My posts are usually brimming with light-hearted humor, but today, the bluegrass community feels the sting from the passing of Dr. Ralph Edmund Stanley. I had the distinct honor to have been Dr. Stanley's liaison at the 2015 Huck Finn Jubilee. That was by far one of the highlights of my life. My siblings and I love collecting old records, and one of my favorites is the Stanley Brothers' Columbia Sessions. There is no mistaking the unique banjo picking style and high tenor voice of Ralph Stanley along with the impeccable songwriting and vocals of his brother Carter.
Dr. Stanley will be missed, but never forgotten! This is my tribute to him.
After Bill Monroe set the music industry on fire with his unique brand of country music later known as bluegrass, another band took the music scene by storm. This band was led by two brothers from the Clinch Mountains in Virginia: Carter and Ralph Stanley. Their music became as iconic as the genre itself, with songs like "Molly and Tenbrooks", "Man of Constant Sorrow", "Clinch Mountain Backstep", "Angel Band" and so much more. So powerful was their sound, that they became the second bluegrass band ever to become members of the Grand Ole Opry.
Since that time, Dr. Ralph Stanley impacted so many young musicians' lives with his music. He won several Grammys, made it to the top of the country charts with his collaborations with Josh Turner and the "Down From the Mountain" tour/"O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack, received several honorary doctorates, and discovered such talents as Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, and Larry Sparks.
Bill Monroe became close to the Stanley Brothers and after the untimely death of Carter, Bill Monroe sang an acappella rendition of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" at his funeral. Then, placing his hand on Carter's casket, he said "We will meet again." 30 years later, at Bill Monroe's funeral, Ralph Stanley sang an acappella rendition of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and turned to his casket and said "We will meet again.", just as Monroe did at Carter's funeral.
I looked over Jordan and what did i see?
Coming for to carry me home
There was a band of angels, coming after me
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
I'm sometimes up, and i'm sometimes down
Coming for to carry me home
But but i know my soul is heavenward bound
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
If you get there before I do
Coming for to carry me home
Tell all my friends that I'm coming too
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
RIP Dr. Ralph Edmund Stanley 1927-2016
We will meet again.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
The Wheels on the Bus Come On and Off....
I wish I were making this up. The day before we left on a long road trip to play two gigs over the weekend, I was sitting in my living room with a refrigerator door in pieces spread out before me. Basically, I was trying to pull a 0.125" thick piece of plywood out from the plastic frame to no avail.
Our RV is old by RV standards. We've been traveling to gigs in it for years and years. It's seen a lot of wear and tear. Up until this week, we had duct tape keeping the refrigerator door from falling off. Our air conditioning would only blow out warm air (thus defeating the purpose of even having it) and the generator wouldn't start. And those are just the minor problems.
So, the week before we hit the road, I'm running all over the state trying to manipulate what is left of our RV like a reverse game of Jenga.
To make a long story short, our RV was not fixed. It was merely propped up together so that the wheels could roll and take us to our destination.
We've seen a lot of good times with that RV. So many happy memories. So many exciting adventures and excursions.
While we were at said gig, another nationally touring band parked their huge bus near the stage. It was beautiful. It even had their faces on it. Breath taking.
Just when you thought this post was about being content with the things you have, I'm announcing that I'm making plans to hijack their bus on the way back to Nashville if any of you want to help. We'll meet at the rendezvous with the recognition code "Prevost".
Our RV is old by RV standards. We've been traveling to gigs in it for years and years. It's seen a lot of wear and tear. Up until this week, we had duct tape keeping the refrigerator door from falling off. Our air conditioning would only blow out warm air (thus defeating the purpose of even having it) and the generator wouldn't start. And those are just the minor problems.
So, the week before we hit the road, I'm running all over the state trying to manipulate what is left of our RV like a reverse game of Jenga.
To make a long story short, our RV was not fixed. It was merely propped up together so that the wheels could roll and take us to our destination.
We've seen a lot of good times with that RV. So many happy memories. So many exciting adventures and excursions.
While we were at said gig, another nationally touring band parked their huge bus near the stage. It was beautiful. It even had their faces on it. Breath taking.
Just when you thought this post was about being content with the things you have, I'm announcing that I'm making plans to hijack their bus on the way back to Nashville if any of you want to help. We'll meet at the rendezvous with the recognition code "Prevost".
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Must...Play...Faster!
If there's one thing to be said about banjo pickers, it's that they always raise the bar when it comes to tempo. It's easy enough, after all. They only need to move three fingers. With just a little effort, a banjo picker can hone their skill to the point of driving the rhythm guitar insane.
Oh hello! It's me again; your friendly neighborhood rhythm guitarist struggling to keep up.
I don't mean to be "that picker" who complains that the music is too fast, but I am sometimes. When those times come, I have to find ways to step up my game. It's time for:
Step 1: Down stroke with your pick the bass note of a chord. Do it very quickly.
Step 2: Pivoting on the momentum of your down stroke, play the rest of the chord on the upstroke. Quickly.
Step 3: Repeat. Super super quickly.
When you first try it, it may sound somewhat empty. But when the timing of the song gets along in a hurry, you'll be glad you tried it. Watch people like Del McCoury, Jamie Dailey, Dustin Pyrtle and more use this technique on all the fast ones. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us, eh?
For those of you who completely zoned out through all of that since you aren't a guitar player, just know that I either completely revolutionized the way they play rhythm, or messed them up bad enough to ruin their music career for the rest of eternity.
Next time you see me in concert, pay close attention when we hit a fast song. I'll be in all sorts of pain trying to keep up. Just shout from the audience "Hey, Mark! Don't forget your Half-time strum!" If I hear you, I will be grateful to you for reminding me. Please don't request another fast song from the audience. I will die. Figuratively, not literally.
Oh hello! It's me again; your friendly neighborhood rhythm guitarist struggling to keep up.
I don't mean to be "that picker" who complains that the music is too fast, but I am sometimes. When those times come, I have to find ways to step up my game. It's time for:
Mark's tips of the trade! Episode: Train 45
Besides a stiff macchiato (as only the Italians can serve), there are not many ways to improve your quick picking abilities on the spot. When the banjo picker kicks off Train 45, you guitarists better be on time or die trying. (That is, figuratively die.) Let me introduce you to something I call "The Half-time strum" (I need a better name for it, clearly).Step 1: Down stroke with your pick the bass note of a chord. Do it very quickly.
Step 2: Pivoting on the momentum of your down stroke, play the rest of the chord on the upstroke. Quickly.
Step 3: Repeat. Super super quickly.
When you first try it, it may sound somewhat empty. But when the timing of the song gets along in a hurry, you'll be glad you tried it. Watch people like Del McCoury, Jamie Dailey, Dustin Pyrtle and more use this technique on all the fast ones. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us, eh?
For those of you who completely zoned out through all of that since you aren't a guitar player, just know that I either completely revolutionized the way they play rhythm, or messed them up bad enough to ruin their music career for the rest of eternity.
Next time you see me in concert, pay close attention when we hit a fast song. I'll be in all sorts of pain trying to keep up. Just shout from the audience "Hey, Mark! Don't forget your Half-time strum!" If I hear you, I will be grateful to you for reminding me. Please don't request another fast song from the audience. I will die. Figuratively, not literally.
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