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The brothers' early years were spent on the family farm near the Tennessee River. Their mother was their main music teacher. Like many rural performers, they had an early interest in gospel music. Their recordings would reflect this. Inspiration also came from records. In his late teens illness meant Alton had time to listen to records by Carson Robison, Riley Puckett and Jimmie Rodgers, among others. The Delmore's first public success was in 1926. They came second in a local fiddle contest. Later they won a competition at Athens - the County seat. A recording deal with Columbia followed. The sides they cut didn't sell, but the brothers were paid $25. In 1933 they joined the Grand Ole Opry and continued there until 1938. They also signed to Bluebird, with greater success. The Delmores met Fiddlin' Arthur Smith in late 1934 when they toured together. They backed Arthur on most of his 1930s recordings. In WW2 Alton joined the Navy, Rabon worked at Wright Aircraft. After discharge, they returned to WLW radio where, prewar, they'd played with Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones as the Brown's Ferry Four. After the war the band reformed albeit with a floating personnel. Red Foley was sometimes included; Grandpa Jones seems to have drifted in and out, as did Wayne Raney. Later Clyde Moody and Red Turner turned up. In 1944, then with Decca, the Delmores switched labels. By chance (he was browsing in a record store), Alton agreed to record for a company which did not exist. Others signed, too - the first disc issued on the hastily established King label were by The Sheppard Brothers - actually Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones. The Delmores' final recording was in August 1952. Rabon was already ill - not long after the session he succumbed to lung cancer. Alton did record again - in 1956. He did a number of jobs including salesman, guitar tutor and postman. In the early 1960s he had a radio show in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He died on 9th June 1964.