Originally published in DoSavannah
At the age of 88, Dr. Ralph Stanley still does 100 to 150 concerts every year.
The patriarch of traditional bluegrass music, Stanley has performed continuously since 1946 and will mark his 70th year in music in 2016. He has recorded more 170 albums throughout his career with no end in sight.
Stanley was only 19 when he and his older brother Carter formed a duo in 1946. The Stanley Brothers and their band, the Clinch Mountain Boys, became one of the most popular sibling acts in the history of country music, recording such songs as “Angel Band,” “Rank Strangers,” “Little Maggie” and “Man of Constant Sorrow.”
When 41-year-old Carter Stanley died in 1966, his heartbroken brother nearly gave up performing, but family, friends and fans encouraged him to carry on. He has gone on to write and record songs that have become bluegrass standards.
Other musicians such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Dwight Yoakum, Vince Gill, Jerry Garcia, Hal Ketchum, Patty Loveless and John Anderson have all said Stanley inspired them. Over the years, the Clinch Mountain Boys launched stars such as Ricky Skaggs, Larry Sparks and the late Keith Whitley.
A string of awards and honors have been presented to Stanley over the years. In 1976, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of music from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.
In 1984, Stanley was presented the National Heritage Award, given by President Ronald Reagan. In 1992, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor, and in 2000, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
Stanley won his first Grammy Award in 2002 for Best Male Country Vocal Performance with his rendition of “Oh Death.” The haunting a capella song was featured in the movie and soundtrack of “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
“O Brother Where Art Thou?” wasn’t Stanley’s only film. In 2012, he was featured on several tracks of the soundtrack for the film “Lawless,” including the solo track, “White Light/White Heat.”
Another presidential award was given to Stanley in 2006, when he received the Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress and the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush.
Born and reared in Southwest Virginia, Stanley still lives there. He got his first banjo at age 15.
Stanley is known for a unique style of banjo playing, sometimes called “Stanley style,” that is distinguished by incredibly fast forward rolls, led by the index finger instead of the thumb. The rolls of the banjo are continuous, while being picked fairly close to the bridge, which gives the tone a crisp, articulate sound.
Do Savannah spoke with Stanley about his career and upcoming performance.
You have performed for more than six decades. How has the music business changed in that time?
Dr. Ralph Stanley: It’s changed a whole lot during that time. Of course thanks to the good Lord, my career has only gotten better. When I first started in 1946, things were very tough.
What are some of the highlights you’ve experienced in your career? I know there have been a lot, but are there some that really stand out?
Stanley: I guess when I won my first Grammy Award in 2002 for Best Male Country Vocalist, when President George W. Bush presented me with the National Medal of Arts in the Oval Office at the White House and of course, becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Those three really mean a lot to me.
You do 100 to 150 dates per year. Do you ever plan to slow down?
Stanley: Yes, I plan to slow down some. I’m not as young as I used to be. But I don’t think retirement is in my plan. I’ll continue to travel as long as the good Lord will allow me to do so.
You’ve won many major awards and honors. Is it just as exciting now as it was the first one?
Stanley: Yeah, I appreciate everything that comes my way. It tells me that my 70 years in the music business has not been overlooked.
Many country and bluegrass stars got their start with the Clinch Mountain Boys. What did you see in them that made you decide to take them on?
Stanley: I hired Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley when they were 16 years old. I gave them their first professional jobs.
Before that, I hired Larry Sparks and he went on to be one of the finest bluegrass entertainers. I always have enjoyed giving young people a start. I saw potential in all three of them.
Is it true you almost became a veterinarian? What made you decide to become a musician?
Stanley: Yes, that is true. I studied agriculture in school and I was raised on a farm. So I loved animals and if music had not become my profession, I would have probably became a veterinarian.
Is it true your mother taught you to play the banjo?
Stanley: She was the very one that taught me. She played and everybody on my mother’s side of the family played the banjo.
Have you performed in the Savannah area before?
Stanley: Yeah, it’s been a while I think. We always look forward to performing in the state of Georgia. We meet a lot of wonderful fans down that way.
Originally published on May 12, 2015.
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