Grand Ole Opry 6/24 & 6/25

The Grand Ole Opry is set to roll for another Friday and Saturday night and the line-ups have been posted. Some interesting names are listed, with the most prominent being that of Hall of Famer, and Grand Ole Opry member, Roy Clark. It is nice to see Roy back on the Opry for the second time this year. 

He is set to appear on Friday night, along with fellow Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, John Conlee, Jesse McReynolds, Connie Smith and Riders In The Sky. Jeannie, John, Mike and Riders are also scheduled for Saturday night, where they will be joined by Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin, The Whites and Bobby Osborne. 

Among the guest artists this weekend, Friday night will feature a return appearance by Shenandoah. They had previously made an Opry appearance earlier this year, after being away from the Opry for decades. They sounded great and were very well received. Joining them will be another group that I really enjoy and that is Fiddlin' Carson Peters Band. I saw this group when they were performing at the Opry Plaza during last year's 90th birthday weekend, and they are really great. Carson is a very talented young man and his family does a great job backing him up. Also set for Friday is Carly Pearce and Darryl Worley, both of whom have made frequent Opry appearances. 

Saturday night will feature a couple of newcomers to the Opry stage, Brett Young and Town Mountain. For Town Mountain, this will be their Grand Ole Opry debut and they should fit right in, being a string band from North Carolina. Both will be joined by Smithfield, Keith & Kristyn Getty and Mandy Barnett. 

Friday June 24
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Carly Pearce; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Jesse McReynolds; Shenandoah
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Roy Clark
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Fiddlin' Carson Peters Band; Darryl Worley

Saturday June 25
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Smithfield; Mike Snider
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Keith & Kristyn Getty
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Brett Young; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Town Mountain; Mandy Barnett

That comes out to 11 acts on Friday night, of whom 7 are Opry members, and 12 acts on Saturday night, again with 7 members of the Opry. 

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago this weekend, June 24 & 25, 2011: 

Friday June 24
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jim Lauderdale
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Buddy Jewell
Intermission
8:15: Ray Pillow (host); Bucky Covington; Del McCoury Band
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Crystal Gayle

Saturday June 25
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds; Frankie Ballard
7:30: The Whites (host); Jimmy C Newman; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Ray Pillow (host); Foster & Lloyd; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Dailey & Vincent

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of June 23 & 24, 2006:

Friday June 23
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Old Crow Medicine Show
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mel McDaniel; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; George Canyon
9:00: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; The Vanderbilt Kennedy Music Camp Performers; Rodney Atkins
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Jan Howard; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jeff Bates

Saturday June 24
1st show
6:30: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; John Cowan
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Eddy Raven; Old Crow Medicine Show
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Rodney Atkins; Mountain Heart
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Walker; Alecia Nugent; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jennifer Hanson; The Whites

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; Old Crow Medicine Show
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Eddy Raven; Mountain Heart
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Billy Yates; Alecia Nugent; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Rodney Atkins
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jennifer Hanson; John Cowan

Finally, from fifteen years ago, the weekend of June 22 & 23, 2001: 

Friday June 22
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Bill Carlisle; The Derailers
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Stu Phillips; Hal Ketchum
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jan Howard; Charlie Walker; David Ball
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Louvin; Leslie Satcher; Jimmy C Newman
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; Mandy Barnett

Saturday June 23
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Connie Smith; Bill Carlisle; Danni Leigh; Mike Snider
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Stonewall Jackson; Mandy Barnett
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); David Ball; Hal Ketchum
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Del Reeves; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Mandy Barnett

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Roy Drusky; Hal Ketchum
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Del Reeves; Jimmy C Newman; David Ball
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Hank Locklin; Mandy Barnett; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Ray Pillow; Charlie Nagatani; Danni Leigh

For this week's featured Opry line-up, it was 50 years ago Saturday night, as on June 25, 1966 Willie Nelson performed his final time as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Willie had joined the Opry in November 1964. It has been written and documented many times that Willie felt that Nashville and the Opry were just not right for him, as his career as a singer was not going anywhere. Willie made the decision to return to the Austin, Texas area, and the rest is history. Here is the running order from Willie's final night as an Opry member. 

6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Ernest Ashworth (host) (?)
(?)

