Ralph Stanley Celebrates His 78th Birthday at Museum Fundraiser

On Friday, February 25th, friends, fans, and museum supporters joined Dr. Ralph Stanley at the Clintwood Community Center to commemorate his 78th birthday. The celebration was a benefit fundraiser for the Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center.

Museum Director Ginger Morelock began the evening with a welcome and thank you for those in attendance. Freddie Phillips, the event emcee, introduced surprise guests Jim Lauderdale and Marty Raybon of Shenandoah who both wished Dr. Stanley a happy birthday.

 

The East Tennessee State University Bluegrass Band provided the entertainment throughout the evening by playing a variety of Stanley Brothers and Dr. Stanley’s music along with other traditional songs.

During their musical performance, guests Marty Raybon, Jim Lauderdale, Jack Cooke, and James Shelton joined them.

Following a delicious dinner catered by Celebrate of Coeburn, Museum Board President Gerald Gray gave a birthday toast in honor of Dr. Stanley, which was followed by the presentation of a 4-tiered birthday cake appropriately decorated with tiny banjos. As the evening closed, participants had the opportunity to tour the museum.

 

 

Sponsors for the event included: Clintwood Lumber; Copper Creek Records (Roanoke, VA); Crabtree Photography (Coeburn, VA); Dickenson County Community Hospital; Farmer and Miners Bank (Clintwood, VA); First Community Bank (Clintwood, VA); Jan’s Fabric (Haysi, VA); Just Ask Rentals (Clintwood, VA); Mr. and Mrs. Carter Lambert of Abingdon; Miners Exchange Bank (Coeburn, VA); Morgan-McClure Chevrolet (Coeburn, VA); Charlotte Mullins and Andrew Mullins of the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority; New Peoples Bank (Clintwood, VA); Pepsi Distributing (Norton, VA); Turner Chevrolet (Haysi, VA); Dr. Douglas Pote of Glade Springs, VA; Surratt’s Carpet #2 (Clintwood, VA); and Thompson & Litton (Wise, VA).

The Museum would also like to thank the following people for their assistance for this event: Appalshop; Celebrate! Catering; Stan Crabtree; Phyllis Deel; Dickenson County Cooperative Extension; East Tennessee State University Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Program; Dickenson County Career Center; Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority; Boots Lambert; Lisa Marshall; Freddie Phillips; Mrs. Loretta Trayer; Town of Clintwood; and the staff and volunteers of the Ralph Stanley Museum.

Note: Photos were provided by Stan Crabtree of Crabtree Photography.