Grand Ole Opry 10/19 & 10/20

Coming off a big birthday weekend, the Grand Ole Opry continues "Country Music Month" with three shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and two Grand Ole Opry shows on Saturday night. The Saturday night shows are dedicated to "Country Cares for St. Jude Kids" and will feature Alabama, who for years has supported this cause.

Looking at Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for all three shows this weekend, the list includes Mike Snider, Jeannie Seely, Connie Smith and Riders In The Sky. In fact, each will be hosting a segment on each show. There are only two other Opry members scheduled, The Whites and Eddie Montgomery, both scheduled for Friday Night.

In addition to Hall of Fame members Alabama on Saturday night, others guesting on those two shows include John Berry, Jackie Lee, Mickey Guyton, Chase Bryant, and the very funny and talented Gary Mule Deer. Gary Mule Deer is also scheduled for Friday night, and will be appearing along with guest artists Carlene Carter, Cale Dodds, Lee Roy Parnell, and Zach Williams. One additional artist on Friday night is the legendary cowboy Michael Martin Murphy, who will also be in the Opry Shop after the show.

Friday October 19
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Carlene Carter; The Whites
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Cale Dodds; Lee Roy Parnell
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Gary Mule Deer; Michael Martin Murphy
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Zach Williams; Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry

Saturday October 20
1st show
7:00: Mike Snider (host); John Berry; Jackie Lee
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mickey Guyton; Gary Mule Deer
8:00: Connie Smith (host); Chase Bryant; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Alabama

2nd show
9:30: Mike Snider (host); John Berry; Jackie Lee
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mickey Guyton; Gary Mule Deer
10:30: Connie Smith (host); Chase Bryant; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Alabama
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of October 17 & 18, 2008:

Friday October 17
8:00: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; Sara Buxton
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Andy Griggs
9:00: Jean Shepard (host); Billy Dean; Del McCoury Band
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jimmy C Newman; Heidi Newfield

Saturday October 18
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Buddy Jewell
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites; Del McCoury Band
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jan Howard; Jennifer Hanson; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jack Greene; Tracy Byrd

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Buddy Jewell
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Del McCoury Band
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jennifer Hanson; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jack Greene; Tracy Byrd

Now from 25 years ago, the weekend of October 15 & 16, 1993. This was also the weekend of the Opry's 68th birthday celebration:

Friday October 15
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Skeeter Davis; Jim and Jesse; The Carlisles; Jan Howard
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jean Shepard; The Whites; Mike Snider
7:30: Bill Monroe (host); The 4 Guys; Jack Greene; Emmylou Harris
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jeannie Seely; Justin Tubb
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Osborne Brothers; Stonewall Jackson; Hank Locklin

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Grandpa Jones; Jim Ed Brown; Jeanne Pruett; Ray Pillow
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Charlie Walker; Skeeter Davis
10:30; Bill Monroe (host); The 4 Guys; David Houston; Emmylou Harris
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Osborne Brothers; Jean Shepard; Hank Locklin; Mike Snider
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jeannie Seely; Johnny Russell

Saturday October 16
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Osborne Brothers
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jack Greene; Billy Walker
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Charlie Louvin; Skeeter Davis; The 4 Guys; Jimmy Dickens
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Tracy Byrd; Jeannie Seely
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jean Shepard; Mike Snider; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancer
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Randy Travis; Charlie Walker; The Whites

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jack Greene; Jan Howard; The Osborne Brothers; Tracy Byrd
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host); David Houston; The Carlisles
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Louvin
10:45: Bill Monroe (host); Jeanne Pruett; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jean Shepard; The 4 Guys; Hank Locklin; Ray Pillow
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; Johnny Russell
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Finally, back 50 year ago to Saturday October 19, 1968. It was the Grand Ole Opry's 43rd birthday celebration, and also the weekend of the annual Disc Jockey convention that took place during the Opry's birthday weekend.

