Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Grand Ole Opry 9/28 & 9/29--Updated

The Grand Ole Opry has filled out the line-up for this weekend. The updated line-up is below. Also, the Opry has posted the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry, October 2nd:

7:00: Dustin Lynch; The Whites
7:30: Terri Clark; Jimmy Dickens
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown; Sam Bush
8:45: Darius Rucker

Before getting to this week's Grand Ole Opry line-up, I did want to report that yesterday Gaylord Entertainment stockholders approved the deal that was previously announced with Marriott. Colin Reed, Gaylord's president and CEO, again stated that the new company would continue to own and operate WSM radio, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry. But, it will not be Gaylord Entertainment operating those 3 historical icons, as Gaylord has changed their corporate name to "Ryman Hospitality Properties." Colin Reed will continue to lead the newly named company, and Steve Buchanan will continue in the position of senior vice president of media and entertainment, which means that he will continue to oversee the Opry. I would also assume, as nothing has been announced, that Pete Fisher will continue as the vice president and general manager of the Grand Ole Opry. I do find it interesting that of all the business properties owned by Gaylord, that they have elected to retain not only ownership, but management of the Ryman, WSM and the Opry. I do hope that with the other business entities going under new management and the stockholder issues settled, that the new Ryman Hospitality Properties will give more attention to the Opry.

Now for this week's shows, there will be 2 shows this weekend.  The Friday Night Opry will feature frequent Opry guests Craig Campbell, Mark Wills and Restless Heart, along with Opry member Larry Gatlin. The Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night will feature guest artist Rhonda Vincent, along with The Black Lillies, and our old friend Jimmy Wayne. The line-ups for both nights are "ok", as in nothing really special.

Friday September 28
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Sarah Darling; Connie Smith
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Craig Campbell
8:45: Larry Gatlin (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Restless Heart

Saturday September 29
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Craig Campbell; Jimmy C Newman
7:30: Ray Pillow (host); Jim Lauderdale; The Black Lillies
Intermission
8:15: George Hamilton IV (host); Grandmaster Fiddle Champion; Rhonda Vincent; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy Wayne; Connie Smith

With a couple of slots to fill, that comes out to 11 acts each night, with 8 Opry members on Friday night and just 6 Opry members on Saturday night.

For this week's look in the past at Grand Ole Opry history, I have the line-up from Saturday night, September 29, 1951, 62 years ago this Saturday night. There were some great names at the Opry on this particular night and I thought it would be great to look back and remember some of these great artists.

Saturday September 29, 1951

7:30: Warren Paint
Roy Acuff (host): Little Pal
Lew Childre: Hog Calling Blues
The LeCroix Sisters: If We Never Meet Again
Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Joe Zinkas: Tiger Rag

7:45: American Ace Coffee
Roy Acuff (host): Write me Sweetheart
Uncle Dave Macon: Kissing on the Sly
Roy Acuff: This World is not my Home
The Jug Band: Shot Gun Boogie
Jimmy Riddle: Alabama Jublilee

8:00: Martha White Flour
Ernest Tubb (host): Mississippi Gal
Bill Monroe: Highway of Sorrow
The Crook Brothers: Trouble Among The Yearling
Lefty Frizzell: I Love You a Thousand Ways
Mama Maybelle: Crying Heart Blues
Ernest Tubb: Any Old Time
Carl Smith: Let's Live a Little
June Carter: Keep those Cold Icy Fingers Off Me
Bill Monroe: Truck Drivers Blues
Chet Atkins: Carry me Back to Virginny
Ernest Tubb: Daisy May

8:30: Prince Albert (NBC)
Red Foley (host): Freight Train Boogie
Pee Wee King: Slow Poke
The Square Dancers: Sugar Foot Rag
Red Foley: The Weapon of Prayer
The Old Hickory Singers: Meet me in St. Louis, Louis
Pee Wee King: Two Roads
Stringbean: Call Ole Rattler
Red Foley: Foggy River
The Square Dancers: Skip to my Lou

9:00: Royal Crown Cola
Roy Acuff (host): Your Address Unknown
The Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cotton Eyed Joe
George Morgan: My Heart Keeps Telling Me
The Le Croix Sisters: Pins and Needles
Hank Snow: Your Locket is my Broken Heart
Lonzo and Oscar: Extravaganza Baby
Moon Mulligan: Cherokee Boogie
Roy Acuff: Shake my Mother's Hand
The Jug Band: Conchita Banana
Owald: Little Darling

