Tuesday Night Opry 10/17 & Opry Country Classics 10/19

The big news regarding the Tuesday Night Opry this week will be the formal induction of Chris Young as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Chris Young was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on June 12, 1985. His grandfather, Richard Yates, was a performer on the Louisiana Hayride. Showing interest in music at an early age, Chris attended Oakland High School, singing in the high school choir and performing in local clubs. In 2006, Chris was the house singer for Cowboys Dance Club. That same year, he auditioned for "Nashville Star" in Houston, Texas and was the winner. His prize included a contract with RCA Records in Nashville and later that year, he released his debut single, "Drinkin' Me Lonely" which reached No. 42 on the Billboard Country Charts. His second single, "You're Gonna Love Me," reached No. 48.

It was not until May 2008 that his third single, "Voices" was released. It became his first Top 40 entry on the charts, reaching No. 37. Additional singles followed and in 2010 he was nominated for the Academy of Country Music's Top New Solo Vocalist. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Gettin' You Home," which had been released in October 2009. That song, along with a re-release of "Voices"went to No. 1 on the charts. The hits have continued since.

Chris is also known for his charity work, supporting Little Kids Rock by donating various items to the organization for auction, raising money to put instruments in the hands of children. He has been a major supporter for Stars for Strips and St. Jude Children's Hospital. In August of this year, he created a fundraising site for Houston to help with the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Joining Chris for his formal Opry induction on the 1st show will be Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley.

1st show
7:00: Del McCoury Band; Dustin Lynch; Henry Cho; Tracy Lawrence
8:00: Cassadee Pope; Brad Paisley; Chris Young

2nd show
9:30: Del McCoury Band; Dustin Lynch; Henry Cho
10:30: Cassadee Pope; Tracy Lawrence; Chris Young

Opry Country Classics on Thursday night will feature the Oak Ridge Boys as the Spotlight Artists, but also appearing will be Leroy Van Dyke, who will be appearing to mark the 55th anniversary as to when he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, with the exact date being October 19, 1962.

Leroy Van Dyke, now 88 years old, was born in Mora, Missouri and graduated from the University of Missouri majoring in agricultural journalism. He hit country music stardom in 1956 with his song "The Auctioneer," which sold over 2.5 million records. The song, co-written with Buddy Black, was the story about the life of his cousin, National Auctioneers Association Hall of Famer Ray Sims.

In his 50 years-plus career, Leroy had recorded more than 500 songs, dozens of them making the charts. His recording of "Walk On By," released in 1961 was named by Billboard magazine in 1994 as the biggest country single of all time, based on sales, plays and weeks in the charts. It stayed at No. 1 on the country charts for 19 weeks, and in all, charted for 42 weeks, also reaching No. 5 on the pop charts. Still active and touring, Leroy also is the voice of Subway in their current advertising campaign.

While Leroy will be appearing upon the occasion of his 55th anniversary of his joining the cast of the Grand Ole Opry, Leroy is no longer an Opry member, having been dismissed from the Opry by Ott Devine in 1966 for failing to make the number of required Opry appearances. Even after his Opry membership ended, Leroy would still make a number of guest appearances, one of which I saw a few years ago, and Leroy looked and sounded as good as ever.

Here is the line-up for Opry Country Classics:

Host: Bill Cody
Spotlight Artist: Oak Ridge Boys
Also Appearing: Linda Davis; Gatlin Brothers; Mo Pitney; Mike Snider; Leroy Van Dyke

As mentioned, Leroy Van Dyke joined the Grand Ole Opry on October 20, 1962. Here is the running order of the Opry from that night:

7:30: Pet Milk
Faron Young (host): Comback
Billy Grammer: He Ain't My Buddy No More
Justin Tubb: (?)
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Faron Young: Hello Walls
Darrell McCall: If You've Got the Money
Billy Grammer: Beautiful Isle of Somewhere
Justin Tubb: (?)
Faron Young: (?)

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): All the Good Times Are Passed & Gone
Hank Locklin: (?)
Cowboy Copas: Alabam
June Carter: Comedy
Flatt & Scruggs: Ballad of Jed Clampett
Carter Family: (?)
Crook Brothers: Lafayette
Hank Locklin: (?)
Flatt & Scruggs: Shucking the Corn

8:30: Bass Compact Homes
Hawkshaw Hawkins (host): Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Wilburn Brothers: Oh, Monah
Don Gibson: (?)
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Bobby Helms: (?)
Jean Shepard: I Used to Love You
Wilburn Brothers: The Sound of Your Footsteps
Don Gibson: (?)
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Darkness on the Face of the Earth

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Jim Reeves (host): (?)
Leroy Van Dyke: Auctioneer
Glaser Brothers: I'm Losing Again
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Jim Reeves: (?)
Texas Ruby: (?)
Leroy Van Dyke: I Sat Back & Let it Happen
Blue Boys: (?)
Jim Reeves: (?)

9:30: Stephens
George Morgan (host): (?)
Roy Drusky: When You Turn Out Your Light
Merle Kilgore: Wolverton Mountain
Cousin Jody: Comedy
George Morgan: (?)
Mac Wiseman: (?)
Roy Drusky: Anymore
Don Slayman: Sally Goodin
George Morgan: (?)

10:00: Gates Rubber
Faron Young (host): Congratulations
Cowboy Copas: Bury Me Face Down
Justin Tubb: (?)
Faron Young: Down By the River

10:15: Corn Products
Flatt & Scruggs: Coal Loading Johnny
Billy Grammer: He Ain't My Buddy No More
Carter Family: (?)
Flatt & Scruggs: Go Home
Earl Scruggs: Flint Hill Special

10:30: Harvey's
Wilburn Brothers (host): (?)
Don Gibson: (?)
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Wilburn Brothers: (?)

10:45: De Con
Hank Locklin (host): (?)
Archie Campbell: The Fool's Side of Town
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Hank Locklin: (?)

11:00: Coca-Cola
Jim Reeves (host): (?)
Glaser Brothers: Let Me Down Easy
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Big Old Heartache
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
Jim Reeves: (?)
Jean Shepard: Two Shadows; Two Voices; Two Faces
Leroy Van Dyke: (?)
Sam & Kirk McGee: Waiting for a Letter
Blue Boys: (?)
Jim Reeves: (?)

11:30: SSS Tonic
George Morgan (host): (?)
Curly Fox: (?)
Roy Drusky: I Forgot More Then You'll Ever Know
Cousin Jody: Comedy
George Morgan: (?)
Texas Ruby: (?)
Merle Kilgore: Forty-Two in Chicago
Curly Fox: (?)
George Morgan: (?)

There you have it for the mid-week shows. Congratulations again to Chris Young, the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.