The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the 2 shows this weekend, one on Friday night and the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night. Both shows this weekend will feature a number of non-Opry members, and 1 former Opry member as Jim Glaser, formally of Tompall and the Glaser Brothers, will be on Friday Night. The Glasers were Opry members for many years and were quite popular. Their last appearance together was for Hank Snow's 40th anniversary as an Opry member when the brothers, who had not performed in 5 years, reunited at Hank's request for this show. The show was televised by TNN and on YouTube, there are 2 videos of the Glasers from that night. One is of them doing "Loving Her Was Easier", and the other is a melody of hits. They did a great job on "Loving Her Was Easier You" and their harmonies really showed through. When I watched the melody video, I laughed as it was funny watching the brothers facial expressions toward each other. Just a classic.
Also appearing on Friday night will be the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who have made previous Opry appearances, along with Canaan Smith and The Issacs. As far as Saturday night, the great guitarist Doyle Dykes will be on, along with The Grascals, Elizabeth Cook and Exile, all frequent Opry guests.
Friday June 29
7:00: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Craig Campbell
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Carolina Chocolate Drops
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim Glaser; Canaan Smith
8:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; The Isaacs
Saturday June 30
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Grascals
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Craig Campbell; Doyle Dykes
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Elizabeth Cook; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds; Exile
That comes out to 12 artists on each show, with 7 Opry members each night.
On a final note, I will be absent from the blog until Sunday, taking a little vacation time to travel. If anything comes up that needs comment, I will. Enjoy the weekend and thanks to all.
Enjoy your break!
ReplyDeleteAnd if I had to pick a Top 5 of Opry moments I have seen, the Glaser Brothers would be one of them, and they really were having fun. If only they could have carried that over. I know that they have had many personal issues and wish they could have overcome them.
The show being discussed with the Glaser Brothers was January 20, 1990. They were only on the TV portion with Hank Snow. He also requested Mel Tillis appear. Hank opened wirh Send Me the Pillow You Drean On and did not do a close due to time. On his second show that night he performed Gonna Find Me a Bluebird and his big break out US hit Brand on My Heart. Just som additional info.
DeleteJim
Knightsville
Fred in Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteThat Friday lineup is more like it. The Isaacs bring great music to the stage as well as some life (altho I liked them better when Father Joe was still with the group). And the Chocolate Drops play the kind of music the Opry used to be about.
I think Hank Snow made some of his best post-1950s music with the Glasers. And I note they performed on his spots in that 1963 show Byron just gave us (Jim Reeves' last Opry).
It didn't take long for a change already for this week. Jimmy Dickens has been taken off on Friday night. The Whites are now hosting the segment, Connie Smith has moved over to their spot in the 1st segment and Jason Michael Carroll has been added in the last segment.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone else cancels out, we may end up with Mike Snider or Jeannie Seely hosting 2 segments as there is nobody left that night that could host. Jimmy is still on the schedule for Saturday night.
I know in Nashville this weekend it is supposed to be 105-109 degrees, so that may have had something to do with it. Don't know, just taking a guess. That is mighty hot weather for someone to be out in.
All right! Doyle Dykes.
ReplyDeleteSimply the best guitar picker on the planet.
Bobby Osborne used to host segments, at least in the days of the Osborne Brothers, but his and several other former hosts' names have been taken off the list since then (for whatever reason...). Jimmy C. Newman was always a favorite host of mine that never gets the nod anymore.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I agree completely. Jimmy C. was funny to watch as host because he once told my mother (they got to know each other), he thinks in French and has to translate it, so you could see the wheels spinning. But the logic here does escape me.
ReplyDeleteI was able to listen to the first three segments of the Friday Night Opry and would note that the biggest hand any guest received was for Jim Glaser, who had the one thing Pete Fisher hates: gray hair.
ReplyDeleteI miss the way the Opry used to be - basically from 7 to 11 when I was going up. How many current Opry members are there? over 70 I believe. Only 7 can appear each weekend now? I realize that in the last 15 years we have lost many, many Opry stables in death. Those were the ones you knew were going to be there. But now only seven? Is this a lack of participation on the artists part or is it Opry management doing this?
ReplyDeleteWhen they have so many commercials (and I love mike snider's take on that) that they can fit only 12 artists in a nite, they're probably stretching it in their opinion to make 7 of that 12 veteran opry members, who they don't feel have the drawing power. Guess we're lucky to hear as many of our favorites as we do.
ReplyDeleteIn listening to the Opry on my way home last night, I would have to say that the best segment of the night was John Conlee hosting with Jean Shepard and Elizabeth Cook. Both of these ladies are very, very talented.
ReplyDeleteAw, Byron, you should have added Earl White doing "Cherokee Shuffle" with the square dancers! Sad to say, the best segments of the night were afterward, when they played the clips from the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteI did listen to those last night as we were enjoying the beautiful sights of West Virginia. If I have the number right, they played 5 of the classic shows last night. 2 were hosted by Porter Wagoner, 2 by the Willis Brothers and the last by Flatt & Scruggs. Porter's time and Flatt & Scruggs were very good. The Willis Brothers, to me, not so good. But I have to admit, I am not a huge Willis Brothers fan.
ReplyDeleteOverall last night, the classics included Del Reeves, Ernie Ashworth, Billy Grammer, George Hamilton IV, Margie Bowes, Norma Jean, Jake, Crook Brothers, Archie Campbell, June Carter, The Carter Family, and I know I am missing a couple of others. Many nights, these classic shows are better than the actual Opry.
You got 'em, Byron. It was fun to hear Dave Overton as Archie's straight man and Hal Durham introducing a couple of the segments. I confess, I can name others I prefer to the Willis Brothers, but it was so wonderful to hear the Opry as it was. There's a You Tube video of Mr. Acuff and his band, including Grant Turner doing a Luzianne commercial, Mr. Acuff talking with Vito Pelleteri as he plays behind Osward, and, in my favorite moment, Mr. Acuff doing "Mansion on the Hill" and pointing to Howdy Forrester and Jimmy Riddle to do the instrumental part--I don't think anybody knew until that moment who had the solo!
ReplyDeleteJim Glaser and Jim Ed Brown with the Issaca doing The Three Bells were the best performances of the weekend. I did think Jimmy Dickens sounded pretty good for one who cancelled Friday.
ReplyDeleteAbout the number of acts performing, I'm not sure the number of commercials has much to do with however some may be longer now than in the past. From my time around 1980 on there was most always three commercials per half hour show and maybe one or two in between. One thing that has changed in that time is the length of the show and number of shows per weekend. When there were two Saturday night shows and most all artist performed on both, they could afford to have them do only one spot, thus sometimes putting as many as five acts on a half hour. Today when it is the rule more than the exception that many acts get three or more songs and they are not the host and there is only two hours a night it's no wonder we are down to a dozen or less artist. I have thought for a long time they were headed for a Tuesday night scenerio or even down to one artist per half hour.
As I have said before, it seems the variety and pace we were used to is slowly being lost.
I grumble alot but I'm still thankful for what is left!
Jim
Knightsville