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:-

Bully Of The Town: Bluegrass Is Timeless
(Gusto/King KG 0333-2)


CME Recommends...

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
Bluegrass Unlimited
Clinch Mountain Echo

Pic. of the Day

Photo: Hymn singing on the bus, Europe Mar 1966. L-R: George shuffler (hidden-back), Roscoe Holcomb, Carter Stanley, Ralph Stanley. Photo by John Cohen.


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
12 Mar 1966 - Frankfurt, West Germany (60 years ago)

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

Ralph Stanley
11 - 13 Mar 1977 - Okeechobee, FL (49 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at the '2nd Annual Okeechobee Bluegrass Convention'.

Other acts included: Mac Wiseman, Lewis Family, Chubby Wise, Double Mountain Boys, Bluegrass Kats, Lincoln County Pardners, Earl Snead & Nashville Bluegrass Boys, Chubby Anthony & Big Timber, Palmetto Bluegrass, Bluegrass Ramblers, Limited Edition, and others.

12 Mar 1983 - Linefork, KY (43 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Kingdom Come Elementary School, Linefork, Kentucky. Also on the bill were Kentucky Sage Grass. Proceeds from the show went to Kings Creek Volunteer Fire Dept.

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

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

12 Mar 1989 - Fredericksburg, VA (37 years ago)

Ralph had a show at Mr. B's Family Restaurant, Fredericksburg, Virginia.

12 Mar 1994 - Fallsburg, NY (32 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday (12 Mar) at the '7th Annual Bluegrass Festival' held at the luxurious Pines Hotel resort in the Catskill Mountains, Fallsburg, New York. A 4 × day ticket (per person, double occupancy) cost $295… Facilities included 3 full course meals daily, cocktail party, ice skating, olympic size indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms.

The festival itself ran from 10-13 March and other acts included: Mike Stevens, Bluegrass Thoroughbreds, Reno Bros., Southern Rail, Country Ham, Red Wing, Raymond Fairchild, Lewis Family, IIIrd Tyme Out, Jim & Jesse, Larry Stephenson, Cloggers, and others.

12 Mar 1995 - Piketon, OH (31 years ago)

Ralph was one of four bands which appeared on Sunday afternoon (2pm) at Pike County Fairgrounds, Piketon, Ohio. The other acts included: The Goins Bros. and Salem Ridge. Tickets cost $10.

12 Mar 1998 - Columbia, MS (28 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Thursday (12 Mar) at the 'Living Legends Bluegrass Reunion' at New Columbia Exposition Center, Columbia, Mississippi.

The festival itself ran from 12-14 March and other acts included: Jim & Jesse, Ricky Skaggs, Mac Wiseman, Doyle Lawson, Country Gentlemen, Osborne Bros., Lewis Family, Isaacs, Rhonda Vincent, Goldwing Express, Larry Stephenson, Stevens Sisters, Charlie Cline, The Adairs, McLain Bros., Cedar Creek, Magnolia Bluegrass, Fair River Station, and Southland.

12 Mar 2005 - Fulton, MS (21 years ago)

Ralph had a show at Itawamba Community Center, Fulton, Mississippi.

12 Mar 2011 - McMinnville, TN (15 years ago)

Ralph had a show at 'Bluegrass Underground' about 300 feet underground in the Cumberland Caverns, McMinnville, Tennesee.

Clips from the show can be found on youtube of: Oh Death, Gloryland, Rank Stranger, and I'll Fly Away.

James Alan Shelton
12 Mar 1997 - Classic Studio recording session (29 years ago)

At this session James Alan Shelton recorded his CD: Road To Coeburn (Copper Creek CCCD-0154) 1997.

Fellow CMB's, James Price, John Rigsby, Steve Sparkman & Ralph II also played on the album.



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:

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:-

What A Friend We Have In Jesus: Bluegrass Is Timeless
(Gusto/King KG 0335-2)


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