Voting Station

Ralph Stanley

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Musician

The Resume

    (February 25, 1927-June 23, 2016)
    Born in Big Spraddle Creek, Virginia
    Bluegrass musician and vocalist
    Plays banjo
    With brother Carter formed the Stanley Brothers (1946)
    Recorded solo after Carter's death (1966)
    Recorded the albums 'The Bluegrass Sound of Ralph Stanley,' 'Like Father Like Son,' 'Short Life of Trouble,' 'Songs My Mother Taught Me & More,' 'Songs of Love and Tragedy,' 'Can't You Hear the Mountains Calling' and 'Man of Constant Sorrow'
    Performed 'O Death' on the 'Brother Where Art Thou?' soundtrack (2000)
    Wrote the autobiography 'Man of Constant Sorrow' (2009)

Why he might be annoying:

    After receiving an honorary doctorate in music, he began billing himself as 'Dr. Ralph Stanley.'
    One critic noted his songs are usually about 'hard times, unfaithful lovers, deceased children, lonely graves.'
    During tours, he would slip Ex-Lax to rival musicians.
    He claimed that Tim McGraw disrespected him at the Grammys, adding 'He wouldn't know a real country song if it kicked him in the ass.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    Country stars Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley got their start in his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys.
    After the success of 'O Brother Where Art Thou,' he noted 'That put the icing on the cake for me. That put me in a different category.'
    He was designated a 'Living Legend' by the Library of Congress.
    The Roanoke Times wrote, 'He has come to symbolize the timelessness and durability of this old music and this region.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 16 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 152 Votes: 57.24% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying