August 2014
Last year, Mr. Stanley announced that he would not go gently into that good night and rescinded his earlier announcement of retirement with a new announcement that he was going to stay on the road as long as he could do so. And we lovers of that old mountain music as performed by a dwindling band of originators such as Mr. Stanley are glad he did. Apparently there are a host of others who agree.
Keith Whitley, Larry Sparks and Charlie Sizemore.
a member of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts.
The Ralph Stanley sound of high forlorn vocals was so significant in the year 2000 movie titled, O Brother, Where Art Thou? it propelled him into superstardom. The sound track from that movie sold 7 million copies, and Ralph Stanley went on to earn a Grammy as top male country music vocalist, winning the title over Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw and Lyle Lovett. To date, he has won three Grammy awards. In addition, he was the first performer to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in the 21st Century. If that was not enough, Ralph Stanley is
Apparently, he is not finished with this legacy building—his latest recording is titled Side By Side, with his son and musical heir, Ralph Stanley II who is an acclaimed singer in his own right. Over the years the list of names of his recording partners has become too large to mention here.
More To Come
We began our tribute with a memorable quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that described success; and followed that quote with a lament by me that often we do not acknowledge success until it is too late for the achiever of greatness to bask in that success. Fortunately, this is one time society got it right. Let us raise a loud sound of joy and a tip of the hat to the success and greatness of Doctor Ralph Stanley
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Esteemed Recognition
In May of 2014, Yale University awarded Ralph Stanley an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree at ceremonies in New Haven, CN. This is the second such honor bestowed upon Dr. Ralph (Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN awarded a similar honor to Ralph Stanley in 1976). Most fittingly, this recent award was presented by a bluegrass enthusiast who plays bass in a band called, Professors of Bluegrass. The presenter was Dr. Peter Salovey, the president of Yale University. The Yale University citation stated, “You are the patriarch of traditional mountain and bluegrass music. From the Clinch Mountains of southwest Virginia to the concert halls of the world, you have taken a distinct American sound and made it your own. Your music has its roots in the gospel songs of your childhood and in the banjo playing you learned from your mother. The Stanley style of picking produces a distinctive and characteristic rhythm, and generations of singers have been influenced by your signature voice with its mournful sounds and raw emotional power. You are a living legend and we sing your praises as we award you this degree.” Without question, Ralph Stanley is acknowledged as the leading exponent of traditional Appalachian music and a founding father of the musical art form that has now became known as bluegrass. As of the present, Stanley has spent 68 years spreading his signature sound around the world in live performances and recordings. From his humble rise from the sorrow of loss, Ralph Stanley built and led a band that through the years became a who’swho of rising talent such as: Ricky Skaggs,
www.AmericanaRhythm.com
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