Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
Band · Active 1949–2016 · Dickenson County, Virginia
Traditional Bluegrass
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys was the band Ralph Stanley led for nearly 50 years after his brother Carter's death in 1966 — a continuously touring and recording outfit that preserved traditional mountain bluegrass through eras when the style fell in and out of fashion. The band became a training ground for generations of young singers and pickers, and Ralph's high, lonesome tenor and frailing banjo remained at its center until shortly before his death in 2016.
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- Ralph Stanley (b. 1927, Stratton, Virginia) revived the Clinch Mountain Boys name in 1967 following the death of his brother Carter, rather than leave music — a decision pushed by King Records' Syd Nathan and his fan base.
- Early lineups included Larry Sparks and Roy Lee Centers on lead vocals (both filling the near-impossible role of replacing Carter), Curly Ray Cline on fiddle, and Jack Cooke on bass.
- Hired a 16-year-old Ricky Skaggs and 15-year-old Keith Whitley as teenagers in 1970 after hearing them open for his own show — both became bluegrass and country stars.
- Later sidemen included Charlie Sizemore, Junior Blankenship, James Alan Shelton, James Price, Steve Sparkman, Dewey Brown, and Ralph's son Ralph Stanley II and grandson Nathan Stanley.
- Started a Memorial Day bluegrass festival at the old Stanley home place in 1971, which ran for over 40 years and became a pilgrimage destination for traditional bluegrass fans.
- Toured Japan, Europe, and extensively across the U.S., recording prolifically for Rebel, King, Freeland, and later Rebel and DMZ.
- Awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music from Lincoln Memorial University in 1976, earning the title "Dr. Ralph Stanley."
- Contributed to the Grammy-winning soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou? in 2000, including an a cappella rendition of "O Death" that won Ralph a solo Grammy and introduced his music to a massive new audience.
- Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2000, the first new inductee of the third millennium; received the National Medal of Arts in 2006.
- Ralph led the band until shortly before his death in June 2016; son Ralph Stanley II continues to tour with a reformed Clinch Mountain Boys.
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A Distant Land to Roam: Songs of the Carter Family2006 · DMZ Columbia DMZ-CD 82796 93629 2
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Live at the Smithsonian2001 · King KSCD 5144
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While the Ages Roll On2000 · Rebel REB-CS 1765
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My All and All1997 · Rebel REB-CD 1740
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Sixteen Years1996 · Copper Creek CCCD 0138
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Classic Stanley1995 · Freeland FRC-CD 9002
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Almost Home1992 · Rebel CD 1707
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Saturday Night1992 · Freeland FRC-CD 643
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Bound to Ride: Vintage Mountain Bluegrass1991 · Rebel CD 1114
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Like Father Like Son1991 · Copper Creek CC 0110
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Pray for the Boys1991 · Rebel CD 1687
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Introducing James King1986 · Wango LP 118
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Lonesome and Blue1986 · Rebel REB 1647
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Ralph Stanley Singing Sixteen Years1986 · River Track Studio RTS 1097
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I Can Tell You the Time1985 · Rebel REB 1637
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Child of the King1983 · Rebel REB 1619
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Memory of Your Smile1982 · Rebel REB 1606
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The Stanley Sound Today1981 · Rebel REB 1601
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I’ll Wear a White Robe1980 · Rebel REB 1590
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Snow Covered Mound1980 · Rebel REB 1613
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Down Where the River Bends1978 · Rebel SLP 1579
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Clinch Mountain Gospel1977 · Rebel SLP 1571
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Live at McClure Virginia1976 · Rebel SLP 1554-55
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Old Home Place1976 · Rebel SLP 1562
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A Man and His Music1974 · Rebel SLP 1530
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Gospel Echoes of the Stanley Brothers1973 · Jessup MB 129
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I Want to Preach the Gospel1973 · Rebel SLP 1522
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Stanley Sound Around the World1973 · King Bluegrass KB 522
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Play Requests1972 · Rebel SLP 1514
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Cry from the Cross1971 · Rebel SLP 1499
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Live in Japan1971 · Seven Seas / Rebel
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Something Old Something New and Some of Katy’s Mountain Dew1971 · Rebel SLP 1503
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Hills of Home1969 · King 1069
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Brand New Country Songs1968 · King 1028
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Over the Sunset Hill1968 · King 1032
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The Bluegrass Sound1968 · Jalyn JLP 120
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Old Time Music1967 · Jalyn JLP 118
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Ralph StanleyPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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“Curly” Ray ClinePlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Jack CookePlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Roy Lee CentersPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Keith WhitleyPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Junior BlankenshipPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Charlie SizemorePlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Danny MarshallPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Ricky SkaggsPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Ricky LeePlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Larry SparksPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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James Alan SheltonPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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John RigsbyPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Ralph Stanley IIPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Melvin GoinsPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Renfro ProffittPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Steve SparkmanPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Ed FerrisPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Jack LynchPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Ernie ThackerPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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J.T. GrayPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Ronald SmithPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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William “Curley” LambertPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Dennis CrouchPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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James PricePlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Jim McCallPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Mike SeegerPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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George ShufflerPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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James KingPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Jimmy MartinPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Larry PerkinsPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Nathan StanleyPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Sammy AdkinsPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Art StamperPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Earl TaylorPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Eddie StubbsPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Frank WakefieldPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Hank SmithPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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John DuffeyPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Johnny WarrenPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Jon Randall StewartPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Kenneth WootenPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Todd MeadePlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys