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)
The Angels Are Singing
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder if you remember the same
We talked of the love we shared for each other
And longed for the day we'd change your sweet name
Oh, I can still hear your voice in the evening
I see your sweet face your blue eyes so bright
God took you away and left me so lonely
As the years passed away we cherished each other
No worries or cares to darken our day
From our little home up in the Clinch Mountains
The savior came down and called you one day
I'll always be true and love you, my darling
But I know you are happy and healthy up there
When God calls me home I'll meet you in heaven
Please wait for me, darling, I'll meet you up there
The Stanley Brothers' song Angels Are Singing is a touching ballad that speaks of love, loss, and reunion in heaven. The lyrics describe the memories of a man who met his sweetheart and fell in love with her. They shared a deep love, and the man longed for the day that they would get married and she would become his wife. As the song progresses, the man recounts the day that his beloved passed away and how he was left alone to mourn her.
The line "The angels are singing in heaven tonight" is repeated throughout the song, which creates a sense of otherworldliness and transports the listener into the realm of the divine. The theme of heaven is central to the song, and it seems to be the place where the man will finally be reunited with his beloved. The lyrics speak of a deep faith in God and the belief that loved ones who have passed away are not truly gone but are instead waiting in the realm of the divine.
The songwriter uses vivid imagery to bring the story to life, such as "I can still hear your voice in the evening" and "From our little home up in the Clinch Mountains." These details help to create a sense of time and place and draw the listener deeper into the man's memories. Overall, Angels Are Singing is a moving song that speaks to the power of love and the belief in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweetheart I recall the day I first met you
I remember the day when I first met you, my beloved
I wonder if you remember the same
I am curious to know if you too remember our first encounter
We talked of the love we shared for each other
In those early days, we spoke of the love we had for one another
And longed for the day we'd change your sweet name
We eagerly anticipated the day when we would take the holy vows of marriage
Oh, I can still hear your voice in the evening
Even now, I can still hear your beautiful voice in the tranquil evenings
I see your sweet face your blue eyes so bright
I can conjure up the image of your charming face with its bright blue eyes so vividly
God took you away and left me so lonely
When God took you away, my dear, I was filled with an indescribable sense of loneliness
The angels are singing in heaven tonight
Now, in heaven, the angels raise their voices in sweet hymns to celebrate your arrival
As the years passed away we cherished each other
In the ensuing years, we treasured and nurtured our love for each other
No worries or cares to darken our day
We were blessed with a carefree and joyful life, free from worries and sorrows
From our little home up in the Clinch Mountains
Our humble abode was nestled in the beautiful Clinch Mountains
The savior came down and called you one day
Then, one day, the savior called you to his divine abode
I'll always be true and love you, my darling
Even after you left me, I have remained true to you and continue to love you dearly
But I know you are happy and healthy up there
I know that you are in a state of perfect happiness and are blessed with good health in heaven
When God calls me home I'll meet you in heaven
When it is my time to join you in the afterlife, I will unite with you in heaven
Please wait for me, darling, I'll meet you up there
Until then, my darling, please wait for me in heaven, where we will be together again
Contributed by Sophie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pickinbuddy
One of the Stanley Brothers' greatest albums.
The PinCushionMan
I know.. because they're all great.
Aric Leavitt
They sure did define bluegrass. This particular Stanley album has a mystique about it. Beautifully haunting!
Steve B
GREATTTTT HARMONY! Love The Stanleys
Richard Spaur
I love this album. Great Collection. They’re with the angels now! Keep practicing bro’s!
Jenny Martin
Love your music gospel music
God bless you
Albert Font
Ah, the first song is so sad :c
Curtis Graham
curtis