tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post2758594628706399058..comments2024-03-18T21:29:19.210-04:00Comments on Fayfare's Opry Blog: Who Should Or Should Not Be An Opry Memberfayfarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00173166778978335059noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-28224872445185516552013-02-01T18:41:44.463-05:002013-02-01T18:41:44.463-05:00How about TG ShepardHow about TG ShepardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-38559055795558473732013-01-19T02:14:40.005-05:002013-01-19T02:14:40.005-05:00Interesting list and can't say I disagree.Interesting list and can't say I disagree.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09931265477634605151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-53653792359400213352013-01-18T21:00:52.519-05:002013-01-18T21:00:52.519-05:00I've been there,felt the incredible history an...I've been there,felt the incredible history and talent that has graced that stage...and to me the best have been the true country people...The ones that are true to the love they feel for country music,the ones that aren't gonna sell themselves out for money.....Scotty Mccreery has brought so many people back to country...maybe too young still,,,,,,,But boy,country is on the rise..because of him..Should be inducted !!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-67144744939951823992013-01-18T17:08:16.337-05:002013-01-18T17:08:16.337-05:00Would be interesting to know why some of the tradi...Would be interesting to know why some of the traditional country singers are no longer going to the Opry. Is it because they just don't fit it into their schedules or have they become disillusioned with the Opry's inclusion of pop singers (i.e. Carrie Underwood) into its membership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-73462578748516313102013-01-18T16:45:42.821-05:002013-01-18T16:45:42.821-05:00I agree Kellie Pickler is someone who should be in...I agree Kellie Pickler is someone who should be invited very soon. I definitely believe Scotty McCreery should be there some day as long as he continues to put in his time (and I'm sure he will), just too soon for himmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-90475638035518071902013-01-18T15:34:41.360-05:002013-01-18T15:34:41.360-05:00When you are considering possible new members, def...When you are considering possible new members, definitely consider Kellie Pickler! What a stand-out down-home country voice she has. Another pure country voice belongs to Scotty McCreery. I know he's pretty new on the country scene but wow that voice says country through and through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-89231030263458560992013-01-17T22:02:17.559-05:002013-01-17T22:02:17.559-05:00Byron,
Thanks for the information on Patty Lovele...Byron,<br /><br />Thanks for the information on Patty Loveless. I enjoy her singing too. Understanding that she may have personal things more important, I still wish she could be on the Opry more. There is too little of Her style and voice and voice on the Opry.<br /><br />Thanks too for the Roy Acuff items. I knew he was tight with the Gaylords but I did not know about the investments. <br /><br />The thoughts about Rhonda Vincent and Martha White may be correct but there was plenty of oppurtunity to make her a member before Martha White left the Opry! <br /><br />Jim<br />Knightsville, IN Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-14355253020915846852013-01-16T19:51:08.926-05:002013-01-16T19:51:08.926-05:00Hello Byron,
Have you or any of your members ever...Hello Byron,<br /><br />Have you or any of your members ever heard of a man named Cliff James? He had a country band called the Rhythm Ramblers in the 1950s and 1960s and performed with many of the big stars during this time. He was also a disc jockey at radio stations in Kansas, Texas and Oregon and he was a representative for the Jim Denny Artists Bureau and promoted Grand Ole Opry Performances across the Midwest. According to one newspaper article he performed at the Grand Ole Opry and the Jubilee USA TV program.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-57680130612148943602013-01-16T16:19:05.183-05:002013-01-16T16:19:05.183-05:00Jim, I can tell you that when I was at the Opry in...Jim, I can tell you that when I was at the Opry in December and the Low T commerical came on, people in the audience started chuckling. And actually, it was kind of funny. But so was "Jogging In A Jug" which was the only Opry commerical that I can remember that they had to run a disclaimer before the commerical. <br /><br />As far as the other sponsors, the Opry several years ago decided to go with "presenting" sponsors and Martha White, Standard Candy and several others did not want to pay the money that Gaylord was asking. For a while, Martha White would sponsor when there was a 2nd show on Saturday night or if one of the presenting sponsors bailed out. They also sponsored the intermission show for a while. I know that Martha White is now under new ownership by Smuckers, and at their store in Orrville, about 20 miles from my house, they have a nice Opry display and the history of Martha White with Flatt and Scruggs. As far as Rhonda Vincent, there has been speculation by more than one person that because Martha White bailed out on the Opry and Rhonda's sponsorship of her tours by Martha White, that could be a reason why Rhonda has not been asked to be an Opry member. <br /><br />As far as Patty Loveless, who I personally believe has one of the sweetest voices around, she does not tour that much and last I heard, lives in Georgia. I haven't heard anything lately regarding the health