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:-

Gather At The River: A Bluegrass Celebration
(BMG Special Products 72333-80068-9)


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A Life Of Constant Sorrow
alifeofsorrow.com

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Ralph Stanley Museum
ralphstanleymuseum.com

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Hills Of Home Festival
drralphstanleyfestival.com

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Rebel Records
rebelrecords.com

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Bluegrass Unlimited
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Clinch Mountain Echo

Pic. of the Day

Photo: Valley View Park, Hellam, Pa. 12th May 1957 L-R: Curley Lambert; Ralph Stanley, Carter Stanley. Photo by Mike Seeger


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
12 - 13 May 1972 - Columbus, OH (54 years ago)

Ralph had a two-night booking at W.W. Holbrook's Country Palace, Columbus, Ohio.

12 - 13 May 1973 - Freemont, IN (53 years ago)

Ralph was billed at the '1st Annual Spring Bluegrass festival' at Thousand Acre Camping Campgrounds, Freemont, Indiana. Also advertised were: Bluegrass Blackjacks, Jim & Jesse, Jim Eanes, Shenandoah Cut-Ups, Goins Brothers, and Del McCoury.

I'm not sure whether Ralph would have played this festival or not, as his mother died at 6.10pm on the 12 May after along illness. On some CMB dates around this time, Don Stover is known to have filled in on banjo for Ralph.

13 May 1976 - Harrogate, TN (50 years ago)

Ralph had a show in the ampitheatre at the Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee. Tickets cost $2.

13 - 15 May 1977 - Laurel, IN (49 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at Haspin Acres Bluegrass Festival, Laurel, Indiana. It was the first of three festivals to be held at the venue in 1977.

Other acts included: Boys From Indiana, Goins Bros., Lewis Family, Kentucky Gentlemen, Marshall Family, Boone Creek, Russell Bros, and Man In Green.

12 - 14 May 1978 - Laurel, IN (48 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at '3rd Annual Bluegrass - 78' festival at Haspin Acres, Laurel, Indiana.

Other acts included: The Hillsiders, Goins Bros., Russell Bros., Kentucky Gentlemen, and Boys From Indiana.

13 May 1979 - Stuart, VA (47 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Sunday (13 May) at the 'Dominion Bluegrass Boys Festival' in Wayside Park, Stuart, Virginia.

The festival itself ran from 11-13 May and other acts included: Wilma Lee Cooper, Don Reno, Dominion Bluegrass Boys, Country Gentlemen, Mac Wiseman, Red White & Dixie Bluegrass, Bluegrass Express, Spirits Of Bluegrass, Lewis Family, Carl Story, and Boyd Bros.

13 - 14 May 1983 - Vanceburg, KY (43 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday / Saturday (13-14 May) at the '2nd Annual Spring River Bend Bluegrass Festival', 9 miles West of Vanceburg, Kentucky.

The festival itself ran from 13-15 May and other acts included: Johnson Mountain Boys, Lost & Found, Next Of Kin, Bluegrass Strangers, Bluegrass Cardinals, Goins Bros., Bass Mountain Boys, Plum Mountain Grass, and Dave Evans.

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

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

13 - 14 May 1989 - Wilcox, FL (37 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at 'Otter Springs 18th Blue Grass Festival' at the Otter Springs Resort, near Wilcox, Florida. The festival ran from 12-14 May, but as the band had another booking on Friday (12 May), they presumably played here sometime over Saturday / Sunday (13-14 May)

Other acts included: Del McCoury, Paul Adkins & Borderline Bluegrass, Appalachian Express, South Ocean String Band, Barter Family, Sawgrass, Warrior River Boys, Fiddlin' Tommy Cordell & Big Timber, Bluegrass Trio, Alison Krauss, Beachville Bluegrass, Bluegrass Parlor Band, and the Lynn Morris Band.

13 May 1995 - Midland, MI (31 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday (13 May) at a 'Robert White Bluegrass Concert' in the Great Hall, Valley Plaza, Midland, Michigan.

The festival ran from 12-13 May and other acts included: Vince Combs & Shade Tree, Robert White & Candy Mountain Express, Bluegrass Mountaineers, Osborne Bros., Gary Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers, Larkin Family, Stevens Family, Little Fiddlers, and the Fritts Family.

13 May 1999 - Elba, AL (27 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Thursday (13 May) at the '3rd Semi-Annual Living Legends Bluegrass Reunion' at Heart of Dixie Music Park, Elba, Alabama.

The festival itself ran from 13-15 May and other acts included: Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse, Osborne Bros., IIIrd Tyme Out, Rhonda Vincent, Village Singers, Isaacs, Doyle Lawson, Goldwing Express, Larkin Family, Larry Stephenson, JD Crowe, Lewis Family, and White Sands.

13 May 2000 - Nashville, TN (26 years ago)

Ralph appeared at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee.

13 May 2005 - Gettysburg, PA (21 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday (13 May) at the 'Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival', Granite Hill Campground, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The band were scheduled to play one 90min show at 8pm.

The festival itself ran from 12-15 May and other acts included: Del McCoury, Riders In The Sky, Country Current, Good Deale Bluegrass with Mike Auldridge, Alecia Nugent, Doyle Lawson, IIIrd Tyme Out, Seldom Scene, David Peterson & 1946, Lonesome River Band, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Lewis Family, Cherryholmes, Lost & Found, Honi Deaton & Dream, Ramblin' Heart, Gary Ferguson - Emory Lester & Sally Love, and Blue Ridge.



Our top YouTube video picks!


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Got a favourite Stanley related youtube video? Send us your suggestions!

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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:-

On Stage
(Seven Seas SR(M) 287-288)


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