First, I want to acknowledge that I have not updated the blog for the past week. Sometimes life gets in the way and up here we were on the edge of hurricane Sandy that blew threw the Northeast the past several days. We had high winds, some flickering power and lots of rain. In fact, it is still raining today, which will make 6 straight days. Anyways, sorry for not keeping everyone up to date and not responding to the comments, which I usually do and enjoy doing. I am back on track now and will be posting the November Opry highlights within the next several days.
As far as this weekend, the Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the 3 shows this weekend. And starting this weekend, the Opry is back to the Ryman Auditorium for their annual winter run, which will last through January.
While nothing has been posted on the Opry's website, and I think it is a shame that they have not mentioned it, this Saturday night November 3rd, Stonewall Jackson will be celebrating his 56th year as a Grand Ole Opry member. Stonewall joined the Opry on November 3, 1956. I do want to acknowledge that Stonewall was part of the purge of 1964, and was among the Opry members dropped on that date. Stonewall rejoined the Opry on May 10, 1969 and has been a pretty loyal member since. Of course, Stonewall created news a few years back when he sued the Opry for age discrimination, which resulted in Stonewall making no Opry appearances from late 2005 through 2007. The case was settled and Stonewall returned to the Opry, but over the past several years his appearances have really dropped off. This will be only his 2nd Opry appearance in 2012. While he has been battling a few health issues, he has done a few road dates and the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree. Stonewall is scheduled for the 2nd show on Saturday night, and it would be nice if Jim Ed Brown, who is hosting the segment, gives Stonewall a nice introduction mentioning the anniversary. Finally, I do want to mention that on November 6th, Stonewall will be celebrating his 80th birthday.
As far as the rest of the Opry this weekend, Josh Turner will be on the Friday Night Opry, along with guest artists Maggie Rose and Keith Anderson, who will also be appearing on both Saturday shows. Also on Saturday, Dailey & Vincent will be guesting, along with Heidi Newfield and Brett Eldredge.
Friday November 2
7:00: John Conlee (host); Greg Bates; Connie Smith
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Keith Anderson
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Maggie Rose; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; Josh Turner
Saturday November 3
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Keith Anderson; Jimmy C Newman
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds; Brett Eldridge
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard; Heidi Newfield; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Dailey & Vincent
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Keith Anderson; Jimmy C Newman
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jean Shepard; Brett Eldridge
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stonewall Jackson; Heidi Newfield; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Dailey & Vincent
Starting this week and continuing most weeks through the winter, the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree will be presenting archived shows. This week's show will feature one of the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Connie Smith. While I have no complaints about the archived shows, well actually I do and it has nothing to do with Connie Smith, if they are going to run these shows, I would like to see them go into their vault and play some older shows from years ago featuring some of the stars that are no longer with us, such as Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins, Hank Snow and others. Those would be shows that I would really love to listen to.
To look back in Opry history this week, I am posting the line-up from Saturday November 4, 1978, 34 years ago this weekend.
1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Justin Tubb (host): Lonesome 7-7203
Wilma Lee Cooper: All On Account of You
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong With the Way that We're Doing it Now
6:45: Rudy's
Wilburn Brothers (host): Hurt Her Once for Me
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink on Me
Vic Willis: The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise
Wilburn Brothers: Mama's Shoe Box
7:00: Shoney's
Stonewall Jackson (host): My Favorite Sin
Charlie Louvin: When I Was Your Man/A Toast To Mama
Jeanne Pruett: Sweet Baby Jane/A Poor Man's Woman
Ernie Ashworth: You Can't Pick A Rose in December
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water
7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): Ole Slewfoot
Billy Grammer: Wabash Cannonball/Detroit City
Larry Gatlin: Night Time Magic/I've Done Enough Dying Today
Crook Brothers/Ralph Sloan Dancers
Porter Wagoner: I'm Gonna Feed You Now/Big Wind's A'Comin
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Have You Come to Say Goodbye
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World/I'll Fly Away
Ray Pillow: Country Music Lovin Cowboy/Another Day, Another Dollar
Stu Phillips: It's A Heartache
Marty Stuart: Rawhide
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Wreck of the Ol' 97/One More Ride
4 Guys: Let Your Love Flow/Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Winds of A Dove
Marion Worth: New Lips
Del Wood: 12th St. Rag
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Hank Snow: That's When He Dropped the World in My Hands
2nd show
9:30: Kelloggs
Porter Wagoner (host): Ole Slewfoot
Wilburn Brothers: What A Way To Go
Wilma Lee Cooper: Come Walk With Me
Vic Willis: San Antonio Rose
Ernie Ashworth: I Can't Help It
Tex Walker: Boots and Saddle
Porter Wagoner: Banks of the Ohio/I'm Gonna Feed You Now/Big Wind's A Comin'
10:00: Fender
Charlie Louvin (host): I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Larry Gatlin: (?)/ I've Done Enough Dying Today
Charlie Louvin: When I Was Your Man
10:15: Union 76
Stonewall Jackson (host): My Favorite Sin
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walking
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Great Big Woman & A Little Biddy Bottle of Wine
Billy Grammer: I'm Letting You Go
Del Wood: My Country
Blake Williams: Train 45
10:45: Beechnut
Ray Pillow (host): Texas
Stu Phillips: Let Me Love You All Over Again
Crook Brothers/Ralph Sloan Dancers: Gray Eagle
Ray Pillow: (?)