problems of her husband, but I know in the past that was a reason why she cut back on touring. Either way, I do believe she should be at the Opry more. <br /><br />And yes, if was after Roy Acuff's death when we started to see little changes in the Opry, that really accelerated after 1999. But then again, it has been reported that Roy owned a bunch of Gaylord stock and he was friends with the Gaylord family, which could be a big reason why nobody messed with the Opry when Roy was alive. <br /><br />Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-55573020308321764942013-01-16T15:51:58.114-05:002013-01-16T15:51:58.114-05:00You see how far they have fallen on sponsors, Low ...You see how far they have fallen on sponsors, Low T is now a weekly discussion. Good family entertainment, I can only imagine what similar sponsor they would take on. I listen to the Opry every Friday and Saturday and it had not occurred to me that Bass Pro was gone. In this day of internet sales you would think anyone with a web site local or national could benefit from advertising on the Opry. <br /><br />Jim <br />Knightsville, IN Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-85913328305914143722013-01-16T14:46:17.382-05:002013-01-16T14:46:17.382-05:00I still cannot understand how Rhonda Vincent's...I still cannot understand how Rhonda Vincent's association with Martha White can be a bad thing considering they were sponsors of the Opry for many, many years. It has been said that they have tried to rebrand the Opry with more current, hip sponsors but considering how one of these sponsors (Bass Pro Shops) dumped the Opry I would think a Martha White biscuit or a Goo Goo would like might good to Opry management right now. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-38628455692430785212013-01-16T14:20:54.853-05:002013-01-16T14:20:54.853-05:00Jim, I know that Byron has mentioned that Mr. Acuf...Jim, I know that Byron has mentioned that Mr. Acuff asked Johnny Cash to come back to the Opry and become a kind of central figure, as he was, but Cash realized he couldn't give it the time--which shows more respect for the show than a lot of other people who join and then ignore it. I think Mr. Acuff realized that no one else around there had the ... well, the popular term is gravitas, and I think it covers it.<br /><br />As for Patty Loveless, I am not sure about her. I believe her husband, Emery Gordy, has had health problems off and on over the years. But, barring that, she really should be there more.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-38966061472091876532013-01-16T12:19:14.338-05:002013-01-16T12:19:14.338-05:00I feel a little stupid asking this question but wh...I feel a little stupid asking this question but where is Patty Loveless in this discussion. I like her and I think she loves the Opry and the people but she doesn't appear much either. Am I missing something on her? <br /><br />Things have really changed since the late 80's in which Byron provides stats on Mr. Acuff's appearances. There were times that he was on that stage that you could even tell on the radio that it took all the energy he had to be there and perform. Some nights he would ask one of his guest to close the show because he felt so bad. There are many others over the years who were and are loyal to the Opry but I still think Mr. Acuff was a one of a kind. As I have said here before, once Mr. Acuff passed in 1992 the Opry began to drastically change forever. Others here know more inside info than me but I always thought that Mr. Acuff's presence gave a since of direction and provided a set of values for the artist and what the Opry should provide the family's that came to visit each week. The only other person in the Opry's history with that type of presence was George D Hay. Most artist who came to the Opry to perform in that era wanted to live up to those values or were ashamed not to so they performed accordingly. So many of the folks appearing today, if honest, would site performers other than country acts as their influences thus the performance and music standard we as Opry and country fans appreciate has changed. I'm glad I have my recordings, photo's and memories of those days!<br /><br />Jim <br />Knightsville<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-74325593548751483672013-01-16T11:06:27.537-05:002013-01-16T11:06:27.537-05:00David B., you give me hope! About 30 years ago, m...David B., you give me hope! About 30 years ago, my mother called the "country" radio station here and asked them to play Roy Acuff and the DJ said, "Roy Orbison?" Justin Tubb at the time was singing about radio stations that "ain't foolin' nobody/when they call themselves country, but ain't."<br /><br />As to Mr. Acuff's attendance record, he missed several months in 1985 with what I later learned--maybe from Byron--was a pulmonary embolism. He returned on the birthday show in October just to say hello and that his doctors said he wasn't well enough to perform. He was back the following week. Bill Anderson wrote a beautiful tribute in one of his books about Mr. Acuff's last Saturday night at the Opry and how his band members almost literally had to carry him onstage, but I remember my mother, who introduced me to country music, saying that in Mr. Acuff's mind, the perfect death would have been right at the end of his Opry segment.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-24722188092252481502013-01-16T09:39:13.317-05:002013-01-16T09:39:13.317-05:00Byron:
It's funny you should mention Roy. I wa...Byron:<br />It's funny you should mention Roy. I was only reading last night, that when his son told him that it had been announced he was one of the 1991 recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors (the highest honor in the USA for the performing arts), his first reaction was, "Will I have to miss the Opry"...<br /><br />On a humorous note, when he returned back to Nashville, after the honor had been bestowed upon him, he was asked about the award by the Nashville press and what he thought about the honor; Roy stated: "Well, it's a heavy thing. It must be made of solid gold". Referring to the golden medallion given to the honorees.<br /><br />We have talked about will there ever be another "Roy Acuff". 20 years after his death, much credit is given to Little Jimmy Dickens, who does not miss much; Others say it will be Vince Gill; my opinion is there will never be another Roy Acuff. I think Little Jim and Vince both love the Opry, but Roy Acuff was truly "in love" with the Opry. In fact, he was the Opry. After his 1992 death you slowing began to see a change that has led to what we have today.<br /><br />In the modern Country music world it amazes me how little the name of Roy Acuff is mentioned. As Jean Shepard so boldly put it in a recent interview; "These young new singers wouldn't know who Roy Acuff was if he hit them in their rear with his yo-yo". And that is a shame and disgrace. Get off the pot or do your business I say. Either be Country or leave the building.<br /><br />I am 32 years old with 3 children under the age of 8. My kids WILL be able to tell you who Roy Acuff was. Long live "The King"... Roy Acuff.David Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236512891823165117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-5646837915291655052013-01-16T09:35:50.639-05:002013-01-16T09:35:50.639-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.David Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236512891823165117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-48778133937915051492013-01-16T08:58:16.481-05:002013-01-16T08:58:16.481-05:00You want to talk about Grand Ole Opry appearances ...You want to talk about Grand Ole Opry appearances by Opry members, I was going through my files last night and looked at Roy Acuff. From 1986 thru 1991, there were 1092 Friday Night Opry shows and Saturday Grand Ole Opry shows. Roy appeared on 1088 of them. Only 3 missed shows in 6 years!!! From 1986-1989, he did not miss one show!!! <br /><br />Talk about dedication to the Opry. And consider that at this time in his life, Roy was in his mid-80's, battling eye site and heart issues, along with the general ups-and-downs that comes with old age. Amazing. <br /><br />Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-74612053624323818522013-01-15T11:35:06.589-05:002013-01-15T11:35:06.589-05:00I posted back during the Anniversary weekend about...I posted back during the Anniversary weekend about our disappointment in the line-ups and guests and how they high-lighted NON-Opry Members over the Members who were celebratng THEIR anniversary. They also cranked up the music way too loud for the venue when those people were on (Jason Aldean in particular). The majority of the audience was polite (while they held their ears) and the groupies who surrounded the stage were pushy and rude. I did send my comments/concerns/disappointment to the Opry (not that it was probably ever read). That is NOT what you expect when you go to the Grand Ole Opry; if you buy a ticket for Jason Aldean show (or any other individual concert) you know what you're going to get. Just picking "popular, hot" performers to bring more audience isn't the way to go either. I like the idea of "emeritus members" and definitely REAL country-related country acts. Unfortunately even the new Members who expressed their dream of Opry Membership and were selected just don't support it anymore; maybe management needs to have less "guests" and more "Members" in the line-up for a while and see what that does. Of course, I won't hold my breath waiting for it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-33257680192135554632013-01-15T10:22:32.549-05:002013-01-15T10:22:32.549-05:00Pickler might be a good choice. She's not had...Pickler might be a good choice. She's not had a lot of hits, but she is known. She's also pretty, talented, and knows how to entertain, thus she could bring another member in the same vein as Jeannie Seely.Leonardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-43073274316769600212013-01-15T09:58:50.509-05:002013-01-15T09:58:50.509-05:00Seems to me that the next member will be Kellie Pi...Seems to me that the next member will be Kellie Pickler..she has been featured on Opry telecast,Opry Goes Pink..NoteWorthy at the Opry..Reflections from the Circle..Into the Circle. On the Reflection show,she's the only none member interviewed by Eddie Stubbs. Not so sure Scotty McCreery is as available as you might think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-89471854632791069412013-01-14T21:00:56.518-05:002013-01-14T21:00:56.518-05:00Sorry, I meant to say that the average age of the ...Sorry, I meant to say that the average age of the top 10 is 74, not 64. