Honoring Their Memory - Country musicians we lost in 2016

Merle Haggard, Ralph Stanley, Jean Shepard, and Melvin Goins were just some of the many legends that passed in 2016.

In the year 2016, music lost some major patriarchs and pioneers in the country music genre.  Several of those that had passed away performed up until the Lord called them up to play in the Angel Band.  Here are some of the most notable passings of 2016 in country music:

Merle Haggard

If there was one performer that led the ways of the working man, it would be Merle Haggard.  He would see time in prison, but later took to the stage to perform at the same place he was a prisoner before.  He was a fighter in standing up for what he believed in.  He also helped with the innovations of the Bakersfield sound alongside Buck Owens and many more.  Merle Haggard passed away on his birthday, April 6th, after battling double pneumonia.  He was well loved among the country music community, being a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.  One of the songs that Merle Haggard said was his favorite was "Sing Me Back Home" and continues to be the song that many remember him by.

Dr. Ralph Stanley

If there was a true pioneer into the Appalachian Bluegrass Folk sound, it would be Dr. Ralph Stanley.  He received the "doctor" title after receiving an honorary doctorate from Lincoln Memorial University.  Ralph's haunting voice performing songs such as "O Death," "Pretty Polly," and "Angel Band," were among fan favorites.  He would receive a Grammy award for his performance of "O Death," which was used in the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?"  Ralph Stanley would perform, even after retiring, up until his death on June 23rd after a bout of skin cancer.  Performing at his funeral included Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, and Patty Loveless with "Go Rest High On That Mountain."  Read our tribute to Ralph Stanley by clicking here.

Jean Shepard

Having performed on the Grand Ole Opry for 60 years in 2015, Jean Shepard hung up the reins and retired from music.  She was best known for her strong vocals in "Second Fiddle to an Old Guitar."  Jean was one to stand up for country music by responding to Blake Shelton's remarks on country music.  Sadly, she passed away on September 25th at the age of 82 years.

Melvin Goins

Kentucky Music Hall of Fame member, Melvin Goins, passed away on July 29th while on the road touring in Canada.  The bluegrass and country music legend formed a duo with his brother, Ray Goins. The duo would perform on the radio, as well as at numerous bluegrass festivals alongside Ralph Stanley.  Since 1969, the Goins Brothers Band recorded over 30 albums and had a hit tv show on WKYH out of Hazard, Kentucky, as well as their radio shows on WSIP in Paintsville and WSKV in Stanton.   In 2009, Melvin Goins was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame as a member of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers.  In April 2011, The Goins Brothers were inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. In 2013, The Goins Brothers were inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.  On US-23 in eastern Kentucky, deemed the Country Music Highway, you can see the sign in Catlettsburg that proudly states it is the home of Melvin Goins.  Read our tribute to Melvin Goins by clicking here.

Red Simpson

Joseph Cecil "Red" Simpson was well known for his truck driving theme songs, as well as his Bakersfield sound along with Merle Haggard.  He released hit songs such as "Truck Driver's Heaven," "Highway Patrol," "I'm A Truck," "Truck Driver Man and Wife," before appearing for the last time on the charts with "The Flying Saucer Man and the Truck Driver."  Merle Haggard recorded "Lucky Old Colorado" that Red had written.  Red passed away due to a heart attack on January 8th.

Bonnie Brown

Bonnie Brown performed alongside her brother, Jim Ed, and sister, Maxine, to form The Browns.  Their song, "The Tree Bells" was the number one single on the pop charts for 4 weeks and for ten weeks, on the country charts. They were members of the Grand Ole Opry from 1965 until 1967, when Bonnie decided to retire from music.  In 2015, they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Bonnie passed away due to lung cancer on September 28th, shortly prior to her 78th birthday.

Holly Dunn

Another fellow Grand Ole Opry member who later retired, Holly Dunn, was known for her song, "Daddy's Hands" that pulled the heartstrings of many.  She also climbed to the charts with "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me" and "You Really Had Me Going."  After she retired from music, she moved back to New Mexico where she continued her passion for painting.  She passed away on November 14th after battling ovarian cancer.

