Bluegrass singer and banjo player Ralph Stanley has announced that he plans to retire in December of 2014. Now age 86, “Dr. Ralph Stanley” has had a storied career with tremendous achievements, including inventing his own banjo playing style, winning three Grammys, and being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

As build-up to his retirement, Stanley has announced a tour, titled “The Man of Constant Sorrow Tour,” which will span from October 2013 til December for 2014. He will be joined on tour by his band the Clinch Mountain Boys, his son, Ralph Stanley Jr., and his grandson Nathan Stanley, as well as a slew of other country and bluegrass acts as supporting artists.

Stanley got his start alongside his guitar-playing brother Carter, performing as the Stanley Brothers. They got their start playing on various local radio stations in the Southwest Virginia region. Most of their music was styled after Bill Monroe, who largely coined the bluegrass genre. It was in the 1950s, during their tenure at King Records that the Stanleys really developed a sound unique to themselves. Their band was known as the Clinch Mountain boys.

However, in 1966 Carter Stanley passed away, and Ralph was forced to continue as a solo act. He and his Clinch Mountain Boys, which consisted of Larry Sparks, Roy Lee Centers and Charlie Sizemore at this time, went on to produce a number of albums and songs that were widely covered throughout the bluegrass and country community. He was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1992, and again in 2000. His music was featured in the Coen brothers’ film Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, in which he sings “O Death.”

Dr. Stanley’s grandson, Nathan will continue to tour with the Clinch Mountain Boys after Ralph Stanley’s retirement. For more information on the Man of Constant Sorrow Tour, check out www.drralphstanleymusic.com.

— Matt Hengeveld