University of Virginia Library

Years Of Tradition

Mr. Stanley's music differs from
the often slick and gaudy Nashville
sound in that it is based upon and
fully conscious of hundreds of
years of tradition. The rich heritage
of the ballads, the sacred music of
the his people, and the fiddle and
banjo used for dance music are all
present in the music of Ralph Stanley,
which is closely related to the
popular bluegrass form.

Ralph is known as one of the
most outstanding banjo players today.
Combining his playing with a
plaintive voice that recalls all of the
joys and pain and sorrow that is
universal to all mankind, he has
gained a reputation as both a skilled
musician and a well-loved personality.

Dave and John Morris grew up
in the midst of folk music from the
day of their birth. In their home of
Ivydale, West Virginia, everyone either
plays or sings mountain music.

John began playing banjo at the
age of six, learning from his grandfather
Amos Morris, and shortly
afterwards picked up the guitar and
the fiddle. Dave had always enjoyed
singing the old songs and melodies
he heard around him, but until
he went to college in Glenville,
W.Va., he never realized that other
people valued them as much as he
did.