Grand Ole Opry 10/30 & 10/31

Two weeks ago, the Grand Ole Opry had what was probably the worst line-up of the year. It was a very poorly scheduled Saturday night. Two weeks later, the Opry has one of the best line-ups of the year scheduled as both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry look very, very good. The majority of the artists both nights are Opry members, and the members that are scheduled are some of the Opry's better members. 

Appearing both nights this weekend are Opry members Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Hall of Fame members Bill Anderson and Mel Tillis, and two future Hall of Fame members in Ricky Skaggs and Charlie Daniels. They will be joined on Friday night by members Connie Smith, also a Hall of Fame member, Jeannie Seely, Jesse McReynolds, and by an Opry member who we all wish was at the Opry more often, Brad Paisley. Then on Saturday night, in addition to those already mentioned, you have John Conlee, The Whites, Bobby Osborne, and Hall of Fame member Vince Gill.

As far as guest artists, Chris Janson is scheduled for Friday night. He will also be signing copies of his new CD, and he has a new single out that is moving rapidly up the charts. And yes, I think it is about time that he becomes an Opry member. Everything I have read indicates to me that he appreciates the Opry, understands the history and tradition of the Opry, and I believe he will appear after joining. It's about time. 

Joining Chris on Friday night will be The Willis Clan and John Rich (of Big & Rich), with Bradley Gaskin. Bradley was discovered by John Rich in a talent contest a few years ago and has been working hard to get Bradley going on his career, so far with mixed results. As far as Saturday night, Morgan Evans and Restless Heart are the only non-members scheduled. 

Friday October 30
7:00: Connie Smith (host); The Willis Clan; Jeannie Seely; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); John Rich with Bradley Gaskin; Mel Tillis
Intermission
8:15: Ricky Skaggs (host); Chris Janson; Charlie Daniels Band
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Brad Paisley

Saturday October 31
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Morgan Evans; John Conlee
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Restless Heart
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mel Tillis; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Charlie Daniels

Over the years, there have been a few weekends that are generally stronger then others. For whatever reason, the December Ryman shows fall into that group, along with the 1st weekend back at the Opry House in February and the final October weekend prior to the move to the Ryman. The pattern continues this year with a great weekend scheduled. And, I am sure a few of the 90th anniversary awards will be given out this weekend. 

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of October 29 & 30, 2010:

Friday October 29

7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Joe Diffie

7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Rodney Atkins

Intermission

8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Brett Eldredge; Craig Morgan

8:45: Mike Snider (host); Jan Howard; Jesse McReynolds; Oak Ridge Boys

Saturday October 30

7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites

7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Laura Bell Bundy

Intermission

8:15: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Josh Thompson; Opry Square Dancers

8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Rascal Flatts

And from ten years ago, October 28 & 29, 2005:

Friday October 28

7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Billy Walker; Alecia Nugent

8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Charlie Louvin; Jack Greene; Emerson Drive

8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); John Conlee; Blue Highway

9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Restless Heart

9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Osborne Brothers; Mandy Barnett

Saturday October 29

1st show

6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; John Anderson

7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Brad Paisley; Wynonna; Cherryholmes

8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; John Conlee; Opry Square Dancers

8:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Rhonda Vincent

2nd show

9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; John Anderson

10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Rhonda Vincent

10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Wynonna; Opry Square Dancers

11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; The Whites

11:30: John Conlee (host); Cherryholmes

Now for this week's look back into Grand Ole Opry history, I have the line-up from Saturday October 30, 1943. Here is the show from 72 years ago, or just 18 years after the Opry started:

8:00: Purina
Bill Monroe: Train 45
Uncle Dave Macon and Doris: Jenny Put the Kettle On
Bill Monroe: Never No More Blues
Daniel Quartette: The Sweetest Song I Know
Wilbur: Sweet Evalina
Curly Williams and Georgia Peach Pickers: Home In San Antone
Ernest Tubb: Blue Eyed Elaine
Carl Story: Bile Them Cabbage Down
Uncle Dave Macon and Doris: Chewing Gum
Bill and Clyde: In The Pines
Chubby Wise: Fishers Hornpipe
Bill Monroe: John Henry

