The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the 2 shows this weekend and I am almost to the point of asking the question, "are The Willis Clan the newest members of the Opry?" No, they are not, but it sure seems like they are on the schedule a lot. I am sure all have noticed that over the years, the Opry seems to settle on a group of non-members that they will put on the schedule pretty much on a regular basis. Over the past few years, Mandy Barnett and Jimmy Wayne were a couple of the favorites, and now it seems that Chris Janson and The Willis Clan are the ones that they go to.
As you can guess from the above comments, The Willis Clan are scheduled for both shows this weekend. Joining them on the Friday Night Opry will be The Steeldrives, who I personally enjoy, The Isaacs, Collin Raye, and a name from the recent past, Bryan White. Also scheduled, and making his Opry debut, is Mo Pitney.
Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, in addition to The Willis Clan, has a return appearance by Mary Gauthier booked. Also featured is Opry member Steve Wariner. And, while not on the schedule, there is the usual slot saved for Jimmy Dickens.
Friday June 20
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Steeldrivers; Jean Shepard
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bryan White; The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mo Pitney
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Collin Raye; The Willis Clan
Saturday June 21
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Greg Bates
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mary Gauthier
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; Lucy Hale; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Steve Wariner (host); The Whites; The Willis Clan
And no, I do not dislike The Willis Clan. I have seen them on the Opry previously and they are a talented family. And they are promoting a television show.
As is the custom, here is the posted Opry line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, June 19 & 20, 2009:
Friday June 19
7:00: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Emily West
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Tracy Byrd
8:00: Marty Stuart (host); Jan Howard; George Hamilton IV; Connie Smith
8:30: Vince Gill (host); John Conlee; Alison Krauss
Saturday June 20
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Rhonda Vincent
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Hal Ketchum; Point Of Grace
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jim Ed Brown; Sammy Johns; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Vince Gill (host); Alison Krauss; The Whites
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Rhonda Vincent
10:00: Vince Gill (host); Mike Snider; Point Of Grace
10:30: John Conlee (host); Hal Ketchum; Sammy Johns; Orpy Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Alison Krauss; The Whites
And now from 10 years ago, the weekend of June 18 & 19, 2004:
Friday June 18
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; BR549
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Christy Sutherland; Stonewall Jackson; Alecia Nugent
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); TG Sheppard; Billy Currington
9:00: Mike Snider (host); Charlie Louvin; Billy Walker; Mandy Barnett
9:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Gail Davies; Joe Nichols
Saturday June 19
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Eddy Raven
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Chely Wright
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Billy Walker; Alecia Nugent
8:00: Hal Ketchum (host); Riders In The Sky; Jon Randall; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Radney Foster
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Chely Wright
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Radney Foster
10:30: Hal Ketchum (host); Stu Phillips; Eddy Raven; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; Alecia Nugent
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Charlie Nagatani; Jon Randall
There are a couple of shows that I did want to mention. One took place on Friday June 20, 1980. That was the night Boxcar Willie made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. The story about Boxcar has been told many times but how he got to Nashville and the Opry is thanks to Wesley Rose, who alerted Roy Acuff. Wesley saw Boxcar at the Wembley Festival in England and he asked Boxcar, "Would you like to be on the Opry?" Boxcar told Wesley that he had been trying to get on the Opry for forty years, of which Wesley told him that when he got back to Nashville, to see him and he would introduce Boxcar to Roy Acuff. The introduction took place, along with an interview and as a result, Boxcar Willie got his guest slot on the Opry. Thanks to that appearance, and the influence of Roy Acuff, Boxcar Willie joined the Opry on February 21, 1981. Here is the line-up from Friday June 20, 1980, the night that Boxcar Willie made his Opry debut.
1st show
6:30: Roy Drusky (host); Justin Tubb; Ernie Ashworth; Connie Smith; Lonzo & Oscar; Little General Cloggers
7:00: Billy Walker (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Louvin; Wilma Lee Cooper; Del Wood
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Stu Phillips; Charlie Daniels
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host) David Houston; Ray Pillow; Wilburn Brothers; Little General Cloggers
8:30: Charlie Walker (host); Four Guys; Bill Carlisle; Stonewall Jackson; Vic Willis Trio
2nd show
9:30: Billy Walker (host); Four Guys; Charlie Louvin; Wilma Lee Cooper; Del Wood
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Connie Smith; Lonzo & Oscar; Boxcar Willie; Little General Cloggers
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Charlie Walker; Jean Shepard; Ernie Ashworth
11:00: Stonewall Jackson (host); Stu Phillips; Justin Tubb
11:30: David Houston (host); Bill Carlisle; Vic Willis Trio; Ray Pillow
Another solid night at the Opry.
