Among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Bluegrass artist Del McCoury stands alone. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honkytonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link. On primetime and late-night television talk shows, there is Del. From headlining sold-out concerts to music festivals of all genres, including one carrying his namesake, there is Del. Where audiences number in the tens of thousands, and admirers as diverse as country-rock icon Steve Earle and jam band royalty Phish, count as a few among hundreds, there is Del.

Now helming the Del McCoury Band, with sons Ronnie and Rob, the ensemble continues to represent in a larger, growing musical community a peerless torchbearer for the entire sweep and scope of bluegrass history. Those many years, not to mention a good-natured willingness to stay alert to the latest sounds and opportunities around him, earned McCoury a whole new generation of fans, including some in unlikely places.

And like any genuine treasure, the gifts keep coming. On their latest release, Songs of Love and Life, a glorious 15-song collection, features Del touching down on a diverse set of tracks--vintage and contemporary.