was a devoted Christian with the strongest of faith. My dad said, ‘He knows where he’s going and was ready to go’”
