Grand Ole Opry 4/21 & 4/22

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the three shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, which will feature two shows with identical line-ups. The "featured" attraction this weekend will be the return of Opry member Patty Loveless to the Opry stage. Patty, who in my opinion has one of the sweetest voices in country music, is scheduled for both shows on Saturday night.

She will be joined that night by fellow Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Bill Anderson, The Whites, Bobby Osborne and Connie Smith. Jeannie, Mike, The Whites and Connie are also scheduled for Friday night, where they will be joined by Jesse McReynolds.

Guest artists on Friday include John Berry; Elizabeth Cook, Mandy Barnett; Mark Wills, Kristian Bush, the legendary Gene Watson, and making his Opry debut, Cody Johnson. For Mark Wills, this will be his 10th Opry guest appearance in 2017, which is more appearances than 53 of the Opry's 63 members. Saturday's guest list includes Lucie Silvas, Keith Anderson, Sierra Hull and William Michael Morgan.

Friday April 21
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); John Berry; Elizabeth Cook
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Mandy Barnett; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: The Whites (host); Jesse McReynolds; Kristian Bush
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Cody Johnson; Gene Watson

Saturday April 22
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Lucie Silvas; Mike Snider
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Keith Anderson; Sierra Hull
8:00: The Whites (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; William Michael Morgan; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Connie Smith (host); Patty Loveless

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Lucie Silvas; Mike Snider
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Keith Anderson; Sierra Hull
10:30: The Whites (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; William Michael Morgan; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Connie Smith (host); Patty Loveless

Overall all, three pretty nice shows. And here is a fact for everyone: Opry member Mike Snider has made an appearance on every Friday and Saturday show so far this year. He is the only Opry member with 100% attendance on the weekend shows.

As mention, this will be the Opry debut for Cody Johnson. Cody is based out of Texas where he has become a regional star. He has self-released six albums, with the sixth one, "Gotta Be Me" debuting at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart. He formed his band, the "Cody Johnson Band" in 2006. In 2009, he released his first studio album, "Six Strings One Dream." What is amazing about Cody's success is that he has achieved it without support from radio or any major record label. Personally, I have never heard Cody so I will be very interested in how he sounds and comes across at the Opry.

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of April 20 & 21, 2007:

Friday April 20
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mel McDaniel; Connie Smith; Cherryholmes
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Danielle Peck
9:00: Pam Tillis (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; George Hamilton IV; The Whites
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas with special guest Tony Rice

Saturday April 21
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mel McDaniel; Jimmy C Newman; The Whites
7:00: Pam Tillis (host); Kellie Pickler; Restless Heart; Dusty Drake
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); George Hamilton IV; Jean Shepard; Marty Stuart; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; The Grascals

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Pam Tillis
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Marty Stuart
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Kellie Pickler; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Dusty Drake; Restless Heart

So whatever happened to Dusty Drake?
Born Dean Buffalini in 1965, he was from Pennsylvania and for several years was employed as an air traffic controller. At the same time, he was pursuing a career in country music, fronting a band called Silverado. When he was signed as an opening act for Garth Brooks at Ponderosa Park in Salem, Ohio, the promoter accidentally called him Dusty and the name stuck. After moving to Nashville in 1993, he changed his name to Dusty Drake and began work as a demo singer and songwriter. Songs that he wrote were recorded by Joe Diffie and the Oak Ridge Boys, among others. In 2002 he was signed to Warner Bros. Records as a recording artist. He had limited success with "One Last Time," released in 2003 his best showing on the charts, coming in at #26. In 2007 he moved to Big Machine Records and left that label in 2009. Since then, things have been pretty quiet for him.

Now from 25 years ago, the weekend of April 17 & 18, 1992:

Friday April 17
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Jim Ed Brown; Mike Snider; Jeannie Seely
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jimmy C Newman; Justin Tubb; Jim & Jesse
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); 4 Guys; Connie Smith
9:00: Hank Snow (host); Skeeter Davis; Stonewall Jackson; The Whites
9:30: Bill Monroe (host); Ray Pillow; Jean Shepard; Riders In The Sky; Billy Walker
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Osborne Brothers; Bill Carlisle; Eddy Raven
10:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jack Greene; Charlie Walker; Johnny Russell
11:05: Rev. Jimmy Snow

Saturday April 18
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jim & Jesse; Bill Carlisle
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Louvin; Jeanne Pruett; The Whites; Jack Greene
7:30: 4 Guys (host); Paulette Carlson; Sammy Kershaw
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy Dickens; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Osborne Brothers; Connie Smith; Jim Ed Brown; Ray Pillow

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; Roy Drusky; Trisha Yearwood
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Paulette Carlson; Roy Acuff
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Walker; Jan Howard
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Charlie Louvin; Sammy Kershaw
10:45: Billy Walker (host); Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Osborne Brothers; Justin Tubb; Jimmy Dickens; Jeannie Seely
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Bill Carlisle; Johnny Russell

Finally, it was 50 years ago, Saturday April 22, 1967 that The Four Guys were formally introduced on the Opry as its newest members. The story of the 4 Guys has been told many times before, so I won't go into it further except to say that for over 30 years they were very loyal and popular members of the Grand Ole Opry.

