A Life of Sorrow in Arizona 

A Life of Sorrow in Arizona “Ask me about the Stanley Brothers.” That is the legend on the pocket of Gary Reid’s crisp, white shirt.

So, did the Stanley Brothers do any shows in Arizona?

Regardless of the answer, Reid, a Stanley Brothers enthusiast since his teenage years, is taking his one-man presentation, A Life of Sorrow: The Life and Times of Carter Stanley, to the Baby state (Arizona was the last main-land territory to become a US state).

This year sees the 50th anniversary of the passing of Carter Stanley, the soulful, lead singer, guitarist, genial MC and exceptional songwriter who, with his brother Ralph, fronted the Clinch Mountain Boys.

Sadly, along-side those virtues, Carter Stanley had a taste for a little too much drink and it led to his early death at just 41 years of age.

Reid recounts highlights from his life and career, including childhood days on the family farm, the old-time musicians that influenced him, his song-writing, his insecurities, struggles with alcohol, stories of life on the road and his admiration for Bill Monroe.

That admiration was mutual, with the Father of Bluegrass Music pronouncing Carter Stanley, “the best natural lead singer” that he had ever heard.

Reid has studied his subject to such great depths that he prompted author Thomas Goldsmith, writing for the Raleigh News-Observer, to say “You really seemed to embody Carter.” Heck, Reid’s beginning to look like Carter Stanley!!

He gives five Arizona performances with locations and related information as shown below.

The one-act play contains 70 minutes of performance material with a question and answer session to follow.

Thursday, February 4, 2016, 7:00 p.m.

Cattle Track Arts Compound and Theatre, 6105 N. Cattle Track Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Information (718) 374-1086. Tickets $ 15.00 and $ 20.00
For reservations https://www.brownpapertickets.com/

Friday, February 5, 2016, 10:30 a.m.
Foothills Branch Library, Yuma, 13226 East South Frontage Road, Yuma, AZ 85367
Information (928) 782-1871

Friday, February 5, 2016, 2:30 p.m.
Yuma Main Library, 2951 South 21st Drive, Yuma, AZ 85364
Information (928) 782-187

Saturday, February 6, 2016, 4:00 p.m.
Patagonia Public Library, 342 Duquesne Avenue, Patagonia, AZ 85624
Information (520) 394-2010

Tuesday, February 9, 2016, 10:15 p.m.
Globe Active Adult Center, 579 S. Broad Street, Globe, AZ 85501
Information (928) 425-6111

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About the Author

Richard Thompson

Richard F. Thompson is a long-standing free-lance writer specialising in bluegrass music topics. A two-time Editor of British Bluegrass News, he has been seriously interested in bluegrass music since about 1970. As well as contributing to that magazine, he has, in the past 30 plus years, had articles published by Country Music World, International Country Music News, Country Music People, Bluegrass Unlimited, MoonShiner (the Japanese bluegrass music journal) and Bluegrass Europe. He wrote the annotated series I'm On My Way Back To Old Kentucky, a daily memorial to Bill Monroe that culminated with an acknowledgement of what would have been his 100th birthday, on September 13, 2011.