Grand Ole Opry 11/9 & 11/10

Some have asked about Jesse McReynolds. There was a nice picture of him on his Facebook page, showing him voting in the election on Tuesday. He looked good, but he did mention that he is still regaining his strength, but it is taking longer than he thought.

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention Stonewall Jackson. Stonewall had a birthday this week, turning 86. Also, it was Stonewall's Opry anniversary, as he originally became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on November 3, 1956, making it 62 years since he originally joined the cast. Stonewall was one of those fired from the Opry in December 1964 for failing to meet the performance requirements that were in place at the time, and he rejoined the Opry in May 1969. Taking away those 4+ years he was gone, that still makes him an Opry member for 57 years. Stonewall has not been on the Opry since he celebrated his 60th Opry anniversary several years ago, and while I know he is going through a tough time right now, it would be nice to see him back on the Opry one more time.

Now getting to the shows this weekend as the Opry returns to the Ryman Auditorium for the next three months. The Ryman run this year will start off with two shows each night. Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for all four shows this weekend are Riders In The Sky, Bill Anderson and Jeannie Seely. They will be joined on the Friday Night Opry by Connie Smith, Mike Snider and Dailey & Vincent. On Saturday night, that trio will be joined on both shows by Bobby Osborne and The Whites, while Mike Snider is set for the first show and Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers for the second.

Frequent Opry guest Mark Wills is scheduled for all four shows. On Friday night he will be joined by Nikki Lane, Molly Tuttle, Luke Combs and Nicolle Galyon. On Saturday night, joining Mark, will be Joshua Hedley, Ellie Holcomb and Scotty McCreery. For those who haven't heard Joshua on the Opry before, I highly recommend that you listen as he is the real deal

Friday November 9
1st show
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Nikki Lane
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; Mark Wills
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Nicolle Galyon; Molly Tuttle
8:30: Dailey & Vincent (host); Luke Combs

2nd show
9:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Nikki Lane
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; Mark Wills
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Nicolle Galyon; Molly Tuttle
11:00: Dailey & Vincent (host); Luke Combs

Saturday November 10
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mark Wills; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Joshua Hedley
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Ellie Holcomb; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Scotty McCreery

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mark Wills; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Joshua Hedley
10:30: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Ellie Holcomb; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Scotty McCreery

Same may not be familiar with Nicolle Galyon. Nicolle is from Sterling, Kansas and came to Nashville in 2002 to attend Belmont University. After graduating from Belmont in 2006, she signed a publishing deal as a songwriter with Warner/Chappel Nashville. In 2012 she was a contestant on The Voice where she met RaeLynn and Miranda Lambert, establishing friendships with both. During her songwriting career, Nicolle has written songs for Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, and Florida Georgia Line.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of November 7 & 8, 2008:

Friday November 7
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Randy Owen
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jack Greene; Diamond Rio
8:00: Mel Tillis (host); Jeannie Seely; George Hamilton IV; Mel McDaniel; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
8:30: Marty Stuart (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Connie Smith; Vince Gill

Saturday November 8
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; John Conlee; Craig Morgan
7:30: Vince Gill (host); Riders In The Sky; Jean Shepard; Josh Turner; Opry Square Dancers
8:00: Randy Travis; Billy Currington; Randy Houser; Kevin Costner & Modern West

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites; Randy Travis
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Kevin Costner & Modern West; Craig Morgan
10:30: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Billy Currington; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Vince Gill (host); Riders In The Sky; Randy Houser; Josh Turner

And from 25 years ago, Saturday November 6, 1993:

1st show
6:30: Del Reeves (host); The Whites
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); The Four Guys; Bill Carlisle
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jeannie Seely; Charlie Walker; Jean Shepard; David Houston
7:30: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis; Hank Locklin; Brother Phelps
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Brother Oswald; Jack Greene; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Charlie Louvin; Jan Howard; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Stonewall Jackson; Wilma Lee Cooper; Billy Walker; The Whites; Ray Pillow
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Roy Drusky
10:15: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard
10:45: The Four Guys (host); Jimmy C Newman; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Charlie Walker (host); Connie Smith; David Houston; Nashville Bluegrass Band
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Jan Howard; Charlie Louvin; Johnny Russell
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Those of us that are of a certain age remember the death of Grand Ole Opry member David Akeman, better known as Stringbean. It took place 45 years ago, after the Opry on Saturday November 10, 1973.

