Thursday, November 21, 2019

Grand Ole Opry 11/22 & 11/23

As we get to the end of 2019, and as I have been reviewing the Grand Ole Opry weekly line-ups, I thought it would be a good time for some of my thoughts.

It would appear, unless the unexpected happens, that the Opry will end the year with 68 members. However, that really doesn't tell the story, as of those 68 members listed, 17 of those will end the year with zero appearances, and of those 17 it can safely be said that 12 of those members will never perform on the Opry again.

To put it into perspective, here are the 12, along with the last time performing on the Opry:

Bobby Bare: August 18, 2018
Ray Pillow: December 23, 2017
Hal Ketchum: August 18, 2017
Stu Phillips: June 4, 2017
Loretta Lynn: January 21, 2017
Stonewall Jackson: November 5, 2016
Jan Howard: October 24, 2015
Randy Travis: July 13, 2012
Ricky Van Shelton: July 2, 2004
Jeanne Pruett: June 9, 2001
Barbara Mandrell: June 14, 1997
Tom T Hall: June 6, 1992

The other five who will finish 2019 with no Opry appearances: Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Ronnie Milsap and Blake Shelton.

Granted, a few of those such as Randy Travis, Jeanne Pruett and Jan Howard have appeared at the Opry, introduced on stage to be acknowledged by those attending the show.

Now, let's list those who are Grand Ole Opry members and don't appear more than 2 or 3 times a year:

Dierks Bentley
Clint Black
Garth Brooks
Emmylou Harris
Alison Krauss
Little Big Town
Martina McBride
Brad Paisley
Dolly Parton
Rascal Flatts
Darius Rucker
Marty Stuart
Travis Tritt
Keith Urban
Trisha Yearwood
Chris Young

Two of the names I really am disappointed to see on this list are Brad Paisley and Marty Stuart. Both know better and as much as they both say they love the Opry and it's history, their support tells otherwise. With Brad, I specifically remember how he stepped forward after the 2010 flood and then the death of Jimmy Dickens, but after the media left, so did Brad. I know Marty has been busy, but so have others. He needs to return to his roots.

While Garth Brooks is on that list, I give him a pass. My understanding is that while Garth does not appear on the Opry often, he does a lot behind the scenes to support the Opry in other ways and has always answered their requests when asked.

And finally, Dolly Parton. I give her credit for her two shows this year, but prior to those, she was another one missing in action.

So not counting Luke Combs and Kelsea Ballerini, giving those two new members the opportunity to show us how they will support the Opry, that leaves us with 33 members who are actually appearing and supporting the show in some capacity.

So, of those 33, who are carrying the heavy loads and can be counted on to be at the Opry more weekends than not? The list of those who have appeared more than 20 times in 2019 is rather small:

Bill Anderson
John Conlee
Dailey & Vincent
Jesse McReynolds
Bobby Osborne
Riders In The Sky
Jeannie Seely
Ricky Skaggs
Connie Smith
Mike Snider
Mark Wills
The Whites

Basically, you have 12 members who are committed to the Opry. Any one what to guess what the average age of those artists is? And with those 12 doing the heavy lifting, we have seen what happens to the line-ups when many of those are missing.

Most of the other members who are not listed appear between 10 and 20 times each year and I am personally fine with those folks. I don't doubt the commitment of artists such as Vince Gill, Chris Janson, Crystal Gayle, Trace Adkins, Oak Ridge Boys and Carrie Underwood. And I really don't have an issue with those who are retired. God Bless them and we should be thankful for what they each brought to the Opry. My issue is that of the 68 Opry members there are only 33 that can be counted on to appear 10 times per year or more. In other words, only half of the Opry's cast are true participating members.

I am only pointing this out, as in the last several years we have lost a good number of veteran artists who supported the Opry: Jim Ed Brown, Jimmy Dickens, Jack Greene, George Hamilton IV, Charlie Louvin, Jimmy C Newman and Jean Shepard to name a few. And while we are lucky that most of the 12 who are making the most appearances are in good health, let's be honest. Any one of them could go at any time. And we wonder why some weeks, there are less than five or six members per show.

