Carter Stanley
Encyclopedia
Carter Glen Stanley was a bluegrass music
lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitar player. He formed the Stanley Brothers band together with his brother Ralph
. The Stanley Brothers
are generally acknowledged as the first band after Bill Monroe
& the Blue Grass Boys to play in the bluegrass genre. According to some historians, their recording of "Molly and Tenbrooks
" (aka "The Racehorse Song") marked the beginning of bluegrass as a genre.
, Virginia
. The son of Lucy and Lee Stanley, Carter grew up in rural southwestern Virginia
. In 1946 he and his brother Ralph formed the Stanley Brothers, one of the most respected and influential bands in the new genre of bluegrass music. 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 natural singers in the history of country music
. Carter also composed more than a hundred songs, and many of them remain standards in the bluegrass genre. He had a particular knack for deceptively simple lyrics that portrayed strong emotion. His most famous compositions include "White Dove" and "The Fields Have Turned Brown." His arrangement of "Man of Constant Sorrow
" was popularized in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The brothers broke up briefly in 1951 and Carter Stanley briefly played guitar with Bill Monroe
and the Bluegrass Boys. In 1953, he and Ralph reunited. After that time, the Stanley Brothers stayed together as one of the last great brother acts until October 21, 1966, when Carter coughed up blood during a performance at a school auditorium in Hazel Green, Kentucky
and had to leave the stage. Six weeks later, on December 1, 1966, he was dead of cirrhosis
of the liver at forty-one, after years of chronic alcoholism
. He was buried in accordance with his request on Smith Ridge, near Coeburn, Virginia
.
In 1992 Carter Stanley was posthumously inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor
.
Carter's daughter Jeanie Stanley is also a professional singer. Her debut album was titled Baby Girl: A Tribute to My Father, Carter Stanley on CMH Records
.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitar player. He formed the Stanley Brothers band together with his brother Ralph
Ralph Stanley
Ralph Stanley , also known as Dr. Ralph Stanley, is an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing.-Biography:...
. The Stanley Brothers
The Stanley Brothers
The Stanley Brothers were an American bluegrass duo made up of brothers Carter and Ralph Stanley.-Biography:Carter and Ralph Stanley hailed originally from Dickenson County, Virginia. The family soon moved to McClure, Virginia where their parents worked a small farm in the Clinch Mountains...
are generally acknowledged as the first band after Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
& the Blue Grass Boys to play in the bluegrass genre. According to some historians, their recording of "Molly and Tenbrooks
Molly and Tenbrooks
"Molly and Tenbrooks," also known as "The Racehorse Song," is a traditional song of the late 19th century. One of the first recordings of the song was the Carver Brothers' 1929 version called "Tom Brooks." The song was recorded by Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys on October 28, 1947 but not...
" (aka "The Racehorse Song") marked the beginning of bluegrass as a genre.
Biography
Stanley was born in Big Spraddle Creek in Dickenson CountyDickenson County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,395 people, 6,732 households, and 4,887 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 7,684 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The son of Lucy and Lee Stanley, Carter grew up in rural southwestern Virginia
Southwest Virginia
Southwest Virginia, often abbreviated as SWVA, is a mountainous region of Virginia in the westernmost part of the commonwealth. Southwest Virginia has been defined alternatively as all Virginia counties on the Appalachian Plateau, all Virginia counties west of the Eastern Continental Divide, or...
. In 1946 he and his brother Ralph formed the Stanley Brothers, one of the most respected and influential bands in the new genre of bluegrass music. Carter played guitar and sang lead while Ralph played banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
and sang with a strong, high tenor voice. Their harmonies are much admired, and many consider Carter Stanley to be one of the greatest natural singers in the history of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. Carter also composed more than a hundred songs, and many of them remain standards in the bluegrass genre. He had a particular knack for deceptively simple lyrics that portrayed strong emotion. His most famous compositions include "White Dove" and "The Fields Have Turned Brown." His arrangement of "Man of Constant Sorrow
Man of Constant Sorrow
"Man of Constant Sorrow" is a traditional American folk song first recorded by Dick Burnett, a partially blind fiddler from Kentucky. The song was originally recorded by Burnett as "Farewell Song" printed in a Richard Burnett songbook, c. 1913. An early version was recorded by Emry Arthur in 1928...
" was popularized in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is the soundtrack of music from the 2000 American film of the same name, written, directed and produced by the Coen Brothers and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Goodman....
The brothers broke up briefly in 1951 and Carter Stanley briefly played guitar with Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
and the Bluegrass Boys. In 1953, he and Ralph reunited. After that time, the Stanley Brothers stayed together as one of the last great brother acts until October 21, 1966, when Carter coughed up blood during a performance at a school auditorium in Hazel Green, Kentucky
Hazel Green, Kentucky
Hazel Green is an unincorporated community in Wolfe County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Routes 191 and 205 northeast of the city of Campton, the county seat of Wolfe County. Its elevation is 922 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of...
and had to leave the stage. Six weeks later, on December 1, 1966, he was dead of cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
of the liver at forty-one, after years of chronic alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. He was buried in accordance with his request on Smith Ridge, near Coeburn, Virginia
Coeburn, Virginia
Coeburn is a town in Wise County, Virginia, along the Guest River. The population was 1,996 at the 2000 census with many small peaceful wooded communities in the outskirts. Camping is available nearby at Bark Camp Lake in the Jefferson National Forest with other activities including boating and...
.
In 1992 Carter Stanley was posthumously inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor
International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor
Induction to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, called the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor from its creation in 1991 through 2006, is managed by the International Bluegrass Music Association, and the Hall itself is maintained at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in...
.
Carter's daughter Jeanie Stanley is also a professional singer. Her debut album was titled Baby Girl: A Tribute to My Father, Carter Stanley on CMH Records
CMH Records
Founded in 1975, CMH Records is a Los Angeles based independent country and bluegrass label with several subsidiary labels, including Vitamin Records, Crosscheck, Dwell, and Rockabye Baby!, which release diverse styles of music including string quartet tributes, punk, metal, and lullabies,...
.
External links
- [ Carter Stanley at Allmusic.com].
- Jeanie Stanley website