Ralph Stanley

Ralph Stanley was an American bluegrass singer and banjo player, noted for his high, plaintive vocal style and traditional Appalachian repertoire. He performed with his brother Carter as the Stanley Brothers and later led the Clinch Mountain Boys, specializing in mountain gospel and old-time material accompanied by sparse, driving instrumentation centered on banjo. His vocal sound and banjo approach are often cited as influential within bluegrass and Appalachian music. He died in 2016.