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-77745789996856316052013-01-14T20:59:50.494-05:002013-01-14T20:59:50.494-05:00Mike, we have discussed this before and that is ho...Mike, we have discussed this before and that is how old many of the Opry's main stars are, the ones who are appearing the most at the Opry. If you look at the top 10 in appearances you have Jimmy Dickens (92); Bill Anderson (75); Jim Ed Brown (78); Mike Snider (51); Jeannie Seely (71); Connie Smith (72); Buck White (82); Jimmy C Newman (85); Riders In The Sky (avg: 66); John Conlee (66) and Jean Shepard (79). That is an average age of 64. Now add others who appear on a regular basis and you have Bobby Osborne (81); Jesse McReynolds (83); Ray Pillow (75); Del McCoury (73); and Jan Howard (82). Even Ricky Skaggs is 58 and Vince Gill is 55. Now add to the fact that many of those that Mike named are not in the best of health and you have a real problem. <br /><br />It is not beyond reach that within the next 5 years, half of those who are making the most Opry appearances will not be alive (as much as I hate to say it). You will need people to fill those slots and it just will not work if it gets down to just 2 or 3 Opry members on a show with 10 or 11 guest artists. <br /><br />That to me is another reason why the Opry needs to start looking at the membership. In many ways it is much the same as what Hal Durham had to do in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Opry had already lost Ernest Tubb and Marty Robbins. He realized that Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Bill Monroe, Grandpa Jones and more than a few more could go at anytime. He moved to add new and younger members. His mistake was not holding those who he picked to be Opry members accountable for Opry appearances. Which is one of the reasons the Opry is in the position it is today. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-73745242936155930972013-01-13T19:27:14.549-05:002013-01-13T19:27:14.549-05:00I'll echo Byron on his choices, though I wonde...I'll echo Byron on his choices, though I wonder if they should do what happens in my line of work (college professor) and have "emeritus" members for those who don't want to perform any more--as in Barbara, Jeanne, and Ricky Van--or cannot, such as Jack Greene. I like Byron's suggestions. Now, as to selling tickets, etc., if the Opry survives--I think it will, despite Fisher's best or worst efforts--there will always be people who want to play it as members or guests and thus big-name acts who will prompt ticket sales. But we need some people to be "anchors." Not necessarily there EVERY week or even available, but people who will be there, say, half the time, where the ticket buyer can reasonably expect to see certain acts. The Potato is 92; Jimmy C., Stonewall, Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Osborne, Jack Greene, George Jones, Jan Howard, Ralph Stanley, and Mel Tillis are past 80; and Jean Shepard, George IV, Whisper, Jim Ed, Ray Pillow, Stu Phillips, Tom T., Roy Clark, Charley Pride, Del McCoury, and Charlie Daniels are over 75. I may even have missed a few. Several of them are regulars, and they won't be there forever, but the old-time fans need to know some regulars will be around.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-4765226644254612832013-01-13T19:18:10.950-05:002013-01-13T19:18:10.950-05:00Fred, there is no set number as far as Opry member...Fred, there is no set number as far as Opry members. I know that during the 1950s and 1960s, the Opry membership numbered in the 50s. In the early 1970s, there were 60 members listed and that included the Crook Brothers and the 2 square dance groups. And there was a time in the late 1990s when there were just over 70 members. Currently there are 67.<br /><br />I think that the current formula in finding new Opry members is that management does not really want any members who will or want to be there every week. They seem more interested in new members who will only be there about 10 times a year. I think in Pete Fisher's mind, he wants variety and not the same show every week, which was one of the problems the Opry ran into during the 1970s thru the mid 1990s. <br /><br />I know many of those that I mentioned are not huge stars, which is the direct opposite of what the Opry is looking for. Let's face it: announcing Darius Rucker as the newest member of the Opry gets more publicity then announcing Sarah Darling as a new member. That I understand. But in the long run, who will do more good for the Opry. Would it be Darius Rucker or say, Rhonda Vincent. But, there are those who will buy tickets and come to Nashville thinking they are going to see members Darius or Keith Urban and instead will see non-members Rhonda or Jim Lauderdale. <br /><br />David, to answer your question, I have not heard anything in regards to Ray Price, Leroy Van Dyke or Bobby Bare asking to become Opry members again. I know Ray and Bobby will usually do the Opry at least once each year, while Leroy was last at the Opry a few years back. I think there is just no longer the interest on either side. <br /><br />I still have an eye on Scotty McCreery. Nothing concerete. Just a feeling. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-65704666249283247212013-01-13T18:28:19.268-05:002013-01-13T18:28:19.268-05:00Fred, Bismarck:
This is one for Byron:
Does the ...Fred, Bismarck:<br /><br />This is one for Byron:<br /><br />Does the Opry have a membership "quota," a number beyond which it does not want to go? Would the no-shows have to be purged before a like number of new members are added?<br /><br />Or maybe the Opry is simply afraid that a roster that gets too big would no longer be seen as "exclusive" -- I don't know. I will say that, at present, the Opry gives the impression of being very exclusive, with the same 10 or 15 member acts showing up all the time. You and I are glad to see them, of course, but I can understand the kids not getting excited.<br /><br />Trouble is, the acts that excite the kids are mostly not very country. And don't seem to regard appearing at the Opry as much of a plum. Lose-lose for the Opry, whether these acts come or don't.<br /><br />Maybe country music, like youth, is wasted on the young?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com