Hopefully under the new leadership of Dan Rogers, Opry membership is addressed and members added who will appear and support the show. If the Opry is going to continue with the host format, members need to be added that can actually host. The recently added Mark Wills is a great example. We need more members, such as Mark, who will step forward and support the show.

Just some thoughts.
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Now, to the four Grand Ole Opry shows for this weekend and of course, one of those who I listed as appearing only several times per year, Darius Rucker, is scheduled to appear on both shows Friday night.

Joining Darius will be Opry members John Conlee, Mike Snider, Connie Smith, Ricky Skaggs and Riders In The Sky. Additionally, The Whites are scheduled for the first show and Bobby Osborne is listed on the second show. That all adds up to seven members on each show.

John Conlee, Ricky Skaggs, Mike Snider and Riders In The Sky are back for Saturday night, joined by Jeannie Seely, and on the first show, Jesse McReynolds. That gives us six members on the early show and five on the late show.

Guesting on Friday night will be Charlie Worsham, Jimmie Allen, High Valley and Cam. On Saturday night, Drew Baldridge, Restless Heart and Kalie Shorr are listed on the schedule, along with very frequent guest Charles Esten and The Milk Carton Kids, who I know one of our readers has a personal interest in.

Friday November 22
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Charlie Worsham; Mike Snider
7:30: Connie Smith (host); The Whites; Jimmie Allen
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); High Valley; Cam
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Darius Rucker

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Charlie Worsham; Mike Snider
10:00: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Cam
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jimmie Allen; High Valley
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Darius Rucker

Saturday November 23
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Drew Baldridge; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Kalie Shorr; The Milk Carton Kids
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Restless Heart; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Charles Esten

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Drew Baldridge; Mike Snider
10:00: John Conlee (host); Kalie Shorr; The Milk Carton Kids
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Restless Heart; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Charles Esten
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of November 20 & 21, 2009:

Friday November 20
7:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jason Michael Carroll
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Shane Yellowbird
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; Connie Smith
8:30: Vince Gill (host); Ralph Stanley; Little Big Town

Saturday November 21
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Holly Williams
7:30: The Whites (host); Jack Greene; Ralph Stanley
8:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Jan Howard; The Lovell Sisters; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels Band

2nd show
9:30; Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Holly Williams
10:00: The Whites (host); Jack Greene; Ralph Stanley
10:30: Mike Snider (host); Ray Pillow; Charlie Daniels Band; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Vince Gill (host); Connie Smith; The Lovell Sisters

I had to look up Shane Yellowbird as I honestly couldn't remember who he was. Shane is from Canada and had won several Canadian Country Music Awards prior to 2009, which was the year that his last album was released. While still apparently active, it seems that he really hasn't done much lately.

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday November 19, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jeanne Pruett; Alison Krauss
6:45: Bill Monroe (host); Riders In The Sky
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Brother Oswald; Dan Kelly; Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Bill Carlisle
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Loretta Lynn; Patty Loveless
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers; Charlie Louvin; Jimmy Sturr
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; Jim Ed Brown; Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Jim and Jesse; Patty Loveless
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Loretta Lynn; Johnny Russell
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); The Four Guys
10:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Riders In The Sky
10:45: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; Charlie Walker; Nashville Bluegrass Band; Del Reeves
11:30: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Billy Walker; John Conlee

Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday November 22, 1969:

1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host); Lonzo and Oscar; Del Wood
6:45: Charlie Walker (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Urel Albert
7:00: Archie Campbell (host); Lorene Mann; The Four Guys; David Peel
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Stu Phillips; Bill Carlisle; Crook Brothers
8:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Stan Hitchcock; Margie Bowes
8:30: Tex Ritter (host); Stonewall Jackson; Marion Worth; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Willis Brothers (host); Lonzo and Oscar; Wilma Lee Cooper; Del Wood
10:00: Archie Campbell (host); Lorene Mann; Charlie Walker
10:15: Stu Phillips (host); Jim and Jesse; The Four Guys
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Urel Albert
10:45: Stonewall Jackson (host); Bill Carlisle; Crook Brothers
11:00: Tex Ritter (host); Margie Bowes; David Peel; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Marion Worth; Stan Hitchcock

One name that night who might not be familiar to everyone is David Peel.

