A couple of pieces of news regarding Opry performers and Opry related programming. The first is that PBS is going to be offering an Opry show in June. From their press release:
"Take a trip down memory lane with historic performances from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, 1965-1975. Opry memories will take you back to the golden era of country music. Join host John Schneider from the Grand Ole Opry as he brings you stars like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, George Jones and Loretta Lynn performing their biggest hits in the prime of their careers. These performances have been preserved and restored to pristine condition, with top quality sound and video and all are in beautiful, full color. Highlights include 'Folsom Prison Blues' by Johnny Cash, 'I Will Always Love You' by Dolly Parton, 'The Grand Tour' by George Jones, 'Stand By You Man' by Tammy Wynette, 'Coal Miner's Daughter' by Loretta Lynn, and 'Jackson' by Johnny Cash and June Carter."
The following is the song list for the show:
'Stand By Your Man'-Tammy Wynette
'The Grand Tour'-George Jones
'Ring of Fire'-Johnny Cash
'Flowers on the Wall'-The Statler Brothers
'Kaw-Liga'-Charley Pride
'I Will Always Love You'-Dolly Parton
'After the Fire Is Gone'-Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
'Jackson'-Johnny Cash and June Carter
'Still'-Bill Anderson
'Oh Lonesome Me'-Don Gibson
'Rose Garden'-Lynn Anderson
'Coal Miner's Daughter'-Loretta Lynn
'Hello Darlin'-Conway Twitty
'We're Gonna Hold On'-George Jones and Tammy Wynette
'Holding Onto Nothin'-Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
'For the Good Times'-Ray Price
'Help Me Make It Through The Night'-Sammi Smith
'Folsom Prison Blues'-Johnny Cash
The show will also feature Bill Anderson and highlight his 50th year as an Opry member, which will take place in July. Also, from looking at preview clips of the show, these will not be necessarily Grand Ole Opry performances, but will be from taped syndicated Opry shows that were filmed either at the Ryman Auditorium or the Grand Ole Opry House. So for those looking for a "real" Opry performance, this will not be the show for you. Finally, and these are just my thoughts, there are many, many great Opry stars that are missing. Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Bill Monroe, Hank Snow, Minnie Pearl come to mind very quickly. And there are others. While I know this is a fundraising program for PBS, I would have liked the show to feature more artists than featuring multiple songs from just a few artists. And, from the years that PBS televised the Opry, I would think that there would have been a wealth of actual Opry performances to show.
The other piece of news this weekend is that the line up and dates have been announced for this years Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam, which always takes place during CMA Music Fest week. This years show will be the 10th anniversary edition of the show and will take place on June 8, starting at 10:00pm, from the Ryman Auditorium. And, this year's show will have one of the strongest line ups in recent years. The artists on this years show are Dolly Parton, Mel Tillis, Connie Smith, The Quebe Sisters and Doug Kershaw, with more artists to be named. And of course, the Fabulous Superlatives will be featured. With a strong line up like this one, the show will sell out very quickly.
Classic Opry Stars, PBS and John Schneider hosting...I'm so there! When I learned to drive as a teenager in the 80s my car only had an AM radio. The station that came in the clearest was the local country station and it fostered a love of great country music. I had always known and loved Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, etc. but I was introduced to Emmy Lou Harris, George Strait, Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, John Schneider and so many others. I can't wait to see this. Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, etc. they are Country Gold.
ReplyDeleteGood news that PBS is doing it, sad news that they aren't doing better.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, seeing Doug Kershaw coming to Marty's show reminds me: he and his brother were Opry members in the late 1950s. And Jimmy C. Newman helped bring him to Nashville.
John Schneider?
ReplyDeleteIt always tickles me when PBS has country music shows to help raise money, then shuts us out the rest of the year.
Well, better once a year than not at all!