Interview with Ralph Stanley June 12, 2008

Partial Transcript: June the what?

Segment Synopsis: Note: Audio fluctuations are present throughout the interview.

Ralph Stanley talks about his mother's experience as a banjo player playing at local square dances, and talks about how his mother influenced his music. He talks about how attending the Primitive Baptist Church influenced his musical style and sound.

Keywords: Bean-stringings; Brackets; Carter Stanley (Artist); Five string banjos; Mothers; Nashville (Tenn.); Neighbors; Primitive Baptist Church; Radio; Singing; Social events; Sound (Style); Square dances; Stanley, Carter (Artist)

Subjects: Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Performance.; Music--Social aspects.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical performance; Rural churches

Partial Transcript: So, um, you graduated from, um, Irvington High?

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about graduating high school and being immediately drafted by the Army. He talks about serving in Germany and tells a story about playing the banjo for a colonel and a captain and how this resulted in him receiving a promotion to be a mail clerk.

Keywords: Captains; Colonels; Coming home; High school; Mail clerks; Military service; Munich (Germany); Playing music; Private first class (PFC); Promotions; Soldiers; Stationed

Subjects: Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; United States. Army--Military life.; World War, 1939-1945--Germany; World War, 1939-1945--United States

Partial Transcript: Well tell me about coming home.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about returning home from the Army and playing with a band his brother Carter was in. He talks about playing a few shows before deciding he wanted to create his own band.

Keywords: Bristol (Tenn.); Bristol (Va.); Brothers; Carter Stanley (Artist); Coming home; Concerts; Family; Fathers; Gigs; Military discharge; Mothers; Playing music; Shows; Singing; Stanley, Carter (Artist); Supportive

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Families.; Music--Performance.; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Radio programs.; Radio stations.

Partial Transcript: And so he, uh--we talked to Pee Wee Lambert.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about putting together the first iteration of his band, The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys. He talks about their early radio shows, their popularity, and their touring and shows.

Keywords: Bristol (Tenn.); Bristol (Va.); Concerts; Crowds; Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert (Artist); Demand; Gigs; Lambert, Darrell "Pee Wee" (Artist); Mandolin players; Norton (Va.); Payment; Police; Popularity; Shows; Singing; Sponsors; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Touring; Trios; WCYB (Radio station); WNBA (Radio station); Wages

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Radio programs.; Radio stations.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Well let's go back to--(Stanley coughs)--uh, the late forties.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about the other Bluegrass musicians and groups that were popular when his band first began. He talks about the uniqueness of the mountain sound, and talks about how he developed the Stanley sound.

Keywords: "Old time"; Bill Monroe (Artist); Bluegrass (Ky.); Carlton Haney (Artist); Carter Family (Artist); Fincastle (Va.); Grand Ole Opry; Haney, Carlton (Artist); Monroe, Bill (Artist); Mountain sound; Names; Old timey; Stanley sound; WSM (Radio station)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music festivals.; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Radio programs.

Partial Transcript: Well tell me about you, uh, and Carter's voices blending.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about how he and his brother's singing voices naturally blended together. He talks about the unique playing styles of various Clinch Mountain Boys members.

Keywords: Bill Napier (Artist); Blending; Brothers; Carter Stanley (Artist); Crosspicking; Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert (Artist); Don Reno (Artist); George Shuffler (Artist); Harmonizing; Jesse McReynolds (Artist); Lambert, Darrell "Pee Wee" (Artist); Lead guitar; Mandolin players; Mandolins; McReynolds, Jesse (Artist); Napier, Bill (Artist); Playing styles; Reno, Don (Artist); Shuffler, George (Artist); Singing; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley, Carter (Artist); The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Voices

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Guitar music (Bluegrass); Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical performance

Partial Transcript: So, um, in that, say, early fifties, um, was there any pressure in the fifties to make your sound more modern?

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about why he didn't feel the need to change his style during the 1950s, and talks more about the uniqueness of the Stanley style.

Keywords: 1950s; Fifties; God; Imitation; Modern sound; Mountain sound; Stanley sound; Stanley style; Style; Talent; Unique

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical performance

Partial Transcript: So, uh, in the fifties rock 'n' roll comes on.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about the popularity of Bluegrass in the 1950s, and his experience traveling to shows and festivals.

Keywords: Cars; Carter Stanley (Artist); Concerts; Crowds; Florida; Gigs; Influence; Jamborees; Money; Popularity; Rock 'n' roll; Shows; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley, Carter (Artist); Television; The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Touring; Traveling

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music festivals.; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Well, uh, let's go back to the sixties.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about his brother's illness and describes being with him the night he passed away. He talks about the support he received from their fans afterwards.

Keywords: 1960s; Bristol (Tenn.); Bristol (Va.); Carter Stanley (Artist); Concerts; Death; Doctors; George Shuffler (Artist); Gigs; Hemorrhage; Hospitals; Illnesses; Recovery; Shows; Shuffler, George (Artist); Sick; Sixties; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley, Carter (Artist); Support; The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Touring

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Performance.; Musical groups.; Musical performance

Partial Transcript: Well how was it putting the band together?

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about how he continued The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys after his brother Carter's death. He did not have to hire many new members. He talks about recording with the band. He talks about how he believes Carter prepared him to take on the role of frontman.

