Spare Me Over

June 23, 2016 7:33 PM

Dr Ralph Stanley has passed at age 89

A 2002 Grammy winner and perpetrator of the high lonesome sound he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry.

O Death YT

Nathan Stanley: "My heart is broken into pieces. My papaw, my dad, and the greatest man in the world, Dr. Ralph Stanley has went home to be with Jesus just a few minutes ago. He went peacefully in his sleep due to a long, horrible battle with skin cancer. I feel so lost and so alone right now. He was my world, and he was my everything."

TNN Documentary YT

Museum

Previously

posted by maggieb (90 comments total)

.
posted by ersatzkat at 7:37 PM on June 23, 2016

Absolutely haunting, but damn, I'm surprised he was only 89. (By that I mean he seemed both older than dirt and weirdly ageless)
posted by drewbage1847 at 7:40 PM on June 23, 2016 [5 favorites]

.
posted by AwkwardPause at 7:46 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by floweringjudas at 7:48 PM on June 23, 2016

His voice is scorched into my brain in a way both haunting and wonderful.
posted by downtohisturtles at 7:49 PM on June 23, 2016

Ooh death ... Ooooooh death
posted by otio at 7:51 PM on June 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

Won't you spare me over for another year

.
posted by entropicamericana at 7:53 PM on June 23, 2016 [10 favorites]

2016 is a total bastard of a year.

Ralph Stanley was pure magic. He will be missed.

.
posted by hippybear at 7:54 PM on June 23, 2016 [5 favorites]

.
posted by cleroy at 7:54 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by doctor_negative at 7:56 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by strixus at 7:57 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by apartment dweller at 7:59 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by Arbac at 7:59 PM on June 23, 2016

posted by maggieb

Eponytragical.
posted by Rangeboy at 8:00 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by mosk at 8:00 PM on June 23, 2016

Tell Carter we said hey.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:01 PM on June 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescat in pace.
posted by ob1quixote at 8:02 PM on June 23, 2016

Goin' to Rocky Island.

Safe travels. You brought great music to this world.

Clinch Mountain Backstep will always be one of my favourite bluegrass tunes.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:04 PM on June 23, 2016 [3 favorites]

He's flown away.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:06 PM on June 23, 2016 [4 favorites]

.
posted by Maecenas at 8:08 PM on June 23, 2016

Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley doing "I'll Fly Away".

Fly on Ralph, fly on.
.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 8:08 PM on June 23, 2016 [9 favorites]

.
posted by kenko at 8:12 PM on June 23, 2016

Oooo death indeed.

.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:22 PM on June 23, 2016

God that song. Goosebumps each. and. every. time.

The lyrics. The invocation. The concept. The future.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:25 PM on June 23, 2016

Train 45 leaving Union Station, Cincinnati, Ohio! All aboard for all points south!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:27 PM on June 23, 2016

I've loved his music for years.

Sad news.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:30 PM on June 23, 2016

Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?
posted by entropicamericana at 8:32 PM on June 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

Damn it. I know he believed in the golden shore and promises made but it is still sad. Here is his rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. A very respectful .
posted by jadepearl at 8:35 PM on June 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

.

Always loved Clinch Mountain Gospel. We've lost a great one.
posted by SarahElizaP at 8:38 PM on June 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

.
posted by Miko at 8:41 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by jim in austin at 8:42 PM on June 23, 2016

.

"perpetrator", heh
posted by mwhybark at 8:46 PM on June 23, 2016

The Stanley Brothers, Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet.
posted by mwhybark at 8:50 PM on June 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

.
posted by Beti at 9:03 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by BYiro at 9:17 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:29 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by Ber at 9:48 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by Token Meme at 9:50 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 9:50 PM on June 23, 2016

.

one of my favorite voices
posted by sallybrown at 9:50 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by dougzilla at 10:00 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by Lynsey at 10:19 PM on June 23, 2016

Angel Band
posted by Jaymzifer at 10:19 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by blob at 10:46 PM on June 23, 2016

Truly sorry to hear of his passing. He just did a show here a few months ago, and I'm grateful to have had the chance to see him.

Rest in peace.
posted by MrBadExample at 10:47 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by little onion at 10:57 PM on June 23, 2016

The voice of pure Appalachian soul.

.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:12 PM on June 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

.
posted by Spatch at 11:27 PM on June 23, 2016

.
posted by On the Corner at 11:48 PM on June 23, 2016

"They've moved all away" said the voice of a stranger.
"To a beautiful home by the bright crystal sea."
Some beautiful day I'll meet them in heaven
Where no one will be a stranger to me.

.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 11:59 PM on June 23, 2016 [3 favorites]

.
posted by dogheart at 12:33 AM on June 24, 2016

Amidst all the loud thrashy music I've got on shuffle, O Death is there, poking it's head out from time to time, and the sound level on the track is much lower, so I always strain a bit to hear what the next song is, and when I figure it out, I always slow down a bit and take a moment to listen.

.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:44 AM on June 24, 2016 [3 favorites]

.
posted by humanfont at 2:47 AM on June 24, 2016

.

