The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend, and much like the past several weeks, the shows are looking pretty good, with a nice selection of Opry members and guests.
The Friday Night Opry will feature Opry members Jeannie Seely, The Whites, Mike Snider, Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne and John Conlee. The Whites, Connie Smith, Mike Snider and John Conlee will also be appearing on Saturday night, and will be joined by members Diamond Rio, Jesse McReynolds and Larry Gatlin, who will be appearing without his brothers. That comes out to 6 Opry members on Friday and 7 on Saturday.
As far as guests artists, Friday night will feature Rhonda Vincent, who many have hoped would someday become and Opry member, and Lee Greenwood, who at one time was asked to become a member but turned down the invitation. Joining them will be country music star Chris Young, Ashley Monroe and Point Of Grace, all excellent artists. Ashley Monroe is also scheduled for Saturday night, along with Craig Wayne Boyd, Flatt Lonesome, Lee Brice and making her Opry debut, Aubrie Sellers.
Aubrie Sellers is from Nashville and is the daughter of Jason Sellers and Lee Ann Womack. She is 24 year old currently touring with Hayes Carll, and has recently released her debut album, "New City Blues." Over the past several years, she has opened for Chris Stapleton, Marty Stuart and Ralph Stanley, and she was featured on Ralph's recent album "Ralph Stanley and Friends: A Man of Constant Sorrow." She considers Ralph Stanley as her all-time favorite, along with Buddy and Julie Miller, Led Zeppelin, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Earle, CCR, Robert Johnson and George Jones. It sounds to me that she will fit right in at the Opry.
Friday January 15
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Rhonda Vincent; The Whites
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Michael Ray; Point Of Grace
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Ashley Monroe
8:45: John Conlee (host); Lee Greenwood; Chris Young
Saturday January 16
7:00: John Conlee (host); Craig Wayne Boyd; Mike Snider
7:30: Connie Smith (host); The Whites; Aubrie Sellers
Intermission
8:15: Diamond Rio (host); Jesse McReynolds; Ashley Monroe; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Larry Gatlin (host); Flatt Lonesome; Lee Brice
Now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of January 14 & 15, 2011:
Friday January 14
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Lee Brice
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Jimmy C Newman; Rodney Atkins
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Charley Pride
Saturday January 15
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Joe Diffie
7:30: Charley Pride (host); The Whites; Riders In The Sky; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; Del McCoury Band; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Wanda Jackson featuring Jack White
And from ten years ago, the weekend of January 13 & 14, 2006:
Friday January 13
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman; Pam Tillis
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Elizabeth Cook
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Riders In The Sky; Restless Heart
9:30: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Jack Greene; George Canyon
Saturday January 14
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); John Conlee; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Josh Turner; Craig Morgan; Mike Snider
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim Ed Brown; Riders In The Sky; Cherryholmes; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); George Hamilton IV; Marty Stuart
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Josh Turner
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Walker; Jeannie Seely; Marty Stuart
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jack Greene; John Conlee; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); George Hamilton IV; Craig Morgan
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; Cherryholmes
Finally, it was 16 years ago, on Saturday January 15, 2000, that Ralph Stanley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In a throwback to the old days of the Opry, Ralph had been asked the night before if he wished to become an Opry member and the Opry made it official the following night, with Patty Loveless doing the honors. Also appearing that night, and making one of her very rare Opry appearances, was Reba McEntire, and Billy Walker celebrated his 40th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
1st show
6:30: Opryland Hotel/Banquet
Porter Wagoner (host): 'Ol Slewfoot
The Whites: If It Ain't Love
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Ricochet: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
7:00: Shoney's/Standard Candy
Johnny Russell (host): Wabash Cannonball
Joe Diffie: A Night to Remember/Behind Closed Doors
Ralph Stanley: A Man of Constant Sorrow/Little Maggie
Ralph Stanley & Patty Loveless: Pretty Polly
Trisha Yearwood: She's In Love With the Boys/Real Live Woman
Billy Walker: I Love You Because
Reba McEntire: I'd Rather Ride Around With You/What Do You Say/Is There Life Out There
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Osborne Brothers: Some Things We Want to Sing About
Opry Square Dance Band: Sally Goodin
Bill Anderson: Still
8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
John Hartford: Gentle on My Mind
Loretta Lynn: You're Looking at Country/Coal Miner's Daughter
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Just Blue Enough to Do Most Anything
2nd show
9:30: Ryman Auditorium
Porter Wagoner (host): On a Highway Headed South
The Whites: Making Believe
Del Reeves: There She Goes
Loretta Lynn: Out of My Head & Back In My Bed/Your Squaw Is on the War Path/Coal Miner's Daughter
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home/She Burned the Little Roadside Tavern Down
10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Jeannie Seely (host): Sentimental Journey
Ralph Stanley: Think of What You've Done
Ralph Stanley & Patty Loveless: Pretty Polly
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
10:15: Fluffo
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Reba McEntire: It's the Fear of Being Alone/What Do You Say/An Honest Heart
Jimmy Dickens: What Will I Do Then
10:30: Ryman Auditorium
Jimmy C Newman (host): Allons Oh Lafayette
Trisha Yearwood: She's An American Girl/Walk Away Joe/Living On the Wrong Side of Memphis
10:45: Jogging In A Jug
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Jan Howard: He's All I Got
Opry Square Dance Band: Bill Cheatham
Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius: You Don't Bring Me Flowers
11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): No Fair Falling in Love
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Joe Diffie: I Ain't The Quittin' Kind/Ships That Don't Come In
Bill Anderson: Golden Guitar
11:30: Ryman Video
Charlie Walker (host): Who Will Buy the Wine
John Hartford: Love Grown Cold
Ray Pillow: Baby, That's Cold
Mike Snider: Battle Cry of Freedom/Get You Hand Off My Knee and Load the Cannon
George Hamilton IV: I'm Using My Bible For A Road Map/Cabin In Gloryland
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Ralph Stanley was born in the Clinch Mountains of Southwestern Virginia, where he still makes his home today. His mother taught Ralph the basics of the old clawhammer style of banjo playing while he and his brother Carter were learning to sing in church. After serving in Germany in World War II, Ralph and Carter formed the Clinch Mountain Boys, first performing on WCYB in Bristol, Tennessee. They would record for Rich-R-Tone starting in 1947, then moving on to Columbia Records, Mercury and King. Their recordings in the 1950s and into the 1960s produced some of the great classics that defined the Stanley Brothers sound.
