Dr. Ralph Stanley Playing Cooperative Meeting

Bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley will headline Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative's 73^rd Annual meeting.

The meeting is slated for Monday, May 6 at the cooperative's equipment facility in Pickens.

The evening promises to be fun and informative. Membership will elect three trustees during the meeting.

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative President and CEO Charles Dalton says in addition to the informative business session, which begins at 7pm, the event will feature “something for everyone.”

“We'll offer free hot dogs, potato chips, soft drinks and bottled water for everyone, as well as free blood pressure checks,” Dalton said.

Every registered member will receive a door prize at the meeting. Registration begins at 5:30pm.

There will also be a prize drawing.

“We'll give away dozens of valuable appliances and other items during the prize drawing,” Dalton said. “This year's grand prize is a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado four-wheel drive, regular-cab pickup.”

Dr. Ralph Stanley and his brother, the late Carter Stanley, formed their band in 1946. The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys's popularity rivaled other bluegrass legends such as Bill Monroe and Flat & Scruggs.

Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2000, Stanley has nurtured the careers of many bluegrass talents.

Those whose early careers included stints playing in the Clinch Mountain Boys include Larry Sparks, Keith Whitley, Charlie Sizemore and Ricky Skaggs.

“Dr. Stanley has enjoyed a 70-year career in the music business,” Dalton said.

Stanley saw his audience expand as moviegoers discovered the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” which feature Stanley's haunting rendition of “O Death.”

The soundtrack to the film launched the popular “Down from the Mountain” tour, which featured Stanley as headliner.

Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys will perform two sets during the meeting, one at 7:30pm and one at 8:45pm, following the prize drawing.

In addition to Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the Sweet Potato Pie Kids, a band made up of students taking part in the Young Appalachian Musicians program will perform at the meeting. Their set begins at 5pm.

Oconee County's Doyle Burton and the Silver Dollar Gang performs from 5:30pm – 6:15pm.

Dalton said the entertainment, giveaways and food are aimed at getting a large number of members to come out to the annual meeting. By law, electric cooperatives are required to have five percent of their membership attend such meetings.

“That's a tough deal in this day and time,” he said. “You know, people, they're do a lot of things. They're doing everything in the world. They don't want to come to the Blue Ridge Annual Meeting.”