- Bill Gatton Chevy Show
- Carter Stanley Interview - 1966
- How Far To Little Rock? - Search live shows
- Jim Kent's film 'Ralph Stanley's Bluegrass Festival'
- New WCYB Recording
- Pound Va. 1972 - Video
- Replica Rebel T-Shirt
- R.I.P. Ralph
- Roy Lee Centers Last Show
- Song & Memory Books
- Stanley Brothers - WCYB Acetate
- Stanley Standard - Carter Stanley Memorial Issue
- Suwannee River Jamboree
- Up In The Cloud - 1957-62
Clinch Mountain Boys Timeline (1967-2016)
This is an attempt at identifying the 'major' line-ups after Carter Stanley passed away on the 1st Dec 1966. It definitely has errors... which will get ironed out in due course.
| Personnel: | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ralph Stanley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curly Ray Cline | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Melvin Goins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Shuffler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larry Sparks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Isaacs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jack Cooke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ron Thomason | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roy Lee Centers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ricky Skaggs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keith Whitley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Johnson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ricky Lee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wayne Lewis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dan Marshall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Troy 'Renfro' Profitt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curley Lambert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jnr Blankenship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlie Sizemore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Claude Moore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sammy Adkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ralph 'Hank' Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ernie Thacker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Art Stamper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kenneth Davis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Alan Shelton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Sparkman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Rigsby | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ralph II Stanley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Todd Meade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dewey Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nathan Stanley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Audey Ratliff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jarrod Church | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mitchell Van Dyke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Randall Hibbits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alex Hibbits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NB: On smaller screens, use the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom of the table to view different years...
Notes:
These are just notes relating to the timeline... biographies/discographies will be added under the "CMBs" section at a later date...
- Sammy Adkins: Took over on lead vocal/guitar after Charlie Sizemore quit in early August 1986. He is mentioned in the Nov. 1986 edition of 'Bluegrass Unlimited' as having joined the the CMB's, but in John Wright's "It's The Hardest Music In The World To Play: The Ralph Stanley Story", there's a picture of Sammy at Ralph's Homecoming Festival in Sept '86, and Wright says he joined in August. In John's interview with Ralph he mentions recruiting Sammy at the Cannonsburg festvial, which took place 1-2nd Aug 1986. Sammy stayed until late March 1990. He appeared with the band on the 'Nashville Now' TNN TV show circa Feb-March 1990[1] but lost an appeal for what Ralph described as 'an unsavoury assault' and was jailed for 5 year on March 26th 1990. Ralph did a benefit gig to help with legal fees.[2]
- Hillard 'Jnr' Blankenship: First appeared on Curly Ray Cline's Who's Gonna Mow My Grass LP (recorded 5th Jan 1978) and stayed with the CMB's until April / May 1990. He rejoined the band in the autumn of 1991 playing on the VA - Great Takes CD (Sept. 1991) Back To The Cross album (Mar. 1992) and Christmas Time With... (Mar-May 1993) but left early March 1994 when James Alan Shelton joined. In 2014, following James' sudden development of cancer, Jnr once again helped out.
- Dewey Brown: Took over on fiddle in 2005 and has held that position until the present. There have been one or two clips on youtube featuring John Rigsby or Cody Bauer on fiddle in 2015, but after Mitchell Van Dyke and Randall Hibbits left in Feb. 2016 Nathan Stanley said Dewey was still on board.[3]
- Jimmy Cameron: Replaced Audey Ratliff's bass spot in 2009 and stayed with the band until approx. September 2013.
- Roy Lee Centers: After one near-miss, Roy Lee joined the band in November 1969 and was for many the best lead vocalist Ralph has had. Tragically, he was murdered on 2nd May 1974.[4]
- Jarrod Church: Jarrod filled in occasionally for Ralph and took over after Steve Sparkman left in Nov. 2010.[5] He in turn was replaced by Mitchell Van Dyke at the end of 2010.