After Carter passed away in 1966, Ralph went back to a more simple style of music, emphasizing the older, more rural sounds with a simple banjo style. He continued with the Clinch Mountain Boys, whose members through the years included Curly Ray Cline, Jack Cooke, and young apprentices such as Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Larry Sparks, Charlie Sizemore and his own son, Ralph Stanley II. In the 1990s, as he reached legendary status, his albums included appearances by Vince Gill, George Jones and Bob Dylan, among others, and in 2002, he was awarded a Grammy for Best Country Male Vocalist for his epic a cappella performance of "O Death" from the award winning "O Brother, Where Art Thou."
Even as the current oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry, at the age of 88, Dr. Ralph Stanley is still out on the road performing with his Clinch Mountain Boys.
Congratulations to Ralph!!!
I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!
I am sure everyone has heard the news regarding Mel Tillis and his recent surgery. The latest news is more promising, stating that Mel is on the road to recovery. Here is hoping that is correct.
ReplyDeleteFrom "The Tennessean" (1-15-16):
ReplyDeleteCountry Music Hall of Famer Mel Tillis is recovering from colon surgery, his rep Don Murry Grubbs confirmed to The Tennessean.
Grubbs said reports indicating Tillis is in frail health that circulated Friday are overstated. Tillis, 83, had surgery at Centennial Medical Center on Jan. 8 and is still hospitalized. But, Grubbs said the singer, known for his stutter, is “on the road to recovery.”
“Doctors said he’s doing fine and on the right track,” Grubbs said. “He’s awake and watching television.
Glad to hear that Mel is on the mend.
Anonymous in Kingman
Here listening in from Spain and totalñly like what I am hearing from Aubrie Sellers... currently singing a Buck Owens tune.
ReplyDeleteFirst saw Mel in person in a concert at Kalamazoo ( Michigan) Central high school back in 1964 when he was on the way up. He was using a local band and Mel kept vigorously stomping the time with his foot in order to help them maintain the tempo. He was total class, maintaining a totally positive attitude despite trying to work with an incompetent band. So many great songs penned and performed over the years, and a joy to observe even under the adverse circumstances I witnessed ---get well M-M-Mel from an appreciating fan. Dashmann - Flushing, Michigan
ReplyDeleteFred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteIt's simply amazing how long Mel's effective career has been. I became aware of him in the mid-1950s, when he began penning hits for Webb Pierce ("I'm Tired," "Honky Tonk Song," etc.) My first single by him was "Sawmill", in 1958. (Date is easy to remember, it was from Columbia's short-lived yellow-and-black scheme for 45s.) And when his own recording career finally got going, it really had legs, well into the 1980s. His last BIG hit was one of his very best ... "New Patches." Then the radio consultants got together wherever their rathole is and decreed no more airplay for Mel ... just as they would later do for stalwarts like George Jones and Merle Haggard.
I join all on here in my best wishes for this country great.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Mel, I guess about his best friend was Porter Wagoner. I've been on a Porter revival lately, and I'm probably the last one on here to catch up with the YouTube video of his wonderful David Letterman Show performance from 2007, months before he was diagnosed and died.
Porter sings his wonderful "Albert Erving," with a band led by Marty Stuart. I tell you, he did our old rhinestone tradition proud ... in his Nudie suit, with white boots, playing the guitar (which he did not do enough of on his latter Opry days), complete with strap adorned with his name. You could call it the farewell appearance of our kind of music.
Do Google it, if you haven't already.
Larry Gatlin did a wonderful version of "Detroit City" this past Saturday for Mel Tillis who in a
ReplyDeletehospital in Nashville. Larry does always 100% on songs from other stars, thanks for that one too!