Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

01 Jul 1954 - Keith Whitley. Born 'Jackie Keith Whitley' in Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky.

10 Jul 1970 - Mitchell Van Dyke. Born in Grundy, Virgina.

14 Jul 1950 - Troy 'Renfro' Profitt. Born 'Troy Lynn Profitt' in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.

18 Jul 1954 - Ricky Skaggs. Born 'Ricky Lee Skaggs' in Louisa, Kentucky.


In Memoriam:

06 Jul 1974 - Bobby Sumner. Perry, Kentucky.

08 Jul 2010 - Doug Morris.

09 Jul 2003 - Johnnie Bonds. Live Oak, Florida.

13 Jul 2010 - Cullen Galyean. Mount Airy, Surry County, NC

25 Jul 2019 - Troy 'Renfro' Profitt. Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky.

29 Jul 2016 - Melvin Goins. Sturgeon Falls, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

Stanley Series Vol. 3 No. 4
(Copper Creek CCCD-5512)


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ralphstanleymuseum.com

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Hills Of Home Festival
drralphstanleyfestival.com

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Rebel Records
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Clinch Mountain Echo

Pic. of the Day

Photo: In the studio circa 1964.


Ralph II - Rollin On Rubber Wheels

Latest Ralph II album...


Ralph Stanley II & the Clinch Mountain Boys - Rollin' On 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...

Stanley Brothers
16 - 17 Jul 1964 - Fourteenth recording session for King (62 years ago)

At this two-day session the Stanley's cut eight tracks for their LP Remarkable Stanley Brothers Play And Sing Bluegrass Songs For You (King KLP-924) Nov 1964. Two singles were taken from the recordings, with I'm Bound To Ride additionally being coupled for release with the previously recorded Don't Step Over An Old Love (King 5933) Sep 1964.

  • Bully Of The Town / How Bad Do I Feel (King 5920) Sep 1964
  • Rollin' On Rubber Wheels / How You've Tortured My Mind (King 6005) Sep 1965
Ralph Stanley II
17 - 19 Jul 2008 - Olive Hill, KY (18 years ago)

Ralph II was listed as appearing (at some point) at the 'Carter County Shrine Club Bluegrass Festival', at Shriner's Park, Olive Hill, Kentucky.

The festival itself ran from 17-19 July and other acts included: IIIrd Tyme Out, Don Rigsby, David Parmley, Lou Reid, Randy Waller, Junior Sisk, Bluegrass Strangers, Lost & Found, New River Line, Scott Tackett, Hart Bros., Schultz Creek, Rowan County Ramblers, Idle Tymes, Buck & Co., and All Kids Bluegrass Band.

16 - 18 Jul 2009 - Olive Hill, KY (17 years ago)

Ralph II was listed as appearing (at some point) at the 'Shriner's Bluegrass Festival', Shrine Park, Olive Hill, Kentucky.

The festival itself ran from 16-18 July and other acts included: Blue Highway, Doyle Lawson, JD Crowe, IIIrd Tyme Out, Junior Sisk, David Parmley, Lou Reid, Laurel Branch , Kerbela, Breaking New Ground, Hank Smith, Summertown Road, Idle Tymes, Kentucky Sunrise, Hart Bros., New River Line, and Cumberland Gap.

15 - 17 Jul 2010 - Olive Hill, KY (16 years ago)

Ralph II was listed as appearing (at some point) at the 'Carter Co. Shrine Club Bluegrass Festival', Olive Hill, Kentucky.

The festival itself ran from 15-17 July and other acts included: Blue Highway, Doyle Lawson, IIIrd Tyme Out, Laurel Branch, Lou Reid, Breaking New Ground, JD Crowe, Hazel Holler, Don Rigsby, Summertown Road, Junior Sisk, Dan Paisley, Kentucky Sunrise, New River Line, Cumberland Gap, and Hart Bros.

Ralph Stanley
16 - 18 Jul 1971 - Escoheag, RI (55 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on all three days at the '1st Annual New England Bluegrass Festival', Escoheag, Rhode Island. Other advertised acts included: Bill Monroe, Lilly Brothers, JD Crowe, Earl Taylor - Jim McCall & Stoney Mountain Boys, Red Allen, Frank Wakefield, Tex Logan, Country Gentlemen, and Joe Val.

16 - 18 Jul 1976 - Modoc, IN (50 years ago)

Ralph appears on five tracks on a 2×LP from this festival including a duet with Larry Sparks and a version of Amazing Grace with the Marshall Family: Live Tall Trees Bluegrass Festival 1976 (King Bluegrass Records KB-558) 1976.

The festival was advertised as Herman Smith presents '1st Annual Tall Trees Bluegrass Festival' at the Tall Trees Campground, in Modoc, Indiana. Bill Monroe also played at the festival, but wasn't featured on the live LP. Advertised acts included; Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Larry Sparks, Mac Wiseman, Marshall Family, Gospel Ramblers, Bluegrass Blackjacks, Moore Bros., Bannister Twins, Joe Jenkins & the Bluegrass Pickers, Seldom Herd, and the Hillsiders.