While born and raised in Nashville, TN, David hitchhiked with his guitar in tow to Hollywood during a college Spring break in pursuit of a folk-singing career. With dreams of singing the songs he knew and loved driving him forward, he began playing venues throughout Southern California. However, upon discovery by actor Fess Parker of acclaimed Disney films such as 'Old Yeller' and 'Davy Crockett', and star of the hit television series 'Daniel Boone', David began an acting career instead, appearing in series such as 'The Virginian' as well as in 'Daniel Boone'. With the distinction of being the only true "Nashvillian" in the cast, his single film credit would be to play a major role in Robert Altman's Academy-Award-nominated movie, 'Nashville' with Lily Tomlin, Jeff Goldblum, and Henry Gibson.

Returning to his musical roots, David established his own solo recording career in Nashville. He quickly hit national country charts with a string of hit singles including 'I'm Walkin'' and 'Wax Museum' , later to add 5 additional albums; 'Move Two Mountains', 'Hit the Road Jack', 'Rise and Walk', 'I'll Sing On', and 'Glory Bound' to his decades-spanning career.

David is still active today, primarily doing smaller, private events.
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Taking a look back, it was 17 years ago, Saturday November 23, 2002 that Jim McReynolds performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time.

James Monroe McReynolds was born on February 13, 1927 in the tiny community of Carfax, Virginia. Musical instruments were always abundant in the McReynolds family, and both Jim and his younger brother Jesse started playing music at a very young age. Both sides of their family played and sang the old-time traditional mountain music. In fact, their grandfather Charles McReynolds, a fiddle player of note, recorded at the historic RCA sessions held in Bristol, Va. in 1927.

When Jim & Jesse were learning to play and sing, the brother duet acts in country music were extremely popular. They listened to the radio shows and bought 78 rpm records of such pioneers as the Delmore Brothers, the Monroe Brothers, and the Blue Sky Boys, and sought to emulate their styles. With Jesse playing mandolin and singing lead and Jim providing the tenor harmony and guitar accompaniment, the two brothers came up with a vocal blend that was uniquely their own.

Following Jim's discharge from the United States Army, he and Jesse made their professional debut a few months later in the spring of 1947 on WNVA in Norton, Va. This tenure lasted only a few months and was the beginning of a long succession of radio jobs. They appeared on stations in Charleston, W.Va., Bristol, Va., Forest City, N.C., Augusta, Ga., Waterloo, Ia., Wichita, Kansas, eventually working their way to Versailles, Kentucky, where in 1952 they joined the Kentucky Barn Dance.

By 1956, Jim & Jesse were appearing on television in Tallahassee, Fla., and subsequent shows were added in Savannah, Ga., Dothan, Ala., Pensacola, Fla., and Valdosta, Ga., where they later moved. They signed with Starday Records in 1958 and recorded several tunes which became standards, including "Hard Hearted" and "Pardon Me," along with the instrumentals "Dixie Hoedown" and "Border Ride."

In 1960, Martha White Flour began sponsoring Jim & Jesse on television, and the following year they moved to Prattville, Ala., and also made their first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. A recording contract with Columbia produced such classics as "Gosh I Miss You All The Time" and "Diesel Train" before they migrated over to Epic where they would enjoy their biggest commercial success. In the early 1960's, the Jim & Jesse sound really crystallized with Allen Shelton on banjo and Jimmy Buchanan on Fiddle, producing the classic albums "Bluegrass Special," "Bluegrass Classics," and "The Old Country Church."

After many guest appearances, on March 2, 1964, Jim & Jesse fulfilled their life's dream to become members of WSM's Grand Ole Opry. Their records continued to sell at a steady pace, but as the bluegrass and country music fields became separate industries, Jim & Jesse had to adapt to keep up with the times. They added electric instrumentation to their recordings and hired musicians who could double on both acoustic and electric instruments. They also had many BILLBOARD country chart hits including the well-known "Diesel on my Tail."

In 1993, the brothers received bluegrass music's highest honor when they were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor. They later went to the White House in 1997 to receive the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship Award from then First Lady Hillary Clinton.

In 2001, Jim started experiencing voice problems. After visiting numerous doctors and specialists, he was advised not to sing. In April of 2002, he underwent thyroid surgery and cancer was found, and it had spread to the lymph nodes. Jim was off the road until June, but resumed with Jesse and continued undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. His condition worsened and he developed brain tumors.

Through it all, Jim never lost his dignity. His last appearance was at the Ryman Auditorium on WSM's Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, November 23, 2002. He had to be helped to the stage, and even though he couldn't sing, sitting on a stool, he played rhythm guitar flawlessly. His appearance, as always, was neat, clean, and pressed to the highest degree as he smiled with pride helping to make the music he loved for the last time.

Sadly, on December 19, Jim's wife Arreta, died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Jim started hospice care the next day. His death came December 31, at 7:40 p.m. at  the Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, Tenn. His daughter Janeen was by his side.

Funeral services were held at the Alexander Funeral Home in Gallatin, on January 4, with burial taking place the next day at the Robinette Cemetery, a small family cemetery on top of a mountain at the McReynolds' homeplace where Jim was born in Carfax, Va.

Here is the running order from Saturday November 23, 2002, the final night that brothers Jim and Jesse McReynolds performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time:

1st show
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
The Whites: Swing Down Chariot
Steve Forbert: My Carolina Sunshine Girl; My Rough and Rowdy Ways
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn; Mountain Dew

7:00: Gutter Guard/Standard Candy
Steve Azar: I Don't Have to Be Me 'Til Monday/Waiting on Joe
Jean Shepard: I'm Not that Good at Goodbye
Steve Wariner: Tips of My Fingers/This Christmas Prayer
Montgomery Gentry: This Is My Town/She Changed Her Mind/Hillbilly Shoes
Diamond Rio: What A Beautiful Mess I'm In/I Believe/Unbelievable
Jean Shepard and Steve Wariner: The Great Speckled Bird/Wabash Cannonball

8:00: Martha White
Mike Snider (host): Smith Reel; Miller's Reel
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Holly Dunn: Can't Stop Now/Daddy's Hands
Opry Square Dance Band: Blackberry Blossom

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jim Ed Brown (host): Bar Room Pals and Good Time Gals
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou/Cajun Stripper
Connie Smith: I Never Once Stopped Loving You/Satisfied
Jim Ed Brown: Morning

2nd show
9:30: Tootsie's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Connie Smith: Ribbon of Darkness/You Got Me Right Where You Want Me
Montgomery Gentry: This Is My Town/Hillbilly Shoes
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep in Peace then Know You're Gone

10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Shoney's
Jean Shepard (host): Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Jan Howard: I Can't Help It
Jim and Jesse: I Wish You Knew
Diamond Rio: Love a Little Stronger/One More Day
Jean Shepard: Half A Mind/Let's All Go Down to the River/I Saw the Light/Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away/Somebody Touched Me

10:30: WSM online.com/Wildhorse Saloon
Steve Wariner (host): On Life's Highway
Holly Dunn: You Really Had Me Going
Steve Forbert: My Carolina Sunshine Girl/My Rough and Rowdy Ways
Opry Square Dance Band: Rachel
Steve Wariner: This Christmas Prayer

11:00: Coca Cola
Jim Ed Brown (host): Morning Comes Too Early
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo/Cajun Stripper
Steve Azar: My Heart Wants to Run/?/
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells

11:30: Tootsie's
Mike Snider (host): Acorn Hill; Crazy Creek
Ray Pillow: I'm Still Not Over Losing You
The Whites: Pins & Needles/Keep on the Sunny Side
Mike Snider: Sourwood Mountain/Lost Indian

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!









25 comments:

  1. First, Byron allowed me to be anonymous if I wanted, but I am actually friendly with the parents of one of The Milk Carton Kids, and they are the real deal. Kenny (their son) is a tremendous guitarist, and he and Joey do a great job. Think great harmony crossed with the Smothers Brothers.

    The lovely tribute to Jim & Jesse reminds me of the night they were on Mr. Acuff's segment and as they went off, he said, "Shelton, I can never tell if you're laughing or crying." That was true!

    Thanks as always, Byron, for all of this, and especially your analysis of the membership. I share your disappointment with Brad and Marty.

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  2. Jim McReynolds was always an example of dignity and consistency and as I understand was also the businessman who managed to act with astuteness and empathy for the booking parties. Jesse continues on courageously and unwavering, trying to keep the distinctive sound alive. Total class and total professionalism that is hard to find these days --- one of the unsung true class acts in country music ---- Dashmann , Flushing, Michigan ----

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  3. While only half of the act, do not forget Sonny Osborne. I suppose he is still considered a member, yet retired.

    I guess I'm behind on news. What has happened to Bobby Bare, that he will not preform again?

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  4. According to Sonny, his rotator cuff surgery made playing impossible for him and he hasn't even picked up a banjo since he retired back in 2003 (doesn't seem like it's been that long). I've been digging back into some of the Osborne's old albums lately and they put out an amazingly versatile catalog of recordings over the course of their career. I wish Bobby would pull a few of those old gems out to do on the Opry but he seems pretty content to just do "Rocky Top" every week.

    If you're looking for some good reading, Sonny does a column every week for "Bluegrass Today" called "Ask Sonny Anything". He's never been shy about voicing his opinions and does NOT sugar coat them which makes most of his stories endlessly entertaining on several levels. "Ask Sonny Anything" is posted every Friday. Here's the link to this week's column:

    https://bluegrasstoday.com/ask-sonny-anything-whats-on-your-ipod/

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  5. I just wonder if the Opry is the one that reaches out and does the booking with the artists management, or if say Dolly gets on her cell phone and calls them up and says "Hey Y'all, I'm coming by tomorrow night!" I'm thinking it may be a little more complicated than just saying that they don't care or the Opry doesn't matter to them. The point is though, that when they added "huge" artists like Garth, Clint Black and Travis Tritt, I wonder if they actually expected them to make regular appearances, or just needed their names on the Opry roster to make it sound relevant. Most of these folks that you never see are the ones who depend on Friday and Saturday night to make a living as their record sales don't cut it any longer, and in reality, what does them not scheduling a booking and playing the Opry help them with anymore?

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    1. I also wonder if there aren't more stories behind why some of them stay away as opposed to them simply not caring or being too big for their britches. As an example, I wonder why Josh Turner doesn't come around more. That one has surprised me. Something tells me there's more to it than apathy or being too busy.

      J in OK

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    2. Unfortunately when the Opry added many of those artists in the late 80s and early 90s, it was without a commitment. A huge mistake by the Opry's management at the time, but also, the Opry was trying to shed their image as a "living museum" of country stars.

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    3. Byron, do you know at what points there have and haven't been appearance requirements for membership? I knew that there weren't any for all or much of the 90's when many of the no shows joined. Are they back in place? If so, when were they put back in place?

      J in OK

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    5. And most times when the do feature the "big names" on the Opry membership role they announce their appearance months in advance. Like Dolly, Reba, Blake Shelton and Garth. The others like Steve Wariner and Bill Anderson are just thrown in at the last minute on the schedule on opry.com.

