Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

04 May 1922 - Harold 'Red' Stanley. Born 'Harold Oplis Stanley' in Fentress, Tennessee.

18 May 1938 - Henry Dockery. Walnut Marsh, North Carolina.

28 May 1956 - Ralph 'Hank' Smith. Born 'Ralph Dewayne Smith' in Elliott County, Kentucky.


In Memoriam:

02 May 1974 - Roy Lee Centers. Breathitt County, Kentucky.

03 May 2000 - Bill Napier. Johnson City, Tennessee.

09 May 1989 - Keith Whitley. Goodlettsville, Davidson County, Tennessee.

23 May 2022 - James Price. Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

Something Old, Something New
(Rebel SLP 1503)


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
Bluegrass Unlimited
Clinch Mountain Echo

Pic. of the Day

Photo: circa 1972. Keith Whitley (and Roy Lee Centers - hidden) at the record table.


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.

10 - 13 May 2006 - Rocky Mount, VA (20 years ago)

Ralph II led the CMBs (at some point) at the 'Festival In The Pines', Tripple Creek Music Campground, Rocky Mount, Virginia.

The festival itself ran from 10-13 May 2006 and other acts included: Gibson Bros., Rhonda Vincent, Larry Stephenson, Wright Kids, Bluegrass Bros., Mark Templeton & New Vision, Lewis Family, Cherryholmes, Blackwater, Little Mountain Boys, and Poplar Hollow.

Ralph Stanley
11 May 1973 - Louisville, KY (53 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Storefront Congregation, Louisville Kentucky. Apparently this venue started out as a blues bar near Mid-City Mall called The Shack. After it was bought by Ken & Sheila Pyle they renamed it Roundtable Theatre, an then after renovation as Storefront Congregation. According to Leoweekly "It gained a reputation as a top music venue, hosting acts like Ralph Stanley, but they had trouble getting a liquor license, which compromised its success."

11 - 12 May 1974 - Decatur, MI (52 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday/Sunday (11-12 May) at the 'Decatur, Mississippi Bluegrass Festival' which was presented by Bill Monroe and also included:- Bill Monroe, James Monroe, Clyde Moody, Bobby Smith & the Boys From Shiloh, Hubert Davis & the Season Travelers, Sullivan Family, and Bluegrass Alliance.

The festival itself ran from 10-12 May, with bands performing at the American Legion Hut in Decatur, Mississippi.

11 - 12 May 1979 - Murphy, NC (47 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday / Saturday (11-12 May) at the '3rd Annual Southwestern North Carolina Mountain Spring Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival' in Sunny Point Music Park, Murphy, North Carolina.

The festivl itself ran from 10-12th May and other acts included: Hardy Brendle & the Virginia Partners, Sugarloaf Ramblers, Earl Marlor & the Bluegrass Special, Bays Mountain Grass, Sugar Valley Flyers, Coker Creek Grass, Sunny Point Bluegrass Boys, Clyde & Marie Denny, North Georgia Grass, Lorene Solesbee & Cross Country Grass, and others.

11 May 1984 - Cincinnati, OH (42 years ago)

Ralph was listed as appearing on Friday (11 May) at the "14th Annual Appalachian Festival", Cincinnati Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. The band were schedule to appear at 7:20pm & 9:30pm.

The festival included exhibitions, demonstrations of appalachian arts & crafts as well as musical perfomances and workshops.It ran from 10-13 May and artists also included: the David Folk & Family Band, Kenny Price, Homer Ledford, Elmer Bird, Dancin' Fools, Charlene Gordon & the Gold Watch Ban, Company Comin', Cincinnati Dulcimer Society, and Sparky Rucker.

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

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

11 May 1985 - Portland, OR (41 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Northwest Service Center, Portland, Oregon. A review mentioned that it had been "…booked late and not widely publicized, but a couple of hundred bluegrass devotees turned out for the event." Tickets cost $6 (senior citizens $5).

11 May 1991 - Upper Sandusky, OH (35 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Wyandot County Fairgrounds, Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Also on the bill were: Bluegrass Mountaineers, and Robert White.

