1/26/2005 Dear Renee & All:
Art Stamper was one of the "unsung heroes" of bluegrass & mountain music. My Daddy used to say Art was the "gold standard of bluegrass fiddlers". I know Daddy & Ralph loved Art & I have only fond memories of him myself. The article posted here is great, & I personally appreciate being able to read it. However, it's difficult to put into words how bravely Art fought for his life and how courageous and loyal his Kay was. I spoke to Kay about 3 months ago, Art couldn't talk anymore, so Kay talked with me about him for nearly an hour. God Bless her, she spent so long going to bed every night without knowing whether she'd wake up as a wife or a widow the next morning. She deserves our prayers and our admiration as does Art & his whole family. Kay fought right along with Art, and helped him all the way to the end. I, for one, will miss Art's beautiful music. I am so sad to learn he's gone, and hope he is fiddling every minute now & he'll be able to make music & have all his other dreams fulfilled forever now. He didn't receive nearly as much credit or recognition as he deserved in my opinion. He was plain & simply I'd say one of the 3-4 best fiddlers who ever drew breath. He never gave up, he never quit loving his fiddle & nothing made him happier than playing for all of us. May the wings of angels bear him softly, safely home and may he touch the face of God, and I pray God's perpetual light will forever shine upon Art Stamper. He will be sorely missed on this earth. Renee' I ain't took that dang thing yet, my hubby blew 3 disks in his back & has had 2 surgeries to repair them in the last 5 months, so I'm still studying on it around taking care of him. I'm hoping he'll be back on track within another 4-6 weeks. YOU GOT MARRIED! Congratulations, gal! I notice you kept our good name, too. You're a real jewel in the crown of the folks on this website, I think. Thanks for your kind words. All I have to share are good stories about Daddy & Ralph, I guess. In this age, the importance of good, gentlemenly men who respect and treat women properly & teach us to demand such treatment from all other men is too often downplayed by our society. Good men are so important in their children's & families' lives as are good women. Our fathers' teach us how we are to expect men to behave forever, & our mothers', I think, teach us how women should behave. Childhood impressions form every one of us as human beings-either to be good, decent citizens, or whatever else we become. We should value good mothers & fathers who are good role models more. I have never seen or heard Daddy or Ralph do or say anything disrespectful towards a woman in my life, and they are both to be admired for the kind of sons, fathers, brothers, husbands & gentlemen they were & are. Most of the CM Boys were & are likewise, or they didn't last long. I hope everyone will join me in saying a prayer for Art Stamper's safe journey home & thank the Lord he won't have to suffer any more & that his family's heartbreak and loss is soothed and God will strengthen them in these difficult days to come. Keep on loving bluegrass & mountain music, it's just the best. Cordially your friend, Doris Stanley Bradley Quoting Renee' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: " " " " I just got word that Art Stamper passed away last night from the cancer " " he's been battling for the past few years. " " " " James A. Shelton " " " " * my heart just broke for his family and friends. " " We'll be praying for God's grace to be upon them. " " " " Renee' Stanley-Scheffler " " " " " " " " Bluegrass Bulletin Board brought to you by the fan club of Dr Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys subscribe or unsubscribe at http://drralphstanley.com/
