Ralph Stanley and Sam Wilson - What About You

(River Track Studios RTS 1233) 1988

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This is a cassette Ralph and Sam Wilson released in 1988. Although there are no personnel listed or date given, I'm assuming the CMB's are the same as on the front cover photo... and a clip which used to be on youtube nails the year as 1988.

Ten of the eleven songs on the cassette feature Sam Wilson on lead vocals, with an instrumental version of Daybreak In Dixie being listed as Break Down in Dixie.

In 1968 Sam, who was from Wolfe County Ky. led The Kentucky Mountain Ramblers. He was later based in Crampton, Ky and was leader in the Bluegrass Colonels for some years.^[1]

Sam had done some gigs in the 1980s singing lead for Ralph - presumably as 'fill-ins' or guest performances.

The cassette runs-through old Stanley Brothers and Ralph material, and Sam does a pretty good job of handling the lead vocals.

He later recorded with The Bluegrass Colonels including 'Wild Wild Rose' (Galactic Entertainment GED 1107) CD 1993, and a solo CD featuring Tom Adams, Wendy Miller, Michael Cleveland and others 'Come Hear My Story' (Lonesome Day Records no#) 2002.

• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
• Sam Wilson: guitar, vocals
• Sammy Adkins: guitar, vocals
• Junior Blankenship: lead guitar
• Curly Ray Cline: fiddle
• Jack Cooke: bass

Other artwork / related images:

[1] See James C. Claypool 'Kentucky's Bluegrass Music' (p.70)