Man of Constant Sorrow
My Life and Times

My daddy raised me on old-time music, and hearing the songs today makes me homesick for the mountains. I also remember hearing that Ralph was a big Dylan fan, and had recordings of his folk songs put to banjo. When this book came out, I knew I had to read it. I read this book with another Stanley Br......more

Although Dr. Ralph Stanley describes himself as "a man who don't much like to talk unless he's got something to say", it turns out that he has a whole lot to say, as this book weighs in at 452 pages. Sure, there's a little repetition -- understandably, since the work is cast as a series of reminisce......more

A fascinating, matter of fact, smooth flowing autobiography of a man who truly can be called a living legend in American roots music. The style is in Mr. Stanleys own words and it is like he is sitting on the front porch with you on a warm summers evening relating all the major events and influences......more

Whether he was singing with his brother Carter in The Stanley Brothers, on his own with The Clinch Mountain Boys or working in a film soundtrack like "O Brother Where Art Thou," Ralph Stanley always stayed true to his way of singing and playing old-time mountain music. He lived long enough to become......more

The NPR reviewer liked this book because Dr. Ralph Stanley talked about people way back in the history of country music, people who have long been forgotten. Yes, he did. I'm not sure that I was as interested in them as the reviewer was, though. Dr. Stanley announced up front that he was just going......more