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In the comments to this entry (which really had nothing to do with bluegrass–bloggers just love a good tangent), Whet Moser, possibly the only other SW Virginian on the Reader staff, reminisced about seeing the great Ralph Stanley play a benefit for the local masons at Martinsville High School. Now, high schools are a popular place to play in that region, since they’re usually the largest venues in town—my dad saw Ramblin’ Jack Elliott at Floyd County High School on a tour when he also played the Old Town School—but still, Stanley’s decision to play there does say something about his down-to-earthness. Or about how high up he is in the masons. At any rate, O Brother Where Art Thou? and Letterman and all things considered, a comprehensive Stanley Brothers box set has been long overdue, and on April 3 Time Life is bringing the wait to an end.
