James Allen Shelton
Best known for
Guitar
Lead Vocals
James Alan Shelton was Ralph Stanley’s lead guitarist for twenty years — from 1994 until his death in 2014 — and one of the finest practitioners of the Stanley-style crosspicking guitar popularized by George Shuffler. A Grammy winner, acclaimed solo recording artist, and ambassador of traditional Appalachian bluegrass, he also served as the Clinch Mountain Boys’ road manager and handled much of Ralph’s booking and publicity during the later years of the Doctor’s career.
- Born November 3, 1960 in Kingsport, Tennessee. Raised on a tobacco farm in the Yuma community of Scott County, Virginia, just across the state line, near Gate City. His father operated a country store.
- Got interested in Stanley Brothers music around age 14 and set his sights on the crosspicking guitar style of George Shuffler, the third “Stanley Brother.” Taught to play guitar by his grandfather; began learning both guitar and banjo around age 12.
- Shelton played music regionally around the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee and Virginia for many years while holding various non-musical jobs. A distant cousin of Alan Shelton (no relation to the Danville-area banjo player of the same first name).
- In early 1994, after attending a Ralph Stanley show and learning that guitarist Junior Blankenship was leaving the band, Shelton reached out to Ralph about the job. He played his first show as a Clinch Mountain Boy on March 4, 1994 in Northfield, Minnesota. He remained with Stanley continuously for the next 20 years.
- Won a Grammy in 2003 for his work on the Ralph Stanley/Jim Lauderdale album Lost in the Lonesome Pines (Best Bluegrass Album).
- Released 10 solo albums on labels including Copper Creek, Rebel, and his own imprints. His 2005 album Half Moon Bay was nominated for IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year. Other notable solo projects include Song for Greta, Where I’m Bound (2010), and Song for My Father.
- Admired as an exceptionally tasteful melodic flatpicker whose style echoed Shuffler, Clarence White, and Doc Watson while remaining distinctly his own. Also a gifted harmony singer and accomplished on dobro, banjo, and mandolin. Anchored Steve Sparkman’s Stanley-style banjo instructional DVD and made mandolin straps as a side business.
- In addition to his work with Stanley, produced records for other performers and contributed as a guest player on hundreds of bluegrass recordings. Wrote a widely circulated tribute to George Shuffler on Bluegrass Today following Shuffler’s death in April 2014.
- Lived with his wife Greta in Church Hill, Tennessee. Diagnosed with stage-4 cancer in April 2014; died at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee on June 3, 2014, with Greta at his side. He was 53.
- On his passing, Ralph Stanley said, “James Shelton gave me twenty years of dedicated service as a Clinch Mountain Boy… he fit me like a glove for 20 years.”
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Distant Land to RoamRalph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys · A Distant Land to Roam: Songs of the Carter Family (2006)
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I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue EyesRalph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys · A Distant Land to Roam: Songs of the Carter Family (2006)
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Waves on the SeaRalph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys · A Distant Land to Roam: Songs of the Carter Family (2006)
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Ralph Stanley and FriendsPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and Friends
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Ralph StanleyPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley
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Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain BoysPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Jack CookePlayed on recordings with Jack Cooke
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Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain BoysPlayed on recordings with Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
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Ralph Stanley IIPlayed on recordings with Ralph Stanley II
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Don RigsbyPlayed on recording with Don Rigsby
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Ronnie BowmanPlayed on recording with Ronnie Bowman