Jonathan Agronsky: Stanley’s ‘supernatural’ voice

I was pleased to see your June 27 editorial “The melodic legacy of ‘Dr. Ralph’,” a tribute to Ralph Stanley. His “sometimes achingly sad singing,” as you noted, in the high lonesome tenor voice that set him apart from every other musician of his generation was not just beautiful, but it conveyed the spirit of the mountain culture from which he sprang and made his listeners a part of it.

I had the privilege of attending a performance by him and his band at a small arts theater two years back. My partner, Bonnie, and I were enraptured when the then-87-year-old Virginian sang both “O Death” and “Rank Stranger,” his personal favorite and mine a capella. To hear Stanley sing was like entering a dream-like state of pure bliss.

During an intermission, I approached the legend and asked him to sign a fan photo. After he inscribed the picture, I shook his hand and said: “You may not be God, but you definitely are a god.” Although he didn’t respond to my comment, out of humility perhaps, I could see that he’d taken it in.

But even if Stanley were only a mere mortal like the rest of us, his voice had an almost supernatural power.

This story was originally published July 4, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Jonathan Agronsky: Stanley’s ‘supernatural’ voice."