Over in the Glory Land by The Stanley Brothers in 1959.
posted by Kattullus at 3:12 AM on June 24, 2016 [2 favorites]

.
posted by nightrecordings at 4:14 AM on June 24, 2016

. Got to see him about a dozen years ago at an outdoor show. He was still in fine voice then, so glad that I got to see him.
posted by octothorpe at 4:21 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by Jubal Kessler at 4:24 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by Cash4Lead at 6:02 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by hydropsyche at 6:12 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by vorpal bunny at 6:20 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by Bob Regular at 6:28 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by ghharr at 6:47 AM on June 24, 2016

Just listening to him this morning on the O, Brother soundtrack.

.
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:02 AM on June 24, 2016

I'm hugely sorry he's gone, but also hugely glad he was with us for so, so many years. Talk about your national treasures.
posted by drlith at 7:09 AM on June 24, 2016 [4 favorites]

.
posted by Atreides at 7:11 AM on June 24, 2016

That a capella solo version of O Death linked in the post is amazing. But it's so spare and intense, it's hard to think of it as entertainment. Here's a lighter Stanley version with harmony and a bit of instrumentation.

Youtube has a full copy of the 2002 Ralph Stanley album, recorded after he was "rediscovered" from the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. (Man that film was like a Buena Vista Social Club moment for American bluegrass musicians.)
posted by Nelson at 7:31 AM on June 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

.
posted by allthinky at 7:33 AM on June 24, 2016

.
Happy I had the opportunity to see him in person a few times. It was like hearing the voice of God.
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:13 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by eclectist at 8:20 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by brennen at 8:27 AM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by GrapeApiary at 8:43 AM on June 24, 2016

Dammit, 2016.

.
posted by jferg at 8:44 AM on June 24, 2016

I'll bid farewwell to old Kentucky...

Thanks for the deep truth of your music, Ralph.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:09 AM on June 24, 2016 [2 favorites]

.
posted by trip and a half at 12:36 PM on June 24, 2016

This is sad news. Ironically, it has released me to listen to music again, which Prince's death had somehow stopped me from doing.

I highly highly recommend the album Short Life of Trouble, which is Ralph singing the songs of Grayson and Whittier. For one thing, their songs are simply amazing, and should be familiar to anyone who likes bluegrass. But, for another, it's ultimately more personal music than bluegrass. There is something about the frenetic pace of bluegrass that, to me, a lover of both bluegrass and its precursors, diminishes the intimacy of old-timey music. The music is clearly personal to him. It's music of the Lost Provinces, which includes Gallax.

Thank you, Dr. Stanley, for everything you did. Every time I drive down 81 I tip my hat at the Gallax exit, and now I'll include a moment of silence. I cannot express how verklempt I was to hear your endorsement of Barak Obama. You were a good man, and a just man. My favorite picture of you is also my favorite picture of Dock Boggs, the both of you singing from the Primitive Baptist song book. Rest in all the peace that there is, and say hello to Carter!
posted by OmieWise at 12:53 PM on June 24, 2016 [8 favorites]

I'd also really recommend that CD of the Stanley Brothers' earliest recordings on Rich-R-Tone. Revenant put it out first, but it's been bootlegged by the usual suspects. That is some raw bluegrass!
posted by OmieWise at 1:15 PM on June 24, 2016

Almost every record he released in the 20th century has something going for it. The sides with Carter meld the brother duet tradition with emergent bluegrass. The later records with Larry Sparks are totally different, yet wonderful. After that you have the band with Ricky Skaggs & Keith Whitley.

He was a real giant in American music.
posted by Burgoo at 1:26 PM on June 24, 2016

Short Life of Trouble is amazing, OmieWise. Thanks for the heads-up.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:12 PM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by mygothlaundry at 3:22 PM on June 24, 2016

Short Life of Trouble: YouTube, Amazon.
posted by Nelson at 3:38 PM on June 24, 2016

My roots! Grew up attending the Carter Stanley Memorial bluegrass festival on Sandy Ridge near the Stanley home. Sweet memories.

Bye Ralph.

.
posted by nofundy at 3:56 PM on June 24, 2016

.
posted by andrewpcone at 5:02 PM on June 24, 2016

.

I saw him once at Telluride. He sang O Death in the open air, under a bright bare moon.
posted by Countess Elena at 6:01 PM on June 24, 2016 [2 favorites]

.
posted by dubitable at 6:27 PM on June 24, 2016

.

So this is the year we lose all the voices.
posted by karayel at 8:04 PM on June 24, 2016

Seeing the English Beat tonight and the Buzzcocks in a couple of months.

I missed out on greats like Ralph Stanley and Bo Diddley even though I could easily have seen them live. Lesson learned.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 4:34 AM on June 25, 2016 [4 favorites]

.
posted by valkane at 12:36 PM on June 25, 2016

.
posted by bongo_x at 12:57 AM on June 26, 2016

Local TV station to carry funeral live on Tuesday.
posted by maggieb at 4:23 PM on June 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

Wow, I hope some of you watched. I hope they post a video. There are parts I'd like to see again.
posted by maggieb at 5:02 PM on June 28, 2016