- Curly Ray Cline: Had played a few shows with the Stanley Brothers and following Carter's death stayed on with Ralph. The first show could be 21st Dec 1966.[6] He retired from the CMB's in May 1993.[7]
- Jack Cooke: There are several references to Jack becoming a CMB in 1970, however in John Wrights interview with him he gives the latter half of 1969 as the date he joined, and in a Bluegrass Unlimited interview (Sept. 2005) Jack says: "If I hadn't run into Ralph at the flea market in Ramsey (November 1969), I don't know whether I'd ever got back into music. Ralph said he needed a bass player and asked me if I wanted the job...". Jack was of course previously both a Blue Grass Boy and former CMB.[8] Apart from a brief spell at the end of 1999/early 2000, when Jack had heart bypass surgery[9], he stayed with Ralph until poor health forced him off the road around October 2008. Audey Ratliff was then drafted in for about 8 months, before Jimmy Cameron joined.
- Kenneth Davis: Lead vocalist from 1994-1995.[10] He appears on the Ralph Stanley & Joe Isaacs - A Gospel Gathering 1995 CD and on a live appearance from the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 26th July 1994.[11]
- Melvin Goins: Had been with the CMB's from 18th Jan 1966 and stayed with Ralph after Carter died. He left the band on 18th May 1969.[12]
- Alex Hibbits: Recent addition on mandolin - mid 2015.
- Randall Hibbits: Took over from Jimmey Cameron on bass in approx. Sept 2013[13] and left in Feb. 2016.
- Joe Isaacs: Joe was a CMB briefly at the end of 1969. In the liner notes to Clinch Mountain Country Ralph says: "Joe used to come to our shows. He helped me out a couple of weeks between Larry (Sparks) and Roy Lee Centers." Similarly, in the liner notes to Ralph Stanley & Joe Isaacs - A Gospel Gathering 1995 it says: "In early 1969 a young man named Joe Isaacs took a job playing the guitar and singing some lead vocals with Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys. It was to last for only a few short weeks, as Joe would soon leave Ralph's group to be near Lily, the girl he had met in New York City a couple of years earlier." In Lily Isaacs book "You Don't Cry Out Loud" she says that Joe had returned to New York having worked with Ralph and he was in NY when he got the call from Larry to join the Lonesome Ramblers... Joe played banjo on Larry Sparks debut album 'Ramblin' Guitar' (Pine Tree PTSLP 500) 1970.
- Mike Johnson was announced as the 'most recent' member of the CMB's in the Nov. 1972 'General Store' section of Bluegrass Unlimited. His tenure with the band (on lead guitar / singing) was short-lived however, as the following month, the 'General Store' reported that he had left. Mike was from Huntingdon, West Virginia.
- Curley Lambert Curley had four stints with The Stanley Brothers, but also rejoined the CMB's two further times, under Ralph's leadership. He was present in the band at the session for Old Time Music in 1967, although an interview with Curly says he was with the band in the Spring of 1967, rather than the August date usually attributed to the Jalyn session.[14] He was also with the band in the winter of 1976, taking part in the 2nd set of seminars Ralph taught at Lincoln Memorial University[22].
- Ricky Lee: From Gastonia, NC, I think Ricky spent about two years as a CMB. He was mentioned in Bluegrass Unlimited's 'General Store' (Jan. 1973) as being the 'newest member' of the CMB's. His first recording session with them was on 18th Feb 1973[15] and he is on the May 25th 1975 recordings from McClure that feature on Live! At McClure 1975 and the 2xCD Classic Stanley 1995 compilation. He probably left the band in July 1975, after Ralph's second tour of Japan and before Dan Marshall joined..
- Wayne Lewis: Future 'Blue Grass Boy' Wayne Lewis had his first full-time musician job with Ralph sometime in 1974 followed by Lillimae and the Dixie Gospelaires in 1975, and then Bill Monroe (May 1976 - March 1986).[16] One edition of the 'Cumberland Highlanders' TV show featured Wayne and Ralph singing together, where it was also mentioned that he played with the Clinch Mountain Boys in 1974.