9:30: Fortune Feed
Cowboy Copas (host): Tragic Romance
Little Jimmy Dickens: Cold Feet
The Possum Hunters: Black Berry Blossom
Anita Carter: Why Should I Cry Over You
The Duke Of Paducah: Comedy
Hank Williams: I Heard a Lonesome Whistle Blow
The Jordanaires: Gonna Walk them Golden Stairs
Little Jimmy Dickens: Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Cowboy Copas: You'll Never ever See me Cry
Big Howdy: Turkey in the Straw
Cowboy Copas: Waltzing with Tears in my Eyes

10:00: Wallrite
Bill Monroe (host): I'm on my Way to the Old Home
The Old Hickory Singers: Waiting for the Robert E. Lee
George Morgan: I Know You'll never Change
Old Joe Clark: Old Age Won't Kill You
Bill Monroe: Raw Hide

10:15: Dr. Le Gear
Roy Acuff (host): Living on the Mountain
Uncle Dave Macon: Old Ties
Roy Acuff: It's All Right Now
Robert Lunn: Frog Hair
Benny Martin: Bill Cheatham

10:30: Jefferson Island Salt
Ernest Tubb (host): I'm in a Crowd but so Alone
Little Jimmy Dickens: Galvanized Wash Tub
Chet Atkins: Canned Heat
Carl Smith: Mr. Moon
The Jordanaires: Pray
Ernest Tubb: Seaman's Blues
June Carter: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
The Gully Jumpers: Old Joe
Little Jimmy Dickens: What About You
Mama Maybelle: Lover's Farewell
Ernest Tubb: I'll Step Aside

11:00: D-Con
Cowboy Copas (host): I Love You Because
Annie Lou and Danny: I Still Do
Lazy Jim Day: Singing the News
Cowboy Copas: Waltz of the Wind
Big Howdy: Fire in the Mountain

11:15: Hank & Audrey's Corral
Hank Williams (host): Moaning the Blues
Sam and Kirk: While I'm Away
Moon Mulligan: Pipe Liner's Blues
Hank Williams: Cold, Cold Heart
Fiddle: Sally Goodin'

11:30: No Sponsor
Hank Snow (host): Unwanted Sign Upon Your Heart
Lew Childre: Horsie Keep you Tail Up
The Crook Brothers: Billy in the Low Ground
Hank Snow: Golden Rocket
The Crook Brothers: Cumberland Gap

11:45: No Sponsor
George Morgan (host): Cry, Baby Heart
Lonzo and Oscar: I Courted the Sunshine but Married the Rain
The Fruit Jar Drinkers: Rabbit Where is you Mammy
George Morgan: Rainbow in my Heart
The Fruit Jar Drinkers: Chinese Breakdown

That will do it for this week. As a reminder, next week is the Grand Ole Opry's 87th birthday celebration (yes it is early this year) and I will be in Nashville next week. I will take in the Opry Country Classics show on Thursday, and all of the Opry shows over the weekend, along with the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree. More details to come.

6 comments:

  1. Fred, Bismarck:

    Oh, boy -- what a blast from the past. A lifetime ago, when one thinks about it. The sheer density of greatness on that long-ago Saturday night underscores what thin soup we are offered today.

    Nevertheless: We are lucky, I suppose, to still have an Opry at all, and Byron will never have to reproach himself for not having taken full advantage!

    Have a great visit, B., and we will be looking forward to your report.

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  2. I'll agree with Fred and thank Byron for a great post. I also think it's interesting that by that time, Frizzell may have been an Opry member, but he still did, even if he was a guest, only that one number. Also, it was nice to see Pee Wee King returning as a guest--he HAD avoided burning his bridges--and that Minnie Pearl and Rod Brasfield apparently were touring.

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  3. from Fred:

    Michael, it IS curious Lefty should have done only the one number, especially since 1951 was his year of years.

    I don't think any major country artist had a more curious chart career than Lefty. After that monster year of '51, and a couple of hits in '52, the big songs came along only every few years. Yet he was never forgotten by the fans or the jocks, either.

    It's nice that he enjoyed that modest resurgence with ABC at the end. In fact, my favorite Lefty song of all time is "Railroad Lady," a number that deserves to be recorded more. (It would have to be by a 'grass group now, I suppose.)

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  4. I notice Rod & Minnie were not included as well.

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  5. Hi All

    This is my first post here. Ive been reading it for a while and really enjoy it. However, Im going to the opry next week and i was wondering if anyone knew any vaild coupon codes for the shows.

    Thanks

    John

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  6. Hi John and thanks for joining us.

    As far as coupon codes, I don't think there are any valid for next weekend as they are not discounting any tickets due to the quality of the line-ups and the birthday weekend.

    I know that the Friday Night Opry has a few seats left, while the Saturday first show, if not already sold out, is very close. Not sure about the 2nd Saturday show, but it is probably the same deal.

    Have fun and enjoy.

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