The line-up for the 2 Opry mid-week shows are as follows:
Tuesday July 9:
7:00: Tyler Farr; Dale Watson
7:30: The Whites; Lee Brice
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely; Craig Morgan
8:45: Amber Digby; Vince Gill
Wednesday July 10:
7:00: Kristen Kelly; TG Sheppard
7:30: Greg Bates; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown; Lauren Alaina
8:45: The Band Perry
I am sure everyone has read the news regarding Randy Travis. A tragedy and so young at 54. Here is hoping for a recovery but from the various reports I have read it just doesn't sound good.
On another note, Jimmy Dickens will began his radiation treatments this week. Best to Jimmy.
I heard the news regarding Randy Travis right before dinner. How sad. I watched, via live stream, during "Fan Fair" just a month ago, a group interview with Nancy Jones, Jamey Johnson, John Rich & Randy Travis. The subject was, of course, about George Jones - that is when they debuted Randy's new song (featuring Joe Nichols) about George Jones & it is just wonderful. He looked great, sounded great, he's funny. Also, Randy & Loretta Lynn were in concert not even two weeks ago up here in the Northern Illinois area - I really wanted to see them but was unable to. Like you said Byron, so young at 54 ... just shocking.
ReplyDeleteAlso, pictures have appeared on Facebook of Little Jimmy Dickens - he is quite frail as one would fully expect him to be at this time - just love him.
A health update on Dawn Sears is looking up - she was diagnosed with Stage 3B lung cancer earlier this year. She is going through chemo/radiation treatments & so far, so good, as she is back with the Western swing band, The Time Jumpers as of tonight - yah!!! She was part of Vince Gill's road band for many years as his harmony vocalist. She is a fabulous singer - for those interested, there are some YouTube videos on her. Not sure of her age - she is very young looking.
My thoughts & prayers & well wishes go out to each & every one of them.
(Jeanene)
Good to see Amber Digby on a Opry line up. That gal is the real deal. Modern country radio just won't give her a break, being such a traditionalist.
ReplyDeleteJeanene, thanks for the update on Dawn Sears. Here's hoping for The Potato and Randy. Also, Ray Price seems to be recovering very slowly from his recent hospital stay, but, yes, recovering.
ReplyDeletefrom "another anonymous": had not heard about Dawn Sears; we saw The Time Jumpers in February in Lancaster, PA, had no idea she was ill. Wishing well for her, Jimmy, Ray and Randy. Back to the subject - why do they call it Tue and Wed Opry when only half on Tues are Opry members, and the first segment has NO members; on Wed even worse, only 3 Opry members and again first segment starts off with NONmembers !
ReplyDelete@Michael - I did not mention Ray Price - he's been pretty ill as well. He was scheduled to play at Willie Nelson's yearly 4th of July picnic last week. The concert was carried live on Sirius/XM radio at one time but I didn't find it anywhere on the line-up or I would have listened to it - not sure if he made it or not but I would think with being hospitalized a couple of months ago with dehydration issues & with his cancer possibly not. I will be seeing Willie this coming Sunday evening in concert & I am looking forward to it.
ReplyDelete@anonymous - Dawn was diagnosed with cancer back in March - she was interviewed by Nashville's Channel 4 yesterday - I was able to view the interview as it was linked by someone on Facebook. She said she is feeling much better, thankfully. Her husband is Kenny Sears - fiddle session player & one of two fiddlers in the Time Jumpers band - the other fiddler is Joe Spivey, he has been John Anderson's touring fiddle player for many years. Don't ask me how I remember all this stuff, it's just more I jam & cram into the gray matter & somehow it sticks around!! :-)
Randy Travis had surgery & by no means is out of the woods with this. What he has comes on very suddenly & to be airlifted to the hospital is pretty scary in itself. One minute one appears to be fine & the next they are in a helicopter being flown to a hospital in a flight for life situation. A very serious & usually deadly ailment is going on here. I am reading posters on various country music sites on Facebook - quite a few people say just how their loved ones suddenly died from this - just awful for anyone who encounters this.