- Dan Marshall: From the Marshall Family, Dan became a CMB after Ricky Lee had left, and first recorded with the band Feb. 16th 1976. He was with the band for nine months, between July 1975 and May 1976, filling the lead guitar spot. [17] He also filled in on mandolin on the Clinch Mountain Gospel (May 1977) and Down Where The River Bends (Mar 1978) LPs and is featured on a recording from Lester Flatt's Mount Pilot Bluegrass Festival Pinnacle, NC June 1978.[18]
- Todd Meade: I think Todd took over on fiddle from James Price, but it may be that John Rigsby handled fiddle duties for a while before Todd was recruited. Todd appears on fiddle on a BBC TV show recorded in Nov. 2003[19] and the Jan. 2004 edition of 'Bluegrass Unlimited's "General Store" mentions him aged 18 as being the newest member of the CMB's. He also appears on a few of the projects that were on-going in 2005, which is when Dewey Brown joined.
- Claude Moore: aka 'Hook n Beans', Buddy Moore or Little Buddy Moore. I'm Not sure exactly when he played with the band, but he plays on the Live At The Old Home Place 1983 LP and is featured in an excellent video from Santa Monica April 1983.[20] In one of the stage introductions on the Santa Monica tape, Ralph says Buddy had been with the band about 11 or 12 months.
- James Price: Joined in August 1995[21] and left towards the end of 2003.[22]
- Troy 'Renfro' Profitt: Renfro joined the CMB's in the Spring of 1976.[23] First appeared on the V/A - Live Tall Trees Bluegrass Festival 1976 set that was recorded 16-18th July 1976. He was annouced as the 'newest' member of the Clinch Mountain Boys in the 'General Store' section of Bluegrass Unlimited in August 1976 as: "Troy Profitt who hails from Richlands, Virginia. The other members of the group in their typical style have got a nickname for him already - 'Renfro Valley'...". According to Troy, Ralph hung the name 'Renfro' on him, when they were travelling through Renfro Valley, Ky.[24] He appears to have been a CMB until the end of 1977.
- Audey Ratliff: Renowned mandolin luthier, Audey Ratliff was drafted into the band for about 8 months after Jack Cooke had to leave the band. As Jack is featured on Dewey Brown's Hard Times For A Fiddler sessions on 17-18th Nov 2008, and Audey is pictured playing on stage in October 2008,[25] I'm guessing it was around this time Audey took over. He toured with the band at Ralph's final UK gigs in May/June 2009.
- John Rigsby: Joined in August 1995[21]. I'm not sure exactly when he left - he had at least two stints as a CMB, with an 18 month gap playing for Melvin Goins. He rejoined the CMB's shortly after recording Forks Of The Ivy in late 1999.[26] He played on the BBC TV Show (Nov. 2003)[19] and handles mandolin & fiddle on the 2004 Sings His Favorites Now And Then sessions, so presumably he left when Nathan Stanley started on mandolin c2005. (He has, of course, also done lots with Ralph II)
- James Alan Shelton: James gave Ralph his business card in 1991, and filled in briefly in the fall of 1992, when Jnr Blankenship went on a hunting trip.[27] He subsequently joined the band 'full-time' in March 1994,[28] playing his first gig at the Northield, MN on March 4th and stayed until shortly before his death on 3rd June 2014. A great guy, hugely missed!
- George Shuffler: After Carter died, he stayed on with Ralph briefly, leaving shortly after Larry Sparks became a CMB (Feb 7th 1967). He then spent some time with Don Reno, but rejoined Ralph "for about ten months" following one of Carlton Haney's Camp Springs festivals.[29] George played bass on Ralph's Over The Sunset Hill LP, which was recorded in Feb '68. By the time Ralph played the Berryville festival in July '69 they were without a bass player[30], but George appears to have had a 3rd stint towards the end of 1969 - see the Ron Thomason notes. He also filled in between late 1999 and early 2000 when Jack Cooke had heart bypass surgery.[9]
- Charlie Sizemore: Joined in November 1977, a few days after Junior Blankenship.[31] Ralph heard him at a show on the 19th Nov. and ten days later he played his first full-time gig with the band.[32] Charlie left mid August 1986 with his last performance being at the Milan Bluegrass Festival in Michigan (14-17 Aug). An advert for his new band later appeared in the October '86 issue of 'Bluegrass Unlimited'.