1st show
6:00: Vietti
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Willis Brothers: Moonlight Drive in A Diesel
Charlie Walker: San Diego
Margie Bowes: Understand Your Gal/Big City
Grandpa Jones: Eight More Miles to Louisville
Stu Phillips: The Top of the World
The Four Guys: Woman, Woman
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Bill Anderson: Still

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Bill Monroe (host): The Gold Rush
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Archie Campbell: The Cockfight

6:45: Rudy's
Porter Wagoner (host): w/Dolly Parton: Holding on to Nothing
Roy Drusky: Second Hand Rose
Jean Shepard: Everyday's A Happy Day for Fools
Porter Wagoner: The Carroll County Accident

7:00: Luzianne
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Tex Ritter: Texas
Jeannie Seely: Little Things I Thought You'd Like to Know
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top
Norma Jean: A One-Man Band Around My Finger
George Hamilton IV: Break My Mind
Charlie Louvin: Hey, Daddy/Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top

7:30: Standard Candy
Ernest Tubb (host): Just Pack Up and Go
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Wilburn Brothers: We Need a Lot More Happiness
Loretta Lynn: Your Squaw is on the Warpath
Lonzo and Oscar: Charming Betsy
Del Wood: Down Yonder

8:00: Martha White
Flatt and Scruggs (host): Folsom Prison Blues
Billy Walker: Age of Worry
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Glaser Brothers: One of These Days
Crook Brothers: Bill Cheatham
George Morgan: The Sounds of Goodbye
Ray Pillow: Wonderful Day
Justin Tubb: I'm Going Back to Louisiana
Flatt and Scruggs: The Ballad of Jed Clampett

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Del Reeves: Looking at the World Through a Windshield
Marion Worth: Are You Sleeping Well at Night
Bobby Lord: Ture and Lasting Kind
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Bob Luman: Ain't Got Time to Be Unhappy
Jim and Jesse: Yonder Comes the Freight Train
Hank Snow: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): w/Dolly Parton: Holding on to Nothing
Bill Monroe: Train 45
Dottie West: Reno
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Minnie Pearl w/George Lindsay: Maple on the Hill
George Hamilton IV: Early Morning Rain
Lonzo and Oscar: A King Size Cola and A Moon Pie
Jean Shepard: I Don't See How I Can Make It
Charlie Walker: San Diego
Cousin Jody: On Top of Old Smokey

10:00: Fender
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Grandpa Jones: Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea
Margie Bowes: That Completely Destroys My Plans
Archie Campbell & Lorene Mann: Warm and Tender Love
The Four Guys: Half a Man
Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry

10:15: Pure
Billy Walker (host): Cattle Call
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Roy Drusky: Strangers
Del Wood: Beer Barrell Polka
Jeannie C Riley: Harper Valley PTA

10:30: Buckley's
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Jim Ed Brown: Jack and Jill
Skeeter Davis: Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad
Stu Phillips: The Top of the World
Johnny Cash: Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash and June Carter: Jackson

10:45: Kent
Ernest Tubb (host): It Sure Helps a Lot
Wilburn Brothers: We Need Lot More Happiness
Loretta Lynn: You Squaw Is on the Warpath Tonight
George Morgan: The Sounds of Goodbye
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin

11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Happy State of Mind
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Charlie Louvin: Hey, Daddy/Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Glaser Brothers: Release Me/Then I Turned and Walked Slowly Away/Many Tears Ago Today/There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight/Gentle on My Mind
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Norma Jean: One Man Band
Osborne Brothers: A Son of A Sawmill Man
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Sam McGee: Under the Double Eagle
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops

11:30: Lava
Tex Ritter (host): Wayward Wind
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: There's A Big Wheel
Bob Luman: Guitar Man/Memphis
Marion Worth: Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Del Reeves: Girl on the Billboard
Bobby Lord: Live Your Life Out Loud
Ray Pillow: Wonderful Day

Now, that is what I call a birthday celebration. The 2nd show, according to my notes, ended just after 1:00 am. The first show was pretty much on schedule, while the second show began to get away during the Acuff hosted segment. But look at the number of acts on each segment. How did they do it? Very little talking and a lot of singing. As soon as one artist was finished, the next one was introduced.

