tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post8688403384783939798..comments2024-03-18T21:29:19.210-04:00Comments on Fayfare's Opry Blog: Grand Ole Opry 2/3 & 2/4fayfarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00173166778978335059noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-78922189586224792972017-02-09T08:34:45.950-05:002017-02-09T08:34:45.950-05:00The Opry was not one of the sponsors but did parti...The Opry was not one of the sponsors but did participate in a pretty big way. Quite a few of the members were there and they participated in a group singing of "I'll Fly Away." And yes, I did see also that Jan was there. And Pat, thanks for posting the link to the article. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-15858421072975548792017-02-09T05:28:12.535-05:002017-02-09T05:28:12.535-05:00David B., Here is the best wright-up I could find...David B., Here is the best wright-up I could find on last night's Randy Travis tribute:<br />http://www.visitmusiccity.com/media/pr_randytravis120816<br /><br />Pat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-16625638124765949312017-02-08T22:09:13.064-05:002017-02-08T22:09:13.064-05:00I seen on Facebook tonight an Opry sponsored Randy...I seen on Facebook tonight an Opry sponsored Randy Travis tribute? Is this right Byron? Anyway, I was surprised to see Jan Howard on stage performing with others.David Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236512891823165117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-82925583992798594032017-02-07T09:40:26.849-05:002017-02-07T09:40:26.849-05:00Thanks Fred! :)Thanks Fred! :)Nat Hill IVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-4144453445536188592017-02-07T07:37:15.362-05:002017-02-07T07:37:15.362-05:00Fred, Bismarck,
That's OK, Nat. We knowed wha...Fred, Bismarck,<br /><br />That's OK, Nat. We knowed what you meant!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-25355731211238346832017-02-06T15:16:07.748-05:002017-02-06T15:16:07.748-05:00DOES anybody, not "do anybody."
Shouldn&...DOES anybody, not "do anybody."<br />Shouldn't post when I'm fired up....Nat Hill IVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-7311559200310651762017-02-06T15:15:01.116-05:002017-02-06T15:15:01.116-05:00Try again with my name attached......
I have no pr...Try again with my name attached......<br />I have no problem with new talent appearing on the 'Opry.<br />I'm very tired of new "no-talent" appearing on the 'Opry.<br />Do anybody bother to listen to these folks in person before they let them appear on the 'Opry, or do they just get the latest act that is selling on I-Tunes (where the music is all pretty much computer-generated)???<br />Some of the singing this weekend was just plain sad.....Nat Hill IVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-9458445625436399642017-02-06T15:13:56.762-05:002017-02-06T15:13:56.762-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06111248376319647136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-10920574553643069402017-02-05T22:16:41.566-05:002017-02-05T22:16:41.566-05:00Fred,
My brother and I feel so lucky that we wer...Fred, <br /><br />My brother and I feel so lucky that we were able to get oout and meet and see so many of these folks starting in the late 80's when we were still wet behind the ears. And it is a tribute to those who started on the 30's and 40's and were still out there doing their thing some 40 years later.<br /><br />JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-86271169748191665612017-02-05T21:12:19.649-05:002017-02-05T21:12:19.649-05:00Fred, Bismarck:
Jim, I'm one of those who -- ...Fred, Bismarck:<br /><br />Jim, I'm one of those who -- oh, along about 1979 -- complacently thought these wonderful old guys and gals would go on forever. Or never let myself think that they were mortal like the rest of us. Or realized -- perhaps most important -- that their successors were not in place or coming up.<br /><br />Now we're sadder but wiser. At least we can say we were there, even had our modest share of the glory.<br /><br />Thanks for the thought, painful as it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-6095959769656540242017-02-05T16:52:19.355-05:002017-02-05T16:52:19.355-05:00I know most all who post here are thankful they we...I know most all who post here are thankful they were around in years past to hear and experience the Opry members that we will never see the likes of again. Or, have the chance to see or hear some of the performances through radio or tv rebroadcast, you tube or videos.<br /><br />Some of the things I heard last night reaffirm my respect and appreciation for the the artist of the far and not so far past. How fortunate we were to have so many perform for so many years. And we need to cherish those you are still around performing for us. On there worst days they still out perform some of these new people.<br /><br />During one performance on the second half last night, I thought I had tuned into a bee keepers convention. I also heard a lot flat singing and picking. <br /><br />Okay, some of the old timers did and do the same thing. But they are not in the prime of life or their careers. To me that is so different.<br /><br />Yet, the audience seems to approve. So, I guess for the survival of the Opry it is a good thing. Like Fred often says, I've got my old recordings and records I can always listen to. I can turn those people that bother me down but I just can't believe what passes for good entertainment these days.<br /><br />My point to all the rambling, we have been so blessed to experience great Opry and country artist of years past. And we should be thankful for and seek out the music of the legends and new artist that still make good music and support them all we can. They are out the doing their thing, they just don't get a lot of attention. <br /><br />Jim<br />Knightsville, INAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-33038816851550962862017-02-03T17:51:18.750-05:002017-02-03T17:51:18.750-05:00Thanks, Byron. I've always been confused about...Thanks, Byron. I've always been confused about who did what when!