Ralph Stanley (Born 1927)

From 1946 until the death of his guitar-playing brother, Carter, in 1966, Ralph Stanley performed as part of The Stanley Brothers duo, backed by their band, The Clinch

Mountain Boys. He has continued to play since then, eventually reviving the Clinch Mountain Boys with whom he continues to tour. (The band has a distinguished group of alumni, including Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, and Charley Sizemore.) His unique style of banjo playing – sometimes called “Stanley style” – and the very traditional bluegrass music he performs, draw on the musical traditions of the area of southwestern Virginia in which he grew up. At the age of 75, he was awarded a Grammy for his performance of “O Death” on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? movie soundtrack album.

1998
Studio portrait/Nashville