The Grand Ole Opry continues the winter run at the Ryman Auditorium and has posted the line-ups for the 2 shows this weekend. Yes, just two shows as the Opry is back to just one show on Saturday night and will remain with just one show through most of next year unless ticket demand calls for a 2nd show.
Saturday's Grand Ole Opry looks like a show dedicated to the ABC television show "Nashville" and the soundtrack for the show, which came out this week. 3 of the 4 segments on Saturday's show will feature a performer from the television show, and I am sure ABC will be doing some filming and incorporating the performances into new episodes.
In addition to the "Nashville" artists, both shows this weekend will feature the Del McCoury Band and Old Crow Medicine Show, both making Opry appearances for the 2nd week in a row. Del and the boys spent some time in the studio this week working with Bobby Osborne on a project. Saturday's show will also feature Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale, while the Friday Night Opry has Striking Matches, a local duet, making their Opry debut. In addition, Jimmy Dickens is scheduled for both shows this weekend after missing the 2nd show last week, along with the Tuesday Night Opry.
Friday December 14
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host): Canaan Smith; Jim Ed Brown; Mike Snider
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Striking Matches
8:45: John Conlee (host); Jesse McReynolds; Old Crow Medicine Show
Saturday December 15
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Del McCoury Band; Lennon and Maisy Stella
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Charles Esten
Intermission
8:15: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely; Jonathan Jackson
8:45: John Conlee (host); Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale; Old Crow Medicine Show
That comes out to 13 artists each night, with 10 Opry members on Friday night and 7 on Saturday night.
Now, for this week's Grand Ole Opry archive shows, I have picked out 2. The 1st one is from Saturday December 15, 1979, which was 33 years ago this weekend, while the 2nd line-up is from Saturday December 16, 1995, 17 years ago this weekend. Notice the difference in the 2 line-ups. I have included the song listing for the 1st of the 2 shows.
Saturday December 15, 1979
1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
George Hamilton IV (host): Break My Mind
Ernie Ashworth: The DJ Cried
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
6:45: Rudy's
Bill Monroe (host): Sitting on Top of the World
Connie Smith: Love Lifted Me
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Kenny Baker: The Old Mountaineer
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ole Slewfoot
Skeeter Davis: Just When I Need You Most
Jim & Jesse: Maybelline
Don Gibson: Oh, Lonesome Me/Where No One Stands Alone
Wilburn Brothers: Fraulein
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Life/Carroll County Accident/Green, Green Grass of Home/On A Highway Headed South
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Minnie Pearl: Jealous Hearted Me
Charlie Walker: Don't Play Me No Songs About Texas
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Black Mountain Rag
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light
8:00: Martha White
Osborne Brothers (host); Rocky Top
Vic Willis: Last Cheater's Waltz
Charlie Louvin: I Don't Love You Anymore/Love Has to Die All By Itself
Lonzo: The Old Home Place
Wynn Osborne: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jeanne Pruett: Back to Back
4 Guys: Mama Rocked Us to Sleep with Country Music
Wilma Lee Cooper: A Daisey A Day
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigrae
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Gray Eagle
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: Hasn't It Been Good Together
2nd show
9:30: Kelloggs
Bill Monroe (host): Blue Moon of Kentucky
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Connie Smith: He Said If I Be Lifted Up
Lonzo: Georgia Pineywoods
Ernie Ashworth: Each Moment Spent With You
Wilburn Brothers: God Bless America Again
Bill Monroe: A Beautiful Life
10:00: Fender
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
Skeeter Davis: Georgia
Osborne Brothers: No Mother or Dad
Porter Wagoner: Everything I've Always Wanted
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Low and Lonely
Jean Shepard: Slipping Away
Jim & Jesse: Congratulations Anyway/Paradise
Roy Acuff: Hold to God's Unchanging Hand
10:30: Trailblazer
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Bill Carlisle: Rusty Old Halo
Charlie Walker: Don't Play Me No Songs About Texas
10:45: Beechnut
Charlie Louvin: I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Vic Willis: Honey You Feel Good All Over
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Sally Goodin
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Gonna Find Me A Bluebird
Wilma Lee Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of A Dove
Kirk McGee: While I'm Away
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: My First Night Alone
11:30: Little Debbie
Marty Robbins (host): El Paso City
Jeanne Pruett: Back to Back/Break My Mind
Stu Phillips: That's A Chance I'll Have to Take/Thank God She's Mine
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Buenos Dias Argentina/Ribbon of Darkness/What Are Friends For/Love Me/Among My Souvenirs/Tonight Carmen/Cool Water/Devil Woman/Touch Me With Magic/Begging To You/That's All Right/Beyond the Reef/All Around Cowboy/Don't Let Me Touch You/El Paso
A couple of notes on that show. Marty's segment lasted over 1 hour and 15 minutes, and Marty alone song for 1 hour. Lonzo appeared alone as Oscar was off fishing and it was just Bobby Osborne that night as Sonny was away.
Saturday December 16, 1995
1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Jean Shepard
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Charlie Louvin
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jeanne Pruett; Jimmy C Newman; Bill Carlisle; Mike Snider
7:30: Joe Diffie (host); Faith Hill; Garth Brooks
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Brother Oswald; Opry Square Dance Band
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jack Greene; Wilma Lee Cooper; The Whites; Osborne Brothers
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Joe Diffie; Jean Shepard; Mike Snider; Bill Monroe; Vince Gill; Faith Hill; Chet Atkins; Garth Brooks; Grandpa Jones
10:30: Jeanne Pruett (host): Jan Howard
10:45: Billy Walker (host); Stonewall Jackson; Opry Square Dance Band
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Del Reeves; Riders In The Sky; John Conlee; Jimmy C Newman
11:30: Jack Greene (host): Justin Tubb; Stu Phillips; Skeeter Davis; Charlie Walker
The opening segment on the last show was basically 3 segments strung together and lasted an hour. And, you can certainly saw that both of these shows were very good and had loaded line-ups.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteI get so lonesome for Marty Robbins at this time of year it can bring a tear to my eye. Just imagine being one of the lucky Opry goers of 33 years ago, with a star-studded lineup to begin with, then -- as a throw-in -- a veritable concert by Marty. All on one ticket!
Those were the days. Nice to revisit them, complete with song selections, in memory!
I would be glad to have either lineup. Come to think of it, today, I'd be happy to have the Opry instead of whatever it is Buchanan and Fisher are trying to create.
ReplyDeleteJust learned of the passing of Willie Ackerman, a well respected session musician and drummer for the Hee Haw band for years. Willie was also the security guard at my first apartment complex on Elm Hill Pike in Nashville 30 years ago. We got well acquainted because I used to lock myself out a lot late at night! A very nice guy.
ReplyDeleteI saw the news and was sorry to hear it. I never got the opportunity to meet him, but as Barry noted, he was well respected and liked by all you came across him.
ReplyDeleteAw. I remember him well. Sad news.
ReplyDelete