7:30: Cordite
Billy Walker (host): Ride, Ride, Ride
Ernie Ashworth: Sad Face
Stringbean: The Big 'Um Got Away
Merle Kilgore: I Just Don't Care Anymore
Billy Walker: Cross the Brazos at Waco
Del Wood: Piano Roll Blues
Ernie Ashworth: Just an Empty Place
Stringbean: Wanda
Billy Walker: Anything Your Heart Desires

8:00: Martha White
Wilburn Brothers (host): Roarin' Again
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Harold Weakley: Almost Persuaded
Loretta Lynn/Teddy Wilburn & Ernest Tubb: Sweet Thang
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Wilburn Brothers: Making Plans

8:30: Stephens
Bobby Lord (host): That's All Right
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Bob Luman & Bobby Lord: You Can't Take the Boy From the Country
4 Guys: Shenandoah
Bobby Lord: Look What You're Doing to You
Dottie West: What's Come Over My Baby
Bob Luman: Memphis
Bobby Lord: Take the Bucket to the Well

9:00: Luzianne
Ernest Tubb (host): Driving Nails in my Coffin
Wilma Lee Cooper: There's a Big Wheel
Connie Smith: I'll Come Running
Minnie Pearl: Columbus Stockade Blues
Ernest Tubb: Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Wilma Lee Cooper: Philadelphia Lawyer
Ernest Tubb: Jealous Lovin' Heart

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): Caribbean
Bill Monroe: Gray Eagle
George Morgan: I Couldn't See
Marion Worth: I Can't Help It
Hank Snow: Tears in the Trade Winds
Bill Monroe: My Little Georgia Rose
Cousin Jody: On Top of Old Smokey
Hank Snow: I'm Moving On

10:00: Schick
Justin Tubb (host): Looking Back to See
Dottie West: Paper Mansions
Stringbean: Ruby
Justin Tubb & Dottie West: Love Is No Excuse

10:15: Pure
Bobby Lord (host): Cash on the Barrel Head
Del Wood: Cajun Stripper
Ernie Ashworth: At Ease Heart
Bobby Lord: Fall Away

10:30: Buckley's
Wilburn Brothers (host): Hurt Her Once for Me
Loretta Lynn: If You're Not Gone Too Long
Bob Luman: Let's Think About Living
Wilburn Brothers & Loretta Lynn: Put it Off Until Tomorrow

10:45: Kent
Ernest Tubb (host): Fortunes in Memories
Wilma Lee Cooper: Wedding Bells
Crook Brothers: Old Joe Clark
Ernest Tubb: Another Story; Another Time; Another Place

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Bill Monroe: Dusty Miller
4 Guys: This Land is Your Land
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Hank Snow: Black Diamond
Connie Smith: Once A Day
Sam McGee: These Boots are Made for Walkin'
Bill Monroe: Mary at the Home Place
Hank Snow: Listen

11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): No Tears, Milady
Roy Drusky: Strangers
Osborne Brothers: Making Plans
Marion Worth: Especially You
Don Winters: Chime Bells
Roy Drusky: Alone With You
Marion Worth: Love's Gonna Live Here
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Begging to You/The Shoe Goes on the Other Foot Tonight/Bouquet of Roses/I Could Never Be Ashamed of You/Lovesick Blues

As you can tell by the 4 Guys getting just two songs, they didn't make a big thing out of joining the Opry in those days!!!

By the 1990's, the Opry's annual reunion shows were wrapping up as many of the older, former members of the Opry had passed away. But in 1990, there were still a few around and on Saturday April 21, the annual reunion show took place. Here is the line-up from the 1st show that night:

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Grandpa Jones (host): Bald Headed End of the Broom
Skeeter Davis: If I Don't Have You
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Grandpa Jones: Tritzem Yodel

6:45: Rudy's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Everyday People
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Jim Ed Brown: Morning

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Country Music's Gone to Town
Zeke Clements: (?)
Charlie Louvin: Everytime You Leave
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Jean Shepard: Home in San Antonio/Time Changes Everything/Roly Poly
Porter Wagoner: I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name
Kathy Koon: Turkey in the Straw

7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy Dickens (host): Geraldine
4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah/Shenandoah
Margie Bowes: That Just About Does It, Don't It
Pee Wee King: Slowpoke

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Curly Fox: Billy in the Low Ground
Riders In The Sky: Back on the Texas Plains/Cool Water
Opry Square Dance Band: Snow Flake Reel

8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): Ancient History
Roy Drusky: As Long As I Live
Jack Greene: She Don't Cry
Dottie West: All I Ever Need is You
Carl Butler: Don't Let Me Cross Over
Hank Snow: I'm Glad I Got to See You Once Again

The former Opry members who were there that night were Zeke Clements, Margie Bowes, Pee Wee King and Carl Butler. As I wrote, the numbers were really dwindling.

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