The last line-up to post is from Saturday June 19, 1982, as it was 32 years ago this Saturday night that Riders In The Sky became members of the Grand Ole Opry. The Riders were a trio that consisted of Doug Green, Woody Paul and Too Slim (Fred LaBour), and that brought the songs of the west back to the Opry. They also added a touch of humor to the show.
Doug Green, who wrote the book, "Country Roots: The Origins of Country Music", offered these thoughts on joining the Opry. "It beats me. It just comes so loaded with tradition and emotion and feeling for anybody who cares the least little bit about country music. The first time we were on it was just a magical experience. We guested on the Opry twenty-five times and then they made us members in June of '82, and it's still a magical experience. It's still really wonderful. I'm not as scared as I used to be, but you just feel like you're part of this continuous line of tradition."
Woody Paul had his own thoughts: "I remember when we joined we had been playing a lot on the road. We played in Texas at noon and they chartered a plane and flew us to Fort Worth to get a plane to come be here our first night as members of the Opry. When we walked in at seven o'clock, Hal Durham said, 'Welcome home.' He was sincere about it and suddenly we were just part of this great family."
Not only have the Riders been members of the Opry for 32 years, but they have been great members. Even with the touring and movie soundtracks, they have been very loyal members of the cast and have always made time for the Opry. They are great hosts and add a lot of humor to the show, besides being fine musicians.
Here is the running order from Saturday June 19, 1982, the night Riders In The Sky became members of the Grand Ole Opry.
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me and You and A Dog Named Boo
Ernie Ashworth: There's No Place I'd Rather Be Tonight
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): Walking on New Grass
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
7:00: Shoney's
Ernest Tubb (host): Letters Have No Arms
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Bobby Lord: Fall Away
Riders In The Sky: How the Yodel Was Born/Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Jack Leonard: Back On My Mind Again
Ernest Tubb: Rainbow at Midnight
7:30: Standard Candy
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Jack
Jean Shepard: Cryin' My Heart Out Over You/Slipping Away
Wilburn Brothers: Making Plans
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel
Grandpa Jones: Four Stone Walls and A Ceiling/What'll I Do With the Baby'O
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Lonzo & Oscar: All the Gold in California
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Connie Smith: I Just Had You On My Mind/Once A Day
Roy Acuff: Stream Line Cannonball
8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Storms Never Last
4 Guys: I Think About Your Loving All the Time
Ray Pillow: She's Doing it to Me Again
Roy Drusky: Have I Stayed Away Too Long
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
Hank Snow: I Have You and That's Enough For Me
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Ernest Tubb (host): Have You Ever Been Lonely
Ernie Ashworth: Memphis Memory
Del Wood: Just Because/Bill Bailey/Beer Barrel Polka
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'/Ol' Chunck of Coal
Jack Leonard: Lone Star Beer and Bob Wills Music
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): The Banjo Is the Instrument for Me
Jeanne Pruett: It's Too Late/Temporarily Yours
Grandpa Jones: There's A Grave in the Waves of the Ocean
10:15 Sunbeam
Jack Greene (host): Try A Little Kindness
Justin Tubb: Take A Letter Miss Gray
Jack Greene: Your's For the Taking
10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Down in Union County
Riders In The Sky: (?)/Turkey in the Straw/Chicken Reel/Devil's Dream
Roy Acuff: In The Center of the Grand Ole Stage/I Saw the Light
10:45: Beech-Nut
Roy Drusky (host): Second Hand Rose
Connie Smith: Lovin' You Baby
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Mississippi Sawyer
Roy Drusky: Blues In My Heart
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Right or Wrong
Jean Shepard: Alabama Jubilee
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
Wilburn Brothers: Release Me
Eldridge Brothers/Lonzo & Oscar: Little Cabin Home on the Hill
Kirk McGee: While I'm Away
Hank Snow: It Kinda Reminds Me of Me
11:30: Bama
4 Guys (host): I Think About Your Loving All the Time
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink of Me
Sheila & Bill Carlisle, Jr: In the Pines
Ray Pillow: All You Have to Do Is Come Back Home/Remember Me
4 Guys: Swing Down Chariot
Congratulations again to the Riders In The Sky, and enjoy the Opry this weekend!!
Don't forget "Paul is dead" Too Slim and his wonderful poetic introductions of artists when the Riders host a segment.
ReplyDeleteWikipedia: "Two days after the WKNR broadcast, The Michigan Daily published a satirical review of Abbey Road by University of Michigan student Fred LaBour (Too Slim) under the headline "McCartney Dead; New Evidence Brought to Light".
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ReplyDeleteThe Opry lineups as of late seem somewhat stale (excluding CMA fest week). While I enjoy the acts and the veterans that have been back week after week I would like to see the Opry include more variety. Though I'm guessing it is difficult to get many other of the members to come in more often. It sure is a shame that the Opry has so few "active" members.
