Thursday, June 22, 2017

Grand Ole Opry 6/23 & 6/24

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. One show each night, both with pretty solid line-ups.

Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights include Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider (keeping his streak alive), Connie Smith, and the Grand Ole Opry's newest members, Dailey & Vincent, who continue to impress with the number of Opry appearances that they have been making. That group will be joined on Friday night by members Riders In The Sky and Jesse McReynolds, while on Saturday night, The Whites and Bobby Osborne are on the scheduled.

Among those making a guest appearance this weekend will be Mark Wills, who is scheduled for both nights. For Mark, this two appearances will be his 14th and 15th of the year. Only 11 of the Opry's 60+ members have appeared more. Even looking back several years, Mark has appeared on the Opry more than most of the members. While not the biggest star in country music, Mark has had a pretty nice career and it is good that he comes out and supports the Opry.

Additional guest artists on Friday night include Ashley Campbell, comedian Henry Cho, Brooke Eden, Kristian Bush and making his Opry debut, Jacob Davis. Saturday's guests include Mo Pitney, Maggie Rose, Robbie Fulks and Post Monroe.

As mentioned, this will be the Opry debut for Josh Davis. Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, he is a singer/songwriter currently signed to Black River Entertainment. He has opened for Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, Sam Hunt and Kelsea Ballerini. "What I Wanna Be" is his debut single that was released this past spring.

Friday June 23
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Ashley Campbell; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Dailey & Vincent (host); Henry Cho; Jacob Davis
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Brooke Eden; Kristian Bush

Saturday June 24
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mo Pitney; Mike Snider
7:30: The Whites (host); Maggie Rose; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
Intermission
8:15: Dailey & Vincent (host); Robbie Fulks; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Post Monroe; Mark Wills

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of June 22 & 23, 2007:

Friday June 22
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mel McDaniel; Jeff Bates
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Dusty Drake
9:00: Pam Tillis (host); Jimmy C Newman; Rissi Palmer
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Marty Stuart

Saturday June 23
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mel McDaniel; Jim Lauderdale
7:00: Pam Tillis (host); Jack Greene; David Ball
7:30: The Whites (host); T.G. Sheppard; Rebecca Lynn Howard
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Ray Pillow; Billy Dean; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); John England & The Western Singers; Jimmy Wayne

2nd show
9:30: Pam Tillis (host); The Whites; Billy Dean
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); John England & The Western Swingers; David Ball; Rebecca Lynn Howard
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jack Greene; Jimmy Wayne; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); T.G. Sheppard; Jim Lauderdale

Now from 25 years ago, June 26 & 27, 1992:

Friday June 26
1st show
6:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jean Shepard; Roy Drusky; The Carlisles; Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Billy Walker; Ray Pillow; The 4 Guys
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; George Hamilton IV; Jeanne Pruett
8:00: Del Reeves (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites; Mario Martin
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Charlie Walker; Mike Snider; Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Stu Phillips; Skeeter Davis; Billy Walker; The 4 Guys
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Grandpa Jones; George Hamilton IV
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Carlisles; Ray Pillow; Mario Martin; Jeanne Pruett
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider
11:30: Del Reeves (host); The Whites; Charlie Walker; Johnny Russell
12:05: Reverend Jimmie Snow

Saturday June 27
1st show
6:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Billy Walker; Jean Shepard; Del Reeves; The Carlisles
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jeanne Pruett; Charlie Walker; Floyd Cramer
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Stu Phillips; Jan Howard; Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Roy Drusky; Connie Smith; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Skeeter Davis; Floyd Cramer
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Jeanne Pruett
10:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jack Greene
10:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Charlie Walker; Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Teddy Wilburn; Jan Howard; The Whites
11:30: Del Reeves (host); Connie Smith; The Carlisles; Mike Snider

(The Whites actually cancelled out on Saturday night. They were replaced by Stu Phillips on the 2nd show).

So who was Mario Martin, featured on both shows on Friday night?

Mario Martin is a vocalist and guitar player who now makes and markets his own brand of guitars. He started singing and playing at an early age at family gatherings, school functions and parties. At age 15, Mario was playing at local honky-tonks and clubs in the Macon, Georgia area. In 1990, he entered the "Country Showdown," a national talent competition sponsored by Tru Value Hardware and GMC trucks. He finished as first runner-up out of more than 1,000 contestants. Based on that contest, Mario received a record deal in 1991, with his first record released on the now defunct Nashville based DPI Records, the same label on which Hoyt Axton and Mel McDaniel recorded for. Within the course of several years, Mario released several more albums and was on the road opening for Ricky Skaggs, Tracy Lawrence, John Anderson and Lee Greenwood. By the end of 1993, DPI had gone out of business. Not giving up, Mario kept playing clubs, fairs and festivals as an independent artist. In 1995 he moved to Nashville to seek another record deal and play local country music clubs. Mario said, "Playing in Nashville, for the most part, doesn't pay the bills. There are too many gigging musicians. That is why I finally decided to chase my other, more lucrative, passion of working on guitars. After spending some time working for Fender Musical Instruments and Music Instrument Restoration Corporation, he went into business for himself and started his own company, The Guitar Mill. He has done well since.

And finally, it was on Saturday June 24, 1989 that some guy named Garth Brooks made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me Again
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down

6:45: Rudy's
Billy Walker (host): Ashes of Love/Blue Moon of Kentucky/That's All Right
Jean Shepard: Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me
Billy Walker: Cross the Brazos at Waco/Charlie's Shoes

7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): There's A Whole Lot About A Woman A Man Don't Know
Ray Pillow: 'Til the Best Comes Along
Del Wood: Piano Roll Blues
The Whites: Blue Letters/Follow the Leader
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me

7:30: Standard Candy
Johnny Russell (host): In A Mansion Stands My Love
4 Guys: Turn Around; Look at Me/Kokomo
Garth Brooks: I'm Much Too Young to Feel this Damn Old/If Tomorrow Never Comes
Johnny Russell: Act Naturally

8:00: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle/Elvira
Roy Drusky: Wings of a Dove/One Day at a Time
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Bill Cheatham
Oswald: Black Smoke's A Risin'

8:30: Music Valley Merchants
Hank Snow (host): The Call of the Wild
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Mike Snider: Ground Speed
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jack Greene (host): Happy Tracks
4 Guys: I'm All Tied Up
Billy Walker: A Million and One
The Whites: Hangin' Around/Doing it By the Book
Jack Greene: The Last Letter

10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Walker (host): A Way to Free Myself
Jean Shepard: Home in San Antone/Time Changes Everything/Roly Poly
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Bill Carlisle: Worried Man Blues
Roy Acuff: Back in the Country/I'll Fly Away

10:30: Pet Milk
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Garth Brooks: I'm Much Too Young to Feel this Damn Old/IF Tomorrow Never Comes
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou

10:45: B. C. Powder
Roy Drusky (host): Too Old to Die Young
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Dance all Night
Roy Drusky: Mansion Over the Hilltop

11:00: Coca-Cola
Ray Pillow (host): Too Many Memories
Jeannie Seely: One Step Away, From Coming Home/Why Doesn't he Just Leave Me Alone
Mike Snider: Look What They've Done to the Dominica Chicken
Ray Pillow: I'll Break Out Again Tonight

11:30: Creamette
Johnny Russell (host): Got No Reason Now for Going Home
Connie Smith: Walk Me to the Door/Why Don't You Love Me
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel/Buried Alive
Johnny Russell: Me & Bobby McGee

You will notice that Hank Snow only did the first show that Saturday night. Why, you might ask? Hank had a habit of going home between his segments. On that particular night, Hank was involved in a car accident, thus not making it back for the 2nd show.

There you have it for this week. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!!




12 comments:

  1. STORY TIME WITH THe BLINd PERSON!
    So I live just south of Macon. When Mario was picking up so much major exposure, I was around 5 or 6ish. I would do shows with him. At one, Hoyt's mother, May who was very interested in helping the young man with his career came to the show. I was asked in advance to sing "Heartbreak Hotel" not knowing that the lady who wrote it was watching me! She could not have been more kind to me.
    When a record back then was first pressed, something like, 3 copies were given to the artist and 3 to the writer. They put a mark on them to identify. Elvis's copies are at Graceland, as it was his first gold record. May gave hers away, including the last one which is in my house along with a letter saying exactly what it was.
    Mario was a wonderful guy for giving a kid who wanted a mic a place to sang!!!
    Also, Wills is just insanely talented!
    True he'll probably never have radio play again, but he's one of those who had a very VERY nice little run in the 90s. 19 somethin' is like the most played song of the 90s or something. Maybe the second most.

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  2. A friend and I were at the second show the night Garth made his Opry debut. I had never heard of him and I'll admit I was not that impressed. I remember telling my friend, "Well, he'll probably never go anywhere." Boy was I wrong!

    Rich in Seattle

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  3. Risey Scruggs just made his Grand Ole Opry debut tonight with Mike Snider. 95 years old and a former Possum Hunter. Was with them in 1948. Standing ovation and and encore. Mike gave special thanks to the Opry for allowing him to bring these special guests on with him.

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    1. That is special. And it makes me think, wouldn't it be nice if the Opry gave guest shots to some of the legendary side men? Curly Seckler is still with us. Bessyl Duhon was with an Opry member--Jimmy C. Newman--longer than anyone else, I think, except Oswald. Kayton Roberts?

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  4. Bill Anderson played in tiny Oakland City, Indiana last night. They were on their way back to Nashville from Branson. Along with Bill was James Freeze, Cotten Payne and Ziggy Johnson.

