Grand Ole Opry 9/2 & 9/3

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend, and considering that it is Labor Day weekend and a lot of the artists are out on the road doing state and county fairs, the Opry has come up with two pretty nice line-ups for the weekend. 

When looking at the line-ups, especially on Saturday night, there are two names that stand out for different reasons. First, with all of the changes that have taken place over the past decade at the Opry, it is still nice that each year they have the Grand Master Fiddle Champion make an appearance. I am not sure how the contest is conducted currently, but back when Opryland was open, it was a big deal , and if I remember right, Porter Wagoner many times hosted the contest. It is good to see that tradition continuing. The second name is that of Richard Marx. While not a country artist, Richard is one of the great piano players of our time. What is interesting is that Richard was originally scheduled to be on the Wednesday Night Opry, August 3 but cancelled. 

Joining the Grand Master Fiddle Champion and Richard Marx on Saturday night will be Grand Ole Opry members John Conlee, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, The Whites, Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin, Jesse McReynolds and Vince Gill. Additional guest artists include Ray Scott, Emily West, Mark Wills, Logan Brill and The Time Jumpers. A very solid line-up with 14 acts, of which 7 are Opry members. 

The Friday Night Opry will feature Opry members John Conlee, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Bobby Osborne, Steve Wariner and Connie Smith. Guests on Friday include Smithfield, Mark Wills, The Steeldrivers, and one of my personal favorites, Suzy Bogguss. That comes out to 8 Opry members out of the 12 acts scheduled. 

Friday September 2
7:00: John Conlee (host); Smithfield; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jeannie Seely; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Suzy Bogguss
8:45: Steve Wariner (host); Connie Smith; The Steeldrivers

Saturday September 3
7:00: John Conlee (host); Ray Scott; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Grand Master Fiddle Champion; Emily West
Intermission
8:15: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mark Wills; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Logan Brill; Richard Marx; The Time Jumpers

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago this weekend, September 2 & 3, 2011:

Friday September 2
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Gloriana
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; James Otto
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Mark Wills
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Diamond Rio

Saturday September 3
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds; Elizabeth Cook
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Wynn Varble; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Billy Dean

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of September 1 & 2, 2006: 

Friday September 1
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; Taylor Swift
8:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Brian McComas
9:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
9:30: Steve Wariner (host); Three Ring Circle; Bellamy Brothers

Saturday September 2
1st show
6:30: John Conlee (host); Lane Turner; Hillbilly All-Stars
7:00: The Whites (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
7:30: Steve Wariner (host); The Dale Ann Bradley Band; Alvarado Road Show
8:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Jan Howard; Craig Morgan; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Vince Gill (host); Jeannie Seely; The Isaacs

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Lane Turner; Hillbilly All-Stars
10:00: The Whites (host); Jack Greene; Legacy Five Quartet
10:30: Steve Wariner (host); Stu Phillips; Alvarado Road Show; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Vince Gill (host); The Dale Ann Bradley Band; Mandy Barnett
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); George Hamilton IV; The Isaacs

There were a few names that weekend that some Opry fans might not recognize. One is the Alvarado Road Show, which consists of brothers Cleve and A.J. Clark. The brothers are still out there performing and are also accomplished songwriters with their songs having been recorded by a number of major artists. 

Another group that appeared that weekend was Three Ring Circle. This group consisted of instrumentalists Rob Ickes, Andy Leftwich and Dave Pomeroy, who played dobro, electric bass and mandolin. 2006 was the year that they released their first album with their second release taking place in 2011. The three are all accomplished, award winning musicians who have performed with a number of artists. That second CD seems to have been the last from that group. 

Finally there was the Hillbilly All-Stars which consisted of well known names Chuck Mead, Robert Reynolds, Mark Collie and Paul Deakin. Robert Reynolds and Paul Deakin are members of The Mavericks, and this group was short lived in collaboration with The Mavericks. 

The one name that I am sure all will recognize from that weekend was a very young Taylor Swift, who appeared on the opening segment of the Friday Night Opry. 

