He was exposed to bluegrass from a young age, through his father's band, Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals.

In 1986 at the age of 15 he played bass with his Dad's band for the first time at a festival in Bath, NY.

He would play as the bassist for his Dad's band for the next year and half when the banjo spot opened up and he made the switch to his preferred instrument.

[citation needed] He was named the 2015 International Bluegrass Music Association banjo player of the year in 2015.

The album won the 1996 International Bluegrass Music Awards for Recorded Performance of the Year.