- Ricky Skaggs: Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs were discovered c.May 1970 by Ralph at a club called Jim & Fay's in Fort Gay, West Va, on the state line adjacent to Louisa, Kentucky. Impressed by their repertoire of early Stanley Brothers material, the duo got to open for Ralph the following month and were recruited to perform at Carlton Haney's 'Stanley Brothers' story at Berryville (3-5th July 1970).[33]
As the pair were still at school, they appeared and recorded with the band as time permitted, and then joined the band full-time after graduation. Their last recording session with the CMB's they took part in was Dec 11th 1971.[15] I'm guessing that they'd left before October 1972. Ricky had gotten married and taken a 'proper' job, before joining the Country Gentlmen in 1973... and I think Whitley headed off to Nashville. 'Bluegrass Unlimited' in the 'General Store' section of the Oct. 1972 issue did note that Keith and Jimmy Gaudreau "had left their respective groups... to form their own group to be known as Country Store. They will be based around the Columbus, Ohio area". - Ralph 'Hank' Smith: Not completely sure of the time-line, but it looks like 'Hank' played with Ralph from late June / early July 1990 until Jr. Blankenship re-joined in autumn 1991. 'Hank' played on the Ernie Thacker & Ralph Stanley - Holdin' On cassette from 1990, and on Ralph's Pray For The Boys album recorded in Dec. 1990. He also appeared at the UK Edale bluegrass festival in June 1991,[34] but Jr. Blankenship was back with the band by the time they appeared on the Iowa TV show 'Old-Time Country Music' on 25th Sept. 1991. There was a gap of at least a couple of months in May/June 1990 when Chris Smith (from Larry Efaw's Bluegrass Mountaineeers) helped out. There's a video of Chris playing with the CMB's from the Zoar Ridge festival in Ohio on 18th May 1990 on Facebook, and he tells us that 'Hank' had taken up the lead guitar spot by the time of the '3rd Annual Whippoorwill Woods Blugrass Festival' in Clay's Park on the 6-8th July 1990.
- Steve Sparkman: Joined in June 1994[28] after Ralph had broken his femur bone. For a time the band played with dual banjos, until c2000 when James took over completely. He left in Nov. 2010 to join the police.[35]
- Larry Sparks: Joined the CMB's on Feb 7th 1967, following an appearance at Tom's Tavern, Dayton, OH.[36] I'm not sure exactly when he left, but Larry played on the Ralph's last session for King (July 14-15th 1969) [37] and Roy Lee Centers joined in November '69.[4]
- Art Stamper: Former CMB from the 1950s, he rejoined c1992/3 when Curly Ray was in poor health, playing on the Mar. '92 sessions for Back To The Cross; the May/Oct '92 sessions for the Saturday Night & Sunday Morning release; and the Mar-May '93 sessions for Christmas Time With.... I'm presuming he left when James Price joined.
- Nathan Stanley: Ralph's grandson started out on the spoons as an infant... By the end of 2005 he'd recorded his first solo album Sandy Ridge and was playing mandolin in the band. He took over on lead vocal/guitar in 2007.[38]
- Ralph II Stanley: Like his nephew, Ralph II has accompanied the CMBs on stage from an infant. He took over on lead vocals/guitar in August 1995.[39] He went solo in 2007, when Nathan took the guitar/vocal spot. I've only shown him as 'joining' in 1995, as other than the 1983 Live At The Old Homeplace and 1989 Like Father, Like Son albums, he doesn't appear on any of Ralph's releases.
