Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

04 May 1922 - Harold 'Red' Stanley. Born 'Harold Oplis Stanley' in Fentress, Tennessee.

18 May 1938 - Henry Dockery. Walnut Marsh, North Carolina.

28 May 1956 - Ralph 'Hank' Smith. Born 'Ralph Dewayne Smith' in Elliott County, Kentucky.


In Memoriam:

02 May 1974 - Roy Lee Centers. Breathitt County, Kentucky.

03 May 2000 - Bill Napier. Johnson City, Tennessee.

09 May 1989 - Keith Whitley. Goodlettsville, Davidson County, Tennessee.

23 May 2022 - James Price. Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com



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A Life Of Constant Sorrow
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Ralph Stanley Museum
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Hills Of Home Festival
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Clinch Mountain Echo

Pic. of the Day

Photo: Yamaha Kobe 3 May 1971. Photo by Tsutomu Otsuka.


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
02 - 04 May 1962 - Ninth recording session for King (64 years ago)

At this three-day session the Stanley's recorded 21 tracks including the whole of the LP Good Old Camp Meeting Songs (King KLP-805) May 1962. Of the remaining tracks, three appeared on the LP Country Folk Music Spotlight (King KLP-864) Dec 1963. Singles from the session included:-

  • My Deceitful Heart / Drunkard's Dream (King 5674) Aug 1962
  • I Just Came From Your Wedding / Mama Don't Allow (King 5688) Aug 1962
  • Drinking From The Fountain / Who Will Sing For Me (King 5708) Nov 1962
  • Memories Of Mother / Paul And Silas (King 5754) May 1963
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
03 May 1971 - Kobe, Japan (55 years ago)

The sixth appearance of Ralph's 1971 tour of Japan took place at Yamaha Kobe, Kobe. These was a workshop organised by Kobe Lost City.

01 - 04 May 1980 - River, KY (46 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at the Lawson's '3rd Annual Spring Bluegrass festival' at Doc Turner's farm, River, Kentucky.

Other acts included: Bill Monroe, Jim & Jesse, Lonzo & Oscar, James Monroe, Larry Sparks, the Lawsons, Goins Bros., Outdoor Plumbing Co., Lillimae & the Dixie Gospel-Aires, Wynn Osborne & the Nashville Express, and Midnight Travelers.

02 - 03 May 1981 - Gettysburg, PA (45 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday / Sunday (2-3 May) at Gettysburg Bluegrass Camporee, Granite Hill Family Campground, 6 miles West of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The festival itself ran from 1-3 May and other acts included: Osborne Bros., Lewis Family, Seldom Scene, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Del McCoury, Adams Bros., Blue Ridge Partners, Five Strings of Bluegrass, Spirits Of Bluegrass, East Virginia, and Forbes Family.

One set from this festival looks like it was issued on a dodgy digital-only release Live From Gettysburg (ToneMaster) 2018. Audio also exists from the festival of another set by Ralph.

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

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

03 May 1986 - Cannonsburg, KY (40 years ago)

Ralph had a show at the Blue Ribbon Fox Hunter's Lodge in Cannonsburg, Kentucky. Sharing the bill were the Goins Bros.

03 May 1991 - Gettysburg, PA (35 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Friday (3 May) at the '23rd Semi-Annual Gettysburg Bluegrass Camporee' at Granite Hill Family Campground, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The festival itself ran from 2-5 May and other acts included: Appalachian Express, South Central Bluegrass, Bluegrass Image, Hazel River Band, Lost & Found, Bluegrass Cardinals, Whitstein Bros., South Central Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, Tim O'Brien, Seldom Scene, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Larry Stephenson Band, Gary Ferguson Band, Country Gentlemen, Lewis Family, and Beaver Kreek Bluegrass.

03 May 1992 - Jackson, KY (34 years ago)

Ralph had a show in Jackson, Kentucky. Sharing the bill was Larry Sparks.

03 May 1997 - Gettysburg, PA (29 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing on Saturday (3 May) at the 'Gettysburg Bluegrass Camporee', Granite Hill Campground, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The band were scheduled to perform at 12:40 and 6:45pm.

The festival itself ran from 1-4 May and other acts included: Alison Krauss, JD Crowe, IIIrd Tyme Out, Seldom Scene, Laurie Lewis, Isaacs, Lonesome River Band, Blue Highway, Dean Sapp & the Harford Express, James King, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Kevin & Debbie Williamson & Shadow Ridge, Blue Ridge, Joe Carr & Alan Munde, Gibson Bros., Charlie Sizemore, Gary Ferguson, and Lost & Found.

03 May 2002 - Lincolnton, GA (24 years ago)

Ralph was billed as appearing at the '15th Annual Lewis Family Homecoming & Bluegrass Festival' at Elijah Clark State Park, Lincolnton, Georgia.

The festival itself ran from 2-4 May 2002 and other acts included: Earl Phillips, 'Special' Talmadge Lewis, Mac Wiseman, Lewis Family, Osborne Bros., Jim & Jesse, Doyle Lawson, Bluegrass Alliance, Primitive Quartet, Country Gentlemen, Village Singers, The Carters, Marksmen, Larry Sigmon & Barbara Poole, Sunshine Boys, Miller's Creek, and Heaven's Echoes.

03 May 2007 - Richmond, VA (19 years ago)

Ralph appeared as part of a "Virginia's Royal Welcome" concert, to welcome Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip on their visit. The show started at 1pm and also included: Montana Young, Jane Powell, Robbin Thompson with the Richmond Boys Choir, No Speed Limit, Steve Wilson, Wayne Henderson, Carlton Blount, Gerald Anderson & Spencer Strickland, Larry Bland & the Volunteer Choir, Marna & Macy Bales, Hunt Family Fiddlers, Adrian Drake, and The Hermitage High School Marching Band.

02 - 03 May 2008 - Berkeley, CA (18 years ago)

Ralph had a 2-night booking at Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, California. Tickets cost $50.50.

03 May 2014 - Prestonsburg, KY (12 years ago)

Ralph had a show at Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg, Kentucky. Also on the bill were Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers. Tickets cost $26 in advance, or $31 on the door.



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 May 1922 - Harold 'Red' Stanley. Born 'Harold Oplis Stanley' in Fentress, Tennessee.

18 May 1938 - Henry Dockery. Walnut Marsh, North Carolina.

28 May 1956 - Ralph 'Hank' Smith. Born 'Ralph Dewayne Smith' in Elliott County, Kentucky.


In Memoriam:

02 May 1974 - Roy Lee Centers. Breathitt County, Kentucky.

03 May 2000 - Bill Napier. Johnson City, Tennessee.

09 May 1989 - Keith Whitley. Goodlettsville, Davidson County, Tennessee.

23 May 2022 - James Price. Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com


Spotlight on:-

What Was That You Said Lord
(No Label No #)


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
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