6:45: Rudy's
Bill Anderson (host): Po Folks
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Jimmy Gately: Old Faithful
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops

7:00: 
Osborne Brothers (host): Up This Hill & Down
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Connie Smith: If I Talk to Him
Roy Drusky: Rainbows & Roses
Osborne Brothers: (?)
Roy Drusky: Alone with You
Connie Smith: Even Tho
Billy Walker: Down to My Last Cigarette
Osborne Brothers: I'll Be Alright Tomorrow
Jerry Byrd: The Married Man

7:30: Luzianne
George Morgan (host): No Man Should Hurt As Bad As I Do
Dottie West: Would You Hold It Against Me
Del Wood: Rainbow
Chuck Wagon Gang: I'm Getting Ready
George Morgan; Almost
Stu Phillips: Mansion on the Hill
Dottie West: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
George Morgan: Who, At My Door Is Standing

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Country Music Has Gone to Town
Osborne Brothers: Up this Hill & Down
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Cousin Jody: Wabash Cannonball
Porter Wagoner: I Dreamed I Saw America on Her Knees
George McCormick: Where the Old Red River Flows
Osborne Brothers: Hard Time
Mack MaGaha: Katy Hill

8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): Two Glasses Joe
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Wilburn Brothers: I Can't Keep Away From You
Willie Nelson: I Love You Because
Ernest Tubb: Letters Have No Arms
Loretta Lynn: Before I'm Over You
Wilburn Brothers & Loretta Lynn: Put It Off Until Tomorrow
Willie Nelson: I'm Still Not Over You
Ernest Tubb: Give Me A Little Old Fashioned Love

9:00: Pet Milk
Hank Locklin (host): Crying Time
Jean Shepard: Ain't You Ashamed
Ray Pillow: Common Cold & A Broken Heart
Bill Carlisle: Take This Country Music & Shove It
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream on
Duane Dee: Danny Boy
Jean Shepard & Ray Pillow: I'll Take the Dog
Bill Carlisle: The Great Snowman
Hank Locklin: Y'All Come

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): The Count Down
Willis Brothers: Private Lee
George Morgan: No Man Should Hurt As Bad As I Do
Grandpa Jones: Kitty Clyde
Hank Snow: I've Cried A Mile
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking In My Sleep
George Morgan: You're The Only Good Thing
Grandpa Jones: Nobody Knows But Me
Hank Snow: I Don't Hurt Anymore

10:00: Schick
Bill Anderson (host): You Don't Want My Love
Dottie West: Would You Hold it Against Me
Ernest Ashworth: At Ease Heart
Bill Anderson: Bright Lights and Country Music

10:15: Pure
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
George McCormick: There's A Woman
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Porter Wagoner: I'll Go Down Swinging/I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand/Misery Loves Company/Sorrow on the Rock
Mac MaGaha & Buck Trent: Turkey in the Straw

10:30: Harvey's
Ray Pillow (host): Thank You Ma'am
Jean Shepard: Many Happy Hangovers to You
Del Wood: Blue Moon of Kentucky
Ray Pillow: Six Days on the Road

10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Hank Locklin: I Can't Stop Loving You
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Mississippi Sawyer
Ernest Tubb: Mr. Juke Box

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Wilburn Brothers: I Can't Keep Away From You
Fruit Jar Drinkers: (?)
Hank Snow: Down the Trail of Aching Hearts
Sam McGee: Victory Rag
Loretta Lynn: How Great Thou Art
Osborne Brothers: Hard Time
Hank Snow: I'm Moving On

11:30: Lava
Bobby Lord (host): That's All Right
Duane Dee: Take Good Care of Her
Archie Campbell: The Men in My Little Girl's Life
Willis Brothers: Diamonds On Your Hands
Chuck Wagon Gang: Cabin on the Hill
Bobby Lord: Lonely Street
Cousin Jody: Mocking Bird
Bobby Lord: Hawkeye

The name that some of you may not recognize from the Opry that night was Duane Dee. 

Duane Dee is an American country singer known for his many guest appearances at the Grand Ole Opry and also for a series of minor hits on the country charts, sometimes with songs that went on to be major hits for other artists.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dee signed a contract with Capitol Records, and his second single was "Before the Next Teardrop Falls", which spent several months on the country charts before reaching #44 in early 1968. (In 1975 Freddy Fender's version topped the pop and country charts.) Later in 1968 Dee's original version of "True Love Travels on a Gravel Road" reached #58 on the country charts; Elvis Presley's 1969 version is probably now better known. Moving to Cartwheel Records, Dee had more minor country hits in 1971 with "I've Got to Sing" (#71) and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" (#36; a country version of a #1 hit by The Bee Gees). In 1972 he recorded "Sweet Apple Wine" (#64). Moving to ABC Records, Dee had one more minor hit in 1974 with "Morning Girl" (#88).

Dee now lives in Bradenton, Florida.

I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!!!