Grand Ole Opry 6/23 & 6/24

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. One show each night, both with pretty solid line-ups.

Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights include Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider (keeping his streak alive), Connie Smith, and the Grand Ole Opry's newest members, Dailey & Vincent, who continue to impress with the number of Opry appearances that they have been making. That group will be joined on Friday night by members Riders In The Sky and Jesse McReynolds, while on Saturday night, The Whites and Bobby Osborne are on the scheduled.

Among those making a guest appearance this weekend will be Mark Wills, who is scheduled for both nights. For Mark, this two appearances will be his 14th and 15th of the year. Only 11 of the Opry's 60+ members have appeared more. Even looking back several years, Mark has appeared on the Opry more than most of the members. While not the biggest star in country music, Mark has had a pretty nice career and it is good that he comes out and supports the Opry.

Additional guest artists on Friday night include Ashley Campbell, comedian Henry Cho, Brooke Eden, Kristian Bush and making his Opry debut, Jacob Davis. Saturday's guests include Mo Pitney, Maggie Rose, Robbie Fulks and Post Monroe.

As mentioned, this will be the Opry debut for Josh Davis. Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, he is a singer/songwriter currently signed to Black River Entertainment. He has opened for Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, Sam Hunt and Kelsea Ballerini. "What I Wanna Be" is his debut single that was released this past spring.

Friday June 23
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Ashley Campbell; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Dailey & Vincent (host); Henry Cho; Jacob Davis
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Brooke Eden; Kristian Bush

Saturday June 24
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mo Pitney; Mike Snider
7:30: The Whites (host); Maggie Rose; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
Intermission
8:15: Dailey & Vincent (host); Robbie Fulks; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Post Monroe; Mark Wills

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of June 22 & 23, 2007:

Friday June 22
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mel McDaniel; Jeff Bates
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Dusty Drake
9:00: Pam Tillis (host); Jimmy C Newman; Rissi Palmer
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Marty Stuart

Saturday June 23
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mel McDaniel; Jim Lauderdale
7:00: Pam Tillis (host); Jack Greene; David Ball
7:30: The Whites (host); T.G. Sheppard; Rebecca Lynn Howard
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Ray Pillow; Billy Dean; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); John England & The Western Singers; Jimmy Wayne

2nd show
9:30: Pam Tillis (host); The Whites; Billy Dean
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); John England & The Western Swingers; David Ball; Rebecca Lynn Howard
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jack Greene; Jimmy Wayne; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); T.G. Sheppard; Jim Lauderdale

Now from 25 years ago, June 26 & 27, 1992:

Friday June 26
1st show
6:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jean Shepard; Roy Drusky; The Carlisles; Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Billy Walker; Ray Pillow; The 4 Guys
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; George Hamilton IV; Jeanne Pruett
8:00: Del Reeves (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites; Mario Martin
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Charlie Walker; Mike Snider; Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Stu Phillips; Skeeter Davis; Billy Walker; The 4 Guys
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Grandpa Jones; George Hamilton IV
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Carlisles; Ray Pillow; Mario Martin; Jeanne Pruett
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider
11:30: Del Reeves (host); The Whites; Charlie Walker; Johnny Russell
12:05: Reverend Jimmie Snow

Saturday June 27
1st show
6:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Billy Walker; Jean Shepard; Del Reeves; The Carlisles
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jeanne Pruett; Charlie Walker; Floyd Cramer
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Stu Phillips; Jan Howard; Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Roy Drusky; Connie Smith; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Skeeter Davis; Floyd Cramer
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Jeanne Pruett
10:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jack Greene
10:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Charlie Walker; Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Teddy Wilburn; Jan Howard; The Whites
11:30: Del Reeves (host); Connie Smith; The Carlisles; Mike Snider

(The Whites actually cancelled out on Saturday night. They were replaced by Stu Phillips on the 2nd show).

So who was Mario Martin, featured on both shows on Friday night?

Mario Martin is a vocalist and guitar player who now makes and markets his own brand of guitars. He started singing and playing at an early age at family gatherings, school functions and parties. At age 15, Mario was playing at local honky-tonks and clubs in the Macon, Georgia area. In 1990, he entered the "Country Showdown," a national talent competition sponsored by Tru Value Hardware and GMC trucks. He finished as first runner-up out of more than 1,000 contestants. Based on that contest, Mario received a record deal in 1991, with his first record released on the now defunct Nashville based DPI Records, the same label on which Hoyt Axton and Mel McDaniel recorded for. Within the course of several years, Mario released several more albums and was on the road opening for Ricky Skaggs, Tracy Lawrence, John Anderson and Lee Greenwood. By the end of 1993, DPI had gone out of business. Not giving up, Mario kept playing clubs, fairs and festivals as an independent artist. In 1995 he moved to Nashville to seek another record deal and play local country music clubs. Mario said, "Playing in Nashville, for the most part, doesn't pay the bills. There are too many gigging musicians. That is why I finally decided to chase my other, more lucrative, passion of working on guitars. After spending some time working for Fender Musical Instruments and Music Instrument Restoration Corporation, he went into business for himself and started his own company, The Guitar Mill. He has done well since.

And finally, it was on Saturday June 24, 1989 that some guy named Garth Brooks made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me Again
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down

6:45: Rudy's
Billy Walker (host): Ashes of Love/Blue Moon of Kentucky/That's All Right
Jean Shepard: Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me
Billy Walker: Cross the Brazos at Waco/Charlie's Shoes

7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): There's A Whole Lot About A Woman A Man Don't Know
Ray Pillow: 'Til the Best Comes Along
Del Wood: Piano Roll Blues
The Whites: Blue Letters/Follow the Leader
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me

7:30: Standard Candy
Johnny Russell (host): In A Mansion Stands My Love
4 Guys: Turn Around; Look at Me/Kokomo
Garth Brooks: I'm Much Too Young to Feel this Damn Old/If Tomorrow Never Comes
Johnny Russell: Act Naturally

8:00: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle/Elvira
Roy Drusky: Wings of a Dove/One Day at a Time
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Bill Cheatham
Oswald: Black Smoke's A Risin'

8:30: Music Valley Merchants
Hank Snow (host): The Call of the Wild
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Mike Snider: Ground Speed
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jack Greene (host): Happy Tracks
4 Guys: I'm All Tied Up
Billy Walker: A Million and One
The Whites: Hangin' Around/Doing it By the Book
Jack Greene: The Last Letter

10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Walker (host): A Way to Free Myself
Jean Shepard: Home in San Antone/Time Changes Everything/Roly Poly
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Bill Carlisle: Worried Man Blues
Roy Acuff: Back in the Country/I'll Fly Away

10:30: Pet Milk
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Garth Brooks: I'm Much Too Young to Feel this Damn Old/IF Tomorrow Never Comes
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou

10:45: B. C. Powder
Roy Drusky (host): Too Old to Die Young
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Dance all Night
Roy Drusky: Mansion Over the Hilltop

11:00: Coca-Cola
Ray Pillow (host): Too Many Memories
Jeannie Seely: One Step Away, From Coming Home/Why Doesn't he Just Leave Me Alone
Mike Snider: Look What They've Done to the Dominica Chicken
Ray Pillow: I'll Break Out Again Tonight

11:30: Creamette
Johnny Russell (host): Got No Reason Now for Going Home
Connie Smith: Walk Me to the Door/Why Don't You Love Me
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel/Buried Alive
Johnny Russell: Me & Bobby McGee

You will notice that Hank Snow only did the first show that Saturday night. Why, you might ask? Hank had a habit of going home between his segments. On that particular night, Hank was involved in a car accident, thus not making it back for the 2nd show.

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