Born in Stratton, VA, in 1927,
Ralph Stanley and his older brother Carter formed
the Stanley Brothers and
the Clinch Mountain Boys. In 1946
Ralph and Carter were being broadcast from radio station WCYB in Bristol, VA. The music, which was inspired by their Virginia mountain home, was encouraged by their mother, who taught
Ralph the claw-hammer style of banjo picking that he and Carter became famous for.
They recorded for such companies as the small Rich-R-Tone label and later Columbia, a relationship that lasted from 1949 until 1952. These classic sessions defined
the Stanleys' own approach to
bluegrass and made them as important as
Bill Monroe. After leaving Columbia,
the Stanleys were with Mercury, Starday, and King. Leaning toward more
gospel at times, Carter and
Ralph made a place for themselves in the music industry. In December 1966, Carter Stanley died in a Virginia hospital after a steady decline in health. He was just 41 years old. After much consideration and grief,
Ralph carried on without Carter. Already their haunting mountain melodies made them stand apart from other
bluegrass bands, but
Ralph expanded upon this foundation and took his own "high lonesome" vocals to a new plane.
Popular at
bluegrass festivals,
Ralph and each edition of
the Clinch Mountain Boys grew to be one of the most respected outfits in
bluegrass. As far west as California and even up in the hollers of Kentucky, people were drawn to the poignant, mournful sound of
Ralph Stanley's style. Different from all the rest,
Ralph's ability to hit the right notes and chords made him a singer of trailblazing proportions.
Ralph continued to record for a wide variety of labels, including Jalyn, Rebel, King Bluegrass, Blue Jay, Jessup, Stanleytone, his own label, and Freeland. A devoted family man, his constant touring took its toll on his first marriage, a union that produced daughters Lisa Joy and Tonya and oldest son Timothy. His second wife, Jimmie, also a singer, gave him another son late in life; Ralph II followed in both his father's and uncle's footsteps and played in
the Clinch Mountain Boys with his dad. A Bluegrass Hall of Fame member along with Carter,
Ralph Stanley was an inspiration to
Dwight Yoakam,
Emmylou Harris, the late
Keith Whitley, and even
Monroe acolyte
Ricky Skaggs. With his raw emotions and Mother Stanley's three-fingered banjo technique, he helped bring the mountain style of
bluegrass music to mainstream audiences. A full survey of
the Stanley Brothers' career, including sides they recorded for several different labels, finally appeared in 2007 with Time-Life's three-disc Definitive Collection box set. ~ Jana Pendragon, All Music Guide