Joey Feek

Joey Feek was half of the duo, Joey+Rory, that won the hearts of many through their tv shows, music, and blog written by Rory Feek.  The duo performed on the CMT's television show, "Can You Duet," before setting out on their own with duet projects.  Joey+Rory released 8 albums, as well as multiple dvd specials, including one with the Gaither Family.  Joey took time away from music due to her pregnancy and soon after the cancer diagnosis.  One of the last performances the duo performed was at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Kentucky.  Sadly, Joey passed away on March 4th due to cervical cancer.

Mark Gray

Mark Gray was a former member of the band Exile and co-writer of the hits “Take Me Down,” “The Closer You Get,” and “It Ain’t Easy Being Easy.” He had a successful solo career with three albums and eight Top 40 country hit songs, one of which was a duet with Tammy Wynette called "Sometimes When We Touch."  Mark passed away on December 2nd.

Guy Clark

Guy Clark was a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and writer of “L. A. Freeway,” “Desperadoes Waiting for a Train," "Heartbroke," and “Rita Ballou.” Many in country music, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, and Rodney Crowell would cut his songs. Kentucky native, Darrell Scott, co-wrote "Out in the Parking Lot" with Guy Clark, which was later cut by Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson.  Guy won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album: My Favorite Picture of You.  He passed away on May 17 in Nashville due to lymphoma.

Gordie Tapp

Canadian native and Hee Haw star, Gordie Tapp passed away on December 18th at the age of 94.  He was originally a jazz dj at CHML radio station before switching to do work on "Main Street Jamboree." He later was casted as a member of "Hee Haw," in which he also helped write scripts and songs for. He would play the part of the husband opposite of Roni Stoneman, as well as perform in the "Where Oh Where Are You Tonight" singalong skit throughout the years.  In 1990, he was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Freddie Powers

Freddy Powers was a co-producer of Willie Nelson’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow album and co-writer of the Merle Haggard hits “Natural High,” “Let’s Chase Each Around the Room” and “Looking for a Place to Fall Apart,” as well as George Jones’ “I Always Get Lucky With You."  Freddie passed away on June 21st at the age of 84.

Songwriting Heroes

Several songwriters passed away in 2016 that left their mark in country music in the songs that they wrote.  Curly Putman wrote "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "Green, Green Gras of Home," and "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." He died of congestive heart failure on October 30th. Steve Young wrote "Seven Bridges Road" as well as Waylon Jennings "Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean." Steve passed away on March 17th.  "Young Love" songwriter, Sonny James, passed away on February 22nd due to natural causes.  He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.  John D. Loudermilk, 82, was a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame whose hits included “Abilene,” “Waterloo,” “Indian Reservation” and “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye."  John passed away on September 21 in Christiana, Tennessee.  Ned Miller, recording artist and writer of “From a Jack to a King,” “Dark Moon,” “Behind the Tear” and “Do What You Do Do Well,” passed away at the age of 90 on March 18 in Medford, Oregon.  Chips Moman was a co-writer of Waylon Jennings' hit songs “Luckenbach, Texas" and “The Wurlitzer Prize."  He also wrote the Grammy-winning “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song."  Chips passed away on June 13th in LaGrange, Georgia.  Kim Williams, was a songwriter whose hit compositions included “Three Wooden Crosses,” “If the Devil Danced in Empty Pockets,’ “Ain’t Going Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)” and “It’s Midnight Cinderella.” Kim passed away on February 11th in Florida.  Mentor Williams, was writer of the crossover hit, “Drift Away,” as well as “When We Make Love,” “She’s Gonna Win Your Heart” and “A Few Ole Country Boys.”  Mentor passed away on November 16 at the age of 70.

Watch the funeral for Dr. Ralph Stanley

Special thanks to WYMT of Hazard, Kentucky, for airing the funeral for Dr. Ralph Stanley.  They have graciously uploaded the service on Youtube.  Below is that video.  

