McPeak Brothers to be honored at festival

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

When the McPeak Brothers formed in 1962, the group never envisioned the success the years would bring. The popular local bluegrass band will receive its highest honor to date when it is inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 18.
“When I first started playing music, I was just doing it for fun,” noted Dewey McPeak, the group’s banjo player. “I never thought about things going in the direction they have. It makes me feel real good to be honored by the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame.”
His brother, Larry, added, “We’ve worked long and hard throughout our careers but I never thought we’d get to this point now. This is one of the biggest honors ever bestowed upon us.”
He plays bass and guitar for the group. Brother Mike McPeak also plays guitar and sings three-part harmony for the group.
Dewey and Larry McPeak with their late brother, Udell McPeak, formed the first version of the McPeak Brothers bluegrass band. Not long after that, Udell McPeak left to play with Red Smiley’s band and Mike McPeak joined his brothers as lead voice.
Through the years, the McPeak Brothers have played everything from churches to car dealerships. The group recorded numerous albums from 1968 to 1992.
Udell McPeak died in December 2009.
“We don’t perform together as much these days,” commented Larry McPeak, who has serious health problems. “We are doing Songs of the Mountain on the first Saturday in November.”
In a somewhat rare performance, the McPeak Brothers will participate in the Virginia Folk Music Association’s bluegrass festival on Saturday, Sept. 18. The group also will be inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame that day.
Adam McPeak and Mountain Thunder will pay tribute to the McPeak Brothers at the ceremony. Adam McPeak is the teenaged-son of Mike McPeak, who plays guitar and sings harmony with his son’s award-winning group.
“We’re certainly excited about the event,” said Sigrid Williams of Midlothian, president of the Virginia Folk Music Association. “We’d love to have a large delegation from your area attend the festival.”
The VFMA was founded around 1948 to promote and preserve Virginia’s heritage music. It was chartered March 26, 1957, as a nonprofit, volunteer organization.
In 1973, the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame was formed. Among the performers inducted are Patsy Cline, Roy Clark and the Carter Family.
The VFMA is governed by a volunteer board of directors that elects officers to form the executive board. The mission of the VMA remains to promote and preserve country, bluegrass and gospel music.
Held at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, the bluegrass festival will begin Thursday, Sept. 16, and continue through Sunday, Sept. 19. The bluegrass champion contest will be held that Sunday.
“We’re very fortunate to have sponsors so that we can keep ticket prices at $5 each day,” Williams said. “For the caliber of the shows the admission is unbelievable.”
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or wquesenberry@wythenews.com.