Stringbean was a singer, songwriter, musician, comedian, actor and a semi-professional baseball player. He did all of those well. Early in his career, from 1943-1945, he was the banjo player for Bill Monroe and it was Earl Scruggs who replaced Stringbean when he left Bill. He later worked with Grandpa Jones and a host of others. While Earl played the three-finger picking style, Stringbean stuck to the old-fashioned clawhammer style. Among banjo players, Stringbean, along with Uncle Dave Macon, Grandpa Jones and Ralph Stanley are considered the greatest of the old-style pickers.

Perhaps his greatest fame came as a result of being a part of the cast of Hee Haw. One of the regular routines that he did on the show was a "letter from home." Asked about the latest letter, Stringbean would take it out, saying he carried it "right next to my heart." Not finding it in his overalls pocket, he would check all of his other pockets by patting them with his hands until he found the letter, usually in his hip pocket. He was also the scarecrow on the show, saying one liners until shouted down by the crow on his shoulder.

It seemed like Stringbean had been around the Opry forever, yet he was only 58 when he died. I believe, as do others, Stringbean would have carried on much in the same was as Grandpa Jones and Bill Carlisle, and like those two, would have been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sadly, he has been pretty much forgotten by the voters.

As I do each year, here is the running order from Saturday November 10, 1973, Stringbean's final Grand Ole Opry show:

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Little Red Wagon
Johnny Carver: Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Willis Brothers: God Walks These Hills with Me

6:45: Rudy's
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): Forget; Forgive Us
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Josie Brown: Precious Memories; Follow Me
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: When My Time Comes to Go

7:00: Rudy's
Tex Ritter (host): Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Stringbean: Hillbilly Fever
Karen Wheeler: The First Time for Us
Tex Ritter: Green Grow the Lilacs
Stringbean: Y'All Come
Karen Wheeler: Listen, Spot
Tex Ritter: Fall Away

7:30: Standard Candy
Bobby Bare (host): Ride Me Down Easy
Jimmy Martin: Just Plain Yellow
Melba Montgomery: Crawdad Song
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Bobby Bare: The Streets of Baltimore
Jimmy Martin: Tennessee
Melba Montgomery: Wrap Your Love Around Me
Bobby Bare: Detroit City

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew
Jimmy Driftwood: Run, Johnny, Run/Tennessee Stud
Roy Acuff: Wabash Cannonball
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Orange Blossom Special
Brother Oswald: Roll on, Buddy

8:30: Stephens
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Marion Worth: Paper Roses
Billy Grammer, Jr.: Orange Blossom Special
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Billy Grammer: I'm Letting You Go
Marion Worth: Me and Bobby McGee
Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk with Thee

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Willis Brothers (host): Give Me 40 Acres
Johnny Carver: Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Jimmy Martin: Honey, You Don't Know My Mind
Josie Brown: Precious Memories; Follow Me
Skeeter Willis: Maiden's Prayer
Johnny Carver: Tonight Someone's Falling in Love
Jimmy Martin: Who'll Sing for Me When I Am Gone

10:00: Fender
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): Little Darling Pal of Mine
Bill Carlisle: Have a Drink on Me/No Help Wanted
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Coming Down from God

10:15: Union 76
Tex Ritter (host): There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself a Name/Hot Corn; Cold Corn
Tex Ritter: Willie, the Wondering Gypsy and Me

10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Ball Knob; Arkansas
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Bright Morning Stars are Rising
Jimmy Driftwood: The Mixed Up Family

10:45: Beech-Nut
Bobby Bare (host): Four Strong Winds
Karen Wheeler: The First Time for Us
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Bobby Bare: Detroit City

11:00: Coca Cola
Billy Grammer (host): Bonaparte's Retreat
Melba Montgomery: Don't Keep Me Lonely Too Long
Billy Grammer, Jr: Orange Blossom Special
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Billy Grammer: Somewhere My Love
Melba Montgomery: Let's All Go Down to the River
Sam McGee: Worry, Worry Blues
Billy Grammer: What a Friend

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): I Walk Alone
Marion Worth: Paper Roses/Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Ronnie Robbins: Too Much Love Between Us/Mama Tried
Marty Robbins: Love Me/Big Boss Man/Crawling on My Knees/Don't Worry/El Paso
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To finish it up for this week, here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry, November 13:

7:00: Connie Smith; T Graham Brown
7:30: The Gibson Brothers; Steven Curtis Chapman
Intermission
8:15: Elizabeth Cook; Charles Esten
8:45: Thompson Square; Craig Morgan

A pretty nice Tuesday show.

There you have it for this week. I hope everyone has a nice week and gets a chance to listen to the Opry this weekend.