Grand Ole Opry 9/7 & 9/8-Updated #2

 Update #2: The line-up for Saturday has now been posted and a little better in quality and numbers. Yet, only four Opry members scheduled:

7:00: Connie Smith (host); T. G. Sheppard; Devin Dawson
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Williams & Ree; Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Abby Anderson; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Michael Ray; Kathy Mattea


 Update #1: As I feared, the Friday Night Opry has only two segments, with just three Opry members appearing:

7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Love and Theft; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Drew Baldridge; Delta Rae

8:15: Ricky Skaggs (host); Lucie Silvas; Jeff Allen; William Michael Morgan; Trampled by Turtles


The Grand Ole Opry, as I type this, has not posted their schedule as of yet for this weekend. However, as I will be traveling this week and not sure of internet access, I wanted to put out briefly what I have.

What I can tell you is that on the Friday Night Opry, Opry members Ricky Skaggs and Riders In The Sky are scheduled to appear, along with guest artists Trampled by Turtles, Drew Baldridge, Delta Rae, Lucie Silvas, Jeff Allen and William Michael Morgan. Hopefully a few more Opry members get put on the schedule or else there will not be four segments.

Saturday's Grand Ole Opry has members Ricky Skaggs and Riders In The Sky listed, along with Mike Snider, Jeannie Seely and Connie Smith. Guest artists include Devin Dawson, Michael Ray, Williams & Ree, Kathy Mattea, and making her Opry debut, Abby Anderson.

I will update as the week goes on and the line-ups are posted (hopefully).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the first weekend in September 2008:

Friday September 5
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Aaron Tippin
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; The Road Hammers
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Andy Griggs
9:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jean Shepard; John Anderson

Saturday September 6
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jean Shepard
7:30: Roy Clark (host); Jim Ed Brown; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
8:00: Patty Loveless; Jessica Simpson; Crystal Shawanda; Loretta Lynn

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Loretta Lynn
10:00: Jean Shepard (host); The Whites; Patty Loveless
10:30: Roy Clark (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jessica Simpson; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host) w/Helen Cornelius; Crystal Shawanda; Connie Smith

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday September 7, 1968:

1st show
6:30: Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host); The Four Guys
6:45: George Hamilton IV (host); Margie Bowes
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis; Stu Phillips; Cousin Jody; Johnny Darell
7:30: Hank Locklin (host); Glaser Brothers; Ernie Ashworth; Crook Brothers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Loretta Lynn; Archie Campbell; Lorene Mann
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Marion Worth; Charlie Walker; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Hank Locklin (host); Margie Bowes; Johnny Darrell; Jay Lee Webb
10:00: Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host); Wilma Burgess; Cousin Jody
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Skeeter Davis; Stu Phillips
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Loretta Lynn; Ernie Ashworth
10:45: Glaser Brothers (host); Archie Campbell; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Marion Worth; Charlie Walker; Wes Buchanan

Some Opry members are more well known than others, and one of those who seems to have been forgotten over the years is Del Wood, who graced the Opry stage for 36 years with her ragtime piano playing.

Polly Adelaide Hendricks was probably the foremost female instrumentalist in country music history. Prior to the rise of Floyd Cramer in the 1960s, Del, who joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1953, was probably the most significant country instrumentalist on the keyboard, other than those associated with Western Swing bands, such as Moon Mullican.

Del began playing the piano at the age of 5 and became quite skilled by the time she reached her teens. She took her stage name by contracting her middle and married names. As a substitute staff pianist in 1950 at WLBJ in Bowling Green, Kentucky, she began playing "Down Yonder," subsequently recording it for the Tennessee label. It became a surprise hit, peaking in the Top 5 on the Country and Pop charts in 1951, going Gold in the process. Del guested on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time in 1952 and became cast member the next year.

Del recorded many instrumental albums for major record labels although "Down Yonder" was her only hit. She worked many package shows over the years, including a six-week tour of Vietnam in 1968. She became known as "Queen of the Ivories." Like many Grand Ole Opry regulars of the older generation, she became somewhat disgruntled in her later years over reduced airtime. She was a long-time active member of AFTRA, the AFM and later R.O.P.E. A divorcee, Del, according to close friend Patsy Stoneman, took a great deal of pride in her adopted son, Wesley, and was quite thankful that she had raised, educated and settled him before her death at the age of 69 on October 3, 1989.

It was about a month before she passed away, on Saturday September 9, 1989, that Del Wood appeared on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time. Here is the running order from that night, 29 years ago:

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Around (When It's Over)
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water

6:45: Rudy's
Bill Anderson (host): Before I Met You
Stu Phillips: Blue Canadian Rockies
Bill Anderson: A World of Make Believe

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Del Reeves: Bad News
Ray Pillow: I Guess He Knows Something I Don't Know
Dottie West: Are You Happy Baby/Together Again
Porter Wagoner: Forty Miles from Poplar Bluff

7:30: Standard Candy
The Four Guys (host): Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Charley Pride: Looking Through Amy's Eyes/Mountain of Love/There Goes My Everything
The Four Guys: My Special Angel

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby on My Mind/Once A Day
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band/Cajun Stripper
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Patti on the Turnpike
Roy Acuff: Once More

8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): Mama Tried
Skeeter Davis: I Ain't Never
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel
Ernie Ashworth: There's No Place I'd Rather Be Tonight
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Hank Snow: I'm Not At All Sorry for You

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): (?)
Wilma Lee Cooper: I'm Picking Up the Pieces
Stu Phillips: If Loving You Means Anything
Dottie West: Country Sunshine
Ray Pillow: The Kind of Love I Can't Forget
Porter Wagoner: What Ain't to Be Just Might Happen/Y'All Come

10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Anderson (host): Son of the South
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Bill Anderson: Still

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special
Charley Pride: Looking Through Amy's Eyes/Mountain of Love/Kiss An Angel Good Morning

10:30: Pet Milk
Del Reeves (host): Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime at A Time/Looking at the World Through A Windshield
Jean Shepard: I'll Sail My Ship Alone
Del Reeves: There She Goes

10:45: B.C. Powder
Jimmy C Newman (host): Pistol Packin' Mama
Connie Smith: Your Cheatin' Heart
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durham's Bull
Jimmy C Newman: Cajun Honey

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong with the Way that We're Doing it Now
Hank Snow: Among My Souvenirs

11:30: Creamette
The Four Guys (host): Tennessee
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Bill Carlisle: Happy Birthday Sheila/Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Charlie Louvin: New Dreams & Sunshine
The Four Guys: I'm All Tied Up

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