Never Say Never from Kristi Stanley
Excerpt from Bluegrass Today: Posted on March 20, 2018 By John Lawless
The long-awaited Kristi Stanley album is almost here. She has been teasing us about her bluegrass debut project for quite some time, and while the full record isn’t here yet, at least we get to hear the first single,Never Say Never.
It’s a new song from Candace Randolph about not closing your eyes to new possibilities. Kristi was joined in the studio by Alecia Nugent and Wayne Taylor with harmony vocals. The track carries a comfortable acoustic country feel, like much of the material in her live show.
Stanley made her start singing country music as a girl, but has made the switch to bluegrass in tandem with her marriage to Ralph Stanley II. Now that their children are older, it’s Kristi’s time to shine, and that’s what this new recording is about.
Look for the new album, Heart Wide Open, on Union House Records next month.
Label co-owner Jeff Brown says that this new music has been worth the wait.
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“I want to say I’ve enjoyed working with Kristi on her brand new debut album! I believe listeners will enjoy the diversity in this project. You’ll hear a lot of original material but we’ve added a couple standards of course from the Stanley archives. A release date is set for April 2018. You can purchase the single from www.krististanley.com and all the digital outlets. So from Union House Records and myself, Jeff Brown, buckle up, sit back and enjoy as we bring to you Kristi Stanley!”
Radio programmers can download Never Say Never now from AirPlay Direct.
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Kristi Stanley to Still Blue Entertainment
Excerpt from Bluegrass Today, February 12, 2018 By John Lawless
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Kristi Stanley & Running Blind have announced their signing with Still Blue Entertainment for both publicity services and booking representation. Kristi, married to Ralph Stanley II, has been singing country and bluegrass music since she was in her teens. She sang with Dr. Ralph Stanley on his Clinch Mountain Sweethearts album when she was 18, but didn’t meet Ralph II until later when he was performing with his dad in Nashville. II saw her in the audience at a show in Nashville, and they met later at an after party. Two years later they were married.
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Now out fronting her own bluegrass group, Stanley says that she believes in what the ladies at Still Blue can do for her.
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“I’ve had the opportunity in the last year or so (by way of music) of coming in contact with some amazing people. Some of those people have become friends and some have become business partners. I’d like to welcome Ashley Davis and Sherry Brown. Not only is Ashley an amazing fiddler for our band, she is a marketing genius. Sherry wears many hats as well and juggles them all beautifully. I’m so excited to be working with this great team. They will be working hard to bring our brand of music to a venue near you.”
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Brown formed the agency a few years ago primarily to represent her husband, Jeff Brown, and his group, Still Lonesome. She says that now felt like the time to expand with Kristi.
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“Consideration has been given many times to growing the agency, but I felt that it had to be the right situation and benefit everyone involved. We had a very close relationship many years with the late legendary Dr. Ralph Stanley and his family. Therefore, we are very excited to be representing upcoming artist Kristi Stanley & Running Blind. This couldn’t happen at a better time with the band turning heads already, and just in time for their upcoming release on Union House Records that should hit the market this Spring. “
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Running Blind consists of Randy Blevins on guitar, Vickie Austin on bass, Tommy Austin on mandolin, Ashley Davis on fiddle, Travis Houck on reso-guitar, and Chad Love on banjo.
Introducing Kristi Stanley & Running Blind
Excerpt from Bluegrass Today March 24, 2017 By John Lawless
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Kristi Stanley, talented country and bluegrass singer from southwestern Virginia, has announced the members of her new touring band, Running Blind. Her debut album is expected soon from Union House Records.
A Kentucky native, Kristi has been singing all her life, but has spent the past twenty or so years in the role of wife and mother. Now that her children are a bit older, it’s her turn to shine, and she is pursuing a solo career in bluegrass not unlike her husband, Ralph Stanley II, the new leader of The Clinch Mountain Boys.
The members of Running Blind include Randy Blevins on guitar and serving as band leader, Tommy Austin on mandolin, Vicki Austin on bass, Ashley Davis on fiddle, Travis Houck on reso-guitar, and Chad Love on banjo. All are experienced bluegrass performers with professional recording and touring experience.
Stanley will officially introduce the new band today at the Bristol Spring Bluegrass Festival in Bristol VA. They will be with her as she tours in support of the new album throughout this year and beyond.
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Kristi Stanley to Union House Records
Excerpt from Bluegrass Today July 27, 2016 By John Lawless
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There’s a new singing Stanley in the bluegrass world! Kristi Stanley has signed with Union House Records, an artist-owned label run by Mike Bentley and Jeff Brown.
Even before she has her first interactions with the famous Stanley family, Kristi was singing and following traditional country music. Her first encounter came when she met Ralph Stanley II after a taping of Prime Time Nashville. He was performing on the show as a member of the Clinch Mountain Boys with his dad, and saw her sitting in the audience.
They met at a get-together after the taping, and within two years, they were man and wife. Kristi and Ralph II now have two children together, Taylor and Ralph III, and as they are older and better able to fend for themselves, their mom is ready to pursue music again.
Dr. Ralph had invited her to be part of his 2001 recording, Clinch Mountain Sweethearts, for Rebel Records. It opened her up to the experience of being involved in the profession of bluegrass music, and allowed her to meet and work with some of her heroes. Now she is going in to the studio on her own.
A debut bluegrass record is expect on Union House in 2017. Kristi says that she is enjoying the process of recording, and of putting her own group together to tour in support.
“I’m very excited to be a part of Union House Records, and all of the people involved with my project have been extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and open minded to my production ideas and arrangements. The recording process has been an inspiration to me and offered a lot of insight to my own artistry, as well as growing my anticipation about the future and promoting these tracks on the road. I am really looking forward to a great relationship with this label and to releasing the album and getting out on tour.”
You can find out more about Kristi Stanley and her music online.
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