11 May 1995 - Culpeper, VA (31 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Thursday (11 May) at the '3rd Annual Mother's Day Shower Of The Stars Bluegrass Festival' at American Legion Park, 1 mile North of Culpeper, Virginia.

The festival itself ran from 11-13 May and other acts included: Jim Orange & the Orange Blossoms, James Bailey & Company, Redwing, Jimmy Martin, New Coon Creek Girls, Gillis Bros., James King, Larry Stephenson Band, Heritage, Country Gentlemen, IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, Boys From Indiana, Alvin Breeden & the Virginia Cut-ups, New Dominion Bluegrass, Southfork, Hobbs & Partners, and Chief Powhatan.

11 May 1996 - Virginia Beach, VA (30 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday (11 May) at the '16th Annual Bluegrass Kickoff', Holiday Trav-L-Park, Virginia, Virginia.

The festival itself ran from 9-11 May and other acts included: Jimmy Martin, Osborne Bros., Seldom Scene, Country Gentlemen, Lewis Family, Doyle Lawson, Jim & Jesse, Rarely Herd, Continental Divide, Stevens Family, Clark Family, Eddie Adcock, Wildwood Girls, New Dominion, and New Dixie Grass. Also featured was a Country Gentlemen 1962 era reunion

11 May 2000 - Rocky Mount, VA (26 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Thursday (11 May) at the '20th Festival In The Pines' at Tripple Creek Music Campground, Rocky Mount, Virginia.

The festival ran from 10-13 May and other acts included: David Parmley & Continental Divide, New Tradition, Valerie Smith, New Vintage, Lonesome River Band, Lost & Found, Lewis Family, Rarely Herd, Larry Stephenspn Band, James King, Savannah, Lou Reid & Carolina, and Shallow Creek.

11 May 2001 - Booneville, KY (25 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday (11 May) at the '2nd Annual River Park Bluegrass Festival' at the River Park Saddle Club, Booneville, Kentucky.

The festival itself ran from 10-12 May and other acts included: John Meins & Southern Harvest, Sullivan Family, Don Stanley & Boys From Middle Creek, IIIrd Tyme Out, Dale Lykins & Freightliners, Northwest Territory, Eastbound, Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain, James King, Crossroads, Gerald Evans & Paradise, Gary Brewer, Rob Morgan & Co., and Osborne Bros.

08 - 11 May 2002 - Rocky Mount, VA (24 years ago)

Ralph was listed as appearing (at some point between 8-9 or 11 May) at the 'Festival In The Pines', Tripple Creek Campground, Roicky Mount, Virginia.

The festival itself ran from 8-11 May and other acts included: Lewis Family, Continental Divide, Nothin' Fancy, Country Gentlemen, Larry Stephenson, IIIrd Tyme Out, James King, Mark Newton, Heather Berry, Grass Fire, John Starling, Tom Gray, Ben Elridge, Green Island Pickers, Poplar Hollow, Lost & Found, and Patrick Henry Travellers.

11 May 2009 - Norfolk, VA (17 years ago)

Ralph was booked to appear at the 13th Virginia Arts Festival, Norfolk, Virginia. The show was held at the TCC Roper Performing Arts Center and also featured Elizabeth LaPrell.



Our top YouTube video picks!


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CMB Birthdays this month:

04 May 1922 - Harold 'Red' Stanley. Born 'Harold Oplis Stanley' in Fentress, Tennessee.

18 May 1938 - Henry Dockery. Walnut Marsh, North Carolina.

28 May 1956 - Ralph 'Hank' Smith. Born 'Ralph Dewayne Smith' in Elliott County, Kentucky.


In Memoriam:

02 May 1974 - Roy Lee Centers. Breathitt County, Kentucky.

03 May 2000 - Bill Napier. Johnson City, Tennessee.

09 May 1989 - Keith Whitley. Goodlettsville, Davidson County, Tennessee.

23 May 2022 - James Price. Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

Barter Theatre Presents: Man Of Constant Sorrow
(Barter Theatre 1440)


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
Bluegrass Unlimited