Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

01 Apr 1939 - Cullen Galyean. Born Willie Cullen Galyean in Surry County, NC.

05 Apr 1930 - Bill Lowe. Born 'William Harold Lowe' Rural Retreat, Wythe, Virginia.

11 Apr 1925 - George Shuffler. Born 'George Saunders Shuffler' in Burke, North Carolina.


In Memoriam:

07 Apr 2014 - George Shuffler. Valdese, Burke, North Carolina.

10 Apr 2018 - Ernie Thacker. Pikeville, Pike, Kentucky.


For the Official Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys site, visit:

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

Another Night / Highway Of Regret
(Starday 466)


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ralphstanleymuseum.com

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Hills Of Home Festival
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Rebel Records
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Clinch Mountain Echo

Pic. of the Day

Photo: 28 Apr 1990 - Hempstead Tx. L-R: Ralph Stanley II, Ralph Stanley, Ernie Thacker, Jack Cooke. Photo by Rick Gardner.


Rollin' On Rubber Wheels

New Ralph II album!


Ralph Stanley II & the Clinch Mountain Boys - Rollin' On The Rubber Wheels

Ralph II has a fine new album available on Stanley Family Records.

Featuring a choice selection of songs, the album successfully combines the rich legacy of the "Stanley" sound with Ralph II's own contemporary country-influences.

Click here for a full review.

If you're in the US CD's can be ordered from Ralph II's webstore / ralph2.com. (Outside of the US if you're address shows as invalid, use the contact email on ralph2.com to sort mailing costs/payment)

Digital copies can be found on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon (US), Amazon (UK). There's also a playlist on youtube.


...The Clinch Mountain Time Machine...


On this day...

Ralph Stanley II
19 Mar - 19 May 2005 - Warrenton, VA (21 years ago)

Ralph II had a show (with the CMBs) at Fauquier High School, Warrenton, Virginia. Also on the bill was Cliff Waldron. The event was a fund-raiser for the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Company. Tickets cost $15 in advance, or $20 on the door.

Ralph Stanley
28 Apr 1970 - Brewer, ME (56 years ago)

Ralph played at the Brewer Auditorium, Brewer, Maine. The show was sponsored by the Orrington Jaycees and tickets cost $2.

The opening act for the show was The Bowden Family, including a young Dick Bowden on banjo. Dick recalls that the line-up included Ralph, Curly Ray Cline, Roy Lee Centers, and George Shuffler. The band were exhausted after a long snowy drive, but Curly Ray and George Shuffler managed to keep the crowd of about 100 excited. George played bass & some guitar.

On the second set, Fred Pike played a couple of twin-banjo instrumentals with Ralph.

28 Apr 1971 - Tokyo, Japan (55 years ago)

The first date of Ralph's 1971 tour of Japan took place at the Kanda Kyoritsu Kodo Auditorium, Tokyo. This gig was organised by Green Jamboree.

26 - 28 Apr 1974 - San Rafael, CA (52 years ago)

Ralph appeared on all three days at the '1st Annual Golden State Country-Bluegrass Festival' at the Marin Veterans Memorial Grounds in San Rafael, CA. Other acts on the bill included: Vassar Clements, Doc & Merle Watson, Jim & Jesse, Mac Wiseman, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Greenbriar Boys, Phantoms Of The Opry, Skunk Cabbage, High Country and Old & In The Way.

A 17m live recording exists from a set by Ralph from the 28th April, with Cheryl White filling in on bass.

28 Apr 1978 - Roanoke, VA (48 years ago)

Ralph appeared as part of the "Blue Grass At It's Best" show at the Roanoke Civic Center Auditorium, Roanoke, Virginia. The show was "Brought to you by Ruffus Phillips for Democratic Senate Committee".

Other acts included: Don Reno, Flat Land Cloggers, and John Nickels & the Country Blue Grass Boys

27 - 29 Apr 1979 - Arley, AL (47 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at 'Bushy Creek Bluegrass' at Smith Lake, Arley, Alabama.

Other acts included: JD Crowe, John Starling, Charlie Cline & the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, Front Porch String Band, Red - Murphy Henry, Three On A String, Sand Mountain Cloggers, Herb Trotman & the Spaulding Bros., Glenn Tolbert, Dicie Bluegrass Boys, and Brushy Creek Bluegrass.

21 Feb - 21 May 1985 - Nashville, TN (41 years ago)

Ralph played a show at the Station Inn, Nashville, Tennessee.

28 - 29 Apr 1990 - Waller, TX (36 years ago)

Ralph was listed as headlining the "Spring Bluebonnet Bluegrass Festival", in Jellystone Park and Campground, near Waller, Texas. It's likely that the band performed on the Saturday / Sunday (28-29 Apr) as they had another booking on the Friday (27 Apr).

The festival itself ran from 27-29 April and other acts included: Tennesee Valley Authority, Warrior River Boys, The Barnburners, Rank Strangers, Lonestar, Kimberley M'Carver, Flatland, Gabby & the Lone Star Cowboys, Fat Chance!, Hickory Hill, The Houston-Austin Connection, Michael Rex & Oasis, Fightin' Creek, Cherokee River Band, Danny Barnes Trio, Newground, and Special Consensus.

28 Apr 2001 - Houston, TX (25 years ago)

Ralph was listed as playing at the Houston International Festival, Houston, Texas. The band were scheduled to appear at 6:30pm on the "Budweiser American Music Stage".

The festival itself ran over several days, with a 20-block area of downton Houston devoted to music, dance & art.

28 - 29 Apr 2012 - Indio, CA (14 years ago)

Ralph appeared (at some point) at the "Stagecoach Country Music Festival", Indio, California.

The festival itself ran from 28-29 April and other acts included: Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Blake Shelton, Sunny Sweeney, Brett Eldredge, Mavericks, The Unforgiven, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Old Man Markley, Sara Watkins, Luke Bryan, Jayhawks, JD Souther, and others.

28 Apr 2013 - Indio, CA (13 years ago)

Ralph was listed as appearing on Sunday (28 Apr) at the 'Stagecoach Festival', Empire Polo Fields, Indio, California.



Our top YouTube video picks!


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CMB Birthdays this month:

01 Apr 1939 - Cullen Galyean. Born Willie Cullen Galyean in Surry County, NC.

05 Apr 1930 - Bill Lowe. Born 'William Harold Lowe' Rural Retreat, Wythe, Virginia.

11 Apr 1925 - George Shuffler. Born 'George Saunders Shuffler' in Burke, North Carolina.


In Memoriam:

07 Apr 2014 - George Shuffler. Valdese, Burke, North Carolina.

10 Apr 2018 - Ernie Thacker. Pikeville, Pike, Kentucky.


For the Official Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys site, visit:

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

Sing Traditional Bluegrass And Gospel
(Plantation Records PLP-58)


CME Recommends...

A Life Of Constant Sorrow
alifeofsorrow.com

CME Recommends...

Ralph Stanley Museum
ralphstanleymuseum.com

CME Recommends...

Hills Of Home Festival
drralphstanleyfestival.com

CME Recommends...

Rebel Records
rebelrecords.com

CME Recommends...

Bluegrass Unlimited
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