ReplyDeleteThe lineups seem to be exactly the same week after week after week...
ReplyDeleteNot sure how many know about Mo Pitney. You may have seen him on Larry's Country Diner with Bill Anderson a year or so ago. He is a young man that Bill is working with and so far he has been true country in his writing and singing. This will be a happy experience for both of them. First time I heard of him was in August 2011 at a CFR Road show in Huntigdon, Tennessee with Bill, Jan Howard, Jimmy Fortune and Buck Trent.
ReplyDeleteNice to see him get a chance on the Opry.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Prayers and thoughts this morning go to Jimmy C Newman and his family. He is hospitalized right now. No other information is being released.
ReplyDeleteWe'll be keeping him in our thoughts.
ReplyDeleteOn a happier note (we'll try to be happy), Jim, a friend of mine is a big Mo Pitney fan and echoes your sentiments.
I just can't imagine many of today's performers(I forgo the general term star) having the passion and motivation to still be performing in their 80's like Jimmy and the few that are left at the Opry let alone doing admirably with dignity. Many of them don't have those traits at age 30.
ReplyDeleteAs many have commented here before, Jimmy is a nice man and a wonderful artist. Here's wishing him the best and I echo Bryon's sentiments.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Saw Mo Pitney on Larry's Country Diner too recently and was hoping he would get on the Opry soon. He is terrific and he didn't disappoint tonight on the Opry either. Nice show tonight. Was too very saddened to hear the news about Jimmy C this morning. Doesn't sound good at all. A true gentleman.
ReplyDeleteJust my taste but the block from the Issacs through Riders in the Sky was pretty solid last night. One of the longest solid stretches in months or maybe years.
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
So sorry to read of Jimmy C. Newman's passing on his Facebook page tonight. Very sad and a shocker given how healthy he always seemed. Prayers for his family and loved ones. He was a unique and wonderful talent and we'll likely not see the likes of him again. RIP.
ReplyDeleteReally upset to hear that Jimmy C. Newman is in the hospital. I wish we knew more. I once wrote him from Spain. A legend and true gentleman. His music is is a style music that always attracted me because it is a minority genre that is featured on the Opry. My biggest fear, as I expressed some time ago on this forum is that if something were to happen to this artist, I have not seen another artist of this genre ever come to the Opry. I know there are some good ones out there that deserve to play the Opry, and perhaps be a Opry member based on their body work such as Jo- El Sonnier, Hunter Hayes, WayneToups etc.
ReplyDeleteIt is my hope that Jimmy C. pulls through this.!!!!! Sending positive energy and thoughts his way from Spain.
Aiyee and see you over yonder. In Loving Memory.
ReplyDeleteJimmy "C" Newman (Jimmy Yves Newman)
August 27, 1927 - June 21, 2014
WHO IS GONNA FILL HIS SHOES??? TIME FOR THE OPRY TO REALLY STEP UP AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CAJUN COUNTRY/ COUNTRY MUSIC ON THE OPRY STAGE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN OVER 5 DECADES!!!!!! EVENTHOUGH JIMMY STARTED PLAYING CAJUN MUSIC AND CAJUN COUNTRY STRICTLY SINCE THE 70s. WITH ALL THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO JOIN, WHERE ARE THE ARTISTS FROM THIS GENRE???? THERE SURE ARE PLENTY OUT THERE!!!!! TONITE JUST BREAKS MY HEART............... CAUSE IT WAS "JOLIE BLONDE", "BIG MAMOU", JAMBALAYA", "ALLIGATOR MAN" THAT SPARKED MY INTEREST IN THE OPRY.
ReplyDeleteSO GLAD I GOT TO SEE JIMMY C. NEWMAN THE 2 TIMES I VENTURED OVER TO THE OPRY FROM SPAIN IN 1998 AND 2009.
THERE ARE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SADNESS THAT I FEEL OVER JIMMY C.NEWMAN´S LOSS. I FEEL THAT THE OPRY HAS BEEN ORPHANED FROM A STYLE OF MUSIC AND ANOTHER LEGEND.
SENDING THOUGHTS TO MRS. NEWMAN, THEIR FAMILY, AND OTHER JIMMY C. FANS AROUND THE WORLD. GONNA GO AND PLAY SOME JIMMY C. MUSIC ALL DAY TODAY IN HIS HONOR!!!!
As of now, there is no mention of Jimmy C.'s passing on the front page of the opry website.
