Grand Ole Opry 12/2 & 12/3

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the first weekend of December, with all three shows taking place at the Ryman Auditorium. Highlighting this weekend will be an appearance by Grand Ole Opry member Alison Krauss. Alison will be appearing on the closing segment on both Saturday shows, joined by Jamey Johnson. With no "host" for that final segment, I am going to assume that we will be getting a lot of Alison and Jamey, which is fine with me.

Also appearing on Saturday night will be Opry guest Kathy Mattea. I have always enjoyed Kathy over the years, especially her Opry appearances. She is another one who I have thought would have made a good Opry member. Like Alison and Jamey, she is scheduled for both shows. Joining those three will be Opry members John Conlee, Mike Snider, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, and on the first show, Jesse McReynolds. Guest artists scheduled on Saturday include Eric Paslay, Sleepy Man (formally known as the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys) and Jason Crabb. That adds up to 11 acts on the first show, 6 of whom are Opry members, and 10 acts on the second show, 5 of which belong to the Opry.

Opry members John Conlee, Mike Snider and Connie Smith are also scheduled for the Friday Night Opry, where they will be joined by members Bobby Osborne and Riders In The Sky. That makes 5 members appearing. The non-members scheduled include Carly Pearce, Wade Hayes, Brent Cobb, Shenandoah, Sarah Potenza, Mountain Faith and Kristian Bush, for a total of 12 acts.

Hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree on Saturday night will be the Tennessee River Boys, with the taping taking place back at the Texas Troubadour Theater.

Friday December 2
7:00: John Conlee (host); Carly Pearce; Wade Hayes
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Brent Cobb; Shenandoah
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Sarah Potenza
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Mountain Faith; Kristian Bush

Saturday December 3
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Eric Paslay; Mike Snider
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Sleepy Man; Jason Crabb
8:00: Connie Smith (host); Jesse McReynolds; Kathy Mattea; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jamey Johnson; Alison Krauss

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Eric Paslay; Mike Snider
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Sleepy Man; Jason Crabb
10:30: Connie Smith (host); Kathy Mattea; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jamey Johnson; Alison Krauss


And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of December 2 & 3, 2011. The shows both nights took place at the Ryman Auditorium.

Friday December 2
7:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jimmy C Newman; Collin Raye
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Montgomery Gentry
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Mandy Barnett; Alison Krauss & Dan Tyminski
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Gillian Welch & David Rawlings; Dierks Bentley

Saturday December 3
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Terri Clark
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Brent Anderson
8:00: Mel Tillis (host); Jim Ed Brown; Suzy Bogguss; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Mindy Smith; Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Terri Clark
10:00: Mel Tillis (host); Jack Greene; Brent Anderson
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds; Suzy Bogguss; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mindy Smith; Connie Smith

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of December 1 & 2, 2006. The shows both nights took place at the Ryman Auditorium and there were two shows each night. The 7:00 segment on Saturday night was televised, thus there was no host. And in looking at the line-ups, the Grand Ole Opry Band was given a slot on each of the four shows.

Friday December 1
1st show
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Mel McDaniel; Sarah Buxton
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Doyle Dykes
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jack Greene; Grand Ole Opry Band; Danielle Peck
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; The Grascals

2nd show
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Doyle Dykes
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Mel McDaniel; Sarah Buxton
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Grand Ole Opry Band; Danielle Peck
11:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jack Greene; The Grascals

Saturday December 2
1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mel McDaniel; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Craig Morgan; Kellie Pickler; Joe Diffie; Ray Price
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Grand Ole Opry Band; The Grascals; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Doyle Dykes

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mel McDaniel; Kellie Pickler
10:00: Jean Shepard (host); Ray Price
10:30: Ray Pillow (host); Joni Harms; The Grascals; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Grand Ole Opry Band; Craig Morgan
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Doyle Dykes

And finally, from 25 years ago, the weekend of November 29 & 30, 1991:

Friday November 29
7:30: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis; Justin Tubb; Ernie Ashworth; Stu Phillips
8:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; George Hamilton IV
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Stonewall Jackson
9:00: Four Guys (host); Charlie Louvin; Jan Howard
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Ray Pillow; Hal Ketchum
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Charlie Walker; Bill Carlisle; Vic Willis Trio; Jeannie Seely
10:30: Jack Greene (host); Billy Walker; Connie Smith; Alan Jackson

Saturday November 30
1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Johnny Russell
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Skeeter Davis; Roy Drusky
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Riders In The Sky; Charlie Walker; Jan Howard
7:30: Jack Greene (host); Billy Walker; Connie Smith; Tracy Lawrence
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jeannie Seely; Four Guys; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; David Houston; Jean Shepard; Bill Carlisle