Dr. Ralph Edmond Stanley, age 89 passed away Thursday, June 23, 2016 at his residence. He was a lifelong resident of Dickenson County and was of the Primitive Baptist Faith. He was a 1945 graduate of Ervinton High School and a World War II Veteran of the United States Army. Dr. Stanley was a member of the Clintwood Masonic Lodge #66 and a member of the Kazim Shrine in Roanoke, Virginia . He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Lucy Jane Stanley; four brothers, Carter Stanley, Morgan Stanley, Lansing Stanley, and Doc Stanley; four sisters, Ruby Rakes Eubank, Buford Tate, Georgia Armes, and Hattie Stanley; several nieces and nephews, and many loyal Clinch Mountain Boys.

Survivors Include:
His Wife: Jimmi Stanley

Two Daughters: Lisa Joy Stanley Marshall and her husband, Bryan, and Tonya Carletta Stanley Armes and husband Jason.

One Son: Ralph Edmond Stanley II and wife, Kristi

One Step Son: Michael Ray Cheek and wife Tonya
One Brother: Freddie Stanley and wife, Joan of Abingdon, Virginia

Seven Grandchildren: Amber Dawn Stanley, Nathan Edmond Stanley, Evan Matthew Stout, Alexis Faith Marshall, Ashley Hope Marshall, Taylor Brooke Stanley, and Ralph Edmond Stanley III

One Great Granddaughter: Makenzie Paige Stanley

The family will receive friends Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at the Hills of Home Park, Smith Ridge Section, McClure, Virginia at 5:00 p.m with a Masonic Service to begin at 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow with Frank Newsome and Eva Murphy officiating. VFW Post 8979 will conduct a VFW graveside service with entombment to follow.  Fans are asked to bring a lawn chair if they plan on attending the services.

Pallbearers will be Nathan Stanley, Bryan Marshall, Walter Carlton, Evan Stout, Jason Armes, Ralph Stanley II, and Ralph Stanley III.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner, Jim Lauderdale, Dewey Brown, Ralph Murphy, Bobby Hammons, and any Clinch Mountain Boy present.


In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shriner’s Childrens’ Hospital or St. Judes.

Appalachian music and heritage has always been strong through Ralph Stanley.  He embraced the mountains, the people, and the music.  For 70 years, he stood on stage performing, with most of those years accompanied by his clawhammer banjo picking.  The skies are weeping in the mountains of Virginia as we say goodbye to the legend that passed away on June 23, 2016 at the age of 89.

The Angel Band has called up Ralph Stanley

Dr. Ralph Stanley

Back in 1998, I was fortunate to go to Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival with some college friends.  My main mission - to meet Ralph Stanley.  I got to see the frail looking man in a suit, a roll of money nestled in his front pocket, sitting at a merchandise table.  He would talk to anyone that wanted to talk and sign anything that he had for sale.  I was able to purchase a cd, shake his hand, and tell my friends that I got to meet Ralph Stanley.  Later on, he would stand up on the stage with his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys, to sing pure Appalachian gospel and bluegrass tunes that resonated among the crowd.

A couple of years later, I continued to travel to bluegrass festivals in the summer and write more for the college newspaper on music.  I became friends with guitarist, James Alan Shelton, who allowed me to do an interview with Ralph Stanley.  In the summer of 2001, it was blazing hot at the Shriners Bluegrass Festival in Olive Hill, Kentucky.  It would be the first interview that I would conduct with someone in music and it was with Ralph Stanley.  I was doing quite a bit of research on bluegrass music for papers and presentations in college.  The movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou" was a hit on the silverscreen and bluegrass saw a resurgence of listeners and fans.  We spoke about the connection of bluegrass and movies.  Needless to say, I learned quite a bit from Mr. Stanley that day.  Ralph, along with the Clinch Mountain Boys, all signed the coversheet of one of my research papers, much to my surprise.  I did get an A+ on that particular paper.