ReplyDeleteThe Alligator Man is now in Hillbilly Heaven. So very sad to read of Jimmy C's passing yesterday, on Amber Digny's Facebook page about an hour ago. I checked out Jimmy C's Facebook page - many posts of condolences. There is nothing on The Tennessean, The Opry or even Marcia Campbell's Facebook pages on his passing - I'm really surprised with Marcia (unless she is on vacation), she is on top of everything in the country music world being the "All Nighter" on WSM after Eddie Stubbs. I really loved Jimmy's Cajun music & his ultra-sparkly suits with alligator's on them. WHO replaces him? No one - though Jo-El Sonnier is the only other Cajun music artist I know of. In my opinion, that part of country music won't be replaced on the Opry - we see what road the Opry has been traveling down in the last ten years, minimum. I was in New Orleans to go on the Grand Ole Opry cruise back in 2004 & I turned on the radio & came upon a Cajun station for a couple of hours & really enjoyed the music - happy music. My condolences to his wife, family & friends inside & out of the country music community. There will never be another Alligator Man .... :-(
ReplyDeleteSo LOVE the Isaacs's - their family harmony & powerful voices are out in the stratosphere somewhere.
Jason Crabb's voice - just off the charts great voice.
Totally enjoyed Mo Pitney's performance on the Opry - saw him on Larry's Country Diner, he was terrific. I hope we hear a whole lot more of him - VERY impressive. Byron, would you know how he is related to Gene Pitney? I thought I heard he is a nephew. He was SO good on the Opry - hope Pete has him back real soon.
(Jeanene)
This is personal, and painful.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Newman was my mother's first crush when she was a teenager and saw him perform. When my parents got married, my father learned he had been like country music, and I inherited the gene from her (he became a big fan and loves Cajun music). She followed Jimmy's career and eventually wrote to him, he wrote back, they became friends, she and Miss Mae exchanged recipes, and my mother helped get him booked in Laughlin. She dedicated a lot of time to him in the process, and got her reward: we went to Laughlin from Las Vegas (about 90 miles, and by then she was largely a shut-in and didn't go out for much), and got to sit with Miss Mae while he performed and dedicated "Cry Cry Darlin'" and "A Fallen Star" to us. It was very sweet of him.
He was a wonderful entertainer who never got the credit he deserved, it seems to me, although all of us here appreciated him, I know. I always felt that his country career fell short in part because he didn't get the same promotion and support that some others did in his era, in part because he was stone country in a time when Owen Bradley and other producers he worked with were going in a more pop-sounding direction, and in part because he was, at heart, shy--English wasn't really his first language, Cajun was, and you could see in interviews and conversations that he was translating in his head. Also, he was close to some people, but not part of the "scene" in ways other artists were. Peter Cooper's obituary in The Tennessean is wonderful and gives him credit for his role in the careers of people like Tom T. Hall, Dolly Parton, and Eddy Raven. (Here's the link: http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/06/22/jimmy-c-newman-obituary/11232265/. The obituary says it was cancer; I guess it was quick.
The obituary also mentions that one of his hits was co-written by George Jones. One time, The Possum co-hosted Nashville Now with Ralph and was allowed to choose his guests. One of them was Jimmy, and they clearly were close--and at the same time, the two of them obviously didn't run in the same circles. But it was a long friendship, and one of the photos with Cooper's stories is of Jimmy rehearsing for the tribute to Jones. Jimmy also was close to Jim Ed Brown, and helped him through some difficult times.
All of the greats are irreplaceable. But Jimmy seems a bit more so, because no one else who is really prominent is doing Cajun music--and, of course, as he got older, Jimmy wasn't traveling, so he was just doing the Opry (and, if I may be a bit critical about it in a way that he would not be, only one night a week when I'm sure he would have been happy to do two nights; he also used to host but not for many years now).
I may be wrong about this, but I THINK Jimmy's membership never lapsed (Byron found a year when he didn't appear, as I recall, but I don't know that he quit; it may have been a leave of absence). If so, he had just passed Kirk McGee, and only Herman and Lewis Crook and Jean Shepard had longer tenures on the Opry. That is a reminder to us of how much the Opry mattered to him, and how much he mattered to the Opry, and thus how much he always will matter to us.
Mike, thank you. That was well written and truly from the heart. It has been reported that Jimmy died from cancer. If so, he kept it to himself and was on the Opry right up to the end.
ReplyDeleteIn 1968, Jimmy did not perform on the Opry on any Saturday nights. I do not have all of the Friday Night Opry line-ups for that year, so I am not sure about that night. but nowhere is it written that he gave up his Opry membership or was removed from the Opry. In fact, he was still listed in all of the Opry History Picture books from that time period. My guest is that he was just busy doing personal appearances.
Glad to see this outpouring here!!!!! Is there anyway that we can as a group push the Opry to include Cajun Music in his memory?????? I mean we cant just let this go with him....would writing help?????
ReplyDeleteWould me writing from Spain help??? or is Pete Fisher that much of an idiot???