Who else can't believe that it is Memorial Day Weekend? Seems like it snuck up on us this year.
I wanted to clarify a comment that I made on the blog last week in regards to the past couple of shows. First, I continue to be grateful to Opry management for continuing to have an Opry show on Saturday night. Dan Rogers and his team have made sure that the circle remains unbroken. I am sure it has been difficult getting the various acts to appear and I have been happy that several of the Opry's members, who don't appear often, have made an effort to be a part of these shows. I hope that continues.
But I also have to be honest. It seems as if the excitement and the special feeling that were evident when these non-audience shows first started has kind of faded away. Two weeks ago, doing a remote with Blake Shelton just didn't seem to flow and it was almost a wasted appearance by Dustin Lynch. This past Saturday just seemed a little flat. Now, please don't consider that as criticism toward Keith or Kelsea as they are both great performers. I think that the format with two or three artists doing an acoustic performance, sitting on stools, has run its course.
Now that Tennessee has opened up a little bit, I think it is time for the Opry to add a bit more variety on the Saturday night shows. Social distancing is still important and should be taking place. With that said, I think the stage is plenty big enough for a bluegrass group, gospel group or even solo artists bringing a few of their band members.
Maybe the Opry has already reached out to a few of these groups and have not received a positive response. But if the projection of July being the earliest that audiences will be allowed back in the Opry House, perhaps June would be the time to ramp up the number of artists appearing in preparation for restarting the Opry as we know it.
Saying that, I realize that it might not be possible. I am sure many of the Opry's senior members don't want to come out and I respect their decision. Best to be safe. And, the Opry might not have that option in order to continue to follow the health and safety regulations instituted by the City of Nashville and Davidson County.
Dan and his team have a tough job and are in a tough position. As I said at the beginning, I am grateful for all he and his team have done to keep the Opry going and keeping the circle unbroken.
________________________________________________________________
As for the show this Saturday night, it will be a special Memorial Day show honoring our troops featuring Grand Ole Opry member Craig Morgan, along with frequent Opry guests Steven Curtis Chapman and Kellie Pickler.
And now, from 25 years ago, Saturday May 20, 1995:
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jeanne Pruett; Jimmy Dickens
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Brother Oswald; Jimmy C Newman; Stonewall Jackson; The Whites
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jack Greene; Skeeter Davis; Charlie Walker; Stu Phillips
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; Charlie Louvin; Del Reeves; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Jan Howard; Billy Walker; Mike Snider
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Charlie Louvin; Del Reeves; Wilma Lee Cooper
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); The Whites
10:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jack Greene; Jimmy Dickens
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard
10:45: Mike Snider (host); Ray Pillow; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; The Four Guys; Charlie Walker; Stonewall Jackson
11:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Gregg Rowles; Billy Walker; Johnny Russell
And from 50 years ago, Saturday May 23, 1970:
1st show
6:30: Stonewall Jackson (host); The Four Guys; Del Wood
6:45: Hank Locklin (host); Peggy Little
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis; Archie Campbell; Stu Phillips; James William Monroe
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Willis Brothers; Stringbean; Crook Brothers; Jane Morgan
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Glaser Brothers; Jimmy C Newman; Bob Luman
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jim and Jesse; Roger Miller; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Hank Locklin (host); Willis Brothers; Skeeter Davis; Stringbean
10:00: Glaser Brothers (host); Archie Campbell
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); James William Monroe; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Del Wood
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Stu Phillips; Jane Morgan
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Bob Luman; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jim and Jesse; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Peggy Little; Don Winters
Jane Morgan was an interesting name on the Opry that night. She was promoting her single "A Girl Named Johnny Cash" which she sang on both shows that night.
Jane, who is still alive at the age of 95, was more noted for being an adult contemporary singer, who was featured in nightclubs and was known for her numerous television appearances from the 1950s thru the 70s. She also appeared in several different plays on Broadway. "A Girl Named Johnny Cash" was written by Martin Mull and Jane made a 1971 appearance on The Johnny Cash Show, singing that song.
___________________________________________________________________
Finally. let's go back 72 years to Saturday May 22, 1948. The Opry was only in its 23rd year and was selling out the Ryman Auditorium every Saturday night. Here is the running order from that night:
7:30: American Ace Coffee
Roy Acuff: We Planted Roses on Our Darling's Grave
Tommy Magness: Cacklin' Hen
Annie Lou and Danny: We're Making Money on the Farm
Jimmy Riddle: Silver Bells
Roy Acuff: Unloved and Unclaimed
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: Give Me Back the Money I Paid for a Wife
Jug Band: Polly Wolly Doddle
Roy and Gang: The Great Speckled Bird
Sonny Day: Lost Indian
Annie Lou and Danny: Little Green Valley
Oswald: Behind Those Walls of Grey
Roy and Gang: Were You There
8:00: Purina
Eddy Arnold: Texarkana Baby
Bill Monroe: Blue Moon of Kentucky
Bradley Kincaid: Two Little Orphans
Oklahoma Wranglers: Cool Water
Eddy Arnold: Don't That Moon Look Lonesome
Jamup and Honey: Jokes
Zeke Clements: Little Rock Ark.
Bill Monroe: I'm Working on a Building
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Eddy Arnold: I'll Hold You in My Heart
8:30: Warren Paint & Color Co.
