Playing with the Nashville Bluegrass Band, he did a little banjo picking of his own on "Girl From the Greenbriar Shore," but it was a truly frightening rendition of "O Death" that held the crowd spellbound. His voice cut through the clear night air; severe, despairing, beautiful and immortal all at once.

-- Joe Heim   � 2004 The Washington Post Company

 

He played claw & hammer style here in Michigan during Pretty Polly.

However, what I disagree with in Mr.Heim's column is the adjectives

"truly frightening" used in conjunction with "O Death".    What was described as Ralph's voice

during the song is true, but the *way* he did it was Beautiful.   Absolutely Beautiful.

He took the spotlight off of himself and the musicians and he *Made us "Feel".   

We listened deeply beyond the music and I saw beyond the blue silloutte of a Mountain Man.

I closed my eyes and I could see my Gramma' and smell honeysuckle, right inside Fox Theater. 

That's not frightening, that is Beautiful.  

 

R.S.

 

 

 

 
 

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