Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley dies at 89

Bluegrass icon Ralph Stanley died Thursday after battling skin cancer. He was 89.

Born Feb. 25, 1927 in Stratton, Virginia, Stanley formed a duo with his guitar-playing brother, Carter, in 1946, and as the Stanley Brothers, they were leaders in the traditional bluegrass movement. After Carter died in 1966, Stanley became a solo artist. He gained a new audience when he appeared on the soundtrack for the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and he performed well into his 80s, accompanied by family members like his son Ralphy Stanley II and grandson Nathan Stanley.

Stanley performed at the inaugurations of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, and was awarded the national Medal of Arts and Living Legends medal from the Library of Congress. He is survived by his wife, Jimmie; three children; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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