    The show was at the Wood Memorial High School gym. It was pleasent out side but very warm and humid in the gym. This looked like something out of the 60's or 70's with Bill and the boys performed on the gym floor with the audience in the bleachers. The difference was the crowd size which was rather small due to lack of publicity. I had talked a couple times with the folks putting on the show indicating that poor publicity would yield poor results.

    Crowd size aside, Bill and the boys gave their all and put on the usual great show. They were all dressed casual in jeans and shirts. They performed for just over an hour and a half doing 15 songs.

    But You Know I Love You/Wild Weekend
    Po Folks
    I Love You Drops
    I Wonder If God Likes Country Music(w/James doing Roy's part)
    Last Date(Ziggy)
    Songwriter
    City Lights
    Tips of My Fingers
    Saginaw Michingan
    Give It Away
    Old Army Hat
    Still
    Peel Me A Nanner
    Papa's Sunday Boots
    I saw the Light

    The last three were after Bill had closed with Still then came back. Peel Me A Nanner and Papa's Sunday Boots were requests!

    After the show ,as usual, Bill and the Boys posed for pictures and signed autographs.

    Bill will turn 80 in November. We have seen his show about a dozen times and like Ray Price and Jimmy Dickens who we also saw many times, the show may be similar many times but we never get tired of it. We are blessed that he is still willing and able to perform on the road. He could retire to the Opry as many did in later years. Don't pass up a chance to see him perform on the road.

    For those in the Indiana area, he will be in Scottsburg about an hour south of Indianapolis on Friday August 18 and the Windsor, Illinois the following day Saturday the 19th. He is already scheduled to play the Honeywell Center in Wabash near Ft. Wayne in February 2018!

    Finally, I got to meet fellow Fayfarer Nat Hill and his wife last night! Nice to see you guys.

    Jim
    Knightsville, IN

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  5. Jim nailed the Bill Anderson concert with the above report.
    I personally was disappointed in only one aspect of the show: no steel guitar, fiddle, or lead guitar.
    But Bill is the consummate showman, and his three piece mini-band did an excellent job.
    Bill is a great songwriter who also puts on a great show.
    Thanks Jim!

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  6. From "Anonymous in PA": We would have loved that intimate concert with Bill Anderson. I am taking my husband to celebrate his 75th birthday next January on the Larry's Country Diner Family Cruise - Bill Anderson will be doing the cruise again and my husband has been a big fan "forever" - we are both looking forward to Bill and all the other wonderful entertainers for that trip - we have seen Bill numerous times in concert and at the Opry and he NEVER disappoints, and yes always the autographs and pictures. He is the greatest!

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  7. Nat,

    Looking back at my records I have to go to April 18, 2009 to find the last time we saw Bill alone with his full band. That was the Little Nashville Opry in Nashville, IN. The band was James, Ziggy, Cotten, Lisa Manning on fiddle and Eddie Lang on steel. By this time Les Singer was having health issues and not able to go on the road.

    We saw him at a Country's Family Reunion Show in Huntingdon, TN 8-18-2012. His band made up most of the players along with Jimmy and Michele Capps. At that point it was Ziggy, Cotton, James, Paul Seevers on steel, and Kinsey West on Fiddle.

    On 5-18-13 Bill was in Wabash, Indiana with only guitarist Rex Schnelle and percussionist Paul Cookson.

    In May of 2014 there was another CFR show in Shipshewanna, IN and it was the same group as in 2012.

    In 2015 and 2016 in Shipshewanna it was just Bill, Ziggy, Cotton and James.

    So other than the CFR shows it has been a while since we saw Bill with a full band. In the 90's and early 2000's when we saw him at places like Sullivan and Nashville, IN, Paris, IL, and other locations, he was carrying a full band.

    I would have requested Golden Guitar last night if he had someone to play with him. He did do it on that three man show in Wabash but he had Rex Schnelle to play for him!

    Jim
    Knightsville, IN

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    1. Nat,

      Did you happen to see Bill at Little Nashville with Jimmy Dickens 11-18-06? He was also there 9-3-5 and 3-25-00 with Connie Smith.

      Jim
      Knightsville, IN

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  8. I wondered if the size of the band isn't related to how much Bill is being paid.

    I saw Bill at Little Nashville, on the 'Opry cruise a few years back, and at his 50th year on the 'Opry celebration (2011?).
    In every case, he had a fiddle and steel.

    It would seem he takes the smaller bands to the smaller venues.

    Thanks for taking the time to check it out, Jim.

    Nat

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    1. Nat,

      See above, somehow I replied to my own message.....talking to myself.....not a good sign.

      Jim

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  9. Bill was advertised for a show near us as "intimate night with Bill Anderson" - must have been a smaller venue as well

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