BG: Ralph in Northern Virginia on Sunday

[JNRoot]

Ralph put on a great show at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, on Sunday, December 12.  A highlight was Ralph II singing the Stanley Brothers' song "Single Girl."  Lee started a thread on August 10 asking about this song, and now the Clinch Mountain Boys have included it in their show.  It's great to see the band's set list influenced by questions on this board!       James Shelton and Steve Sparkman each had a chance to sing lead.  James sang "Keep on the Sunny Side."  I was surprised to hear him sing because on Saturday night at the Memorial Festival last May, Ralph told the band he "wanted everyone to sing....except James."  I assumed that James couldn't sing.  I think he has a pleasant voice, and hope he gets to sing harmony and back-up in the future.       Ralph II sang "Carrying On," his tribute to the Stanley Brothers.  Ralph took a request to sing "Hills of Home," his tribute to Carter, but had trouble remembering the lyrics.  He said he hadn't sung it in six months.       My only disappointment was that Ralph didn't sing a Christmas song such as "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem." or something else from the "Christmas Time with Ralph Stanley" CD.   Jeff Fairfax, Virginia