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)
Wild Bill Jones
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I came upon that Wild Bill Jones
He was a walking and a talking by my true lover's side
And I bid him to leave her alone
He said my age is twenty-one
Too old to be controlled
I pulled my revolver from my side
He reeled and he staggered, and he fell to the ground
And then he gave one dying moan
He wrapped his arms around my little girl's neck
Saying honey won't you take me home
So put them handcuffs on me boys
And lead me to that freight car gate
I have no friends or relations there
No-one for to go my bail
So pass around that old long necked bottle
And we'll all go on a spree
For today was the last of that Wild Bill Jones
And tomorrow will be the last of me
They sent me to prison for twenty long years
This poor boy longs to be free
But Wild Bill Jones and that long-necked bottle
Have been the ruin of me
The Stanley Brothers' song Wild Bill Jones appears to be a traditional murder ballad, with a story arc that has been repeated throughout the history of country and folk music. The singer is a man who encounters Wild Bill Jones, who is walking and talking next to the singer's lover, prompting him to tell Wild Bill Jones to leave his lover alone. The singer shoots Wild Bill Jones with his revolver and kills him. He then wraps his arms around his lover's neck and begs her to take him home. Soon after, the law arrives and arrests the singer, leading him to be sentenced to prison for 20 years.
Line by Line Meaning
As I went down for to take a little walk
I was walking, just minding my own business
I came upon that Wild Bill Jones
I stumbled upon Wild Bill Jones
He was a walking and a talking by my true lover's side
He was with my girlfriend, casually chatting and walking
And I bid him to leave her alone
I told him to back off and leave her alone
He said my age is twenty-one
He replied saying he is old enough to do as he pleases
Too old to be controlled
He believes he is above being told what to do
I pulled my revolver from my side
I took out my gun from my holster
And I destroyed that poor boy's soul
I shot and killed him
He reeled and he staggered, and he fell to the ground
He stumbled, fell and landed on the ground
And then he gave one dying moan
He let out a cry of pain before dying
He wrapped his arms around my little girl's neck
He held on to my girlfriend, asking her to take him home
Saying honey won't you take me home
He pleaded with my girlfriend to take him home
So put them handcuffs on me boys
I am surrendering to the authorities
And lead me to that freight car gate
Take me to the train station to haul me off to prison
I have no friends or relations there
I have no support system in prison
No-one for to go my bail
No one will post my bail and set me free
So pass around that old long necked bottle
Let's drink and celebrate Wild Bill Jones' death
And we'll all go on a spree
Let's all have a good time and party
For today was the last of that Wild Bill Jones
Wild Bill Jones is dead and gone
And tomorrow will be the last of me
I am going to prison for a long time and may not survive
They sent me to prison for twenty long years
I was sentenced to twenty years in prison
This poor boy longs to be free
I desperately want to be released from prison
But Wild Bill Jones and that long-necked bottle
My actions that night, fueled by alcohol and anger, ruined my life
Have been the ruin of me
My choices have led to my downfall
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ARTHEL LANE WATSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind