Old-school Bluegrass godfather Dr. Ralph Stanley cuts radio ad for Barack Obama
The Barack Obama endorsement ad here [direct mp3 link, and alternate link] featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley is currently running on radio stations in Southwest Virginia. That's about 900 kinds of wow, and I say this as someone born and raised in this part of the country, familiar with the social fabric. Blogger NMC at folo.us explains:
[Ralph] Stanley is the survivor of the Stanley Brothers, one of the few remaining figures of the first generation of bluegrass musicians. He’s from the part of the mountains the Carter Family came from, and has had a recent career revival for his part in the Oh Brother Where Art Thou music.Ralph Stanley cuts the best radio ad of the cycle (folo.us via Ned Sublette, via TPM)
They've embedded a classic Dr. Stanley television performance clip at folo.us, below is another -- they're playing the Clinch Mountain Backstep, on an old television show with Pete Seeger. This is my favorite Stanley Brothers song ever, "Little Maggie," but I can't embed it. I know all the lyrics, and sometimes sing it to myself (and anyone in earshot unable to run screaming) on long car trips along old American roads. Whenever I hear this old-time music, I feel really proud to come from Virginia.
the latest
latest episodes
the veep endorsement?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddgyg_5FF_0
Hah, as featured here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCRfkPDlwps
hah! wicked Xeni! Palin?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDcWgbUrAzI
Sounds a lot like Ralph Stanley's endorsement of Keith Whitley in 1977
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykijm-gJf8A
also wish there was a Gangstagrass video to link to.
I do love that banjo!
OK, this is awesome. Really awesome.
Good for Dr. Ralph.
Earl Scruggs performed with his sons at late 1960's anti-war demonstrations. A lot of country and bluegrass musicians are speaking up. I've been playing this music for many years, and was teaching Little Maggie to a banjo class in Chicago on Saturday
Peace
Phenomenally lovely. Thank you, Xeni,
There's something about that music.. speaks straight to my pasty white Celtic routes.
Excellent!
I sense a push towards getting the South turned around in the next few weeks.
I'm surprised Ralph Stanley would get involved with either side of the race, but I can't say I disagree with his choice. A lot of people who love bluegrass and particularly love the music he's made over the years (like me) will listen to what he's got to say here.
Ironically enough, Stanley played the head Klansman in *Brother Where Art Thou* (or at least lip-synced "Oh Death" for him.)
WOW!!!!
I'm so glad he did this, and I'm so glad you posted it.
Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!
Ralph Stanley makes awesome music and speaks from the heart. I wonder if he knows the story about this little boy who woke up with his house on fire:
http://www.city-journal.org/2008/eon0430jm.html
#13: don't buy into the right wing propaganda machine. Not this post, so much as the suggestion Obama has a "close association" with this guy, he does not. It's been debunked by the NYT as well as other publications.
Obama is not "friends" with William Ayers. That's bullcrap and most certainly smear tactics to suggest otherwise.
McCain and his shady associates.
Now, thats some fine pickin'!
#14, can you post a link to the NYT story?
#17: here
Although he may have downplayed his interaction with Ayers, they weren't close. And Ayers seems to actually have done some good with the rest of his life. But just read and decide for yourself.
Yeahhh, Virginia!
That is really interesting! I also get "Little Maggie" stuck in my head fairly often. I was about to say that New Grass Revival seem(ed) pretty liberal, but they are called "New", ha ha.
Incredible! I learned the Kingston Trio version of "Little Maggie" as a kid, and it's great to know a more authentic (dare I say, "better") version. Thank you!
Ralph Stanley for President!
If The McCain camp wants to go down the "pallin' around with terrorists" story, then Obama should do the same. G.H.W.Bush having breakfast with Shafiq bin Laden for example....
The Republican Party tried to get Bill Monroe to campaign for them in the early 80s. He told them to get lost and that he was a life-long Democrat.
"I sense a push towards getting the South turned around in the next few weeks."
Yeah, obviously someone down here (in Jax FL) is feeling threatened by a pending Obama victory or they wouldn't keep up their anti-American, free speech-hating activity of stealing all of the Obama signs in my neighborhood.
Open note to thief: every stolen/replaced sign represents another $5-10 donation to our local Democratic Party. Wise up already.
The New Yorker recently had an interesting article about a SW Virginia strategy for Obama. The article made mention of a bluegrass campaign song that helped Democrat Mark Warner get the governorship:
Mark Warner is ready
To lead our Commonwealth.
He’ll work for mountain people
And economic health!
Get ready to shout it
From the coal mines to the stills
Here comes Mark Warner—
The hero of the hills!
#12: That was John Goodman in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, IIRC. He was lip-synching Dr. Stanley's voice, though. Most chilling moment in the whole movie, and one of my favorites - in a stomach-churning sort of way.
I loved Ralph Stanley and the Stanley Brothers when I was little. My grandfather was a huge bluegrass fan, and we'd listen to them together. So Dr. Stanley's endorsement is excellent news - Pap would think so too.
Thanks, Xeni! Love this post. Makes me proud to be a Virginian as well. This is such a diverse state from the Chesapeake coastal area to the Blue Ridge mountains. Though I grew up and still reside in NoVa, I used to spend my summers down in Farmville and Blackstone. It's a different kind of "country" from the Shenadoahan mountain and Appalaichan mining culture. I don't think they take too kindly to Democrat-types down there in the plains.
#13, here is another of mac's good buds: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0504chapmanmay04,0,6238795.column
This actually isn't a shocking endorsement. Dr. Ralph Stanley has done a lot of work for democrats over the year. I don't know if he's ever cut a tv ad before, but I know he helped out Clinton on a bunch of things. He's strongly supportive of the Democrats.
if you're in Kentucky the Jerusalem Ridge Festival is in 6 days:
http://www.jerusalemridgefestival.org/
My friend Campbell Mercer is making this happen again for 2008!
woo-ooh! that is some mighty fine pickin'-and-a-grinnin'!
my ancestors are from this part of the world as well... holed up in a coal mine somewhere.
Not one of the Youtubes posted is up. Remember, McCain's campaign is watching this site and has take downs immediately issued to YouTube, most which are not valid. Expose these illegal take downs now!
MikeLotus @34: McCain's doing illegal DMCA takedowns? I am disgusted.
No offense intended, but I was surprised that the ultra-hip and trés moderne Xeni was a bluegrass fan!
Nothing at all wrong with it - keeping an open mind about music will bring all sorts of wonderful things. I myself am an example - most people would expect a mid-50s white guy to _hate_ hip-hop, but there are some gems out there (I especially like the jazzier fusion stuff but for something I find uncategorizable check out Dream Warriors "You Wash Your Face In My Sink" from years ago).
Thanks for the post.
Now I'll have to go watch my Hee Haw DVD again
"Hey Grandpa! What's for supper?"
I saw an entertainer on a cruise ship 5 years ago, whose specialty was the banjo. I believe that he said that the banjo was the only musical instrument that was invented in North America, but I could be wrong, so don't quote me. Anyway, he was excellent. Not only did he play the typical "pickin and grinnin" music, but he also did interpretations of classical pieces. Wish I could remember his name.
I saw Dr. Stanley perform at Edmonton a while back. It was just amazing. Interesting to see his politics?
If you are from that area, you'll know how big a deal it was that Obama did a campaign stop in Lebanon, Va. Has any Presidential candidate stopped in SWVA in years? The mining country there has been a union/democrat area in the past, but that changed with Reagan. I'm hoping this is a sign that it's finally changing back.