If any artist in the field of bluegrass or mountain music has a sense of tradition, it is Ralph Stanley. His newest recording, a gospel outing called Shine On is abundant testament to this truth.
He's even traditional about his own traditions. For example, for more years that he probably cares to remember, Stanley has had a pattern of making every other album he released a gospel album. He's true to form here with the excellent grouping of songs found on Shine On.
Gospel music has always been important to Stanley. Some of the very first recordings that he made, with his brother Carter back in 1947, were songs that were gleaned from old gospel songbooks.
Over the years, Stanley has added to his traditions by incorporating stylistic innovations. In 1971, he was the first bluegrass performer to record gospel songs in an a cappella style. This was standard practice in the Primitive Baptist church that he attended in his youth. In keeping with that music, Stanley replicated the custom of "lining out" the words for the other singers to follow. A cappella and "lined out" hymns have been standard fare for Stanley ever since.
Shine On is classic Stanley gospel. At 78 years of age, he continues to produce soul-inspiring recordings that compare favorably with some of his career highlights of 30 years earlier. His incredible singing has been the hallmark of his sound and it is much in evidence here. In recent years, Stanley has taken an increasing share of the lead vocals on his recordings; here he sings lead on 12 of the 14 tracks. His band, the Clinch Mountain Boys, adds immeasurably to the success of the disc as well. With one exception (Ralph's grandson Nathan—who plays mandolin), all of the band members have been with Ralph for 10 or more years. Appearing on this recording are:
Ralph StanleyII—rhythm guitar and vocals
John Rigsby—fiddle, mandolin, and vocals
James Alan Shelton—lead guitar and bass vocals
Jack Cooke—bass and vocals
Nathan Stanley—mandolin
Stanley introduces quite a bit of new material to his catalog with this disc. Leading off is "King Of All Kings," a recent composition by Bill Crawford. The band kicks the tune off at a lively pace, making this a fine piece for toe-tapping gospel. It is one of the album's more bluegrassy selections. John Rigsby adds vocals harmonies to Ralph's lead on the choruses. He shares with Ralph an affinity for the traditional styles of gospel signing and it's not surprising that John plays such a large part vocally throughout the entire proceedings.
Another tune with a bluegrass feel is "The Roses Will Bloom." The banjo kick-off that opens the song might remind long-time Stanley fans of a long ago secular duet that Stanley sang 25 or more years ago.
"The Old Church Yard" puts Stanley front and center; his rustic, husky vocal is the only instrument for this song. A daunting challenge for lesser singers, Ralph shines in the starkness of the spotlight.
In 1971, Stanley recorded his landmark album Cry From The Cross. It was his debut album for the Rebel label. One of the tracks from the album was a driving song called "Take Your Shoes Off Moses." Whether by choice or by chance, that same melody is applied to "This Little Light Of Mine." It's uncanny to hear how closely Steve Sparkman replicates Ralph's style on the banjo. This is perhaps the most up-tempo selection on the album. It's a trio with John Rigsby and Jack Cooke chiming in.
"My Main Trial Is Yet To Come" is the only vocal solo on this recording for Ralph Stanley II. John Rigsby joins him on harmony vocals. It was composed by country music performer Pee Wee King in 1947 and entered the bluegrass idiom in 1959 when the Stanley Brothers included it on a sacred album they recorded for the King label.
An a cappella quartet selection of recent vintage appears in the form of "Sing Songs About Jesus." Bill Crawford, who composed the CD's opening track, is the composer of this song.
Probably one of the oldest songs recorded here is "Palms Of Victory." The song dates back approximately to the 1830s. It has appeared in numerous hymnals that were made and distributed throughout the South. Old-time groups such as the Carter Family made recordings of it (they called it "The Wayworn Traveler") in the 1930s. The popular bluegrass group The Country Gentlemen introduced it to bluegrass on their classic 1970s album Calling My Children Home.
John Rigsby gets a chance to sing the lead vocals on "The Lowest Valley." The most likely source for this song is the Marshall Family, a popular family bluegrass gospel group that appeared at Ralph Stanley's annual Memorial Day Bluegrass Festival back in the 1970s.
In December of 1966, at the funeral for Ralph's brother, Bill Monroe stood and placed his hand on Carter Stanley's casket and sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." The song was a favorite of Monroe's and is one that he featured often over the years. It's an old song that reportedly originated from African-American sources. The Stanley Brothers actually recorded it once at a session for a small independent label. Ralph Stanley returned the favor to Mr. Monroe 30 years later by singing at his funeral.
One of the most popular songs on this recording is "I'll Fly Away." Albert E. Brumley, a composer who went on to enjoy an esteemed career as a writer of gospel music, wrote it in the 1930s. Popular country gospel groups such as the Chuck Wagon Gang popularized it in the late 1940s. The Stanley Brothers recorded their own version of it in 1962 as part of a gospel album for King Records. Fans of Ralph Stanley probably have fond memories of his Sunday morning sets at bluegrass festivals where the ebullient fiddler Curly Ray Cline played this tune instrumentally. The song's most recent claim to fame is that it was included as part of the multi-million selling sound track for O Brother! Where Art Thou?
This CD takes its title from a Dolly Parton composition that appeared on her 1998 album Hungry Again.
An excellent example of Primitive Baptist singing is "Why Should We Start And Fear To Die." Several Baptist singers were recruited to sing with Stanley on this track. He does the "lining out" of the lyrics for the other singers to follow.