Again, my thoughts, prayers & well wishes go out to each of them.
(Jeanene)
Jeanene, Ray Price did have to cancel his appearance with Willie, on doctor's advice (his doctor is Red Duke, the famous Texas sawbones). Ray's Facebook page has some updates, and it seems that he's slowly regaining strength but doesn't have much of an appetite, which is a problem.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the further update on Dawn Sears. And if we ever figure out why stuff rattles around upstairs and stays there, we'll rule the world!
Michael - thank you for the Ray Price update. I would have been surprised if he had shown up for the gig. And yes, not having much of an appetite is definitely a problem. Hopefully it returns as he regains his strength as each day goes by. Great,great voice that sings great, great country music.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome regarding the Dawn Sears update - she is one fabulous singer & she deserves only good things to happen now that she has gone through so much bad.
I heard & read two reports from Randy Travis's "camp" that he did not have actual heart surgery but a surgical procedure, however, he remains in critical condition.
Listening to the Tuesday Night Opry & listened to Dale Watson - I sure dig his Texas music. Looking forward to hearing Amber Digby, Craig Morgan & Vince Gill. Jeannie Seely is always enjoyable.
(Jeanene)
I read the article regarding Randy Travis this morning in the Tennessean and the Nashville doctor, who was quoted and is not involved in Randy's care, made it sound like Randy's condition is life threatening and there is some question regarding his recovery. Still hoping for the best.
ReplyDeleteJeanene, I have the same concern with Ray Price. I have also read the facebook updates from Ray's wife, and not eating much is a definite problem, as you said.
Some days it is tough to be a country music fan when it involves some of the legends.
Byron, a younger sister of mine had a major heart attack a few years ago at the age of 49 & she had the same device put in as Randy. Like you, all I am reading about Randy's condition is that he is not doing well at all & so hoping for the best. And I am in complete agreement with your last sentence.
ReplyDeleteWanted to say something about Amber Digby's performance last night on the Opry - WOW!!! Where did she come from? She is terrific!
Very traditional singer, with a terrific voice as well - yah us!!!
(Jeanene)
Jeanene: If Amber Digby would have hit Country radio 40 years ago rather than today, she would probably already be in the Hall of Fame. She amazes me with her talents. It also amazes me how modern radio will not play her records (other than Sirius Willie's Roadhouse and the few 'traditional' stations). Steel guitars, fiddles, it's real country music.
ReplyDeleteFully agreed, David - I was very impressed with Amber. It is such a shame that she can't get commercial country radio airplay but I am not surprised. In my opinion, that continues to say nothing about commercial country radio. I can listen to the local country station in very small doses. I do like a lot of the artists, just not a lot of what they record & pass off as country music. In my opinion, the only country song out there right now continues to be Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker - still heads above all the rest of what I'm hearing. I have Josh Turner's "Punching Bag" CD - it is great but as I listened to it a second & third time all I kept thinking was "don't release to radio, this song, this song, this song, this song - it won't be played." Sure enough, he released "Find Me a Baby" one of the songs I thought he should not release, never heard it on the Chicago country station & again wasn't surprised. There is a video on it & I know his wife & three sons voices were recorded at the tail of the song. It isn't as if he hasn't had success with more traditional sounding music, i.e. "Your Man." He has such a fabulous voice & he doesn't get much airplay but maybe he won't sell out for hits versus substance on his body of work. So maybe in the end it works for these artists.
ReplyDeletebtw, I should have stated in my post above, that my sister, thankfully, is doing well. Apparently, this device is used for a couple of different heart issues - she is a respiratory therapist & knows about this stuff.