- Ernie Thacker: Joined on mandolin, aged 16 in Spring 1988. He left nine months later, but rejoined the band in the fall of 1989[40] and took over on lead vocal/guitar in 1990. He and Junior Blankenship formed their own band and left early in March 1994.[41]
- Ron Thomason: I'm not sure exactly when Ron was in the band. He played on the Lee Allen - Songs Of Love And Tragedy late 1969 session and on the Keith Whitley & Ricky Skaggs - Tribute To The Stanley Brothers LP recorded in Jan. 1971. John Wright's book says "He joined... in the Spring of 1970 and worked full-time for the band for about a year.", but then quotes Ron as saying: "Jack Cooke joined a few weeks after I did. George Shuffler had quit... we played as I recall two or three jobs without a bass player"[42]. In a more recent article in Bluegrass Unlimited (Aug. 2011), Ron says that Ralph heard him play at the Astro Inn in Columbus in 1969, and he joined shortly thereafter, but by late Fall 1970 he wanted to go back to teaching.[43] Incidentally, three cuts featuring Ron from a 1970 festival in Gettysburg appear on the Classic Stanley 2CD set.
- Mitchell Van Dyke: played his first gig as a CMB on 1st Jan 2011.[44] He left in Feb. 2016.[3] Mitchell had also done the occasional fill-in gig and guest appearance.[45]
- Keith Whitley: See 'Ricky Skaggs' section... After Roy Lee Centers was murdered. Keith rejoined the band and stayed until sometime mid November 1977 - my best guess would be 12th Nov[46]
[1] Show mentioned in the April 1990 editon of Bluegrass limited. https://youtu.be/EDQ0RS0N3Lo?t=9m59s[2] Ralph Stanley & Eddie Dean's 'Man Of Constant Sorrow' book (p. 403). 'The Tennessean' 27th March 1990; and 'Courier Journal' 27th March 1990, 4th August 1988 and 9th Sept 1988.
[3] http://bluegrasstoday.com/mitchell-van-dyke-leaves-ralph-stanley/
[4] Bluegrass Unlimited (July 2003) article "The Death Of Roy Lee Centers" by Kenneth D. Tunnell and Terry C. Cox which is available as a pdf from the author at: http://works.bepress.com/ken_tunnell/28/
[5] http://bluegrasstoday.com/banjo-swap-for-the-clinch-mountain-boys/
[6] Fred Bartenstein compering at the 'Stanley Brothers Story' at Carlton Haney's 1969 Camp Springs festival says this is when the band went back to work following Carter's death: http://frobbi.org/audio/landreth/Reidsville1969/69ReidsvilleStanleyStory.html
[7] Ralph Stanley's "Song & Memory Book Vol. 2" (p.40).
[8] John Wright's "Traveling The High Way Home" book (p.137).
[9] http://bluegrasstoday.com/james-alan-shelton-remembers-george-shuffler/
[10] Ralph Stanley's "Song & Memory Book Vol. 2" (p.37 & 39).
[11] http://frobbi.org/audio/ivor/Stanley-1994/index.html
[12] Melvin's letter to the Carter Stanley Memorial Issue of the fan club 'Stanley Standard'. Liner notes to The Goins Brothers - 'Bluegrass Hits Old & New' (REM LP-1041) 1969.
[13] 'General Store' Bluegrass Unlimited (October 2013).
[14] Bluegrass Unlimited, Feb. 1976 - 'Curley Lambert: Bluegrass Evergreen' by Ivan M. Tribe. (p. 14)
[15] Liner notes to the 4xCD set 1971 - 1973 (Rebel) 1995.
[16] Neil Rosenberg and Charles K. Wolfe 'The Music Of Bill Monroe' (p. 201)
[17] Bluegrass Unlimited June 1977 'The Marshall Family' article by Glenn Roberts Jr.(p.20)
[18] See the Steam Powered Preservation Society tape 'spps-anon001-C144-Flatt-Stanley1978' http://thespps.org/music/
[19] A show recorded 'Live At The Barbican' in early Nov. 2003 as part of the "Way Beyond Nashville" festival. It was broadcast on Feb. 27th 2004 and repeated on 30th Dec 2004 in a evening country/bluegrass 'splurge' that included the 'Down From The Mountain' film, Gillian Welch, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss and a documentary 'Lost Highway: The Story Of Country Music'. The live set with Ralph was briefly on youtube and was was shot in a brown 'duotone' style. The evening's entertainment was preceded with an episode of Patrik McGoohan's "The Prisoner" - perfect! BCNU. http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcfour/2004-12-30#at-20.00
[20] An excellent 2 hour plus performance from the Bluegrass Cafe, Santa Monica CA, 18th April 1983. It's really neat to see the CMB's in a smal club setting - having a lot of fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmQ3BbV_IIQ
[21] Ralph Stanley's "Song & Memory Book Vol. 3" (p.52).