16 - 17 Jul 1977 - Modoc, IN (49 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday / Sunday (16-17 Jul) at Herman Smith's '2nd Annual Tall Trees Bluegrass Festival' at Tall Trees Campground, 3 miles East of Modoc, Indiana. I'm not sure if Ralph appeared however on the Sunday, as there is mention of another booking on this date…

The festival itself ran from 15-17th July and other acts included: JD Crowe, Country Gentlemen, Boys From Indiana, Goins Bros., Mac Wiseman, Larry Sparks, Mike O'Roarke, Joe Jenkins, Artie Cornett, Hillsiders, White Water Valley Express, Marshall Family, Rual Yarbrough, Kentucky Gentlemen, Moore Bros., Bryant Wilson and many others.

17 Jul 1977 - Lake Geneva, WI (49 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at "2nd Annual Piper Road Spring Band Bluegrass Jamboree", at the Playboy Resort and Country Club, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I'm not sure if this went ahead however as there was another festival booking in Indiana…

The one-day Sunday event ran from 10am to 7pm and other acts mentioned include: Piper Road Spring Band, Bill Monroe, JD Crowe, Country Gentlemen, Grass Food & Lodging, and the Greater Chicago Bluegrass Band.

15 - 18 Jul 1982 - Falmouth, KY (44 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing (at some point) at the Lawson's Bluegrass Festival in Falmouth, Kentucky.

Other acts included: Lonzo & Oscar, James Monroe, Dave Evans, Harrold Morrison & Smokin' Bluegrass,Suliivan Family, McLain Family, The Lawsons, and others.

16 - 17 Jul 1982 - Mukwonago, WI (44 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing (at some point between 16-17 July) at the KOA Campground, Mukwonago, Wisconsin.

The festival itself ran from 16-18 July and other acts included: Heights Of Grass, Brew County Rounders, Wildwood Pickers, Harold Morrision, Real World String Band, Special Consensus, Stoney Lonesome, Jim & Jesse, Foster Family, and Young Blades Of Grass.

16 - 17 Jul 1983 - Whitmore Lake, MI (43 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday / Sunday (16-17 Jul) at the '5th Annual South Eastern Michigan Bluegrass festival' at Whitmore Lake, Michigan.

The festival itself ran from 15-17 July and other acts included: Blue Grass Generation, Home Grown Grass, Southern Show Boys, Goins Bros., Oak Harbor Boys, North Country Grass, Stoney Creek, Blue Velvet, and Lillie Mae & the Gospel-Aires.

17 Jul 1987 - Rocky Mount, VA (39 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday (17 Jul) at the '7th Annual Lost & Found Homecoming' festival in Tripple Creek Park, Rocky Mount, Virginia.

The festival itself ran from 17-18 July and other acts included: Dave Evans, Country Gentlemen, Randall Hylton, Big Sandy, Bluegrass Thoroughbreds, Lost & Found, Weekends Only, and Sugar Hill Ramblers.

17 Jul 1992 - Whitmore Lake, MI (34 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday (17 Jul) ar the '14th Annual Bluegrass Festival' in Whitmore Lake, Michigan.

The festival itself ran from 17-18 July and other acts included: Country Gentlemen, Bluegrass Cardinals, Goins Bros., Blue Velvet, Gillis Brothers, Roy Comb & Coachmen, Tri-County Grass, R & L Express, Marion Blue, and Gary Adams & Bluegrass Gentlemen.

17 Jul 1993 - Whitmore Lake, MI (33 years ago)

Ralph played on Saturday (17 Jul) at the '15th Annual Bluegrass Festival' at Whitmore Lake, Michigan.

The festival itself ran from 16-17 July and other acts included: Lynn Morris Band, Bluegrass Cardinals, Northwest Territory, Larry Stephenson, Roy Cobb & Coachmen, Marion Blue, Blue Velvet, Ernest & Elwood, Nitro Hill, Goins Bros., Gary Adams & Bluegrass Gentlemen, R & L Express, and Timmy Cline Band.

17 Jul 1994 - Hillsdale, NY (32 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Sunday (17 Jul) at the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival at Rothvoss Farm near Hillsdale, New York. At the time Ralph was recuperating from a broken femur (leg) bone and performed from a wheelchair, with Steve Sparkman handling banjo duties. An recording of one set can be found on Sugarmegs, and there are also a two youtube clips from the same show of Nobody's Business and Mountain Folk.

The festival itself ran from 14-17 July and other acts included: Doc Watson, Alison Kraus, Seldom Scene, Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenburg & Edgar Meyer, Del McCoury, Northern Lights, Fiddlestyx, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Laurie Lewis & Grant Street, Tim & Mollie O'Brien, Cheasapeake, Lonesome River Band, Cox Family, Tony Trishcka, Josh Crowe & David McLaughlin, Sugarbeat, IIIrd Tyme Out, Foxfire, Peter Wernick, Bill Keith, John Kirk & Trish Miller, Bluegrass Supply Company, and Dry Branch Fire Squad.

