Second Cup Cafe: Ralph Stanley

After fifty years and 185 albums country legend Ralph Stanley, at age 75, has gone solo. He plays songs from his new album "Ralph Stanley" for The Saturday Early Show's Second Cup Café.

Ethan and Joel Coen, the filmmaking brothers, brought about Stanley's new momentum when they featured his song "O Death," on the soundtrack for the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" That song won him a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocalist Performance defeating among others Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Lyle Lovett. "O Brother's" album beat out U2 and Bob Dylan winning a Grammy for Album of the Year.

The Coen brothers went on to start a new label, DMZ/Columbia Records, aiming to feed this newfound appetite for country bluegrass music. The executive producer from the "O Brother" album, T Bone Burnett is also headed up the production of "Ralph Stanley."

Though Stanley is usually categorized as a bluegrass musician Burnett insists, "He's a mountain singer is what he really is." Though he has traveled the world, Stanley still calls the mountains along the Virginia-Tennessee border home.

His late brother Carter and the band The Clinch Mountain Boys shared the stage with Stanley for most of his career. They are recognized as one of bluegrass' greats.

The songs for his solo album come from hymns, American Folklore, and Shakespeare. Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter also lent a helping hand.

He has won numerous awards and recognitions and holds the Living Legend award from the Library of Congress. He has shared the stage and recorded with admirers such as Bob Dylan and Dolly Parton.