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Ramblin Rose
Skeeter Davis: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels/He Will Be There
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Kirk McGee: Railroad Blues
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind
11:30: Acme
4 Guys (host): We Make Beautiful Music Together
Marion Worth: Fool #1/Put Your Hand in the Hand
Ronny Robbins: I Just Stopped Long Enough To Taste The Wine/The Last Lie I Told Her
4 Guys: Mama Tried/The Fugitive
Again, congratulations to Stonewall Jackson on his 56th anniversary as an Opry member.
While I could sit and listen to Connie Smith from now until the end of time, I agree that if they have to run archived show the shows with Ernest, Roy Acuff, Carl and Pearl Butler and others are more enjoyable from a historical viewpoint as well. The one they ran last year that featured Roy Acuff from the shop down on Demonbreun was one of the best that they've run. Maybe it's because I'm getting older but I find that the older Opry material that's available is of superior quality to what is presented today. I make my living as a lighting and production designer so I'm glad there's a need for that sort of thing but I also find that the amount of lights, fireworks and video on a show is directly proportional to the amount of talent that an artist has. The less talent the more need to compensate with bells and whistles. It's kind of like my TV....120 channels and the best thing on is usually a 40 year old Andy Griffith Show rerun.
ReplyDeleteFred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteWell said, Barry. I smile every time somebody like Reba comes to town with 20 buses and trucks, remembering when people like Roy, Bill Monroe and Little Jim had to make do with a station wagon and pup trailer. And who was better worth listening to?
I'll join Barry and Fred, and Byron on the archived shows.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I didn't catch it, but I didn't detect any real celebration of Jean Shepard's 57th anniversary as a member. Granted, 57 isn't a huge number. But she passed Bill Monroe on the left, and I believe the only people to have been Opry members longer are Herman and Lewis Crook and Kirk McGee.
I think you are right Michael. We will see if they mention anything for Jean later this month. You would think they would, especially the way they seem to be making big deals about everyone's 20th anniversary-Vince, Emmylou, Marty.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Dickens has cancelled out for tonight with Jim Ed Brown replacing him. I guess appearing at the CMA awards last night was a little much for him. He is still scheduled for both shows on Saturday night.
ReplyDeleteFor those who listened to the Friday Night Opry, you heard something that seldom happens anymore. Bobby Osborne was invited by Bill Anderson to do a 3rd song and he did "Ruby", in addition to "Country Roads" and "Rocky Top". Great to hear that 3rd number by a veteran artist.
ReplyDeleteNo Jean Shepard tonight. Also, just heard Bobby Bare is scheduled for next Saturday night.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if another reason The Potato canceled for Friday was that there were two shows on Saturday. His singing voice sounded a bit rough, but he certainly was on the beam with the audience.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear The Bare will be visiting. They played "Detroit City" between shows, so maybe that was why it was on.
Bobby Bare is scheduled for both shows on Saturday night. Vince Gill is back with The Time Jumpers on Friday night. Jimmy Dickens was originally scheduled for the Tuesday Night Opry but has been taken off.
ReplyDelete