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.
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.