The Best of Bluegrass Greats The Stanley Brothers, Heard On ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?,'' Compiled On New ``Best Of'' Album.Entertainment Editors/Music Writers LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2002 Long before the unexpected success of the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, The Stanley Brothers Stanley brothers U.S. bluegrass duo. The duo consisted of Ralph (Edmund) Stanley (b. Feb. 25, 1927, Stratton, Va., U.S.) on banjo and Carter (Glen) Stanley (b. Aug. 27, 1925, McClure, Va.—d. Dec. 1, 1966, Bristol, Va.) on lead guitar. were bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. legends. Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (b. April 2, 1947, Birmingham, Alabama) is a country, folk and alternative rock musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and , Bob Dylan Noun 1. Bob Dylan - United States songwriter noted for his protest songs (born in 1941) Dylan , Dwight Yoakam, Gillian Welch Gillian Welch (born October 2 1967 in New York City)[1] is a singer-songwriter whose musical style combines elements of bluegrass, neotraditional country, Americana, old time string band music and folk into a rustic style that she dubs "American Primitive". , Patty Loveless This biographical article or section needs additional references for verification. Please help [ to improve this article] by adding additional sources. Unverifiable material about living persons must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. , Jim Lauderdale and Alison Krauss had already paid tribute to Ralph and his late brother Carter, leading to renewed popularity. Yet "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" brought The Stanley Brothers a level of recognition previously unfathomable. Now their greatest recordings of the `50s, including "Angel Band" as featured in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," have been brought together on "The Best Of The Stanley Brothers" edition of "20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection" (Mercury Nashville/UME), released October 1, 2002. Each of the 12 selections has been digitally remastered. Though the brothers -- Carter on guitar and lead vocals, and Ralph on banjo banjo, stringed musical instrument, with a body resembling a tambourine. The banjo consists of a hoop over which a skin membrane is stretched; it has a long, often fretted neck and four to nine strings, which are plucked with a pick or the fingers. and tenor vocal -- had been recording for years on other labels, their sides for Mercury from 1953 to 1958 marked their most realized work. Importantly, Ralph's "high lonesome lone·some adj. 1. a. Dejected because of a lack of companionship. See Synonyms at alone. b. Producing such dejection: a lonesome hour at the bar. 2. " vocals and driving style of old-time clawhammer banjo differentiated The Stanley Brothers from Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass. Nevertheless, they did work together: "The Best Of The Stanley Brothers" includes the Carter Stanley-Bill Monroe co-written classic "Who Will Call You Sweetheart" and the brothers' rendition of Monroe's "A Voice From On High." The album also includes, along with the traditional "Angel Band," the Carter-penned originals "Our Last Goodbye," "(Say) Won't You Be Mine," "I Long To See The Old Folks," "Baby Girl," "Loving You Too Well" and instrumental "Daybreak In Dixie." Ralph penned the album's "Will He Wait A Little Longer" and "I Worship You." The siblings leaned toward the more spiritual side of country music, especially in the `50s, and the Cleavant Derricks song "Just A Little Talk With Jesus" is evidence here. Their career blossomed with the `60s folk boom. Sadly, the increased pace took a toll on Carter's health. He occasionally found himself unable to perform, and Ralph, the once-shy younger brother, was many times forced into the spotlight as the show's emcee. Carter's death in 1966 ended The Stanley Brothers. But it marked the start of Ralph's own rise and his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys, would launch the careers of others, notably Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley. Then came 2000's "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," which also included Ralph's solo rendition of "O Death," winning the 75-year-old a most unlikely first-time Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. Today, The Stanley Brothers remain part of the lasting and ever-renewed legacy of bluegrass music. The series "20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection" features new "best of" albums from the most significant music artists of the past century. |
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