Todd L - Posted - 01/03/2016:  18:11:28

I was surfing around on this site and noticed an older post where somebody said they acquired one of the original nickel plated Stanleytone banjos with a 1983 manufacture date.  It got me thinking and brought back so many memories, so, at the risk of boring you all to death, I thought i would share the following:

I actually own one of the original gold plated Stanleytone banjos from 1983.  Mine is #17 of 50.  It sounds great.  It was purchased at a show in Baltimore, Maryland whereby I got a chance to meet Dr. Ralph in person after the show.  I was 16 years old, and, I did not know anything about Ralph selling his banjos.  I just noticed the banjo sittting in its open case on top of a table next to Ralph where he was sitting.  He actually was playing this banjo on stage.  He saw that I liked it and asked me if I played the banjo.  I said "I was learning", and, he told me to pick up the "banjer" and pick him a tune.  You can imagine how nervous I was!  This man was an idol to me, and, now he is asking me to pick him a tune with his own banjo!  I played a couple lines of cripple creek, shaking in my shoes the entire time.  When I finished playing the tune, Ralph told me I did a good job and to keep pickin'.  My father commented to Ralph asking him what brand of banjo he had e.g., as he assumed Ralph played a Gibson banjo.  Ralph then explained the banjo was made by Frank Neat and it was specificially designed to sound like his 1927 Gibson Granada arch top banjo.  He said he really liked the sound of the Stanleytone banjo and now he does not need to take his 1927 Gibson on tour so much, as that is a prized personal possession of his -- as it brings back memories of he and Carter Stanley making music together.  Anyway, Ralph told my dad the banjo was actually for sale, although, Ralph was actually intending to keep this particular banjo for himself because he really liked the tone of this particular one.  My father asked Ralph the price of the banjo and also asked if he would sell this particular banjo to him so that he could give to me.  With that, Ralph agreed and smiled at me.  Ralph also signed the inside of the resonator which reads "Best wishes, Dr, Ralph Stanley." I will never forget that.  My brother and I later went on to form a bluegrass band that specialized in singing and playing Stanley brothers music in the original old Stanley style -- our band was the Lawson Brothers, and, we had our band for about 5 years (1984 to 1989) and recorded 2 albums and played several venues in the MD, DE, VA, and PA areas.  Ralph wrote the liner notes on our first album, and, Larry Sparks wrote the liner notes for our second album.  Ralph also invited us to play at his festival at his Old Homeplace in Coburn, VA.  That was an experience I will never forget.   Ralph also introduced me to George Shuffler at that festival.  I could not believe it!  Oftentimes, when Ralph would play a festival in our area, he would call myself and my brother on the stage to play a song with his band.  He did this many times including a show in Lucketts, VA; the big bluegrass show in Ohio, the Hampstead, MD festival, a club in Centreville, VA called Hobbs & Partners, and several other places I can't recall right now.  Ralph would give me his banjo to play, and, Charlie Sizemore would let my brother play his guitar.  Many times, Ralph would ask us to sing "Ridin' on that midnight train."  It was totally awesome.  He would always tell me "you boys remind me of me and Carter when we were young men."  Ralph is a great human being, on top of being a true American icon -- I love him very much for being who he is --- a very good man and a person I look up to and greatly respect.  He also has a very good sense of humor to those he knows well and is very comfortable with, even though he is kind of a quiet/intraverted person overall.  Just thought I'd share.  All the best.

Edited by - Todd L on 01/03/2016 18:22:20

RioStat - Posted - 01/03/2016:  18:30:02

Welcome to the Hangout, Todd !

Excellent story, and I've heard similar stories concerning Ralph and banjos.

Ralph is one of the most down-to-Earth people I've ever met.

Hope you stick around and start contributing to the BanjoHangout.......this site needs some new blood!  

You should join the Stanley-Style pickers Group here on the Hangout

banjohangout.org/group/stanleystyle

stanleytone - Posted - 01/04/2016:  01:26:59

Great story Todd! Here's a pic  of me with my 40th anniversary (left handed) Stanleytone , taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia back in the mid '90s. I made sure he held it left handed!

me and ralph

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 01/04/2016:  01:46:42

What a great story, so well told.  I saw Ralph receive the American Heritage medal in Washington, D.C., bestowed by President Clinton.  Ralph stood in a lineup of about a dozen other luminaries in front of hundreds gathered to see these people honored.  When it came time to drape the medal around his neck, he looked up and said something to the effect that he guessed he'd have to remove his cowboy hat to make this happen.  Ralph came to Staunton, VA, and played in a now defunct music venue in the town where I retired, twice!   It was great seeing his massive tour bus dominating a parking lot in this little town.  He brought some great music to this place.  Again, Mr. Lawson, thanks for sharing.

V/R,

Lew

ebay.com/itm/LAWSON-BROTHERS-L...943149575

Edited by - Brooklynbanjoboy on 01/04/2016 01:51:08

LisaSimpson - Posted - 01/04/2016:  03:15:20

Great story! Like you, I would have been shaking in my shoes!