As mentioned, the Grand Ole Opry birthday was tied in to the annual Disc Jockey convention sponsored by National Life and the Opry. Disc jockeys from all of the nation would come to Nashville that weekend and it was almost mandatory that Opry members appear. The artists would meet the disc jockeys, set up future shows, and just treat each other as friends. There would also be private record company parties and other informal get-togethers. This personal touch by the artists helped to make sure that their records would be played on the various radio stations, back in the day when the disc jockeys actually controlled and determined the play lists.
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Looking back at one more line-up, on Saturday October 19, 1974 the Grand Ole Opry celebrated it's 49th birthday, and the first to be held at the new Grand Ole Opry House. We have talked about the various non-country acts that have appeared on the Opry, and the birthday celebration that year featured one of those acts: The Pointer Sisters.

Here is the running order from that night:

1st show
6:00: Vietti
Bill Anderson: (host)
Willis Brothers: Bob
The Four Guys: It's Too Late to Turn Back Now
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Ernie Ashworth: Mind Your Own Business
Mary Lou Turner: Tomorrow
Bill Anderson: Every Time I Turn the Radio On

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jack Greene (host): I Need Somebody Bad Tonight
Jeannie Seely: He Can Be Mine
Charlie Walker: Odds and Ends
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

6:45: Rudy's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
Jan Howard: Seeing is Believing
Jim and Jesse: Love Is a Fading Rose
Jim Ed Brown: Scarlet Ribbons/The Three Bells/Looking Back to See

7:00: Rudy's
Porter Wagoner (host): On a Highway Headed South
Dolly Parton: Jolene
Justin Tubb: Loving Arms
Del Wood: There's a Big Wheel
Barbara Lea: Ain't Love Grand
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Please Don't Stop Loving Me
Dolly Parton: I Will Always Love You
Porter Wagoner: Wake Up Jacob

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Dottie West: Country Sunshine
Hank Locklin: Send Me Your Coffee Cup
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Black Mountain Rag
Stu Phillips: Love You All Over Again
Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird/I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Ernest Tubb (host): I've Got All the Heartaches I Can Handle
Wilburn Brothers: Little Johnny From Down the Street
Billy Grammer: How Great Thou Art
Osborne Brothers: Fireball Mail
Tennessee Ernie Ford: Tie A Yellow Ribbon/Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
David Houston: Almost Persuaded
George Lindsay: Comedy
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Hank Snow: Hello Love

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): Don't She Look Good
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Jerry Clower: A New Bull
Charlie Walker: Odds and Ends
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Mary Lou Turner: All that Keeps Me Going
Bill Anderson: Everytime I Turn the Radio On

10:00: Fender
Ernest Tubb (Host): Don't Water Down the Bad News
Connie Smith: I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before)
Jim Ed Brown: Southern Loving
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Ernest Tubb: Walking the Floor Over You

10:15: Union 76
Jack Greene (host): It's Time to Cross that Bridge
The Pointer Sisters: Fairytale
Jeannie Seely: He Can Be Mine
Jim and Jesse: Paradise
Dottie West: Country Sunshine
Justin Tubb: Ramblin' Man

10:30: Trailblazer
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Dolly Parton: Love Is Like a Butterfly
Wilburn Brothers: It Looks Like the Sun's Gonna Shine
Hank Locklin: Send Me Your Coffee Cup
Osborne Brothers: Ruby
Barbara Lea: Ain't Love Grand
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Please Don't Stop Loving Me

10:45: Beech-Nut
Roy Acuff (host): Back in the Country
Billy Grammer: Detroit City
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line
Crook Brothers/ Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Chicken Reel

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): In the Misty Moonlight
The Four Guys: It's Too Late to Turn Back Now
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Lost Indian
Barbara Mandrell: Midnight Oil
Sam McGee: Railroad Blues
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind

11:30: Elm Hill
Charlie Louvin (host): It Almost Felt Like Love
Jeanne Pruett: Welcome to the Sunshine
David Houston: Can't You Feel It
Stu Phillips: There Must be Another Way to Say Goodbye
Charlie Louvin & Diane McCall: Something to Brag About

Another quality birthday show on the Opry's 49th anniversary.

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