17 Jul 1997 - Mineral, VA (29 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Thursday (17 Jul) at the '14th Annual Mineral Bluegrass Festival' at Walton Park, Mineral, Virginia. They were scheduled to appear at 4:45 and 10:15pm.

The festival itself ran from 17-19 July and other acts included: Country Gentlemen, Lewis Family, Mac Wiseman, Osborne Bros., James Monroe, Village Singers, Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jesse, Doyle Lawson, Larry Stephenson, IIIrd Tyme Out, Bill Harrell, Blueridge, R & R Express, Alvin Breeden & the Virginia Cutups, Blue Highway, and Vince Combs.

17 Jul 1998 - Marshall, MI (28 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday (17 Jul) at the '2nd Annual Marshall Bluegrass Festival', about 10 miles South of Marshall, Michigan.

The festival itself ran from 16-18 July and other acts included: Reno Bros., Warrior River Boys, Jimmy Martin, Larry Stephenson, Metro Grass, Bob Paisley, Gary Brewer, Blue Velvet, Goins Bros., Echo Valley, Floyd Norvell & Bluegrass Fever, Bluegrass Mountaineers, Lillimae & Dixie Gospelaires, and Goldwing Express.

17 Jul 1999 - Marshall, MI (27 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday (17 Jul) at the '3rd Annual Marshall Bluegrass Festival', at Quality Camping Inc. approx 10 miles South of Marshall, Michigan.

The festival itself ran from 15-17 July and other acts included: Reno Bros., Doyle Lawson, Larry Sparks, Country Gentlemen, Bill Harrell, Gary Brewer, Goldwing Express, North Carolina Rebels, Northwest Territory, Roy Cobb & the Coachmen, Wendy Smith & Blue Velvet, Chapman Family, Tim Graves & Cherokee, Melvin Goins, and Dale Ann Bradley.

17 Jul 2002 - Atlanta, GA (24 years ago)

Ralph appeared as part of the 'Down From The Mountain' tour at Chastain Park, Atlanta, Georgia. Other acts included: Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminiski, Nashville Bluegrass Band, and Norman Blake.

17 Jul 2003 - Mineral, VA (23 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Thursday (17 Jul) at the '20th Annual Mineral Bluegrass Festival', Walton Park, Mineral, Virginia. The band were scheduled to appear at 8:30pm.

The festival itself ran from 17-19 July and other acts included: Connie Smith, Mac Wiseman, Jimmy Martin, Mike Snider, Osborne Bros., Country Gentlemen, Lewis Family, Jesse McReynolds, New Girls Nite Out, Goldwing Express, Village Singers, Doyle Lawson, Alvin Breeden & Virginia Cut-Ups, Larry Stephenson, Nothin' Fancy, and Marshall Family.

17 Jul 2004 - Big Sky, MT (22 years ago)

Ralph had a show at Meadow Village Pavillion, Big Sky, Montana. Also appearing was Blue Highway. Tickets cost $25 in advance, or $30 on the door.

17 Jul 2009 - Mineral, VA (17 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday (17 Jul) at the '26th Annual Mineral Bluegrass Festival' at Walton Park, Mineral, Virginia.

The festival itself ran from 16-18 July and other acts included: Rhonda Vincent, Dailey & Vincent, Doyle Lawson, Jesse McReynolds, Bill Yates & Country Gentlemen Tribute Band, Bobby Osborne, Marty Raybon, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme out, Chuck Wagon Gang, Goldwing Express, Gary Waldrep Band, Paul Williams & Victory Trio, Steep Canyon Rangers, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, Lonesome Will Mullins, Little Mountain Boys, and the Virginia Ramblers.



Our top YouTube video picks!


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

(Note that any youtube video which has embedding disabled unfortunately can't be shown!)

CMB Birthdays this month:

01 Jul 1954 - Keith Whitley. Born 'Jackie Keith Whitley' in Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky.

10 Jul 1970 - Mitchell Van Dyke. Born in Grundy, Virgina.

14 Jul 1950 - Troy 'Renfro' Profitt. Born 'Troy Lynn Profitt' in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.

18 Jul 1954 - Ricky Skaggs. Born 'Ricky Lee Skaggs' in Louisa, Kentucky.


In Memoriam:

06 Jul 1974 - Bobby Sumner. Perry, Kentucky.

08 Jul 2010 - Doug Morris.

09 Jul 2003 - Johnnie Bonds. Live Oak, Florida.

13 Jul 2010 - Cullen Galyean. Mount Airy, Surry County, NC

25 Jul 2019 - Troy 'Renfro' Profitt. Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky.

29 Jul 2016 - Melvin Goins. Sturgeon Falls, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

John Deere Tractor
(Rebel REB-1588)


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