A pair of historic instruments will soon be on display for 2 years at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. The instruments, a 1941 Martin D28 guitar played by Carter Stanley and Ralph Stanley’s 1929 Gibson Style 5 Mastertone banjo, will be unveiled to the public during a special event at noon this Saturday.
The unveiling will take place within the exhibit space of the museum and will feature appearances by special guests Doyle Lawson, Paul Williams, Joe Mullins, and the lender of the instruments, Greta Shelton. Shelton’s late husband, James Alan Shelton, performed with Ralph Stanley.
“James had a deep love for bluegrass music and its history, and there was always a special place in his heart for the music of The Stanley Brothers,” Shelton said. “James lived out his dream for 20 years as lead guitar player for Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys. Several years before his passing, he was able to acquire these amazing instruments. He was honored to own them and enjoyed sharing them with others. I feel certain that he would be happy to know that these pieces of bluegrass history can now be enjoyed by the world.”
The Stanley Brothers, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, are revered as one of the most influential duos in the history of bluegrass music. Originating from Big Spraddle Creek in Virginia, Carter (lead singer and guitarist) and Ralph (singer and banjoist) rose to prominence between 1946 and 1966. Their sound, deeply rooted in the traditions of Appalachian music, has had a lasting impact on the genre, contributing significantly to the “mountain” and “lonesome” styles that characterize bluegrass music today.
“The Stanley Brothers are widely considered as prominent pioneers in bluegrass music, distinctive in their harmonies and traditional roots. To have their instruments, the tools to their music, on display at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum is an incredible honor and will certainly attract visitors from around the world,” said curator Carly Smith..
The Stanley Brothers made history as the first bluegrass band to perform at the Newport Folk Festival in 1959, and their single “How Far to Little Rock” achieved commercial success, peaking at number 17 on the Billboard charts in 1960.
The iconic instruments will be on display at the museum for 2 years. More information about the unveiling and tickets for this weekend’s event, Hall of Fame Homecoming, can be found at bluegrasshall.org.
