Bluegrass music patriarch Ralph Stanley dies at 89

The Charlotte Observer/Associated Press ^ | June 23, 2016 | Kristin M. Hall

[Cecily]

Ralph Stanley, a patriarch of Appalachian music who with his brother Carter helped expand and popularize the genre that became known as bluegrass, died Thursday. He was 89.

Stanley died at his home in Sandy Ridge, Virginia, because of difficulties from skin cancer, publicist Kirt Webster said.

Stanley was born and raised in Big Spraddle, Virginia, a land of coal mines and deep forests where he and his brother formed the Stanley Brothers and their Clinch Mountain Boys in 1946. Their father would sing them old traditional songs like "Man of Constant Sorrow," while their mother, a banjo player, taught them the old-time clawhammer style, in which the player's fingers strike downward at the strings in a rhythmic style.

[Eddie01]

A legend.

RIP

[hoosiermama]

A friend of yours

[pgkdan]

I had the honor of seeing Mr. Stanley many times over the years. He was one of the great ones, a true legend.

R.I.P.

[katana]

The voice behind the song “Oh Death” (”Won’t you spare me over for another year”) in the Klan rally scene in “O’ Brother Where Art Thou”. Mentioned to someone the other day that I’m surprised no one’s turned that film into a Broadway show. The music alone would make it a huge hit.

[chajin]

His rendition of "O Death" in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? was the epitome of rural American artlessness, and I mean that as a musicological high compliment.

Grateful that we will always have his recordings.

[Fresh Wind]

White Dove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhc0N06bg2g

Rest in peace, Ralph, and thank you for everything.

[T-Bird45]

That movie would have been nothing without the musical work of Mr. Stanley and the countless others he inspired to come after him in that special genre. The music is the only reason I occasionally watch O Brother when I find it on the cable guide.

RIP Ralph Stanley.

[joesbucks]

Legendary performer. May he RIP.

[HokieMom]

I’ll Fly Away.

Love him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymF9tRrDX_0

[uncitizen]

Sad!

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Albion Wilde]

Ralph Stanley: O Death

[americas.best.days...]

So glad I finally saw him perform a few years ago. Met and got autobiography signed. Sweet man, beautiful voice.

Love his singing “ This Little Light of Mine”.

[SunkenCiv]

Take me away on your snow white wings, to my eternal home.

[SunkenCiv]

Apologies, s/b:

Take me away on your snow white wings, to my immortal home.

[Persevero]

Saw him at the Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park (last year?) he gave a Christian testimony and had someone in the band blow the Shofar. The mostly lib crowd had not idea how to respond but our little group loved it. I had never heard a Shofar blown before (Israel’s ram’s horn, a call to war I believe)

[minnesota_bound]

“Man of Constant Sorrow” sounds like a cheerful tune I would want to teach children....... not.

Nice music but the lyrics ..... not for me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBVnKYOvWcs

[little jeremiah]

I love the song and love the music. Love it.

[little jeremiah]

This kind of music gets me like almost no other.