tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post7383571313378425896..comments2024-03-29T09:38:59.536-04:00Comments on Fayfare's Opry Blog: Some Reflections On The Current Opry Membershipfayfarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00173166778978335059noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-90203381128232423682012-07-30T21:52:26.789-04:002012-07-30T21:52:26.789-04:00There are some artist who paid there dues long ago...There are some artist who paid there dues long ago to The Grand Ole Opry which explains why some don't play the required amount of shows today. I know at one time it was very hard to make a living as a new artist if all your time was given to The Opry. It required your fans to come to them instead of the artist coming to the fans. I know with Dolly Parton they made an exception with her for various reasons one being that she brought a lot of attention to The Opry in her day with The Porter Wagoner Show as well as her Dolly Show. She was inducted before she made a name for herself. If you are invited AFTER fame and you never show up to pay your dues then you should be taken off the list.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10483089164601088259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-79597386833266183702011-10-24T21:31:03.328-04:002011-10-24T21:31:03.328-04:00The Opry would have died a long time ago if it wer...The Opry would have died a long time ago if it weren't for the big stars who might not have every other weekend to give to the Opry, but who have sold the mystique and legend of the Opry to the next generation. If not for them, then the audience would be full of the over 80 crowd that you mention the most active members being that will die off in a few short years.<br /><br />While they should have a "regular" commitment to the Opry, many of these folks spend months on end touring and meeting their fans in their own back yards. These guys are paid tiny sums when they could be pulling in multi thousands in that one night. None the less, they still show up.<br /><br />Be happy they've found a way to make the Opry relevant to today's country music fan and not just the breed that will be gone in the not to distant future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-50307197973319566032011-07-30T16:42:45.287-04:002011-07-30T16:42:45.287-04:00Why Tim McGraw and Keith Urban are not members jus...Why Tim McGraw and Keith Urban are not members just baffles my mind. Then you have Blake Shelton join who could care less about Nashville. I don't get it ??????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-50671708815699397642011-03-31T21:43:41.511-04:002011-03-31T21:43:41.511-04:00Regarding the Jamboree at Wheeling - many of the s...Regarding the Jamboree at Wheeling - many of the staff along with the Father of Brad Paisley who was in the Jamboree staff band in his teens. Helped transition the show away from Live Nation. It still goes on EVERY SATURDAY but on a local station WKKX and a live webcast. www.radiojamboree.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06338721422055778174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-85426992408696930442011-02-14T15:03:09.665-05:002011-02-14T15:03:09.665-05:00I'm 62 years and love 'Opry legends.
But i...I'm 62 years and love 'Opry legends.<br />But if Sunny Sweeney and a whole bunch of other young artists who love the 'Opry are invited regularly, sing regularly, and are well received, invite them to be members.<br />I'd rather hear young hungry artists who understand the 'Opry than big time stars who show up once a decade.<br />And, it would not surprise me if we don't get more stars to understand the importance of the 'Opry as they get a little older.Nat Hill IVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-8835899867646854542011-02-14T13:57:32.678-05:002011-02-14T13:57:32.678-05:00I think that it has been talked before that it jus...I think that it has been talked before that it just seems that Opry membership is not as important as it once was as far as appearing on the Opry. There are many non-members who appear on the Opry many more times than actual Opry members. And, the Opry program that is given out at the shows does not list the actual members. <br /><br />For most of the Opry's history, membership was around 50 or so. It was a smaller number, but back in those days, you had the required appearances that were closely monitored. I think today, you could easily drop back to that number. At least you would have 50 who would take the membership seriously. <br /><br />I have often thought what the Opry would be like if it was under a different general manager, but I think that whatever Pete Fisher and Steve Buchanan are doing, it is being cost driven by corporate. That said, what would the Opry be like under different ownership? That is the question we don't know. It could be worst than what it is now. <br /><br />On and off, over the years, you have always heard that there was interest in the Opry, but I have not heard anything since Opryland closed. And what value would be placed on the Opry?<br /><br />A few years back WWVA in Wheeling, was sold to Clear Channel and they, through their Live Nation subsidiary, took over the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree and Capital Music Hall. They put no money into the Music Hall and eventually shut down the Jamboree. You would hate to see that happen with the Opry. <br /><br />I don't even know who you would sell the Opry to and expect the tradition to continue.Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-7153860020397468622011-02-13T22:15:06.331-05:002011-02-13T22:15:06.331-05:00I read this earlier today and gave it a lot of tho...I read this earlier today and gave it a lot of thought. I salute you. I do think it's time to clear out the members who just won't perform on the Opry. I exclude from that those who are ill. But maybe we should have a category, Member Emeritus, for the ailing or retired ones (I am not convinced Billy Grammer is retired so much as that his health, and especially his vision problems, preclude him from getting in there to perform). But the minute Garth Brooks took the big money from Steve Wynn, the meter started running on him--to claim he was on hiatus from show business no longer works. And I really thought he would indeed be the one to lead the younger generation after Ricky and Vince.<br /><br />I also wonder how much of this is a self-fulfilling prophecy. In other words, Buchanan and Fisher have discouraged the senior members from showing up or expecting to perform as much as they should. Do Ricky and Vince, who have an obvious love for the Opry, look at that and feel as though they are unwelcome and they are biding their time until there is management again that cares about the Opry? And if so, will they be too late?<br /><br />I'll throw this in. In 1973, Herman Crook wanted to hire Earl White to play fiddle and had to fight for him because management wanted him to use the staff fiddler. He wanted to keep his group going. OK, Herman and Lewis died, and it's reasonable to think the Crook Brothers went with them. But now Earl and Charlie Collins play for the square dancers, and they, too, are in their seventies--and they are the last links to the original string bands (Earl) and Mr. Acuff (Charlie).<br /><br />My wife recently mentioned traveling back to that part of the country and asked if I wanted to see the Opry. I said, "It's not the Opry any more."Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.com