Closing out the recording is "Let Your Light Shine Out." This came to Stanley by way of the Mullins Family, a family from Ralph's part of the world that has a rich and long history with traditional singing. This family supplied another song to Stanley's repertoire in 1975 when he recorded the song "Turn Back, Turn Back." Visitors to the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood, Virginia can hear a snippet of the Mullins Family singing "Turn Back, Turn Back" that was taken from a home recording made in the 1950s.
Clearly, Ralph Stanley puts forth a lot of effort to make recordings that are varied in their composition and rich in their texture. An assortment of traditional musical styles laced with a diversity of material (ranging from recent compositions to centuries-old selections), solid musicianship, and the unmistakable vocal that is Ralph Stanley all combine to make this yet another masterful addition to an already impressive recording career.
Career Highlights:
Born February 25, 1927 in Dickenson County, Virginia; lives in Coeburn, Virginia.
Honors and Acknowledgements:
2005 - Proclamation from Virginia Governor Mark Warner presented to Dr. Ralph Stanley, a native Virginian, in honor of his life and work as a pioneering traditional country music artist.
2004 - Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Music Center opened in Clintwood, VA.
2004 - Designated as Virginian of the Year (2004) by Virginia Press Association.
2003 - Lifetime Achievement Award, North American Folk Alliance.
2002 - Grammy—45th Annual Grammy Awards: Best Bluegrass Album, Lost In The Lonesome Pines (Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys)
2002 - IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Assoc.) Recorded Event of the Year—Clinch Mountain Sweethearts
2001- Grammys (2) —44th Annual Grammy Awards:
Best Male Country Vocal Performance—"Oh Death"
Album of the Year—for his contributions to the album O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Received his first Grammy at age 75; numerous nominations through the years
2001 - CMA Award, Album of the Year—for his contributions to O Brother, Where Art Thou?
2001 - ACM Award, Album of the Year—for his contributions to O Brother, Where Art Thou?
2001 - Ralph J. Gleason Award from the Rex Foundation—"outstanding contributions to culture"
2001 - Multi-Platinum Album—Mercury Records O Brother, Where Art Thou?. He is featured in two performances on the soundtrack album for the Coen Brothers' film—"Oh, Death" (Stanley's classic a cappella solo) and "Angel Band" (The Stanley Brothers).
2001 - Ralph Stanley Day in San Francisco—February 6, 2001, declared by Mayor Willie Brown
2001 - IBMA Album of the Year—for his contributions to O Brother, Where Art Thou?
2000 - Library of Congress—"Living Legend" Medal
2000 - Grand Ole Opry Induction—first of the new century
1999 - IBMA Album of the Year—Clinch Mountain Country, Ralph Stanley & Friends
1999 - IBMA Recorded Event of the Year—Clinch Mountain Country, Ralph Stanley &. Friends
1993 - IBMA Recorded Event of the Year— Saturday Night/Sunday Morning
1992 - IBMA Hall of Honor Induction
1984 - National Endowment for the Arts "National Heritage Fellowship"—presented by President Ronald Reagan
1976 - Honorary Doctorate of Music—Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN
1960 - Billboard Charts Top 20 Single—"How Far to Little Rock" Stanley Brothers
Noteworthy Appearances:
~CBS Grammy Awards Show performance
~CBS Late Night w/David Letterman
~CBS The Early Show
~ABC Good Morning America
~NBC The Tonight Show
~CMT The Life and Times of Ralph Stanley
~Performed at Library of Congress Bicentennial Celebration in April 2000.
~Stanley is the centrally featured artist in D. A. Pennebaker's Down From The Mountain, (2000) a documentary on the making the O Brother soundtrack—shown in art theaters around the country and available on video.
~The Ralph Stanley Story, a documentary directed by Herb E. Smith for Appalshop Film and Video is available on video (2000).
~"Salute To Ralph Stanley," a live five-hour music and interview show, was broadcast March 21, 2001, on WSM-AM, the Grand Ole Opry station. Involving Stanley's musical recollections of the past 55 years, it was designed and hosted by DJ, musician and music scholar Eddie Stubbs. The entire show can be heard at www.wsmonline.com.
~Featured in the bluegrass segment of A Century of Country, 13-show series aired on CMT.
~Performed for Presidents Carter and Clinton's Inaugurations (1977 & 1993).
~Performed The Queen Elizabeth Hall in London; two extensive tours of Europe; three tours of Japan and the Far East.
~Numerous appearances at the Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry, PBS's Austin City Limits, Hollywood Palace, Greek Theatre, Tramps (NY), among many others.
Musical Accomplishments:
~Has performed continually since 1946. The patriarch of traditional and bluegrass music still does over 150 dates a year.
~Has recorded over 170 albums, more than 30 albums in over 30 years with Rebel Records.
~ Has written and recorded many songs that have become bluegrass standards.
~He is one of the last living founders of a distinctly American art form, which blends rural-based lyrics with fluid, jazz-like instrumental improvisations.
~Stanley's music—particularly his high, mournful vocals—is so raw, powerful and authentic that it has moved and inspired performers from all musical genres. Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Dwight Yoakam, Vince Gill, Jerry Garcia, Hal Ketchum, Patty Loveless, John Anderson credit Stanley as a major inspiration.
~Stanley's band, the Clinch Mountain Boys, has been the incubator for two generations of country and bluegrass superstars, including Ricky Skaggs and the late Keith Whitley.
~Ralph Stanley continues to live in and draw strength from the country, in his case the remote mountainous region of southwestern Virginia.