Ralph Stanley stays busy

Rebel will release newly recorded spirituals as "A Mother's Prayer," on March 8. Colin Escott wrote the liner notes on the CD, Stanley's 33rd for Rebel.

This has been a busy year for Stanely. In October, the 83-year-old singer performed in the "Speaking Clock Revue" concerts, organized by T Bone Burnett and co-starring Elton John, Leon Russell, John Mellencamp, Jeff Bridges and Neko Case. (Stanley was also a key attraction in Burnett's multi-star "Down From The Mountain Tour" in 2002 and "Great High Mountain Tour" in 2004).

On Sept. 30, Stanley and co-writer Eddie Dean won the International Bluegrass Music Association's print media award for Stanley's autobiography, "Man Of Constant Sorrow: My Life And Times."

On July 14, Stanley performed at New York's Lincoln Center with Randy Travis, Allison Moorer, Ray Benson and the Yonder Mountain String Band as part of a series curated by The Blind Boys of Alabama. Stanley subsequently toured with The Blind Boys. In August, famed cellist Dave Eggars released Kingston Morning, an album that features Stanley singing the old hymn, "Jacob's Vision." And in April, Ballet Nouveau Colorado debuted a new dance routine based on Stanley's "Hemlock and Primroses."