Later on, Ralph Stanley would perform at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center over the years.  James Alan Shelton said I always had a standing invitation to come out and see them.  I took him up on that offer one cold December evening when they played in the Old Barn.  Afterwards, Ralph Stanley would sit at the merchandise table shaking hands, signing autographs, and greeting fans.  He would sign my mandolin that is now hanging on the wall at my house.

Many fans can tell you that seeing Ralph Stanley sing put a haunted eerie feeling over the crowd.  Everyone would be silenced by the reverend vocal style of Ralph Stanley booming through the speakers.  It didn't matter what music style you liked, but you would easily turn your heard and listen to what he would sing.  It is rare to see someone on stage take command with performing the traditional Baptist hymns.  

Appalachian music and heritage has always been strong through Ralph Stanley.  He embraced the mountains, the people, and the music.  For 70 years, he stood on stage performing, with most of those years accompanied by his clawhammer banjo picking.  The skies are weeping in the mountains of Virginia as we say goodbye to the legend that passed away on June 23, 2016 at the age of 89.

The African musical influence in the world of bluegrass music

Banjos at Museum of Appalachia - by Jessica Bray

African music has always influenced other musical genres.  When slaves came to the Appalachian Mountain region from Africa, they brought over a lot of their traditions.  Most of these traditions are shown frequently in the music world, especially in bluegrass music.

It is already known that the 4-string banjo originated from Africa, along with oral tradition.  The first banjos were made with a gourd sound chamber.  Five elements that compose a banjo include the sound chamber, head (vibrating membrane), neck, bridge, and the strings.  The most important part is the bridge as it transmits sound from the strings to the head.  However, early banjos from Africa did not have bridges.  The strings on early banjos were made from “…silk to dried bird gut to horsehair to vine or twine” (Conway 169).  In 1856, wire, along with fishing line were introduced to be use as strings.  The chamber was made from any animals skin available, whether it was goat, horse, cow, raccoon, snake, etc. (170).  Furthermore, the rims were made of either gourds or wood.  Gourd rims came from Africa, while Europeans adapted the wooden rims.  Wooden rims soon became popularly used because gourds were not easily accessible throughout the year in some regions and were very fragile (174).  Soon after these changes, white Americans changed the number of strings to five.  This change to five strings made the banjo the only original folk instrument in America (190).

Another African musical influence in bluegrass is the singer’s vocal traits.  Bluegrass singers are of some distinction, but are very much like their African musical counterparts.  Singers will wail, moan, and sometimes shout in the middle of a song to emphasize what they are feeling.  The voice can be the most powerful element in a song.  Most songs are sung in harmony, as in most black Baptist churches.  Some groups, both black and white, will sing accapella tunes that give that eerie, lonesome feeling to the song.  Sometimes one will not be able to follow the words, but become mesmerized by the vocal quality in the tune.  The lead singer usually has a tenor singing voice and hit amazingly high notes.  Bill Monroe was one of few that were able to “climb up from a pledging style in a middle register into a more forceful calling style at higher pitches” (Cantwell 212).

Many of the bluegrass tunes are derived from African music.  Like jazz, bluegrass song arrangement is in the form of instrumental solo breaks and improvising throughout the tune.  Bluegrass tunes are often in the form of a dance, very much like those in the African tradition.  Clogging and flatfoot dancing is very much like the African tradition in tribal ritual dances.  Both use rhythm of the music to move, and improvisation is often used in both traditional dancing styles.  Work songs, such as “Nine Pound Hammer,” provided a driving rhythm in both worlds of white and black music.  Ballads are often common between the two genres.  Both would often tell a story about a particular event or period of time.  

One of Dr. Ralph Stanley’s more popular ballad songs is “Pretty Polly.”  In November 1997, Stanley was accompanied by Patty Loveless to sing the tune for the Clinch Mountain Country album.  The song originated in the British Isles.  According to Wayne Erbsen, “It was in the English town of Gosport that the gruesome murder of Pretty Polly took place.  Originally entitled “The Gosport Tragedy,” the ballad has been collected as early as 1750 complete with twenty-seven verses.  In some versions, Willie tries to escape on a ship but is haunted by Pretty Polly’s ghost.  The first recording was in 1925 by Levi Stanley, a pseudonym of John Hammond.  

