BG: RE: Doris Stanley Bradley

[Lloyd, Bruce]

To: Doris Stanley Bradley and all other great folks here… devoted admirers of the “Stanley Sound”   I want to add to Doris S. Bradley’s last several great commentaries on the impact of the “Stanley Sound”, something that has stayed with me for ever, and will continue to do so.   It was the fall of 1953, and I had just started my freshman year at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore as an engineering student; and I guess I had that “all alone” feeling. I came to Baltimore already hooked on the bluegrass sound from some great Flatt and Scruggs I had heard in Washington D.C. on WARL that Don Owens played if his management wasn’t watching too carefully. So there in Baltimore, I started surfing the local AM radio dial, then one day at noon time, I heard this amazing booming resonate voice, with that country sound. I had discovered Ray Davis. What a phenomenal talent. I can remember it to this day… Ray was broadcasting from Johnnies Used Cars at 900 East Fayette Street in Baltimore, and he had this great 12 Noon to 1 PM show. I tried to catch every one. He left us for a few years and went down to border radio, but Ray came back and when he did he made a point of really promoting the Stanley Sound with Ralph and Carter by having them come in a do a few live numbers on air and booking them around the area. We all loved it.   Ralph, Carter and the boys who usually consisted of George Shuffler, and Chubby Anthony when I saw them in the mid to late 50’s would play up at New River Ranch on Sundays, and yes they would be performing before several thousand serious folks, and also as Doris said they would cover the small venues as well where only 30 -40 people would be there. But Carter, Ralph, and the others always gave the same performance…. Top notch !   Question: I loved the number that Carter and Ralph came out with in the mid 50’s of Baby Girl. Was Carter referring to you, Doris? I have always loved that number.  I similarly have a great daughter, and yes she started off as my “Baby Girl”. Karen (my daughter) knows of the song and loves it.   Forgive my recollection here, but I think I saw an announcement someplace that that number was redone and was available for purchase from either you (Doris) or some other Stanley family member. Is that correct? What’s the procedure…. Or should I just get it directly from Dave Freeman at County?   I’ll say more on another email from me, but my daughter Karen has gone on to great performing musical things and events, and God bless her, she got her start really singing harmony to my lead (when she was about 6) as I did many of the great Stanley numbers, Jimmy  Martin material and other. I had a small group of musicians and we would play out and around.   Best to you Doris S. Bradley and all other great folks here in what I would call the great “Stanley Sound Heritage Association”, all of us who love the Stanley music.   God bless you all. So where can I get “Baby Girl”…. from you Doris or what?   Thank you. Bruce M. Lloyd (Now in Yardley,PA)