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:-

Limited Edition Bonus Disc
(DMZ/Columbia CSK 59413)


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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
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Clinch Mountain Echo

Pic. of the Day

Early Columbia promotional photo. L-R: Carter Stanley, Ralph Stanley. Photo courtesy of Bill Sanguinetti.


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
01 Mar 1949 - First recording session for Columbia (77 years ago)

The Stanley Brothers first session for Columbia resulted in four singles:-

  • The White Dove / Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet (Columbia 20577) Apr 1949
  • Little Glass Of Wine / Let Me Be Your Friend (Columbia 20590) Jun 1949
  • The Angels Are Singing (In Heaven Tonight) / It's Never Too Late (Columbia 20617) Sep 1949
  • A Vision Of Mother / Have You Someone (In Heaven Awaiting) (Columbia 20647) 1949

An alternate take of Little Glass Of Wine later appeared on The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys 1949-52 CD in 1991.

01 - 03 Mar 1966 - Volksmusik der Welt TV show (60 years ago)

According to Tracy Schwarz this TV show was filmed shortly after the artists on the American Folk & Country Music package tour arrived in Europe, with only an hours rest before they were whisked off to the TV studios. The Stanley's performed How Mountain Girls Can Love & Rank Stranger and also make an appearance at the square dance finale. Chick Stripling and George Shuffler also helped provide backing for Cousin Emmy too. The B&W show was released (briefly) on DVD American Folk & Country Music (Bear Family BVD-20101-AT) 2003.

Ralph Stanley
01 - 03 Mar 1974 - Cocoa, FL (52 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at the "Space Coast Bluegrass Festival", Ramada Camp Inn, Cocoa, Florida. Also appearing were: Betty Fisher & the Dixie Bluegrass Band, Jim & Jesse, Sullivan Family, Gospel Travelers, Bluegrass Tarheels, Friends Of Bluegrass, and Lester Canada & A Pair Of Jacks.

The festival was sponsored by the Bahia Shrine Horse Patrol.

01 Mar 1975 - Lansing, MI (51 years ago)

Ralph had a show at Bzurpys Bar, 2021 E. Michigan, Lansing, Michigan

27 - 29 Feb 1976 - Okeechobee, FL (50 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at 'Okeechobee Bluegrass Convention', 2 miles North of Okeechobee on Hwy 441.

Other advertised acts included: Mac Wiseman, Shenandoah Cut-Ups, Chubby Wise, Bluegrass Pardners, Bluegrass Ramblers, Thompson Family, and Chubby Anthony & Tall Timber.

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

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

01 Mar 1985 - Jefferson City, TN (41 years ago)

Ralph played a show at an unknown venue in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The Lost Creek Band were also on the bill.

29 Feb 1992 - Santa Monica, CA (34 years ago)

Ralph had a booking at McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, California. The band were scheduled to appear at 8 & 10:30pm.

01 Mar 1994 - Northfield, MN (32 years ago)

Ralph had a show in Northfield, Minnesota.

29 Feb 1996 - Blacksburg, VA (30 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Old Dominion Ballroom, Virginia Tech Squires Student Center, Blacksburg, Virginia. The show was sponsored by the University's Alternative Sounds Committee. Tickets cost $6 (Tech students $3).

01 Mar 1996 - West Liberty, KY (30 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Community Center, West Liberty, Kentucky. Sharing the bill were the Lonesome River Band.

01 Mar 1997 - Fairfield, CT (29 years ago)

Ralph had a booking at the 'Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts', Fairfield, Connecticut. The show was preceeded by a "pickin' party" at 5pm and also included Front Range.

24 Feb - 03 Mar 2002 - Costa Atlantica (24 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on the '4th Annual Bluegrass Music Caribbean Cruise', which spent 7 days travelling from Fort Lauderdale - At Sea - San Juan - St. John/St. Thomas Catalina Island/Casa De Campo - At Sea - Nassau - Fort Lauderdale. Ralph had another booking on 1 Mar however, so I'm not sure if Ralph played on the cruise, or just at Fort Lauderdale on either the start or end date.

Other acts included: Larry Stephenson, Rhonda Vincent, Tim Graves & Cherokee, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Rarely Herd, Dale Ann Bradley, Ramona Church & Carolina Road, Mark Newton, and a 'special' performance by Jesse McReyonlds.

01 Mar 2002 - Nelsonville, OH (24 years ago)

Ralph had a show listed at Stuart's Opry House, Nelsonville, Ohio. I'm not sure if the show went ahead however, as Ralph had a booking on a caribean cruise on this date.

01 Mar 2007 - Kansas City, MO (19 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Knuckleheads Saloon, Kansas City, Missouri.

01 Mar 2008 - Raleigh, NC (18 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh. Also on the bill were The Cadillac Stepbacks, Tickets cost $23 - $32.

01 Mar 2013 - Rocky Mount, NC (13 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts, NC Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Tickets cost $25.

28 Feb - 01 Mar 2014 - Nashville, TN (12 years ago)

Ralph had a couple of nights at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee.

01 Mar 2014 - Abingdon, VA (12 years ago)

The "87th Birthday Dinner and Fundraiser" took place at Heartwood, Abingdon, Virginia. Ralph performed briefly with Ralph II and the evening featured music by Nathan Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys.

The show raised funds for the Ralph Stanley Museum and included special presentations and musical performances by a host of artists including Jeff Brown & Still Lonesome, Clearwater Branch, and the Virginia Whirlwinds.



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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:-

Gospel Echoes Of The Stanley Brothers
(Plantation Records PLP-56)


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