<br /><br />It's interesting how the Opry went through some periods where they were adding a lot of members, and then did less. If I'm right, in 1960, new members were Billy Walker, Hank Locklin, George IV, Patsy Cline, Bobby Lord, and the Willis Brothers. The next year, only Bill Anderson ... and there was a story I read about Merle Travis joining the Opry, but apparently that never happened.<br /><br />Unless I'm wrong, which is always a possibility, if not a probability!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-23730421696229324132017-02-03T13:50:18.319-05:002017-02-03T13:50:18.319-05:00Thanks Barry. And you are correct concerning Roy a...Thanks Barry. And you are correct concerning Roy and the Cannonball. When he did the 3 numbers as part of the opening, he did portions of each song and did speed up the Cannonball, at least on the tapes that I have. It seemed like once he got into the mid 80s, it was strictly the Cannonball that he did on the first show. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-63773992865652508522017-02-03T13:48:38.061-05:002017-02-03T13:48:38.061-05:00Mike, the Willis Brothers (Vic, Guy and Skeeter) o...Mike, the Willis Brothers (Vic, Guy and Skeeter) originally joined the Opry in 1946 (most reports say in June) as the Oklahoma Wranglers. They left in 1949 to tour with Eddy Arnold. When that ended in a few years later, they joined the Ozark Jubilee and were a part of other Hayride shows, including WLW in Cincinnati. <br /><br />They rejoined the Opry, as the Willis Brothers, in 1960. Skeeter passed away in 1976 and Guy in 1981, although he retired in 1979 due to health reasons. In November 1979, Vic formed the Vic Willis Trio, and continued as an Opry member. He passed away in January 1995 from a car accident. <br /><br />Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-80287369397774496812017-02-02T21:10:32.828-05:002017-02-02T21:10:32.828-05:00Fred, Bismarck:
Barry: You had "something to...Fred, Bismarck:<br /><br />Barry: You had "something to contribute" here, in spades.<br /><br />Speaking of Mandrell, hers was one of the very last singles I bot when there were still record stores and vinyl. This one and the last were significant because they were by artists I had precious few entries by before.<br /><br />But real country music was (and is) where you find it. The two last entries to my '45' collection were, to the best of my memory, "Child Support," by Mandrell, and -- whoa! -- "Daddy and Home," the Jimmie Rodgers song, as done by Tanya Tucker.<br /><br />Yes, that 1979 lineup is a classic! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-28578798123170061742017-02-02T10:32:16.523-05:002017-02-02T10:32:16.523-05:00Great job as always, and I had a question: what wa...Great job as always, and I had a question: what was the evolution of the Willis Brothers, and when WERE they Opry members? I think there were some different times and memberships involved?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-57795605808303509472017-02-02T00:45:23.493-05:002017-02-02T00:45:23.493-05:00Always enjoy the lineups from the late 70s. I hav...Always enjoy the lineups from the late 70s. I have a lot of these in my archives but very few song lists and it's always nice to be reminded of songs that I remember but may have forgotten about. The 1979 lineup is one I don't have. I would have been a few weeks away from my 17th birthday and spent most of my Saturday nights at the time going to ball games or running around with friends and not listening to the Opry as religiously as I had in earlier years. Still, I usually tuned in at least once on Saturday late in the evening to catch Marty Robbins or the Midnight Jamboree. I remember hearing Acuff do the Cannonball medley on several occasions but had forgotten about it. I guess it was something he did quite often during this time and would often do other numbers on the first show. After I moved to Nashville full time in 1982 I can never remember him doing anything but Wabash Cannonball on his first show until the end of his life. The medley was an interesting changeup as all three songs had the same basic rhythm (although I recall he had to speed up the Cannonball just a bit to do it). Barbara Mandrell doing "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" brought back some good memories as well. In the late 70s I would spend my summers working for a concert promoter out of Nashville and we did a lot of fair dates with Barbara and her band. I wasn't a huge fan of her music at the time but I loved watching Dennis McCall (one of the funniest guys to ever front a country band) try to crack her up onstage. Anyway, she was big concert draw at the time having just won the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year (and would win her first Entertainer award in 79), was right on the edge of moving up to superstar status and had the tightest band and the best show in country music and would usually close her show with this song. It was a great arrangement and always brought the crowd to her feet. I've heard her do it since but I always liked her 79 arrangement the best. <br /><br />On a personal note, you know I was an early fan of this blog and while I don't chime in unless I feel like I have something to contribute to the conversation, I usually check in several times a week and enjoy your perspective and commentary immensely. You jog a lot of nice memories of some fun times in my life and I sincerely appreciate your efforts and have enjoyed our cyber friendship! I hope one of these days we'll be in Nashville at the same time to hook up for dinner and what I know would be some great conversation!Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04287831362702766918noreply@blogger.com