[22] James says he left in 2004: http://www.fiddlehangout.com/archive/6896 but as Todd Meade is on [19], he must have left towards the end of 2003.
[23] Pickin' magazine (August 1977) article - "Dr" Ralph Stanley by Larry Mitchell (p. 4 - 14)
[24] Comment from Tom Hale on one of my youtube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwGb_KsRw0
[25] See http://ratliffmandolins.com/ralphstanley.html
[26] Liner notes to John Rigsby - 'Forks Of The Ivy' (Hay Holler HH-CD-1350) 2000.
[27] James Alan Shelton - 'Clinch Mountain Guitar' booklet (p. 4) accompanying the DVD (Flatpicking Guitar Magazine FGM 1013).
[28] Dr. Ralph Stanley's 33rd Annual Memorial Bluegrass Festival Program (p.63)
[29] John Wright's "Traveling The High Way Home" book (p.96-97).
[30] Ralph Stanley - Live at Watermelon Park, Berryville, Virginia 1969 (Stanleytone) CD.
[31] Bill Conger interview with Charlie Sizemore, Bluegrass Unlimited (Feb. 2012) (p.20).
[32] Paul Morris interview with Charlie Sizemore, Bluegrass Unlimited (May 1986) (p.28). From the Bluegrass Unlimited gig listings, the show on the 19th Nov 1977 was at '4-H Building' Greenfield, IN. with Ralph, The Goins Brothers and Joe Jenkins. Charlie was playing lead guitar with The Goins Brothers. The next advertised gig by Ralph was at the Myrtle Beach SC festival on 25th Nov, where JD Crowe was also on the bill (25th-26th Nov). Charlie is thought to have joined shortly after this festival, which featured Jr Blankenship on lead vocal and Danny Marshall on lead guitar. In an interview with John Wright, Bluegrass Unlimited (July 1990) Charlie confirms that he didn't play with Ralph at the Myrtle Beach SC festival as he was working out his notice with the Goins Brothers, and identifies the 29th July date in Pikeville, KY as his first show with Ralph.
[33] Ricky Skaggs' "Kentucky Traveler" book (p.98, 104-5). Ricky says they took part in the Stanley Brother story at Camp Springs, but in their eagerness to join up, they travelled to the Frontier Ranch festival. I think Ricky may have the details slightly out - A Bluegrass Unlimited advert from April 1970 shows Ralph appearing at Frontier Ranch, OH June 28th, Carlton Haney's Berryville festival 3-5th July and Camp Springs 4-6th Sept 1970.
[34] http://frobbi.org/audio/ivor/Stanley-1991/index.html
[35] http://kledispatches.ky.gov/Documents/0414_officer_sparkman_versailles.pdf
[36] John Wright's "Traveling The High Way Home" book (p.117).
[37] Liner notes to Poor Ramber (King) 2002.
[38] http://www.nathanstanleymusic.com/bio.htm
[39] Ralph Stanley's "Song & Memory Book Vol. 3" (p.51).
[40] Chris Skinker's liner notes to Ernie Thacker, Junior Blankenship Band - Tennessee Blues
[41] http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/article.asp?xid=1075
[42] John Wright's "Traveling The High Way Home" book (p.141 & 150).
[43] Chris Stuart's interview in Bluegrass Unlimited (Aug. 2011) - also says that Ron played on the Second Generation Bluegrass album, which I think is typo. (i.e. it should have been the earlier Tribute To The Stanley Brothers).
[44] http://bluegrasstoday.com/another-banjo-swap-for-the-clinch-mountain-boys/
[45] eg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebMWhD480NA
[46] See the Way Out West CD entry.
