HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 120

(By Delegate Dean)

[Introduced March 10, 2018]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a mile-portion of Route 49, one-half mile in both directions from Thacker in Mingo County, the “Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert Memorial Road”.

Whereas, Darrell “Pee Wee” Lambert was born and raised in Thacker, West Virginia. As a teenager he loved the music being made by the mandolin-guitar duos that were so prevalent during that time. His favorite group was the Monroe Brothers and he aspired to play mandolin and sing tenor like Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass music; and

Whereas, When just a teenager, playing the mandolin locally when one day, Mr. Lambert was hitchhiking on Route 49 when Roy Sykes picked him up, and they headed to Bristol, Virginia, to play music on radio station WOPI, now WCYB; and

Whereas, Starting in 1939 Mr. Lambert worked about three years in a band with Roy Sykes until he was called to join the military and served in World War II. Upon being discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1946, Mr. Lambert joined Roy Sykes and the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys. During that time, he began to sing duets with fellow band member Carter Stanley. Later that same year when Carter and Ralph Stanley formed The Clinch Mountain Boys, Mr. Lambert became the first mandolin player for the group, and they played on Radio Station WNVA in Norton, Virginia. He also sang and played on an hour-long program called “Farm and Fun Time” Radio Station in Bristol Tennessee. He also sang and played in the studios of WSAZ-TV in Huntington, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Most of the singing during that era was solos, duets or quartets. Mr. Lambert was featured on some vocal solos on The Clinch Mountain Boys earliest recordings in 1947 for the Rich-R-Tone label. He also sang tenor on a couple of quartets with Ralph Stanley singing the baritone. It was Mr. Lambert’s ear for the harmony and his understanding of how the parts worked together that led to the trio sound that set them apart. They began to sing trios in a way that according to historians had not been done before in a male group. They founded a trio with Carter singing lead, Ralph regular tenor and Mr. Lambert what’s now known as a high baritone. That was the first trio of its type; and

Whereas, Mr. Lambert’s recordings with the Stanley Brothers of songs such as “A Vision of Mother,” White Dove,” “The Fields Have Turned Brown” and “Lonesome River” are monumental to the foundation of Bluegrass music. It was that sound that set the Stanley Brothers apart from other groups of that time and is an integral part of Bluegrass music and its storied history; and

Whereas, After leaving the Stanley Brothers in 1950, Mr. Lambert continued to play mandolin and sing high harmony parts with Bluegrass bands for the next 15 years in Columbus, Ohio, until he passed away of a heart attack in June 1965; and

Whereas, Mr. Lambert’s credits include: Playing and singing on over 50 records; was on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine 1979, along with an article on his music career; he was Inducted as a legendary musician as  the Pioneer of Bluegrass in the International Bluegrass Music Museum, Hall of Fame, in Owensboro, Kentucky; he was presented the Distinguished Achievement Award by the IBMA International Bluegrass Music Association in recognition of his pioneering accomplishments; his photos and information on him are hanging in the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood, Virginia; he is included in the books Kentucky Traveler, My Life in Music by Ricky Skaggs and Man of Constant Sorrow, My Life and Times by Ralph Stanley, with both Mr. Skaggs and Mr. Stanley speaking highly of Mr. Lambert; and his 1922 F5 Lloyd Loar mandolin is now owned and played by Ricky Skaggs; and

Whereas, It is amazing how Mr. Lambert influenced and inspired so many generations and great future musicians with his music just being from a small place in Thacker, West Virginia. He had the heart, desire and willingness to play music and became well known all over the country. Mr. Lambert had a significant impact on the development of Bluegrass music and became known all over the country. Mr. Lambert will never know just how much he influenced and inspired so many generations and great future musicians with his music. He had a significant impact on the development of bluegrass music. The world lost an incredible musician when he passed away, and it would bring joy to his heart to know how much his music is still admired today. Mr. Lambert still has lots of family that live in and around Thacker; and

Whereas, For these reasons it is fitting and proper that the road in his hometown be named in honor of Bluegrass pioneer Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert; therefore, be it

Resolved by the West Virginia Legislature:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a mile-portion of Route 49, one-half mile in both directions from Thacker in Mingo County, the “Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the road as the “Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.