Welcome to the July 4th weekend!! I hope everyone enjoys the fireworks and have a fun and safe weekend.
As far as the Grand Ole Opry, there are two very nice shows this weekend. Looking first at the Friday Night Opry, there is a solid group of Opry members scheduled including Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, Mike Snider, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Anderson, Bobby Osborne, Vince Gill, John Conlee, Riders In The Sky and Diamond Rio. As far as Saturday night, Mike, Ricky, Bill, Vince and the Riders will be there, along with members Jeannie Seely, The Whites, Connie Smith and Jesse McReynolds. That comes out to 9 Opry members for each night, which in today's world is a pretty good number.
As far as guest artists, Friday night will have Love and Theft making another Grand Ole Opry appearance, joined by Amanda Shires, Jim Lauderdale and Jordan Rager. Saturday night, semi-Opry regular Mark Wills is slated, joined by Mandy Barnett and one of my personal favorites, T. Graham Brown.
Friday July 1
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Love and Theft; Mike Snider
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Amanda Shires; Jim Lauderdale
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jordan Rager
8:45: Vince Gill (host); John Conlee; Riders In The Sky; Diamond Rio
That comes out to 13 acts on Friday night and 12 on Saturday, and as previously mentioned, 9 Opry members each night.
Saturday July 2
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mark Wills; Mike Snider
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; T. Graham Brown; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Riders In The Sky; Mandy Barnett
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of July 1 & 2, 2011:
Friday July 1
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jesse McReynolds; theJaneDear girls
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Isaacs; Rodney Atkins
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; The Whites; Ricky Skaggs
8:45: Marty Stuart (host); Darius Rucker; ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers
Saturday July 2
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Troy Olsen
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jimmy C Newman; Jimmy Wayne
Intermission
8:15: Steve Wariner (host); Jack Greene; Riders In The Sky; North American Irish Dance Champions
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Joe Diffie
Now from ten years ago, the weekend of June 30 & July 1, 2006:
Friday June 30
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Mel McDaniel; Megan Mullins
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; Restless Heart
9:30: John Conlee (host); Charlie Louvin; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Craig Morgan
Saturday July 1
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Darrell Scott
7:00: John Conlee (host); Del McCoury Band; Daryle Singletary
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Connie Smith; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jack Greene; Jim Ed Brown; Chely Wright; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Mel McDaniel; Mandy Barnett; Barry Scott
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Daryle Singletary
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; John Conlee; Del McCoury Band
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Darrell Scott; Chely Wright
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett; Barry Scott
Finally, from fifteen years ago, the weekend of June 29 & 30, 2001:
Friday June 29
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Bill Carlisle; Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys; Jim & Jesse
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Osborne Brothers; Charlie Walker; David Ball
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Del Reeves; Hot Club of Cowtown; Mel McDaniel
9:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider; Chris Cagle
9:30: John Conlee (host); Daryle Singletary; Eddy Raven
Saturday June 30
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Billy Walker; Bill Carlisle; David Ball
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Del Reeves; Jack Greene; Blake Shelton
7:30: Jean Shepard (host); Steve Holy; Jim & Jesse; Tammy Cochran
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys; Mike Snider; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers; Chalee Tennison
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Jean Shepard; David Ball
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Blake Shelton
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Hank Locklin; Tammy Cochran; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Ray Pillow; Mike Snider; Chalee Tennison
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Steve Holy; Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys
Friday July 1, 1988 was a special night at the Grand Ole Opry as Johnny Cash made a guest appearance. Johnny was an Opry member in the 1950s, however he left the show after several years of membership. After leaving the Opry, he would return and make guest appearances on the show, as it did on this particular night. Here is the line-up from July 1, 1988 and Saturday July 2, 1988:
Friday July 1
1st show
6:30: Oscar Mayer
Bill Anderson (host); 4 Guys; Jeannie Seely; Roy Drusky; Skeeter Davis
7:00: GMC Trucks
Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Stonewall Jackson; Jimmy C Newman; Connie Smith; Del Reeves
7:30: Cracker Barrel
Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Jim & Jesse; Randy Travis
8:00: Nabisco/Music Country Radio Network
Jimmy Dickens (host); Jack Greene; The Whites; Osborne Brothers
8:30: Kroger/Hamburger Helper
Hank Snow (host); Lorrie Morgan; Billy Walker; Hank Locklin; Bill Carlisle
2nd show
9:30: Music Valley Drive Merchants
Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Ray Pillow; Jimmy C Newman; Connie Smith
10:00: Goody's Headache Powder
Bill Anderson (host); 4 Guys; Charlie Walker; Wilma Lee Cooper; Justin Tubb
10:30: Pillsbury Hungry Jack Biscuits
Roy Acuff (host); Jim & Jesse; Johnny Cash
11:00: Luck's Foods
Hank Snow (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy Dickens; The Whites
11:30: Heinz
Jack Greene (host); Hank Locklin; Osborne Brothers; Johnny Russell
Saturday July 2
6:30: Mrs. Grissom's Salads/Bonanza Family Restaurants
Melvin Sloan Dancers; 4 Guys (host); Lorrie Morgan
6:45: Rudy's Farm
Billy Walker (host); Jean Shepard
7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host); Connie Smith; Jim & Jesse; Hank Locklin; Coon Creek Girls
7:30: Standard Candy Co.