(Jeanene)
If Randy Travis Passes Away It Will Increase His Chances For Hall Of Fame Induction For Next Year
ReplyDeleteJeanene,
ReplyDeleteI missed Amber Digby on the Opry last night so I will have to wait until it is posted on WSMONLINE. She is a great singer and a pleasure to listen too. She represents the young people I mention when I say there are young folks doing good country. I realize that all the young new acts can't be successful with the older style of music Amber sings but it would be nice if a few folks like her could at least be heard on the radio with all the other music. We wish for success for folks like Amber but I think once you get in that circle of big label, big production, certain image and all, you loose control of who you are and what you represent and the music is never the same. As David said, she is the real deal, lets hope she can stay that way and keep making music for us to enjoy.
There are several younger folks recording for Tracy Pitcox at Heart of Texas and Jim Loessberg at Startex Records that do a great job with old numbers and brand new songs recorded in the older style. Justin Trvino, Jake Hooker, Dotty Jack, Bobby Flores, and Ron Williams come to mind. Amber is probably the baby of the bunch but they are relatively young compared to the veterans we often talk about.
I'm usually complaining about Opry management and the acts that appear. Surly it didn't hurt anyone for a young traditional artist out of Texas, who sings great and presents herself in a dignified and upstanding manner, to appear on the Opry stage. Folks who had no idea who she was might just have walked away pleased and impressed. Thanks to Mr. Fisher and anyone who made the decision to have her appear. Consider doing it again and asking others. Just one artist like this a week would be fair I would think. Many others they ask to appear are also only regionally known or not well known at all so spread it around!
Allow me to add well wishes to Randy Travis, Ray Price, Dawn Sears and Jimmy Dickens. Byron is right about it being tough to be a fan when you favorites are on the sick list!
Jim,
Knightsville, IN
I'm sorry I didn't get to hear Amber Digby. I DID read that doctors feel Randy Travis is making progress, though not out of the woods.
ReplyDeleteThe comment above by anonymous might bother some people, but I hate to admit, it's true. Chet Atkins said he thought he got into the Hall of Fame as soon as he did--1973, age 49--because he'd had cancer. Then his friend Owen Bradley had a heart attack and Chet, who could be droll, called and told him he'd go in the next year. He did.
Just read that Randy Travis is now worse after suffering a stroke.
ReplyDeleteI just saw that David. Here is the Country Music Nation article: http://countrymusicnation.com/37017/breaking-randy-travis-in-surgery-following-stroke/\
ReplyDeleteSigh. Within minutes of reading he was doing better. Sad. Here's hoping for him.
ReplyDeleteStill listening to WSM after the Wednesday Night Opry. Kevin Anderson reported that the stroke is a complication of the congestive heart failure. I hope all of our prayers & all those very smart doctors can pull him out of this. I'm not at all sure now as I am expecting a whole different type of report on Randy tomorrow. Sure hope I am wrong.
ReplyDelete(Jeanene)
Hoping for the same Jeanene. As I am leaving this morning for a meeting, there is no news. Sometimes they say no news is good news. Let us hope. But country music fans should prepare for the worst.
ReplyDeleteByron, within the last hour I heard that a medical update will be made in the next hour or two on Randy.
ReplyDeleteJim, just as I was going to reply to the artists you named, the news of Randy having a stroke hit. I have a Justin Trevino cd "Take One As Needed For Pain" - awesome music on this cd. As far as the Opry, I am just wondering if Pete Fisher wants to put a well-rounded type of show on the stage. I liked that both Amber & Dale Watson were on the same show. They played The Station Inn after the Opry.
(Jeanene)
Jeanene,
ReplyDeleteI was able to listen to some of the Tuesday Opry today. I also enjoyed Dale Watson. Amber did a nice job and the song with Vince is the kind of thing that is special at the Opry!
This is what I would like to see more of at the Opry. Some new or young folks that do older or more traditional music mixed in with all the newer styles. If there was more of this I could accept the new music easier and I wouldn't feel like it was being forced on us so much.
Everyone keep the updates on those on the sick list coming. Other than this blog I'm not much of a social media junky!
Jim
Knightsville, IN