8:30: Crazy Water Crystals
Paul Howard and Arkansas Cotton Pickers: With Tears In My Eyes
Marie and Clyde Dillaha: I Can't Go On
Crook Brothers: 8th of January
Eddy Arnold: The Hand Is Writing On The Wall
Jack Shook and The Missouri Mountaineers: Be Honest With Me
Possum Hunters: Ragged Bill
Ford Rush: Silver Threads Among The Gold
Sam, Kirk, and the Boys from Tennessee: If I Had My Life To Live Over
Lonny and Tommy Thompson: You're My Darling You're My Sunshine
Smith Sisters: No Letter Today
Uncle Rufus: My Mother In Law
Gully Jumpers: Chinese Breakdown

9:00: Royal Crown
Golden West Cowboys: Better Quit It Now
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Rolling Down The Line
Ernest Tubb: Last Night I Dreamed
Curly Williams and the Georgia Peach Pickers: When the Sun Goes Down
Robert Lunn: Military Talking Blues
Little Becky Barfield: Don't Forget
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Old Hen Cackled
Ernest Tubb: My Time Will Come Some Day
Curly Williams and The Georgia Peach Pickers: Columbus Stockade Blues
Tex Summey: Hawaiian Sunset
Golden West Cowboys: I Can't Forget Loving You

9:30: Prince Albert
Roy Acuff and His Smokey Mountain Boys: Green Back Dollar
Roy Acuff and His Smokey Mountain Boys: Live and Let Live
Minnie Pearl: In the Shade of the Pines
Mack McGarr: D Chord
Hoe Down: Arkansas Traveler
Jug Band: Pistol Packing Mama
Old Hickory Singers: Birmingham Jail
Whitey Ford: The Duke of Paducah
Jimmy Riddle: Fox Chase

10:00: Wallrite
Bill Monroe: Turkey In The Straw
Sally Ann: Nobody's Darling On Earth
Blue Grass Quartet: Lord Lead Me On
Clyde Moody: The Face I See At Evening
Chubby Wise: Here and There

10:15: Weatherman
Daniel Quartet: Waiting for the Boys to Come Home
Uncle Dave Macon and Doris: Going Down This Road Feeling Bad
Possum Hunters: Take Your Foot Out of the Mud
Eddy Arnold: I'm Coming Home Darling
Marie and Clyde Dillaha: Someday You'll Be Sorry
Uncle Dave Macon and Doris: Take Me Back to My Old Carolina Home
Daniel Quartet: We Are Climbing
Possum Hunters: Durang Hornpipe

10:30: Cherokee Mills
Roy Acuff: Beautiful Brown Eyes
Roy Acuff: Mother the Queen of My Heart
Rachel and Oswald: Gathering Flowers from the Hillside
Jimmy Riddle: San Antonio Rose
Jug Band: Hi-Di-Ho-Baby

10:45: Lazyu
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Uncle Rufus: The Cat Came Back
Sam, Kirk, Art and Goldie: While I'm Away
Robert Lunn, Floyd and Goldie: Riding Down the Canyon
Lonny and Tommy Thompson: Song of the Bandit
Gully Jumpers: Grey Eagle
Sam and Kirk: It's Too Late to Say You Are Wrong
Crook Brothers: John Henry

11:00: Roy Acuff Song Book
Roy Acuff: I'll Reap My Harvest In Heaven
Roy Acuff: Pins and Needles
Rachel and Oswald: Girl I Love Don't Pay Me No Mine
Velma Williams: Too Late
Jimmy Riddle: Wang-Wang Blues

11:15: Ernest Tubb Songbook
Ernest Tubb: When the World Has Turned You Down
Ernest Tubb: I'm Tired of You
Leon Short: Won't You Come Back to Me
Ernest Tubb: I'm Wondering How

11:30: Saf-Kill
Golden West Cowboys: Just That Kind
Little Becky Barfield: I'll Betcha' My Heart I Love You
Tex Summey: San Antonio Rose
Pete Pyle: That Cheap Look In Your Eyes
Jal Smith: Black Mountain Stomp
Trio: Old Dusty Saddle

11:45: Coyne Electric
Curly Williams and The Georgia Peach Pickers: I'll Get Along Somehow
Smith Sisters: Columbus Stockade Blues
Paul Howard and The Arkansas Cotton Pickers: I'm Sending You Red Roses
Fruit Jar Drinkers: 8th of January
Curly Williams and The Georgia Peach Pickers: So Long to the Red River Valley

As you can see from this line-up, the show was still heavily packaged with some of the early string bands, many of whom were very familiar Opry members, including Curly Williams and his Georgia Peach Pickers, Possum Hunters, Gully Jumpers, Paul Howard and The Arkansas Cotton Pickers, Crook Brothers and Fruit Jar Drinkers. And of course, everyone knows who Roy Acuff, Eddy Arnold, Uncle Dave Macon, Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys and Ernest Tubb are. But there are a few acts who were on that night that some folks might have forgotten as early Opry members:

The John Daniel Quartet was one of the best known and most influential gospel music artists of the period. John Daniel, the leader, was born in Boaz, Alabama in 1903. He came from a musical family and in the 1930s he formed his group, which included his brothers John and Troy, along with friends Carl Rains and E.C. Littlejohn. They signed with the A.J. Showalter Company, which was one of the leading songbook publishing companies. By 1937, they had joined the Vaughan organization and their popularity took off. By the end of the 1930s, they had appeared in 38 states and Canada. In 1936, Wally Fowler joined the group and he would remain until 1943, when he left to form the Oak Ridge Quartet, later known as the Oak Ridge Boys. In 1942, the quartet signed a radio contract with WSM to do a morning program and this eventually led to them becoming members of the Grand Ole Opry. The John Daniel Quartet continued into the 1950s, when their popularity began to be surpassed by the new gospel quartets coming on the scene, which included the Blackwood Brothers and the Statesmen. John Daniel passed away in 1961.

Clarence "Mac" McGarr was considered an excellent mandolin player and fiddler who would become the fiddler for the Opry stage band. He was at one time a part of The Missouri Mountaineers and later did some work with Ernest Tubb. He was a part of the Opry through most of the 1940s and would become the leader of the Opry stage band and fill in for other acts as needed. 

Jack Shook and his Missouri Mountaineers were considered the Opry's most popular band in the late 1930s. They originally came to the Opry in February 1935. Jack Shook was born in 1910 and passed away in September 1987. Very little is known about the Missouri Mountaineers as they group was made up of primarily WSM staff musicians and rarely toured. In later years, after the group ended, Jack Shook continued to work at WSM and would often appear as part of the early morning staff band that worked WSM's TV shows. He also became one of Nashville's first studio session men, playing rhythm guitar for folks such as Hank Williams and Chet Atkins. 

The Smith Sisters largely came and went unnoticed. I could not even find a biography of them other then to confirm that they were actually Opry members in the early 1940s. 

Pete Pyle was born on April 18, 1920 and passed away in March 1995. He came to the Opry as a solo performer in the late 1930s and then in 1941 he became a member of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys. He served in the Army in World War II and upon returning to the Opry, he first became a member of Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys, then forming his own group, the Mississippi Valley Boys. By 1953, he was back with Bill Monroe, eventually becoming the leader of the house band at his Brown County Jamboree in Bean Blossom. 

Little Becky Barfield was never an Opry member, although she did perform with Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys. She was the featured vocalist, following in the footsteps of Eddy Arnold and had just joined Pee Wee's group in 1943, at the age of 15. She passed away in California in 1958 at the young age of 31. 

Tex Summey was not actually a solo Opry member in 1943, joining the cast later as Cousin Jody. 

Finally, there was Carl Story. He never became an Opry member however in 1942 he was the fiddler for Bill Monroe, replacing Howdy Forrester who had been drafted into the Army. Carl stayed with Bill for about a year, until he himself was drafted. Carl had a long and successful career in bluegrass music, and he was called "The Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music." Carl passed away in 1995 at the age of 78.

That covers a few of the names people might have forgotten. 

Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!!