Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

01 Apr 1939 - Cullen Galyean. Born Willie Cullen Galyean in Surry County, NC.

05 Apr 1930 - Bill Lowe. Born 'William Harold Lowe' Rural Retreat, Wythe, Virginia.

11 Apr 1925 - George Shuffler. Born 'George Saunders Shuffler' in Burke, North Carolina.


In Memoriam:

07 Apr 2014 - George Shuffler. Valdese, Burke, North Carolina.

10 Apr 2018 - Ernie Thacker. Pikeville, Pike, Kentucky.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

Sittin' On Top Of The World
(Pinecastle PRC-1157)


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Clinch Mountain Echo

Pic. of the Day

Cover to Dick Freeland's 1971 Japanese Tour programme.


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.

Ralph Stanley
30 Apr 1967 - West Grove / Oxford, PA (59 years ago)

Ralph appeared at Sunset Park, between West Grove & Oxford, Pennsylvania. Also on the bill were Edward Cheezum & the Country Red Topps, and Alex - Ola Belle & New River Gang.

30 Apr 1971 - Ginza, Japan (55 years ago)

The second date of Ralph's 1971 tour of Japan took place at Yamaha Ginza.

30 Apr - 01 May 1982 - Bristol, TN (44 years ago)

Ralph and the CMBs played at the "Appalachian Music Days festival" on Friday-Saturday (30 Apr - 1 May) & took part on Saturday morning in a parade down State Street in Bristol, Tennessee. On Saturday the band played at Steele Creek Park in the afternoon & evening and there was a ceremony at 9pm to induct Ralph & Carter into the Appalachian Music Museum Hall of Fame.

Other acts perfoming on the Friday/Saturday included: Holston Mountain Boys, Southland Ramblers, Larkin Bros., Goins Bros., Smokey Mountain Cloggers, Brickey Bros., Southern Grass, Flint Hill, Dr. Mongle String Band, Larry Sparks, and Country Grass. A gospel show at Joe Morrell Music House on Sunday (2 May) also featured George Shuffler with the Shuffler Family.

30 Apr 1983 - Amelia Court House, VA (43 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday (30 Apr) at 'Barney Jones & the Power Brothers Bluegrass Festival' at Tom Scott Recreation Park, Amelia Court House, Virginia.

The festival itself ran from 29 Apr - 1 May and other acts included: Don Reno, Jim Orange & the Orange Blossoms, Roby Hoffman & the Blue Grass Cut-Ups, Heritage, Cloud Valley, and Bluegrass Renegades.

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

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

30 Apr 1993 - Jackson, KY (33 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Highland Turner Elemenatary School, Jackson, Kentucky. Also on the bill were Goins Bros. and Larry Sparks.

30 Apr - 01 May 1994 - Wilkesboro, NC (32 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday / Sunday (30 Apr - 1 May) at the '7th Annual Merle Watson Memorial Festival', Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It was Ralph's first advertised appearance at the festival & was billed as 'Ralph Stanley and his Saturday Night, Sunday Morning friends. On Saturday (5-6pm) Ralph took part in a workshop with Mike Seeger, and in the evening (7-8pm) was billed as Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys. On Sunday (3-4:15pm) the "Ralph Stanley & Friends" appearance took part on the main stage.

The event itself ran from 28 April to 1st May 1994 and other acts included: Doc Watson, Sweethearts Of The Rodeo, Emmylou Harris & the Nash Ramblers, Cephas & Wiggins, Lonesome Standard Time, Iris Dement, Sam Bush & John Cowan, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Alison Krauss, Tim & Mollie O'Brien & the Boys, Peter Rowan, Seldom Scene, Tony Rice Unit, Jerry Douglas, Mark O'Connor, Front Range, JD Crowe, Shady Grove Band, Claire Lynch, Cowboy Jubilee, Kukuruza, Auldridge - Gaudreau - Coleman - Klein, Larry Sparks, Pete Wernick & the Live Five, Clint & Clarence Howard with Kenneth Price, Heartbeats, Kathy Chiavola, Richard Watson, Steve Kaufman, Jack Lawrence, Cherish The Ladies, Mike Seeger, David Holt, Robin & Linda Williams, Barry & Holly Tashian, Frosty Morn, Guy Van Duser, Muriel Anderson, John Jackson, Phil Jamison, Brad Leftwich & Linda Higginbotham, Janette Carter, Pine Ridge Boys & Patsy, Etta Baker, Bill Clifton, Joe & Odell Thompson, Folktellers, Sheila Kay Adams, Jesse Lovell and many others.