Ernest Tubb: Don't Flirt With Me
Lew Childre: Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet
Paul Howard: Breaking It Off a Little Too Far
String Beans: Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
Ernest Tubb: Seaman's Blues
Grandpa Jones: Riding on That Train
Robert Lunn: I'm a Man Not a Mouse
Possum Hunters: Take Your Foot Out of the Mud
Ernest Tubb: Daisey Mae
9:00: Royal Crown
Roy Acuff: Sweeter Than the Flowers
Jimmy Riddle: My Little Gal
York Brothers: Look Before You Leap
Texas Ruby: Hold on Little Doggie
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Ravins Gap
Lonzo and Oscar: Cornbread and Lasses
Curly Fox: Deck of Cards
Roy Acuff: Life's Railway to Heaven
Oswald: Weary Lonesome Blues
Tommy Magness: Smoky Mountain Rag
9:30: Prince Albert
Red Foley: Television
Old Hickory Singers: Bicycle Built for Two
Cowboy Copas: Tennessee Waltz
Minnie Pearl: Jokes
Red Foley: I Love to Tell the Story
Cowboy Copas: Signed Sealed and Delivered
Rod Brasfield: Jokes
Wally Fowler: Keep on the Firing Line
Red Foley: Picking Up Pieces of a Broken Heart
Square Dancers: Blackberry Blossom
10:00: Wallrite
Bill and Don: Molly and Ten Brooks
Bradley Kincaid: Blue Tail Fly
Bill and Doyle: Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong
Quartet: Remember the Cross
Benny Martin: Down Yonder
10:15: Weather House
Roy Acuff: Not a Word from Home
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: When You and I Were Young Maggie
Roy Acuff: Poem
Gang: There's a Beautiful House
Jug Band: Lazy Day
10:30: Fletcher Wilson
Texas Ruby: It's Over Forever
Curly Fox: Down Yonder
York Brothers: Bothered by the Blues
Curly and Ruby: Someone More Lonesome Than You
10:45: Martha White
Milton Estes: New Filipino Baby
Lew and String Beans: Foggy Mountain Top
Jimmy Selph: That Old Moon
Milton Estes: I'll Fly Away
11:00: Eddy Arnold Songbook
Eddy Arnold: Teardrops in My Heart
Grandpa Jones: Rosa Lee
Gully Jumpers: Ricketts Hornpipe
Eddy Arnold: You Only Want Me When You Are Lonesome
Eddy Arnold: Molly Darling
11:15: Gaylock Seat Covers
Ernest Tubb: Our Last Goodbye
Dot and Smokey: Golden River
Drake Brothers: My Best to You
Ernest Tubb: Yesterday's Tears
11:30
Lonzo and Oscar: Old Mother Nature
Cowboy Copas: Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me
Wally Fowler: I'm on My Way
Lonzo and Oscar: Poppin' Bubble Gum
11:45
Paul Howard: San Antonio Rose
Zeke Clements: Blue Mexico Skies
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Just Because
Robert Lunn: New River Train
Paul Howard: Please Don't Leave
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and as always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry on Saturday night.
I have to say thanks to Dan Rogers, the staff and all the artist who agreed to come out and perform to keep the Opry tradition going. Many of those who have performed are not among those I enjoy listening to but I say thanks just the same. I do question a handful who found the Opry when they surely didn't have any other obligations but again I still say thanks.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the social distancing and number of folks on the stage I think almost a normal set could be done as long as the enter and leave the stage properly. For the most part, other than the backup singers, I would think the social distancing already exists. We don't have Jimmy, Leon, Spider and Joe standing arm to arm playing guitars (maybe Joe on fiddle) anymore. Now I haven't been to the Opry for a few years so I may be wrong about the distance between band members. At least some Bluegrass bands could be on. It would be nice to see Rhonda but if I was her I'd want the next time to be my induction night. Riders in the Sky would be nice but they are older than I want to believe.....so am I!
Altogether, I'm grateful to all who have kept the tradition going even if not thrilled with some of the performances.
Sentimentally, it would be heartbreaking if this keeps some of our beloved veterans from ever performing on the Opry again. Let's hope and pray that is not the case.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I suspect some of the legendary longtime members--Bill Anderson's 59th anniversary is this July--still could perform, but, yes, they would have to be very careful. Which I am sure they are being.
DeleteI also am grateful to Dan Rogers for continuing the tradition. And it has been heartening to see members who don't normally show up being there for this. But it would be nice to do some different things now. Like Jim, I think we can get some band members on stage, too. It can still be acoustic.
Did anybody hear Eddie Stubbs and Kellie Pickler on Intimate Evening 5/20/20? Kellie told a great story about her song "The Letter To Daddy." Bob
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the interview was from 2012. Bob
ReplyDeleteThere is a great article on traditional country music in the current Texas Monthly – along with much deserved recognition for a gentleman named Tracy Pitcox. Read the article here: https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/brady-heart-texas-country-music/ Bob
ReplyDeleteReceived word today that Margaret Smathers Collins has passed away. Along with her late husband Ben Smathers, she was the co-leader of the Stoney Mountain Cloggers, who danced for many years on the Grand Ole Opry. She was 92.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing about our epandemic, I won't have to listen to Darryl Worley on the opry singing " We need this war " after the US used the excuse of Bin Laden knocking down the Twin Towers to attack Saddam Hussein ----what an idiotic song ----Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan 30 miles from the flooding ---
ReplyDeleteWatched on Circle tonight and in my opinion, it was an excellent show. Great song selection and tributes to the military. Well done.
ReplyDeleteExcellent singers and song choices. Bob
ReplyDeleteI think I've said this before, but I hope all of our readers here understand who Steven is! As Opry fans, to most of us christian music means Bill and Gloria Gaither. He came from that tridition, but is the most successful and awarded artist in the history of christian music. He's had more #1s, sold more records, and won more awards than any christian artist in history. Point being, he doesn't have to do this opry stuff. He's probably the single most well known performer in main stream America other than Vince who appears regularly these days. It's amazing that he takes the time to do this as often as he does. E. Z.
ReplyDelete