Traveling the High Way Home: Ralph Stanley and the World of Traditional Bluegrass Music (Music in American Life)

Rating:
Summary: Paints a fascinating portrait of Ralph Stanley
Review: Just finished reading John Wright's book called "Traveling the High Way Home: Ralph Stanley and the World of Traditional Bluegrass Music."It was published in 1993 by the University of Illinois press. I think all of you would enjoy this interesting look into Ralph Stanley's world and should add this book to your library. The book is not a personal biography. Rather, it starts with one chapter of biographical information, but the bulk of the book is testimony from people in Stanley's world to provide a portrait of him. Most of these transcribed statements are from interviews that John Wright conducted in the mid-80s. I enjoyed reading these insider views from musicians, record company executives, promoters, producers, and fans. This oral history compilation includes statements, in their own words, from individuals like J.E. Mainer, Ruby Rakes Eubanks, George Shuffler, Melvin Goins, Larry Sparks, Curly Ray Cline, Jack Cooke, Dick Freeland, Junior Blankenship, Charlie Sizemore and many others.

I personally would have liked the author to further research and explore Ralph and Carter's upbringing and life. Reading all of the interviews is another approach to gain an insight into Stanley's life, but it does require the reader to assimilate a large quantity of information and draw their own conclusions.

After reading this book, my basic conclusions are pretty much what I already knew: that Ralph Stanley is a man of much integrity and high ideals who adheres to the code of the mountains. His own interview in Chapter 5 of the book is actually a composite of material from eight interviews conducted by various people between 1966-1987. This chapter should be required reading for everyone involved in bluegrass music.

The subtitle of this book ("Traveling the High Way Home") is based on a classic Molly O'Day song which Wright feels could "easily serve as a theme song for Ralph Stanley, personally as well as artistically." This book paints a picture of Ralph Stanley as a man who is an astute and confident professional, who "holds himself up and respects the music." Stanley is still presenting his art, which he calls "the old-time style of what they call bluegrass music." Wright's book is an important and fascinating look at the man and his old-time style. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)