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)
Keep A Memory
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never ever let it stray
Why betray the heart you've broken
I'll find happiness some way.
When I think about you darling
I often hang my head and cry
Words just can't explain my feelings
When our old friends ask about you
Many times I can't reply
Just the thought of your name darling
Makes me wish that I could die.
The Stanley Brothers' song "Keep A Memory" is a melancholic melody that reflects on the aftermath of lost love. The singer pleads with his former lover to keep the memories of their relationship alive, even though it has ended in heartbreak. He urges her not to forget the good times that they shared, and to cherish those memories. He acknowledges his own wrongdoings, apologizes for breaking her heart, but insists that he will find happiness again in a new way.
The singer's grief is apparent as he admits to often crying when thinking about his former love. He feels unable to adequately express the depth of his feelings in words alone. When asked about her, he struggles to answer and the mere mention of her name brings him closer to despair. The song is an emotional journey for both the singer and the listener, exploring the complex and painful emotions that come with the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep a memory of our love dear
Remember the love we had and cherish it always
Never ever let it stray
Don't let anything come between the love we shared
Why betray the heart you've broken
Why hurt someone who has already suffered enough
I'll find happiness some way.
I will move on from this pain and find happiness in other ways
When I think about you darling
When you cross my mind my heart aches.
I often hang my head and cry
I feel so much pain and sadness that I can't even hold my head up high
Words just can't explain my feelings
My emotions are so overwhelming that words cannot express them
Just to know I've lived a lie
Knowing that our love was not genuine hurts me deeply
When our old friends ask about you
When our mutual friends inquire about where you are or how you are doing
Many times I can't reply
Often I am too heartbroken to even speak on the topic of you
Just the thought of your name darling
Just the mere mention of your name brings back so many painful memories
Makes me wish that I could die.
This pain is so unbearable that sometimes I just want to end it all.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bernice Atkins
Such a good country song well done.
JD97711
I simply can't believe these old songs don't get more likes. Go's to show you how far we a separated from our roots.
Ida Fillmore
Memories thANK GOD WE CAN ENDURE THESE TIMES !!
thehorrorgeek1
This makes me miss home