In contrast to rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass
music prefers to stay in touch with its roots, even if they aren’t cool,
hipster, and detached – probably because they aren’t.
For interpreters of traditional songs, this part of bluegrass culture
presents a problem: How do you put these traditional songs across –
particularly if they’re gospel songs – without seeming so earnest and
on-the-nose that you lose credibility altogether?
You study the pioneers like crazy, and consider how you can apply
their secrets to your own sound – that’s how. You study performances
like this one by The Stanley Brothers. It’s unusual in that Ralph takes
the lead.
It’s remarkable in that his vocal on this number is surely one
of the greatest bluegrass vocals you’ve never heard. Every note is
suffused with emotional truth in this performance of “Precious
Memories”.
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