The Oak Ridge Boys will officially become the Opry's newest members on Saturday night August 6, as the Opry has posted this weekends line ups. And I have to tell you, I am disappointed for a number of reasons.
First, I had expected a pretty special show on Saturday as the Opry usually goes all out when a new member comes on board. Perhaps it is the time of year or some of the members had other commitments, but the Saturday night line up is really nothing special.
Second, there are only 11 artists listed for the Saturday night show. And of those 11 artists, only 7 are Opry members. 66 entertainers are members of the Opry, and only 7 could be scheduled for a show welcoming some new members? And the Friday Night Opry is not much better, as only 8 Opry members are scheduled.
Third, I have to question some of the artists scheduled this weekend. On Saturday night, Jacob Lyda will be making his Opry debut. Who is Jacob Lyda? Just another on the list of new country artists who have a new CD out and, while I am sure he is pretty talented to get a record deal, he will probably be another one that we will never hear from again in a few years. And if you listen to him, he sounds like a cookie-cutter of so many other male artists today. Also on the Opry on Saturday night is Troy Cassar-Daley. Troy is a country artist from Australia, who has had success in that country and is trying to make it in this country. He has written a lot of his material, but he is really an unknown to American audiences.
So there you have it. 11 artists on Saturday night, of which only 7 are Opry members and 2 are basically newcomers or unknown talents. And the Opry manages to get $55.00 for a prime ticket!!! It never stops to amaze me.
Now that I said that, there are a couple of good things this weekend. On Friday night, Gary Morris will be making an Opry appearance. He had a nice series of hit records in the 1980's and I always thought he had a fine voice. Also, Shelley Skidmore will be making another Opry appearance. And on Saturday night, Sam Bush will return to the Opry stage. And not to forget the main event, the Oak Ridge Boys will be inducted as Opry members. As I said before, I really believe the Oak Ridge Boys will be great Opry members. They have fine crowd appeal and I really believe that they understand what the Opry is all about. Congratulations to the Boys!!!
Here are the line ups for this weekend:
Friday August 5
7:00: Jim Ed Brown(host); Jesse McReynolds; Shelly Skidmore
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jimmy C Newman; Bucky Covington
INTERMISSION
8:15: George Hamilton IV(host); Jack Greene; Jamie O'Neal
8:45: Riders In The Sky(host); Connie Smith; Gary Morris
Saturday August 6
7:00: Jimmy Dickens(host); Connie Smith; Jacob Lyda
7:30: Jean Shepard(host); Jimmy C Newman; Sam Bush
INTERMISSION
8:15: Jim Ed Brown(host); Jan Howard; Troy Cassar-Daley; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Jeannie Seely(host); Oak Ridge Boys
Next Saturday night, Vince Gill will be celebrating his 20 year as an Opry member. It should be a great night and the show is already sold-out.
Again, congratulations to the Oak Ridge Boys!!!
I think Opry management is counting on the Oak Ridge Boys as the Saturday night draw, which is understandable. It's still a mistake.
ReplyDeleteI always have loved Gary Morris, and I think of him guesting with Tom T. Hall and singing an aria from "La Boheme" that inspired T to say that he had brought grand opera to the Grand Ole Opry, and whatever you thought of it, it beat hell out of rock and roll; and performing on Minnie Pearl's 50th anniversary celebration.
Loretta introduced Gary Morris once and noted that he was just back from singing "Laa-Bohemee."
ReplyDeleteGary has one of the finest voices in country music. Possibly THE finest voice.
When I was a kid the lines stretched around the corner to Broadway for hopes of getting into that hot, sweaty, un-air conditioned Ryman to see country music. Now they have a plush, climate controlled facility that they cannot fill, even when giving away tickets. The fact that the Opry, in the middle of the summer tourist season, has eliminated the second show on Saturday night (for the second year in a row) is a glaring indication of the fact that, whether we want to admit it or not, the Grand Ole Opry is in serious trouble.
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