In praise of the Master

I read your article on Ralph Stanley [cover, March 15]. Excellent!

His voice still makes me shiver and look behind me, no matter if he's singing something soulful like "Little Bessie" or "Pig in a Pen."

His sound makes me think " Man he sure has suffered. I'm glad I haven't felt that bad . . . or do I wish I had?"

The only time I ever thought I had sung good bluegrass was at a small club in Raleigh when Jim Field and I did . . . hmmmm . . . can't remember. One of those soulful old Monroe/Mac Wiseman duets like Can't You Hear Me Callin' or Dark to Travel. It was then I realized that bluegrass harmony was indeed a collaboration of 2 lead lines. The high tenor melody would stand on its own as a solo. Ralph does that to a song, in addition to making you want to bawl your eyes out as he finishes out each phrase with as combination of a prayer and a whimper.

Durwood Edwards

Ralph Stanley plays March 24 at Renfro Valley. On March 28, he plays at 8 pm with the Del McCoury Band at the Kentucky Theatre.

Kids: Don't Try This at Home

You will not believe what my daughter has done and it is all your fault. I was reading my new issue of ACE and thought she was right next to me. In fact, she had run off to find a red marker and scribbled all over her forehead (not good as she is on her way to my parents house who like to take her out to dinner to show her off.) Do you know why? She wanted to look like the 98 Degrees guys who had "Canceled" across their foreheads on page 6 [Quickies, Mar 15]. She looks as though she has been in an awful car accident but she is really proud. Kind of funny really...

Ollie MacFarlin