The War interrupted any thoughts of a musical career, and it was not until both brothers returned from the service that they were able to make their own mark in music -- ultimately ending up on WCYB Bristol, Tennessee, where they would remain for over ten years as stalwarts of the famed "Farm and Fun Time" radio show. Their music initially followed a more old time style favored by Mainer's Mountaineers, with Ralph playing the banjo in the old two-finger style, interspersed with old time clawhammer playing, before taking a stab at the new three-finger style popularised by Earl Scruggs.
They formed The Clinch Mountain Boys in 1946. They were perhaps the first band to adopt the new music style created by Bill Monroe in the mid-1940s that later became known as bluegrass. Carter played guitar and sang lead while Ralph played banjo and sang with a strong, high tenor voice. Their harmonies are much admired, and many consider Carter Stanley to be one of the greatest singers in the history of country music. The brothers also wrote many of their own songs and Carter had a particular knack for writing deceptively simple lyrics that portrayed strong emotion. The Stanley's style can best be described as a traditional "mountain soul" sound that remained close to the Primitive Baptist vocal stylings they learned from their parents and others near their southwestern Virginia home.
The early Stanley Brothers recordings on Rich-R-Tone (of Johnson City, Tennessee) included Pee Wee Lambert on mandolin. They later added an innovative touch to their traditional sound with the guitar solos of George Shuffler who often used a crosspicking style.
Carter performed briefly with Bill Monroe while Ralph was recovering from injuries received in an automobile accident in 1951. As bluegrass music grew less popular in the late 1950s, the Stanley Brothers moved to Live Oak, Florida to headline the weekly Suwannee River Jamboree radio show on WNER. The three-hour show was also syndicated across the Southeast. Otherwise the brothers performed together until 1966 (from 1961 on as a duo). After Carter's death Ralph revived the Clinch Mountain Boys and is still performing in 2006. Among the musicians who have played in the revived Clinch Mountain Boys are Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Larry Sparks, Curly Ray Cline, Jack Cooke, and Ralph Stanley II. Ralph's career received a big boost with his prominent role on the phenomenally successful soundtrack recording of the 2000 film, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?." The Stanley Brothers were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1992.
Among the Stanley Brothers' best known recordings are:
* I'm A Man of Constant Sorrow (1950, Columbia)
* Rank Stranger
* Angel Band
* How Mountain Girls Can Love
* How Far to Little Rock? (novelty)
* Still trying to get to Little Rock (novelty)
* Ridin' That Midnite Train
* Clinch Mountain Backstep
* She's More To Be Pitied
* The Memory of Your Smile
* Love Me Darlin' Just Tonight
Clinch Mountain Boys Members
* Carter Stanley (guitar)
* Ralph Stanley (banjo)
* Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert (mandolin)
* Jim Williams (mandolin)
* Curly Lambert (mandolin)
* Leslie Keith (fiddle)
* Robert "Bobby" Sumner (fiddle)
* Les Woodie (fiddle)
* Ralph Mayo (fiddle, guitar)
* Chubby Anthony (fiddle)
* Art Stamper (fiddle)
* Joe Meadows (fiddle)
* Red Stanley (fiddle)
* Don Miller (fiddle)
* Vernon Derrick (fiddle)
* James "Jay" Hughes (bass)
* Ernie Newton (bass)
* Chick Stripling (bass)
* Mike Seeger (bass)
* Bill Napier (guitar, mandolin)
* George Shuffler (guitar, bass)
* Larry Sparks (guitar)
External links
* Ralph Stanley Discography
* Recording of "We Are Going to Paint the Town" from a 1958 Florida radio show (made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida)
* Podcast (mp3) of one of the Stanley Brothers' Suwannee River Jamboree raido show from 1958 (made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida)
Angel Band
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My strongest trials now are past, my triumph is begun
O come Angel Band, come and around me stand
O bear me away on your snow wings to my immortal home
O bear me away on your snow wings to my immortal home
I know I'm near the holy ranks of friends andkindred dear
I've brushed the dew on Jordan's banks, the crossing must be near
I've almost gained my Heavenly home, my spirit loudly sings
The Holy ones, behold they come, I hear the noise of wings
O bear my longing heart to Him who bled & died for me
Whose blood now cleanses from all sin and gives me victory
The Stanley Brothers' song "Angel Band" is a spiritual piece reflecting on the nearing end of life and the beckoning call to the afterlife. The opening lyric "The latest sun is sinking fast, my race has nearly run" sets the solemn and nostalgic tone for the rest of the song. The choice of words in the lyrics hint at the imagery of the sun setting, thus depicting the approach of the end of the day or journey. The singer then proceeds to claim that their strongest trials are now over and their triumphs have begun, possibly alluding to the religious belief of triumph in the afterlife.
The refrain then beckons the Angel Band to come and stand around the singer and to bear them away on their snow wings to their immortal home. The Angel Band, in the context of the song, is likely referring to angelic beings that would accompany a person's soul to the afterlife, a common Christian belief. The singer beautifully asks to be carried away on the wings of the Angel Band, underscoring the poignant longing for peace and rest that lies therein. The song ends with a final request of the band to carry their heart to Jesus who bled and died for them, whose blood cleanses all sin, and whose victory the singer claims.
Line by Line Meaning
The latest sun is sinking fast, my race has nearly run
I am approaching the end of my journey and my time on earth is almost over
My strongest trials now are past, my triumph is begun
I have faced my greatest obstacles and have now emerged victorious
O come Angel Band, come and around me stand
I am calling upon the angels to accompany me in my final moments
O bear me away on your snow wings to my immortal home
Please take me to heaven on your pure and holy wings
I know I'm near the holy ranks of friends and kindred dear
I am aware that I am approaching the company of loved ones who have passed on before me
I've brushed the dew on Jordan's banks, the crossing must be near
I have crossed the Jordan River, symbolizing that my time of passing is near
I've almost gained my Heavenly home, my spirit loudly sings
My soul is rejoicing as I draw closer to my eternal dwelling place
The Holy ones, behold they come, I hear the noise of wings
I can sense the angels approaching and the sound of their wings is audible to me
O bear my longing heart to Him who bled & died for me
Take my soul to the Savior who shed His blood for my salvation
Whose blood now cleanses from all sin and gives me victory
The blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse all sins and grant me eternal victory
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hector Delgado, Lavell W Crump, Le Crae Devaughn Moore, Reggie Andrews, Paul Michael Slayton, Leon Leon Ndugu Chancler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind