Getting a Small Patch of Bluegrass
Ralph Stanley's band performs in quad
Stacy Smith/Verge Editor
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: The Verge
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A couple years later, his father taught him to play the banjo without picks.
As his interest in the banjo grew, Sparkman continued playing locally and started playing a three-finger style to imitate Stanley's sound to play like his idol.
Recognizing the familiar sound, Sparkman couldn't refuse when Stanley offered him the position to be a part of his band. Sparkman had been in Dr. Ralph Stanley and his Clinch Mountain Boys for 14 years and they will be performing at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday in the South Quad.
"It's easier for students to relate to bluegrass because it's something different than they're used to," Sparkman said. "Their grandfather or father listened to it and passed it down to them."
Stanley has recorded about 200 albums, compact discs and tapes.
Working with different artists, Stanley started the group in 1946. After the band split up, he carried it on.
In 2006, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. His song "O Death" was featured in the 2000 film, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
His song led him to a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
And "Dr." isn't just a penname. Stanley earned his Doctorate of Music from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, in 1976.
"Ralph's a master in his music," Sparkman said. "He has been playing for 62 years and nothing takes the place of experience. He's an excellent businessman and an excellent entertainer."
Since bluegrass is less popular than country and pop music, it can be difficult to make a living performing it.
"Bluegrass is hard to survive in," Sparkman said. "It's about surviving on nickels and dimes. You have to learn to make money the best was you can."
James Shelton, from Scott County, Va., joined the group in 1994 as lead guitarist and is also currently working as the band's road manager.
"The band had been established many years before I came along," Shelton said. "So even though I had been listening to them for years and playing the same type of music they were, it was still a different rhythm feel and I had to adjust to that."
The most difficult aspect of being part of the band for Shelton is being away from friends and family to perform.
"My wife very much supports me and she takes care of things when I'm gone," he said. "We're a team."
Greta Shelton met James in 1983 and they have been married for 20 years.
"It takes a lot of work to keep in touch when he's on the road, but I know it's something that he loves and it helps to be supportive," she said.
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