      Along with the big mix of "big artists" on stage, then you get the mix in the audience of "big artists" fans and causal fans. Then I have to sit there with a jerk behind me talking the entire time or yelling mean things at Bobby Osborne and Jesse McReynolds that they are there to see Blake and to hurry up.

      The opry has been at a crossroads for years ever since it changed from a place the artists needed to a place that almost begs the artists to show up.

      Myself, along with many other people drive hours and hours to see Jesse McReynolds, Bill Anderson, Steve Wariner, John Conlee and all the others and it's hard to have to sit through a rock show with rock show fans to see our show.

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  6. Years ago the management called Opry members early each week to see if they were available for Fri or Sat and then they created the performance list. Also back then, as we see on Byron's history info, the shows were longer and had many performers. It is hard to get many in now with the revised times. (Anonymous in PA)

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  7. The ending of commitments for new members was ended by Hal Durham in the late 1980s. I am not 100% positive, but on the top of my head, the first person might have been Roy Clark, who joined in August 1987.

    I specifically remember an interview that Roy did in which he said he told Opry management (Hal Durham) that if he became a member he would only be able to appear a few times each year as he was so busy on the road. Those Opry appearances usually took place the weeks that Hee Haw was being filmed, thus Roy was in Nashville during those weeks.

    Of course, many of us remember the comment that Roy Acuff made to Ricky Skaggs after he joined, which was in 1982, telling Ricky that now that you are a member you probably will be like the others and not come around very often.

    One of the reasons BJ Thomas and Don Williams left the Opry so quickly after joining was that they didn't realize the commitment that was expected of them. I give them both credit on doing the right thing and giving up their membership.

    The other 3 that stand out from the time period are Ronnie Milsap, Randy Travis and Reba, although from those three some type of commitment was asked for.

    While we may, or may not agree with all the Pete Fisher did when he began running the Opry in 1999, I do give him credit in asking each new member that he brought on board to commit to 10 appearances each year. Overall, he did have more success than failures in this regard as the majority he brought on have made close to 10 appearances each year, give or take a couple.

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  8. is there an answer about Bobby Bare?

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  9. Byron, your statistics are excellent and much appreciated. I think we can make many conclusions from the numbers, the age and the specific artists.
    I think it is obvious the Opry is driven by the senior Opry members. While that is no surprise, I think we are all concerned about the next generation and who will step up to the level of dedication these legends have maintained.
    It seems there are no candidates in the wings.
    It would be interesting to see what the strategic plan is by Opry management but doubt that will happen. Guess we have to wait and hope. Meanwhile us Opry addicts just have to wish for the best.
    Your upbeat attitude keeps me hoping!!

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  10. Tonight is driving home the point of the conversation!

    One of the folks on the list keeping it going...at 90, canceled. According to Bill Anderson, he thought he was scheduled and showed up and even though the Opry didn't have him scheduled...lucky for them, that helped with Jesse canceling.

    But rest assured the future is just fine. As long as we have a songwriter singer like Charles Esten to carry the torch everything will be just fine. Is he in the Country Songwriters Hall of Fame yet? After all, I seem to remember him recording a self penned song every week for a long stretch a few months back. That should qualify him if they were all as great as "I Used To Dringk"

    Hope I don't offend anyone but I just can't help it!

    Jim
    Knightsville, IN

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  11. Well, I'm critical of those who I am not particularly fond of or interested in so to be fair, I'll state the following.

    Ol' Whisper was off during is opening song on the second show tonight. Almost sounded like he couldn't hear well. He said he had been under the weather this past week. At least he had the sense to know he was not quite right and the decency to acknowledge it!

    Did a good job on "Thankful" at the end of the show.

    I didn't report on his show in Scottsburg, IN back on the 1st, his birthday. If I get the time I might provide a little info.