30 Apr 1995 - Morehead, KY (31 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at a 'Ray Goins Benefit Bluegrass Show' at New Rowan County High School, Morehead, Kentucky.

The show was to raise fund for Ray Goins, who had recently undergone multiple by-pass heart surgery & had no health insurance. Other acts included: Goins Bros., Bill Monroe, Doyle Lawson, Jim & Jesse, Larry Sparks, JD Crowe, Charlie Sizemore Band, Lonesome Standard Time, and Bluegrass Strangers.

30 Apr 1998 - Lincolnton, GA (28 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing Thursday (30 Apr) at the '11th Annual Lewis Family Homecoming & Bluegrass Festival' at Elijah Clark State Park, Lincolnton, Georgia.

The festival itself ran from 30 April to 2 May and other acts included: Earl Phillips, Bill Carlisle, 'Special' Talmadge Lewis, Lewis Family, Doyle Lawson, Osborne Bros., Jimmie Davies, IIIrd Tyme Out, Cross Reference, Freddy Clark & the Clark Family, Jim & Jesse, Village Singers, Gary Waldrep, Larry Sigmon & Barbara Poole, McLain Bros., James King, and Heaven's Echoes.

30 Apr 1999 - Lincolnton, GA (27 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday (30 Apr) at the '12th Annual Lewis Family Homecoming & Bluegrass Festival' at Elijah Clark State Park, Lincolnton, Georgia.

The festival itself ran from 29 April - 1 May and other acts included: Earl Phillips, Mac Wiseman, 'Special' Talmadge Lewis, Lewis Family, Jim & Jesse, Osborne Bros., Jimmie Davis, Marksmen, Doyle Lawson, IIIrd Tyme Out, Primitive Quartet, Village Singers, Tim Graves & Cherokee, Blueridge, White Sands Panhandle Band, Good Shepherd Quartet, and Heaven's Echoes.

30 Apr 2000 - Wilkesboro, NC (26 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Sunday (30 Apr) at 'Merlefest', Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The band were scheduled to appear 10-10:45 am with Gospel singing, and 3:25-4:10pm with Jim Lauderdale.

The festival itself ran from 27-30 April and other acts included: Doc Watson, Richard Watson, Laurie Lewis, Sam Bush. Claire Lynch, Nashville Bluegrass Band, John Cowan, Jerry Douglas, IIIrd Tyme Out, Willie Nelson, Tony Rice, and Nickel Creek.

30 Apr 2005 - Ladysmith, VA (21 years ago)

Ralph and Ralph II were both billed separately as appearing on Saturday (30 Apr) at 'Mr B's Bluegrass Festival' at Mr. B's Bluegrass Park, Ladysmith, Virginia. It's not clear if Ralph appeared however, as there is aconflicting booking on this date.

The festival itself ran from 28-30 April and other acts included: Larry Cordle, Michelle Nixon & Drive, Code Blue, New Found Road, Flyin' Blind, Seldom Scene, IIIrd Tyme Out, Larry Stephenson, Mark Newton Band, Phoenix, New Girls Nite Out, Rhonda Vincent, Nothin' Fancy, Paul Williams, Bluegrass Brothers, and Out Of The Blue.

30 Apr 2005 - Wilmington, OH (21 years ago)

Ralph was listed as appearing at Murphy Theater, Wilmington, Ohio. Also listed were Blue Highway. I'm not sure if Ralph appeared however, as there is a conflicting booking on this date.

30 Apr 2010 - Opelika, AL (16 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, Opelika, Alabama. Also on the bill were the Cherryholmes.



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CMB Birthdays this month:

01 Apr 1939 - Cullen Galyean. Born Willie Cullen Galyean in Surry County, NC.

05 Apr 1930 - Bill Lowe. Born 'William Harold Lowe' Rural Retreat, Wythe, Virginia.

11 Apr 1925 - George Shuffler. Born 'George Saunders Shuffler' in Burke, North Carolina.


In Memoriam:

07 Apr 2014 - George Shuffler. Valdese, Burke, North Carolina.

10 Apr 2018 - Ernie Thacker. Pikeville, Pike, Kentucky.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

In The Head Of The Holler
(Jessup MB-121)


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alifeofsorrow.com

CME Recommends...

Ralph Stanley Museum
ralphstanleymuseum.com

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Hills Of Home Festival
drralphstanleyfestival.com

CME Recommends...

Rebel Records
rebelrecords.com

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