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Stonewall Jackson; Skeeter Davis; Justin Tubb; Charlie Walker
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Roy Drusky; Jan Howard
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Ray Pillow
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman
10:45: Jack Greene (host); Tracy Lawrence; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: The Whites (host); Billy Walker; Riders In The Sky; Jeannie Seely
11:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Four Guys; Johnny Russell

For this weeks featured line-up, it was on Saturday December 2, 1978 that Grand Ole Opry member Bob Luman made his final Saturday night appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Bob Luman had been an Opry member since 1965. Born and raised in Texas, Bob's musical interests were influenced by his father, who was a musician. He received his first guitar at the age of 13 and by the time he was in high school, he had formed his first band. While in high school, he also was a fine baseball player who had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates, however when that did not pan out, he decided to concentrate on music. In 1956, he won a talent contest that included an appearance on the Louisiana Hayride. In the late 1950s, he recorded on Imperial and Capital Records, where he had a number of minor hits. In 1960 he entered the Army and after being discharged in 1962, he moved to Nashville.

While Bob never had a #1 record, he had a very successful recording career throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Among his Top 10 hits were  "Let's Think About Living," which went to #9 in 1960, "When You Say Love," which went to #6, and "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers," which went to #4, both in 1972, and "Neither One of Us," and "Still Loving You," both of which reached #7 in 1973. His final Top 20 single was "The Pay Phone," which went to #13 in 1977. In addition to his recording career, Bob was a very popular touring act, who was very popular in Las Vegas. Sadly, Bob became ill in December 1978 and passed away from pneumonia on December 27. In addition to having been a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Bob Luman is also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

As mentioned, while Saturday December 2, 1978 was Bob's last Saturday night appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, his final Opry appearance was two weeks later, on Friday Night Opry, December 15.

Here is the running order of the Grand Ole Opry from Saturday December 2, 1978, the final Grand Ole Opry show for Opry star Bob Luman:

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
David Houston: Best Friends Make the Worst Enemies
Charlie Walker: Lucille

6:45: Rudy's
Bill Monroe (host): A Used to Be
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way to Say Goodbye
Vic Willis: Cimarron
Bill Monroe: The Old Cross Road is Waiting

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Wilma Lee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Wilburn Brothers: Mama's Shoe Box
Charlie Louvin: Hey Daddy
Tonya: You Make Everyday Feel Like Sunday/Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Porter Wagoner: I'm Gonna Feed You Now/Big Wind

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball/Tennessee Central No. 9/Sunshine Special
Jan Howard: I'll Remember the Good
Roy Drusky: Second Hand Rose
Del Wood: Piano Roll Blues
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Gray Eagle
Herman Crook: Amazing Grace
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland

8:00: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host): Are You From Dixie
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong With the Way that We're Doing it Now
Bob Luman: Let Me Make the Bright Lights Shine for You/The Pay Phone
Jim & Jesse: Ashes of Love
Bill Carlisle: Business Man
Grandpa & Ramona Jones: Mt. Laurel

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Ray Pillow: Texas
Stonewall Jackson: My Favorite Sin
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cracklin' Hen
Hank Snow: Ramblin' Rose

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Monroe (host): My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling
Charlie Walker: T for Texas
David Houston: Best Friends Make the Worst Enemies
Wilma Lee Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Vic Willis: Shenandoah
Stu Phillips: Come Sundown
Bill Monroe: Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord

10:00: Fender
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
Wilburn Brothers: What A Way to Go
Charlie Louvin: When I Was Your Man
Porter Wagoner: Ol' Slewfoot

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Ball Knob, Arkansas
Billy Grammer: Faded Love
Jan Howard: It's A Heartache
Oswald: Mountain Dew
Roy Acuff: Jesus Will Outshine them All

10:30: Trailblazer
Grandpa Jones (host): Old Dan Tucker
Roy Drusky: Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong With the Way That We're Doing it Now
Grandpa Jones: Falling Leaves

10:45: Beech-Nut
Bob Luman (host): Good Hearted Woman
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: (?)
Bob Luman: A Satisfied Mind

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Rumba Boogie
Ray Pillow: Dreams of A Dreamer/Another Day; Another Dollar
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Jim & Jesse: The Voice of My Darling
Kirk McGee: Chitlin Cooking time in Cheatham County
Hank Snow: Hobo Bill's Last Ride

11:30: Acme
Stonewall Jackson (host): A Wound That Time Can't Erase
4 Guys: Let Your Love Flow/Catfish John
Bill Carlisle: Little Liza Jane/I Was on My Way to the Show
Stonewall Jackson: My Favorite Sin/Waterloo

An interesting item from that night. It was Herman Crook's 80th birthday and when he sang "Amazing Grace" on the first show, it was the first time that Herman had ever sung on the Opry.

That will do it for this week. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!