The Grand Ole Opry continues the winter run at the Ryman Auditorium with the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, which will feature 2 shows. Overall, the shows for this weekend do not look too bad.
The Friday Night Opry will feature guest artist Scotty McCreery, who has made a good impression on each of his previous Opry visits. Also appearing will be Dailey & Vincent, who I have said before would make good Opry members, Kristen Kelly and The Henningsens, all frequent Opry guests.
Saturday's Grand Ole Opry is looking very nice. Opry member Vince Gill is scheduled for both shows, and it has been a while since he has been at the Opry on a weekend. As far as Opry members, Del McCoury, who is also scheduled for Friday night, is set for both shows on Saturday. And the 2nd show on Saturday will feature a rare appearance by Opry member Stonewall Jackson. Stonewall joined the Opry on November 3, 1956 so I am sure it will be mentioned that this is his 57th year as an Opry member.
Among the guest artists on Saturday night will be the great Gene Watson. It is always a treat when Gene is scheduled for the Opry. Holly Williams and Sons of Fathers are also scheduled. This week's Opry newcomer will be Austin Webb. His first single is currently on country radio and he has been featured in Country Weekly magazine. And finally, what is an Opry show without a star from "Nashville" and this week it will be Sam Palladio. I saw Sam at the Opry's birthday bash in October and he did a very nice job.
Friday November 8:
7:00: John Conlee (host); The Henningsens; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Connie Smith (host); Kristen Kelly; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys; Dailey & Vincent
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Scotty McCreery
Saturday November 9:
1st show
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Austin Webb; Jimmy C Newman
7:30: The Whites (host); Holly Williams; Gene Watson
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; Sons of Fathers; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Vince Gill (host); Sam Palladio; Del McCoury Band
2nd show
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Austin Webb; Jesse McReynolds
10:00: The Whites (host); Holly Williams; Gene Watson
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Stonewall Jackson; Sons of Fathers; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Vince Gill (host); Sam Palladio; Del McCoury Band
For those counting at home, that is 7 Opry members for each show.
This week's Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree Saturday night/Sunday morning, will be hosted by Roni and Donna Stoneman. They have hosted the Midnight Jamboree before and have always done a great job. It should be a good show.
For this week's look back into Grand Ole Opry history, I go to Saturday November 9, 1974. In looking at the line-up, which took place 39 years ago, there is nothing that really stands out. It looks like a typical show for that era with a good solid line-up. It was also the year that the Grand Ole Opry House opened.
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Bob Luman (host): Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Little Darling Pal of Mine
Bob Luman: Let Me Make The Bright Lights Shine for You/I Got A Woman
6:45: Rudy's
David Houston (host): Jambalaya
Marion Worth: Put You Hand in the Hand
Charlie Walker: Odds and Ends
David Houston: Almost Persuaded
7:00: Rudy's
Roy Acuff (host): Cottonfields/Night Train to Memphis
Connie Smith: I Got My Baby On My Mind
Minnie Pearl: Careless Love
Ray Pillow: Living in the Sunshine of Your Love
Connie Smith: Down in the Valley
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
7:30: Standard Candy
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Jean Shepard: Slipping Away
Bill Carlisle: Jack of All Trades
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Sally Goodin
Tommy Jones: Orange Blossom Special
Jean Shepard: Poor Sweet Baby
Bill Carlisle: Have a Drink on Me
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Lost All My Money
Jimmy C Newman: Bib Mamou
Jerry Clower: A New Bull
Stu Phillips: If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Nashville Grass: The Fall Is A Lonesome Time for Me
Jimmy C Newman: Your Cheating Heart
Stu Phillips: She Thinks I Still Care
Marty Stuart: Rawhide
8:30: Stephens
Stonewall Jackson (host): Wash My Hands In Muddy Water
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back to Little Rock
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Lost Indian
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Jan Howard: Poison Red Berries
Willis Brothers: There Goes the Farm
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
David Houston (host): Can't You Feel It
Willis Brothers: The Wild Side of Life
Jean Shepard: At the Time
Bob Luman: Still Loving You
David Houston: Almost Persuaded
Jean Shepard: I'll Fly Away
Bob Luman: Let Me Make the Bright Lights Shine for You
10:00: Fender
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Marion Worth: Back Home Again
Ray Pillow: Countryfried
Charlie Walker: Odds and Ends
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: This Old House
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Connie Smith: I Got My Baby On My Mind/He Touched Me
Lester Flatt: Great Big Woman and A Little Biddy Bottle of Wine
Charlie Nixon & Kenny Ingram: Maggie Blues
10:45: Beech-Nut
Jerry Clower (host): Marcel Bums Chewing Tobacco
Jan Howard: Love Is Like A Spinning Wheel
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Arkansas Traveler
Jerry Clower: Marcel's Talking Chain Saw
11:00: Coca-Cola
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Jimmy C Newman: Potato Song
Bill Carlisle: Same Old Tale That the Crow Told Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sally Goodin
Jimmy C Newman: Cold, Cold Heart
Sam McGee: San Antonio Rose
Tommy Jones: Somewhere My Love/Dixie Hummingbird
11:30: Elm Hill
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Stu Phillips: If You Love Me Let Me Know/Let Me Love You All Over Again
Ronnie Robbins: Ruby. Don't Take Your Love to Town/Mama Tried
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walking/Waterloo
And moving forward 22 years later, here is the Opry line-up from Saturday November 9, 1996. Notice the difference between the 2 shows.
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Charlie Louvin
6:45: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Jimmy C Newman; Oswald; Connie Smith
7:30: Del Reeves (host); Ralph Stanley; Stonewall Jackson; Jeff Carson; Ricky Van Shelton
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Nikki Jo Rooff; Bill Carlisle; Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Charlie Walker; Riders In The Sky
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Ray Pillow; Ricky Van Shelton
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
10:15: Jimmy C Newman (host); Charlie Louvin
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Walker
10:45: Jean Shepard (host); Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Del Reeves (host); Stu Phillips; Stonewall Jackson; Riders In The Sky
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Connie Smith; The Whites
Finally, here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry, November 12:
7:00: The Whites; The Farm
7:30: Mark Wills; Keith & Kristyn Getty
Intermission
8:15: Larry Gatlin; Del McCoury Band
8:45: Danielle Bradbery; Tracy Lawrence
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!
Thanks for the update, Byron. It's great to see Stonewall back in the lineup. I also hope that his Opry anniversary will be highlighted. Speaking of Opry anniversaries, I have a question for you. I just bought the Country Weekly George Jones tribute issue. In there, it is stated that George was a member of the Opry for 51 years. How does that match up with your records? It doesn't sound right to me, but I would like to hear your opinion on the matter.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to been at that 1974 show. Even with Hank Snow, ET, Bill Monroe and others being absent, this was a star-studded line-up. What I wouldn't give to see those days again!
I'd still take the 1996 show in a heartbeat! I also would have loved to have been at the 1974 show.
ReplyDeleteBoy, that 10:30 segment from 1974 must've been something for Marty.
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Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteThanks, Byron.
I'd stay up for the Jamboree if I could, but that just doesn't seem to happen anymore. (Don't chase the wimmin, either.) Stoneman fans should know that the ladies (Roni & Donna, plus Patsy) have a wonderful new album out, "The Stoneman Tradition," PXCD-240. Also, there's a new CD of Scotty Stoneman fiddle music -- reissue, he died years ago -- that I'll be picking up with my next record order.
Speaking of which, does everybody know about County Sales, of Floyd, Va. (www.countysales.com)? Best selection and prices for bluegrass, oldtime (stringband) and classic country -- plus fabulous service. I've been a customer for 35 years.
As far as George Jones and his Opry induction date, there is some interesting history behind it and lots of different dates. Originally, the best I can determine and the last date that the Opry used before George passed away, he joined the Opry on August 11, 1956, which would have made him an Opry member for 56 years at the time of his death.
ReplyDeleteBut of course, we know that George was not an Opry member for each of those 56 years and here is where the dates get interesting. The August 11 date is the one listed in the 2012 edition of the Opry History Picture Book. In the previous editions of the book, his induction date was listed as January 4, 1969. But in the 1979 edition of the History Picture Book, he is listed as having returned to the Opry in 1973 "after a short absence." In the 1972 edition of the book, he is not listed at atll.
So I guess much like the others who are Opry members but left and came back, the Opry has used his original date of August 11, 1956 as the date George joined the Opry.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteCaught a mostly enjoyable hour of last night's first show, approx. 7:35-8:35 pm CST, Holly Williams thru Vince Gill's opening number and including the always-delightful (to me) Riders in the Sky.
God bless me, I didn't know there was still another Williams out there. (Shows how out of touch, etc.) Holly's "Drink" is a pretty good white-trash song, but "Waiting on June" is surely a confusing and overlong mishmash.
Gene Watson and the ageless Jan Howard were in good voice.
Of the Whites' hosting, I will say Cheryl is a little heavy on the syrup. Buck used to host some, and would be a better choice.
Other positives: Earl White's rousing "Cherokee Shuffle" and Vince's version of "Holding Things Together."
The one thing that had me reaching for my gun was Sons of Fathers. This was my second exposure, and I thought little enough of them to go to their web site to try to answer the musical question: If these are the sons, who are the fathers?
The scowling bunch lists as their favorite songwriters "Dylan, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young."
Enough said. Even if they could write and sing as well as any of the above -- they can't -- the Opry would be the wrong place. But then, as Too Slim reminded us last night, "If this were a logical world, the MEN would ride sidesaddle."
Great job Fred. I was at a bluegrass show on Saturday night with a regional group called the "Hastily Assembled Bluegrass Band". The always to an outstanding job and for $10 a great night. I did catch parts of the Opry on the way home. Vince Gill did a fine job hosting the last segment and I did hear Del McCoury. Always a highlight. On the 2nd show, I did listen to the Riders In The Sky segment with Gene Watson and Stonewall Jackson. Gene did his usual great job. Stonewall was fine, and did mention his birthday, but I really thought they would at least mention his Opry anniversary of 57 years and nothing was said.
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