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Portraits from the road
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Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times
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Name: Ralph Stanley, 78, Coeburn
Occupation: Musician
Bio: When Ralph Stanley was discharged from the Army in 1946, he went into a studio and cut a record with big brother Carter even before going home to see his mother. Influenced by other singing brother duos, the Stanleys made a series of historic recordings for Columbia Records from 1949 until 1952. (When Columbia signed the Stanleys, bluegrass founder Bill Monroe believed so strongly that the boys had stolen his sound that he left Columbia in a huff. Later, Monroe and the Stanleys became good friends.) After Carter's death in 1966, Ralph assumed the lead role and took the music back to the old-time sound he grew up with. He is one of America's most cherished musicians and finally achieved major mainstream attention when he won a Grammy in 2002 for his bone-chilling version of "Oh Death" on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" movie soundtrack.
Favorite artists: The Carter Family, J.E. Mainer and his Mountaineers, the Monroe Brothers, the Clinch Mountain Boys, Ralph Stanley II.
Quote: "The Stanley Brothers had a sound that was more down-to-earth. It was a different sound than anybody ever had. I think that sound was gifted to Carter and me."
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