    Jim
    Knightsville, IN

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  12. Bill Anderson, Jesse McReynolds, and Bobby Osborne owe no apologies for maybe being sub - standard at times. They have been loyal performers on the Opry for so long, people should treasure them for their contributions ------ their breed is disappearing ----- just be grateful they are still here and able to perform when they can --- Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan ---

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  13. Amen!

    It has actually ticked me off over the years to see them short change these great artist as they have grown older. Look at someone like Jim Ed who was on it almost 100% of the time to the very end. Then I listen to some of these young folks who should be a the top of their game and they sound terrible.

    How loud you can scream or how many so called songs with a half dozen lines you can write in a month does not add up to talent. Yet, people think they have to approve of it because someone walked on the Opry stage!

    Dashmanm, you are right, the breed is disappearing. That is why every time Bill Anderson comes within a couple hours of us, we go see him. Even if the show is similar to the last time, just being there and watching someone of his generation perform is worth it. And, when I had my photos printed of the show on November 1, the guy picked out one of Bill and said that is a great shot. You can just tell he loves his audience and fans by his expression. That is something else I think is lost today....for the most part.

    Jim
    Knightsville, IN

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  14. Dashmann and Jim, I am SO with you. We do the same, drive many hours and stay overnight if necessary to see "the legends" - it is getting too close that we may not see them again so we don't waste the opportunities. Bill stays and signs autographs and loves to talk with his fans. The Bluegrass community is a lot like that and most of them include dressing for the show - that is, if we are paying to see them perform they should act like it was worth their effort to be on the stage for us. We have recently seen the Malpass Brothers and every time they stay and sign autographs and meet with their fans and it goes without saying that Rhonda Vincent does the same - she was just recently at a theater only 20-miles from us and was fantastic and stayed to sign (her bus had broken down in Nashville and they had to get a quick substitute to get to the venue but she was there on time and in great form). We are headed tomorrow for a 160-mile trip to see Dailey and Vincent and we know they will have a great show. We have already bought tickets to see Bill Anderson, Moe Bandy and the Malpass Brothers for next April. The Dan Miller Cowboy Review has been on tour this fall and will be going back out in February, if you have a chance to see them, definitely go; great entertainment. We always loved going to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry but now finding the performers "on the road" seems to work best for us. (from Anonymous in PA).

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    1. Anon, I'd add a line from Ol' Whisper, to the effect that he always has felt (and I think was trained by the old-timers to feel) that he should be dressed just a little better than the best-dressed person in the audience. He's gotten a bit more casual, but he still dresses well for all of his appearances.

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  15. I'll chime in that I had the opportunity to see a couple of greats in my area and did NOT go because I knew they were in decline physically, and I wanted to remember them as they were. That isn't a criticism of anybody who is still out there working or those who go to see them. But they were a couple of special ones to me, and I didn't want that to be my final memory.

    That said, if you can still get the job done, and enjoy doing it, then keep doing it! As for treatment of fans and involvement, I was just reading a commentary about the concept of "load management," where NBA players take off a whole game to stay fresh for the playoffs, which are longer than the NBA season (I exaggerate only slightly). I certainly think if Brad and some of the others have a Saturday night at home and want to spend it with family, they're entitled. But if they're Opry members, we're also entitled to their attention. And his idol, The Potato, used to work, um, like the dickens. Good for Brad that he can take it a little easier. When it comes to the Opry, if he takes it any easier, he will disappear without leaving a laundry mark.

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    1. I like the pro sports load management analogy. When I was a kid, there was a preseason NHL game in OKC. Normally I would have had to drive at least 5 hours to see a game, but this cut that distance in half. I was crushed that my two favorite players were "healthy scratches."

      It's about 9 hours from here to Nashville. I've been to the Opry twice. The first time I saw five favorites. The second time I could only say, "At least I got to see Porter Wagoner."

      J in OK

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  16. And again, I add, if the Opry can advertise that when they have 2 shows on a night, the shows will be completely different, the Opry will have more people attending both shows -----------

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