Keywords: Albums; Band members; Brothers; Carter Stanley (Artist); Cline, Curly Ray (Artist); Concerts; Curly Ray Cline (Artist); Front work; Frontman; George Shuffler (Artist); Gigs; Goins, Melvin (Artist); Hiring; King Records; Lead singers; Management; Melvin Goins (Artist); Nathan, Syd; Shows; Shuffler, George (Artist); Songs; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley, Carter (Artist); Syd Nathan; The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Touring; Tours

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music audiences; Music business; Music fans.; Music--Performance.; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: And 'course the festivals were coming on.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks more about his experience on the festival circuit and selling early records at festivals.

Keywords: Concerts; Festival circuit; Gigs; Popularity; Rebel Records; Sales; Shows; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist)

Subjects: Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music business; Music festivals.; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Records.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Well, um, then, uh, let's talk about, uh, the--that band you had together, uh, when, uh, Roy Lee Centers and, uh, Ricky and Keith...

Segment Synopsis: Stanley describes some of the members of The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys over the years. He talks about their talent and abilities, their styles, and how he taught them the Stanley style.

Keywords: Band members; Centers, Roy Lee (Artist); Cline, Curly Ray (Artist); Cook, Jack (Artist); Crowds; Curly Ray Cline (Artist); Dedication; Difficulty; Feeling; Following; Friendship; Gift; Hiring; Jack Cook (Artist); Keith Whitley (Artist); Late; Lead singers; Learning; Listening; Old Regular Baptist; Pentecostal; Phrases; Phrasing; Ricky Skaggs (Artist); Roy Lee Centers (Artist); Showman; Singing; Skaggs, Ricky (Artist); Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley sound; Style; Talent; Tenors; The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Voice; Whitley, Keith (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical performance

Partial Transcript: And, um, uh, you've brought in a number of young people.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley says he prefers working with young musicians because they are willing to learn his style. He talks about his son and grandson's attempts to continue the Stanley sound.

Keywords: Albums; Band members; Charlie Cline (Artist); Cline, Charlie (Artist); Coaching; Grandsons; Hiring; Listening; Nathan Stanley (Artist); Practice (Music); Proud; Ralph Stanley II (Artist); Ralph Stanley, II (Artist); Sons; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley, Nathan (Artist); Stanley, Ralph, II (Artist); The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Training; Young musicians; Young people

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Practicing (Music)

Partial Transcript: Um, so looking back Ralph, you've had your, your sound, that's '66 to here it is 2008.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about how he keeps his focus while on the road.

Keywords: Careers; Carter Stanley (Artist); Focus; Friendship; Herb E. Smith; Memory; Mental states; On the road; Remembering; Road managers; Stanley, Carter (Artist); Traveling

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Um, let's see, let's go back though.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about the initial tension between the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe, but says Monroe eventually became his best friend in Bluegrass. He talks about recording with Monroe, Monroe singing at Carter Stanley's funeral, and singing at Monroe's funeral himself.

Keywords: Albums; Bill Monroe (Artist); Carter Stanley (Artist); Concerts; Friendships; Funerals; Gigs; Harmonies; Monroe, Bill (Artist); Phrases; Phrasing; Polished; Saturday Night & Sunday Morning (Album); Shows; Singing; Sound; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley, Carter (Artist); Styles; Swing Low (Song); Tension; The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music festivals.; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Um, what are some of the other, uh--n--well, let, let, let me just go forward in time.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about how he became involved with the Grand Ole Opry. He talks about winning two Grammys for "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" and how it has affected his life.

Keywords: Awards; Bill Monroe (Artist); Concerts; Durham, Hal; Financial success; Fisher, Pete; Gigs; Grammys; Grand Ole Opry; Hal Durham; Monroe, Bill (Artist); O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Album); O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Motion picture); Performance fees; Pete Fisher; Recognition; Shows; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Venues

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music business; Music festivals.; Music--Awards.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Sound recordings.

Partial Transcript: Just talk about the number of recordings, Ralph.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley describes some of his songs and albums, discussing their popularity, how they came to be, and their styles.

Keywords: 78 records; 78s; Albums; Arrangements; Carter Stanley (Artist); Columbia Records; Cry From the Cross (Song); Dwight Yoakam (Artist); Fathers; Fields Have Turned Brown (Song); Gospel music; Little Glass of Wine (Song); Little Maggie (Song); Lonesome River (Song); Lost; Man of Constant Sorrow (Song); Pretty Polly (Song); Rank Stranger (Song); Record labels; Richertone; Songwriters; Songwriting; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley, Carter (Artist); Style; The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn (Song); The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Voice; White Dove (Song); Willow Branch Quartet (Artist); Yoakam, Dwight (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Um, let's see.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley discusses his views on the future of Bluegrass, and talks about whether the Stanley sound will continue after he is gone.

Keywords: Changes; City; Country boy; Future; Home; Jimmy Martin; Listening; New York City (N.Y.); Old timey sound; Preservation; Ralph Stanley II (Artist); Ralph Stanley, II (Artist); Retirement; Singing; Sons; Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley sound; Stanley style; Stanley, Nathan (Artist); Stanley, Ralph, II (Artist); The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Travel; Work

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical performance; Records.; Sound recordings.

Partial Transcript: Well I want to thank you, Ralph.

Segment Synopsis: Stanley talks about learning to play the banjo from his mother and how he developed his own style. He talks about the types of banjos he has played. He says he cannot read music and just plays by ear. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Banjo players; Banjos; Clawhammer banjos; Earl Scruggs (Artist); Frank Neat; Gibson; Hard Times (Song); Influences; Learning; Mothers; Musical instruments; Neat, Frank; Playing by ear; Reading music; Scruggs, Earl (Artist); Sound; Stanleytone banjos; Styles; Three-finger players; Tuning

Subjects: Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Instruction and study.; Musical ability.