Tag: Dr. Ralph Stanley

BGS Long Reads of the Week // June 26

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

The BGS archives are simply a wealth of rootsy reading material. Each week we share our favorite longer, more in-depth articles, stories, and features to help you pass the time — summertime, COVID-19 time, or any ol’ free time you might have! We post our #longreadoftheday picks across our social media channels [on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram]. But of course, if you get ’em all right here in our weekly collection, that’s fine too!

This week’s long reads are about revitalization, reverence, rainbows, and real wisdom.

John Moreland Figures Out How to Love Music Again

We love a long read, yes, but we definitely love a birthday more! On Monday, we combined the two (as we do), celebrating Oklahoma singer/songwriter John Moreland’s day-of-birth with a revisit to our February interview about his latest album, LP5. While some listeners may have found the record to be something of a departure for Moreland, for his part, the “out there” elements of the music are what helped him learn to love creating again. [Read more]

Ricky Skaggs – Toy Heart: A Podcast About Bluegrass

Yes, this is a podcast, so technically this is a long listen rather than a long read, but we have good reason. Four years ago this week, Dr. Ralph Stanley passed away. As more and more of our bluegrass forebears leave us, their memories are even more important. On a recent episode of Toy Heart, hosted by Tom Power, Ricky Skaggs shared stories of his time with Ralph, the Clinch Mountain Boys, and Keith Whitley. It’s worth a listen to honor one of the most pivotal popularizers of this music. [Listen to the episode]

Way Above the Chimney Tops: A Pride Celebration of “Over the Rainbow”

Pride month is always full of rainbows, but never enough roots music! A couple of years ago we collected a handful of our favorite folky, country, bluegrassy, rootsy, ukulele-strumming renditions of “Over the Rainbow” to celebrate Pride month and each year since it’s been well worth a revisit. What cover of “Over the Rainbow” is your favorite? Did it make the list? [Read & listen here]

Counsel of Elders: Blind Boys of Alabama’s Jimmy Carter on Singing From Your Spirit

One quote from our 2017 interview with Blind Boys of Alabama founding member Jimmy Carter is enough to confirm this edition of Counsel of Elders’ excellence: “People ask me, ‘You’ve been doing this for almost seven decades, what keeps you going?’ I tell them, ‘When you love what you do — and we love what we’re doing — that keeps you motivated.'” 

You’re going to want to read the rest! [Read the full interview]

Photo of John Moreland: Crackerfarm
Photo of Blind Boys of Alabama: Jim Herrington

Ralph Stanley Exhibit Opens at Country Music Hall of Fame

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is shining a light on a bluegrass legend in the new exhibit, Ralph Stanley: Voice from on High. Presented with the participation of the Stanley family, the exhibit will remain open through January 9, 2019.

For generations, Ralph Stanley found a home in bluegrass music, starting with the influential recordings made with his brother Carter as The Stanley Brothers. Following Carter’s death in 1966, Ralph’s own journey led him to the Grand Ole Opry and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, with national recognition ranging from the Library of Congress to the Grammy Awards.

“I just want to say that I’m so glad to see this happen for Dad,” said Ralph Stanley II at the exhibit’s opening party. In his remarks, he remembered receiving a banjo from his father as a boy, although ultimately Ralph II ended up gravitating toward the guitar. Ralph II reminisced about falling asleep to the Clinch Mountain Gospel album while growing up – a ritual that led to dreams of sharing the stage with his father.

“Thanks to the good Lord, I got to do that,” he stated. “There’s been a lot of great banjo players and a lot of great singers. But nobody could play it with the emotion and feel that Dad had. That’s for sure.”

Photos by Jason Davis/Getty Images

Counsel of Elders: Ralph Stanley on Being Yourself

Posted on by Editor

The term living legend is thrown around a lot these days. But bluegrass icon Dr. Ralph Stanley deserves the title. Over the past six decades, he has become one of the most influential artists of all time. His early brother group helped define the high lonesome sound that we now associate with bluegrass singing, and his work with the Clinch Mountain Boys has spread the gospel of bluegrass to new generations since 1946.

Stanley received an honorary doctorate from Lincoln Memorial University in 1984, and he’s been affectionately referred to as Dr. Ralph Stanley ever since. In 2002, he received his first Grammy for his solo version of “O Death” from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou. It introduced him to a new audience, and introduced a new audience to bluegrass. He is a true legend, in every sense of the word.

Dr. Stanley, you have had a long and successful career, much more so than the typical musician. Looking back on it, is there anything that you now know that you wish you knew when you were starting out? Is there something that you learned the hard way that could have been avoided with the proper advice?

No, not really, I don't think. It was hard, when I first started out, but I'm thankful all the hard work paid off.

Did you have any mentors when you were starting out? Can you share a piece of advice they gave you?

I used to listen to the Carter Family, Mainers Mountaineers, and the Grand Ole Opry. I never met any of those people til later. I just enjoyed their music.

Is there any other advice that you'd like to share with the next generation of musicians?

My advice would be, always be yourself. Never try to copy anybody else's sound. Come up with your own style of music and work hard at it.

Correction: The original version of this article mistakenly cited Dr. Stanley as a member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys. BGS regrets the error.