NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Billy Blue Records has released “When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing,” the lead single from an upcoming tribute album celebrating the influence of pioneering duo The Delmore Brothers.
The song, newly recorded by bluegrass artist Doyle Lawson and producer Jerry Salley, was originally a top-three hit on Billboard’s Hillbilly chart in 1941. It serves as the first taste of “A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers,” a 15-track album set for release Oct. 1.
Salley, who has produced for artists including Elton John, Loretta Lynn, Chris Stapleton and Reba McEntire, said Lawson was his first choice to appear on the project.
“He is a lifelong Delmore Brothers fan, and I have always wanted to sing tenor to Doyle’s legendary voice,” Salley said, adding that the pair had long admired the song before choosing it as their contribution to the album.
Lawson echoed that sentiment, calling it an honor to perform the track and noting his lifelong appreciation for the Delmore Brothers’ music.
The album was executive produced by the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention in partnership with the Athens State University Foundation. It features performances from a wide range of bluegrass and country artists, including Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, The SteelDrivers, The Grascals, Riders in the Sky, The Gibson Brothers and Appalachian Road Show, among others.
Dr. Keith Ferguson, vice president of University Advancement at Athens State University, said the project was designed to honor a legacy that continues to shape multiple genres of American music.
“The incredible performances on this album are a testament to the enduring power of the Delmores’ songwriting and the profound mark they left on American music,” Ferguson said.
Debby Delmore, daughter of Alton Delmore, said she was honored to see her father and uncle’s music reach new audiences through the project, thanking the album’s contributors and producers for their work.
Alton and Rabon Delmore first performed together at the Athens Fiddlers Convention in 1926 before joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1933. In 1944, they helped form the Brown’s Ferry Four with Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones, one of the first commercially successful gospel quartets. Their 1949 hit “Blues Stay Away from Me” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007, and the duo was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
“A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers” will be available everywhere on Oct. 1.
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