Hank Snow (host); Lynn Anderson; Webb Pierce
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host); Jan Howard; Del Reeves; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Music Valley Drive Merchants
Charlie Walker (host); Skeeter Davis; Charlie Louvin; Roy Drusky; Jeannie Seely
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General Stores
Melvin Sloan Dancers; Jack Greene (host); Jeanne Pruett; Ray Pillow; Wilma Lee Cooper; Lynn Anderson
10:00: Little Debbie Snack Cakes
Stonewall Jackson (host); 4 Guys
10:15: Sunbeam Bread
Roy Acuff (host); Connie Smith; Dan Kelly
10:30: Pet, Inc
Jim & Jesse (host); Bill Carlisle
10:45: BC Powder
Roy Drusky (host); Webb Pierce; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host); Jan Howard; Justin Tubb; Hank Locklin; Del Reeves
11:30: Creamette Pasta
Charlie Walker (host); Jeannie Seely; Charlie Louvin; Skeeter Davis; Cotton Ivy
Nice to see former Opry member Webb Pierce returning for a guest appearance on Saturday night and appearing on the televised segment with Lynn Anderson.
Have a nice 4th of July and enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!
THAT'S more like it, 'Opry!
ReplyDeleteBIG improvement over Tuesday and Wednesday.
And then I look at the lineups for those earlier shows ....
ReplyDeleteIt WAS good to see Webb on there. We tend to forget just how big he was.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteWow ... would sure like a report on that one, if anyone on here saw it. Webb was only a couple of years from the end of the trail.
Fred,
DeleteWebb did two songs on the TV show, Walking the Dog and Slowly and sang Wondering on the second show. Somewhere I have the TNN portion VCR tape!
On the Friday show with Johnny Cash, June was also with him. Johnny performed Folsom Prison Blues, I Still Miss Someone, Five Feet High and Risen'(Roy's request) and June helped him do Jackson. They all closed with Will the Circle be Unbroken.
Actor Micheal Douglas was also visiting!
For those wonder about Cotton Ivy, he was a comedian who was making semi regular appearances on Nashville Now with Ralph and I'm thinking he was a politician.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Lamarse Howard "Cotton" Ivy, is a humorist, comedian and entertainer born in Decatur County, Tennessee on May 15, 1930. Ivy served as a Democrat on the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1985 to 1989. From 1989 to 1995, he served as Tennessee's Commissioner of Agriculture.
DeleteI think it is unfortunate that Bill Anderson's name is not synonymous with the Opry like Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Porter Wagoner, Jimmy Dickens or a few others. Maybe it is just me but I don't think the average Opry fan and certainly not today's average visitor, would name Bill very early if they were ask to name someone that makes them think of the Opry.
ReplyDeleteMaybe my perception is off. He is very well received once he performs so I think he is very recognizable, popular and well remembered once he appears. I just think his presence, loyalty, promotion and preservation of the Opry heritage is overlooked by the average fan or visitor.
Tonight was a good example of how Bill can impress, entertain and hold an audience, many who probably thought he was long retired or didn't know who he was. And it is hard to accept that he is in his late 70's because he is so active and acts so youthful. He is about the only one left at the Opry who does recitations or story songs and I'm always surprised at how well they are still received. Yes, I know tonight was a lot about timing with the patriotic story on this weekend but Deck of Cards, Old Army Hat and others almost always go over very well.
I guess I'm just trying to voice appreciation and say thanks that Bill is still on the Opry. There are a few others left but he is the last big star and hit maker of his generation still working the Opry on a regular basis. It feels like it should have been natural for the torch to pass to him as the Opry ambassador after Jimmy passed but I think most people would consider Trace, Brad or Vince as that person these days.
I was just impressed with Bills entire appearance tonight and felt the need to sound off!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim;
DeleteYou are spot on.
I told Jimmie Dickens once, that in my mind, he had replaced Roy Acuff as the person best associated with the 'Opry.
For what little it is worth, I think the torch has been passed from Roy Acuff to Porter Wagoner to Jimmie Dickens to Bill Anderson.
Forget Brad Paisley. He's never there.
Just my opinion.
I too was blown away with the audience reaction to Deck of Cards.
Nat,
DeleteOne other thing I would say about Bill being thought of as a torch bearer for the Opry from management perspective is through advertisements. I guess I'm not the best to judge this because I don't see that many but how many have Bill in the sequence of photo's or videos they run? Back when Porter and Jimmy were still with us they felt they were recognizable enough to give them a quickie in those adds but I'm not sure Bill shows up much if at all!
Jim
Knightsville
My feelings exactly Jim about Bill. Bob Bien
ReplyDeleteFred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jim, for dusting off that 1988 show for us. Your archive must be something else again. And you can apparently put your hands on everything!
Nice that Webb should do three of the very early songs, the ones that "brung" him.
Yes, Bill Anderson is a treasure. To me, his recorded output is a mixed bag, but there is no denying his songwriting genius, stage presence and faithfulness to the Opry. I'm grateful for every day we have him.
Fred,
ReplyDeleteI agree about Bill's recorded output. Over the years he has done some things that I could have lived without like the stuff he did during the disco craze. Even today he will come up with some things that do not turn me on. BUT, he has recorded and written so so many great songs of great content that I can give him a pass on the other stuff. That other stuff has been his way to try and stay relevant and appeal to some of the younger audience. There are other artist I like that have done things I don't like and the gap between the good and bad is closer so I can't say the same about them.
Another thing that impresses me with Bill is he is a student of the music and such a fan. Merle Haggard was much the same. I wish I had been able to listen to all the interview shows he has done on XM/SIRIUS over the years!
Wonder what he'll come up with tonight? I'm guessing he will do Old Army Hat. I ask him a few years ago about doing Where Have all Our Hero's Gone and he said it was a little out dated and not relevant for today. I took that to mean it is a little strong and would not go over well today. I think it fits just as much today but I'd be getting too political if I said any more!!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Bill Anderson should be the symbol of the Opry now. That he isn't may have to do with his personality. He comes across much less forcefully, for lack of a better term, than Mr. Acuff, or Porter Wagoner, or The Potato. It shouldn't be a surprise that he's quieter, since, after all, he's Whispering Bill!
ReplyDeleteLet's also not forget that he's had a #1 song on the country chart in every decade since the 1950s. The 1950s! Greatest country songwriter ever? He may well be it.
I guess an interesting discussion question would be, "Who do you consider the symbol of the Opry now." I know Bill Anderson's name has been tossed around, and desirably so, especially considering his 55 years at the Opry, his commitment to the show and as a Hall of Fame member. But who else?
ReplyDeleteThe only one that really comes to mind is Vince Gill. Yes he is younger than Bill and has only been an Opry member for 25 years. But nobody can question his commitment to the show and he seems to push the right buttons when needed. How about Larry Gatlin? The past few years he has been on the Opry as much as anyone, and not just the Friday and Saturday shows, but also the week night ones. Outside of those 3, I really can't think of anyone. Jeannie Seely, John Conlee, Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky, Bobby Osborne all make weekly appearances, or close to it, but I don't think anyone would call any of them a symbol of the Opry.
Thoughts?
Agree with you Byron; Bill Anderson and Vince Gill are the epitome of the Opry and standout as the symbols, just wish they could do more to convince the leadership to "fix" the show. On another note, Jesse McReynolds sounded great tonight and yes, the audience loved his bluegrass "blues", and Bill's Old Army Hat and America the Beautiful certainly recognized this holiday; and Vince, wonderful. Great show Saturday night - finally !! (Anonymous in PA)
ReplyDeleteAnyone listen to the Midnite Jamboree tonight? At about 2:05 they just cut it off. I haven't stayed up and tried to listen to all of it for a long time. Guess an hour is all they get anymore. Anyone have any insight?
ReplyDeleteAnd, I agree that the Saturday Opry was really good compared to the average show these days. Friday was too bad.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim: You must be on Eastern time. The Midnight Jamboree has been an hour for a while now. Robert Bien
ReplyDelete