In recent years, Ralph Stanley has recorded an eerie version on Rebel records” (Erbsen 41).  

How exactly does this song relate to the African music culture?  First, it is in the form of a 12 bar blues, or AAB.  The first line is repeated, with a third line that is different than the other two.  In “Pretty Polly,” the third line has different words and melody.  The third line is usually “spoken” compared to the lonesome singing in the first two lines.  Furthermore, some of the words in the song are emphasized or stressed.  The first and second word of the second line in each stanza is always emphasized.  The last word of the second line and the third line are also stressed throughout the song.  Emphasizing the lyrics helps give it that lonesome sound, making it appear as though the word is wailing with the fiddle or mandolin.  Finally, Ralph Stanley and Patty Loveless sing the song in a call and response form.  In other words, Patty responds to what Ralph says.  In the end of the song, they both harmonize the lines “Well he went down to the jailhouse and what did he say? He went to the jailhouse and what did he say? I’ve killed Pretty Polly and tried to get away” (“Pretty Polly”).  The mountain lonesome sound from both performers made it one of the original classics.

African musical retentions are ever present in the world of Bluegrass music.  As aforementioned, the banjo originated from Africa and was adapted in the United States, first by slaves and then by Whites.  Musical styles such as harmony, call and response, and vocal stylistic features are demonstrated throughout bluegrass music in songs such as Ralph Stanley’s “Pretty Polly.”  In a world of bluegrass music, where many assume there is no presence of Black culture, African musical retentions abound.

Works Cited

Cantwell, Robert.  Bluegrass Breakdown:  The Making of the Old Southern Sound.          Chicago:  University of Illinois Press, 1984.

Conway, Cecilia.  African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia.  Knoxville:  University of Tennessee Press, 1995.

Erbsen, Wayne.  Backpocket Bluegrass Songbook.  New York:  Pembroke Music Co., 1981.

A college memory thanks to Dr. Ralph Stanley

It is hard to believe that bluegrass music legend, Dr. Ralph Stanley, is 88 years old today.  A couple of years ago he said that he was going to retire, but he is still up on the stage singing when he can.  He also just released a new album via Cracker Barrel.

Back when I was a student at Berea College, I did several research papers and an independent study on bluegrass music.  One of those papers was on the marketing influence of bluegrass music in movies and television.  It was right at the time that 'O Brother Where Art Thou' was popular.  I was fortunate to get to interview Ralph Stanley during that time.

One of those research papers and presentations were for my Women in African American Music.  The assignment was to pick a singer and a song and how it related to African American music.  My choice was Ralph Stanley and Patty Loveless singing "Pretty Polly."  I tied it in with the banjo coming from Africa and the musical style of AABB.  Thanks to James Alan Shelton, who played guitar for Ralph for many years until his passing, I was able to get all of the band members to sign my cover page of my research paper.

For the presentation, I wore a pair of bib overalls and took off my shoes to be barefoot.  I didn't even think of my introduction until minutes beforehand.  There I stood nervously in front of the music teacher and fellow students as I sang a few lines of Alabama's "Mountain Music."  I spoke about the stereotype of bluegrass music listener and the musical style.  I later described the history of Ralph Stanley, his legacy, and music.

The teacher was a tough one needless to say, and I was very nervous as to what my grade would be on my paper and presentation.  I was surprised when I received the paper with my grades.  I received an A+ on both my paper and presentation due to the extra work in getting the interview with Ralph.  As for my singing, she said it was a nice touch.  (I think she was just being nice. haha)

One day I hope to make it over to the Ralph Stanley Museum & Musical Heritage Center in Virginia.  Just place that on my Bucket List.

Happy birthday Ralph Stanley.  Thank YOU for the wonderful memories over the years!