RICKY SKAGGS REACTS TO PASSING OF DR. RALPH STANLEY

Nashville, Tenn. (June 24, 2016) - Upon learning the news of the passing of the iconic Dr. Ralph Stanley, Country and Bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs released the following statement:

 

"The end of an era, the passing of a King, a kind and humble King from the mountains. He carried the ancient sounds from God knows where. Ralph found it in the music of the mountains, in the hollows, in the people and in the churches. He was my hero and I was blessed to know him, love him and make music with him as a young teenager. The Scriptures tell us 'God uses the simple things to confound the wise.' He certainly used Ralph Stanley to bring the music of the mountains to the masses." --Ricky Skaggs

 

Ralph Stanley, a patriarch of Appalachian music who helped expand and popularize the genre that became known as Bluegrass, died Thursday following a battle with skin cancer. He was 89.