Finally, let's go back 50 years to Saturday September 3, 1966: 

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Louvin (host): I Don't Love You Anymore
Stringbean: Pretty Polly
Charlie Louvin: I Want A Happy Life
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Charlie Louvin: The Proof is In the Kissing

6:45: Rudy's
Bobby Lord (host): Blue Moon of Kentucky
Duane Dee: I Believe
James Wilson: Yakety Axe
Bobby Lord: Life Can Have Meaning

7:00: 
Roy Acuff (host): Tennessee Central No. 9
Skeeter Davis: I Wanna Be Loved By You
Tex Ritter: Bummin' Around
Stoneman Family: Ol' Slewfoot
Skeeter Davis: It Only Hurts for A Little While
Oswald: Roll On, Buddy
Stoneman Family: Rawhide/Blue Ridge Mountain Blues
Tex Ritter: Take Him Fishin'
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

7:30: Luzianne
Ernest Tubb (host): Two Glasses Joe
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Carter Family: Wildwood Flower
Minnie Pearl: I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
Ernest Tubb: A Memory, That's All You'll Every Be to Me
Cal Smith: Silver Dew on the Blue Grass Tonight
Willis Brothers: Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Ernest Tubb: Tomorrow Never Comes

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Don't Get Above Your Raisin'
Glaser Brothers: The Last Thing on My Mind
Justin Tubb: Looking Back to See
Cousin Jody: No Help Wanted
Flatt & Scruggs: For Lovin' Me
Crook Brothers: Lafayette
Glaser Brothers: Let Me Down Easy
Flatt & Scruggs: Cabin on the Hill
Earl Scruggs: Cannonball Blues

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Please Come Back, Little Pal
Wilburn Brothers: I Can't Keep Away from You
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Waylon Jennings: Stop the World & Let Me Off
Roy Acuff: Sweeter Than the Flowers
Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Wilburn Brothers: Making Plans
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

9:00: Pet Milk
Jimmy Newman (host): Back Pocket Money
Bob Luman: You Can Take the Boy From the Country
Harden Trio: Tippy Toeing
Del Reeves: Down in the Boondocks
Jimmy Newman: Bring Your Heart Home
The Voyagers: You Say That You're Going
Bob Luman: Come On & Sing
Opry Band: Java
Jimmy Newman: Cry, Cry Darling

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Willis Brothers: A 6 Ft 2 by 4
Bobby Lord: That's All Right
Carter Family: Little Darling Pal of Mine
Hank Snow: You Pass Me By
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking In My Sleep
Bobby Lord: Old Enough to Die
Hank Snow: My Blue Eyed Elaine

10:00: Schick
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Why Did You Wander
Charlie Louvin: The Proof Is In the Kissing
Del Wood: Bully of the Town
Flatt & Scruggs: Detroit City

10:15: Pure
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bob Luman: Almost Persuaded
Stringbean: Hot Corn; Cold Corn
Larry McNeely: Sailor's Hornpipe

10:30: Harvey's
Jimmy Newman (host): Back Pocket Money
Waylon Jennings: For Lovin' Me
Del Reeves: Girl on the Billboard
Jimmy Newman: A Fallen Star

10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): Driving Nails In My Coffin
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Ernest Tubb: Soldier's Last Letter

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Rumba Boogie
Bill Anderson: I Get the Fever
Cousin Jody: Television Set
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Blackberry Blossom
Hank Snow: I Just Stepped Over the Line
Sam McGee: Dew Drop Waltz
Bill Anderson: Golden Guitar/I Love You Drops

11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Th Shoe Goes on the Other Foot Tonight
Wilburn Brothers: It's Another World
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Justin Tubb: Hurry, Mr. Peters
Loretta Lynn & Wilburn Brothers: Put It Off Until Tomorrow
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Bouquet of Roses/Wedding Bells/Take These Chains from My Heart/Singing the Blues/Lovesick Blues/You Know How Talk Gets Around

There you have it. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!