Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

04 Mar 1917 - Chick Stripling. Born 'James Wilson Stripling' in Tifton, Georgia.

04 Mar 1961 - Kenneth Davis.

06 Mar 1924 - Bobby Sumner. Born 'Robert Sumner' in Vicco, Kentucky.

17 Mar 1915 - Johnnie Bonds. Born 'Johnnie Zion Bonds' in Live Oak, Florida.

28 Mar 1931 - Benny Williams. Born 'Benjamin Horace Williams'.

29 Mar 1975 - John Rigsby.

30 Mar 1906 - Leslie Keith. Born 'Leslie Clayborne Keith' in Virginia.


In Memoriam:

23 Mar 2018 - Les Woodie. Lynchburg City, Virginia.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

Blue Grass Session
(River Track Studios RTS-1245)


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A Life Of Constant Sorrow
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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: L-R: Ralph, Jack Cooke and Roy Lee Centers. Photo by Carl Fleischhauer.


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...

Stanley Brothers
10 Mar 1966 - Köln, West Germany (60 years ago)

This was the seventh date on the Stanley's 1966 tour of Europe.

Ralph Stanley
10 Mar 1972 - Brunswick, ME (54 years ago)

Ralph appeared at Wentworth Hall, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine.

The show was put on by the Pine Tree State Bluegrass Music Association and a press article also mentioned Keith Whitley & Ricky Skaggs as featured guests. Also performing were The Maine Grass.

10 Mar 1973 - Christiansburg, VA (53 years ago)

Ralph had a show at Christiansburg High School, Christiansburg, Virginia. Support acts included: The Virginia Gentlemen, and the McPeak Brothers. A young banjo player called Gary Webb also played during the intermission, and an audience recording exists from the show.

10 Mar 1974 - Washington, DC (52 years ago)

This show from the Baird Auditorium at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC was broadcast live on the National Public Radio Network, and contains one of the best bluegrass live performances that you're likely to hear. Material from it has subsequently resurfaced on various CDs with Gusto reissue probably being the best: Live At The Smithsonian Institution (Gusto GT-5163-2) 2006. Sadly the CD song order has never corrected…

Events consisted of a free workshop / demonstration by Ralph and the CMB's at 4:30pm, followed by an evening concert at 8pm. A portion of the workshop was broadcast on the radio during the intermission in the evening show, and part included on the Songs My Mother Taught Me & More CD.

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

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

10 Mar 1985 - McFarland, WI (41 years ago)

Ralph played a Sunday afternoon (3-7pm) show at the Park Ponderosa Ballroom, in McFarland, Wisconsin. Also on the bill were Special Consensus and the concert was co-sponsored by the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association & WTSO radio. Tickets cost $7 (senior citizens $6).

09 - 10 Mar 1996 - Indianapolis, IN (30 years ago)

Ralph appeared on Saturday (9 Mar) at the "Indy Classic Bluegrass" festival, Airport Ramada Inn, Indianapolis, Indiana.

The festival itself ran from 8-10 March and also included: Cox Family, New Vintage, Blue Night, Larkin Family, Warrior River Boys, Charlie Sizemore, Hart Bros., and Tommy Brown & County Line Grass.

10 Mar 2001 - Bristol, VA (25 years ago)

Ralph appeared as part of the "4th Annual Pickin' Party" at the Harrison-Jones Memorial Hall, Intermont College, Bristol, Virginia. Also appearing were Blue Highway. Two shows took place at 3pm and 7pm. Tickets cost $10 in advance, or $12 on the door.

10 Mar 2002 - Tazewell, TN (24 years ago)

Ralph had a Sunday afternoon show (2pm) at Claiborne County High School, Tazewell, Tennessee. Tickets cost $15 in advance, or $17 on the door.

10 Mar 2006 - Nashville, TN (20 years ago)

Ralph had an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee.

10 Mar 2007 - Fulton, MS (19 years ago)

Ralph appeared at the Davis Events Center, Fulton, Missouri. Also on the bill were Doyle Lawson & Rhonda Vincent.

Curly Ray Cline
10 Mar 1979 - Old Homestead recording session (47 years ago)

This recording session for Curly Ray's LP Boar Hog (Old Homestead OHS 90138) 1980, took place at Messa Studios in Wise, Va. the day after Ralph had recorded his I'll Wear A White Robe LP.



Our top YouTube video picks!


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CMB Birthdays this month:

04 Mar 1917 - Chick Stripling. Born 'James Wilson Stripling' in Tifton, Georgia.

04 Mar 1961 - Kenneth Davis.

06 Mar 1924 - Bobby Sumner. Born 'Robert Sumner' in Vicco, Kentucky.

17 Mar 1915 - Johnnie Bonds. Born 'Johnnie Zion Bonds' in Live Oak, Florida.

28 Mar 1931 - Benny Williams. Born 'Benjamin Horace Williams'.

29 Mar 1975 - John Rigsby.

30 Mar 1906 - Leslie Keith. Born 'Leslie Clayborne Keith' in Virginia.


In Memoriam:

23 Mar 2018 - Les Woodie. Lynchburg City, Virginia.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

Valley View Park 1957
(Stanley Family Records SFR-002)


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