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. Two very solid shows both of which will feature the return of Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson to the Opry stage. These will be Bill's first Opry appearances since the death of his long time companion Vicki Salas. I am sure Friday will be an emotional night and Bill will probably take a few moments and express his gratitude and appreciation to everyone who offered their prayers and kindness during his time of sorrow.
In addition to Bill, Grand Ole Opry members scheduled both nights this weekend include John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Mike Snider and Dailey & Vincent. Friday night, that group will also include Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, while on Saturday night, Jeannie Seely, The Whites and Old Crow Medicine Show are on the schedule.
Interesting to see Old Crow Medicine Show on the schedule as they have no announced dates for 2019 and reports were out that the group was going on hiatus. Since some of the group members were going off to do side projects, it will be interesting to see which members of the group will be at the Opry on Saturday night.
Guesting this weekend on the Friday Night Opry will be Tenille Townes, Michael Ray, RaeLynn and Tracy Lawrence. Saturday night will feature guest artists William Michael Morgan, Tegan Marie, Cassadee Pope, and making his Opry debut, comedian Dusty Slay.
Friday February 8
7:00: John Conlee (host); Mike Snider; Tenille Townes
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Michael Ray
8:45: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); RaeLynn; Tracy Lawrence
Saturday February 9
7:00: John Conlee (host); William Michael Morgan; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Tegan Marie; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Dusty Slay; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Cassadee Pope; Old Crow Medicine Show
That comes out to 12 artists each night, 8 of whom are Opry members.
As mentioned, Dusty Slay will be making his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night. Dusty is a stand-up comedian who recently signed a development deal with ABC for a Blue Collar Single Mom comedy based around his childhood. Additionally, he was invited to the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal as part of the 2018 New Faces and has appeared on several network shows including The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, NBC's Last Comic Standing, Laughs on FOX and he was a featured comedian on TMZ. He is also featured on numerous nationally syndicated radio programs.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from the second weekend in February ten years ago, the weekend of February 13 & 14, 2009
Friday February 13
8:00: The Whites (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jason Crabb
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Terri Clark
9:00: Mike Snider (host); Stu Phillips; Connie Smith
9:30: Bob Nelson; Michael W. Smith
Saturday February 14
1st show
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Darryl Worley
7:30: The Whites (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Kathy Mattea
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Ray Stevens; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Stonewall Jackson; Connie Smith; Restless Heart
2nd show
9:30: Mike Snider; Darryl Worley
10:00: Jack Greene; Kathy Mattea
10:30: The Whites; Ray Stevens; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Connie Smith; Restless Heart
And from 25 years ago, Saturday February 12, 1994:
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: The Whites (host); Stonewall Jackson
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Ray Pillow; Billy Walker; Hank Locklin; Shawn Camp
7:30: Jack Greene (host); Clinton Gregory; Hank Thompson; Jean Shepard
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Stu Phillips; Ronna Reeves; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates; Jeanne Pruett; Charlie Walker
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Brother Oswald; Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates; Jan Howard; Ray Pillow
10:00: The Four Guys (host); Jeanne Pruett
10:15: Jack Greene (host); Jean Shepard
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites
10:45: Bill Anderson (host); Hank Locklin; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Billy Walker (host); Stonewall Jackson; Ronna Reeves
11:30: Mike Snider (host); Charlie Walker; Clinton Gregory
Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday February 8, 1969:
7:30: Billy Walker (host); Jim and Jesse; Skeeter Davis; Ray Pillow
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Glaser Brothers; George Morgan; Crook Brothers; Jim Glaser; Margie Bowes
8:30: Tex Ritter (host); Jack Greene; Billy Grammer; Bob Luman
9:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mel Tillis; Wilma Lee Cooper; Stringbean; Dolly Parton; Ernie Ashworth; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Buck Trent
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Justin Tubb; Bill Carlisle;
10:00: Glaser Brothers (host); Skeeter Davis; Ray Pillow
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Billy Walker; Jim and Jesse; Billy Grammer
10:30: Tex Ritter (host); Jack Greene; George Morgan; Margie Bowes
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Crook Brothers; Stringbean
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Mel Tillis; Bob Luman; Wilma Lee Cooper; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Ernie Ashworth; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Justin Tubb; Bill Carlisle; Bob Bishop
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Looking back into the history of the Grand Ole Opry, it was Saturday February 8, 1975 that Jimmy Dickens rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry.
Jimmy Dickens had originally joined the Grand Ole Opry in August 1948 and he remembered how it all came about. "I was working in Saginaw, Michigan, on a small station there with a five-piece band, and Mr. Acuff came to our city. I had made his acquaintance before that in Cincinnati in 1945. And then in '48, why, he asked me if I would come down to the Grand Ole Opry, and at that particular time Red Foley had the network show for the Prince Albert people on NBC. I came as a guest."
Jimmy Dickens grew up in West Virginia and worked on several radio stations in the state. As many entertainers did in those days, he moved around a lot to various radio stations in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Topeka, and then Saginaw, where Roy Acuff discovered him.
Many don't remember, but when Jimmy came to Nashville and the Opry, he had no background as a recording artist. However, being on the Opry, he came to the attention of Columbia Records, and his first single was "Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait," which became a smash hit.
In 1957, Jimmy left the Grand Ole Opry to tour with the Phillip Morris Country Music Show. He claimed there were no hard feelings toward the Opry, but since Prince Albert was a prime sponsor on the Opry, and and a competing company of Phillip Morris, he had to give up his membership to go on the lucrative tour. During those 18 years that he was gone from the Opry's cast, Jimmy did make an occasional guest appearance.
On the night Jimmy rejoined the Opry's cast, he was introduced by Hank Snow, who said, "Jimmy is one of the greatest showmen of all time. It's like replacing the most important spoke in a wheel to have him back on the Opry. We need more Jimmy Dickenses."
Jimmy sang "Family Reunion" that night. As Jimmy said, "I thought it was appropriate. It's hard to put in words and say how you feel about being back in the family. It's been so long."
Here is the running order from 44 years ago, Saturday February 8, 1975, the night Jimmy Dickens returned as a member of the Grand Ole Opry:
1st show
6:00: Vietti
David Houston (host): She's All Woman/Baby; Baby/Living In a House Full of Love
Charlie Louvin: (?)
Ernie Ashworth: The High Cost of Living
David Houston: Nashville
Charlie Louvin: When You Have to Fly Alone
Ernie Ashworth: Love, I Finally Found It
Kenny Penny: Devil's Dream
David Houston: Almost Persuaded
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Walker (host): Smokey Places
Justin Tubb: Ramblin' Man
Jim and Jesse: Please Be My Love
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
6:45: Rudy's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Don't Let Go
Billy Grammer: Wabash Cannonball/God Will Take Care of You
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top
7:00: Rudy's
Bill Monroe (host): I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Loretta Lynn: The Pill
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou
Bill Monroe: Blue Moon of Kentucky
Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Did You Think to Pray
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Breakdown
7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Marion Worth: Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Barbara Lea: Ain't Love Grand
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Black Mountain Rag
Porter Wagoner: Green Green Grass of Home/Cold Hard Facts of Life/The Carroll County Accident
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Wonder If You're Lonesome Too
Grandpa Jones: Ol' Rattler's Pup
Willis Brothers: Wild Side of Life
Stu Phillips: Loving You; Still Loving You
Lester Flatt: Great Big Woman and A Little Biddy Bottle of Wine
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Fallen Leaves
Willis Brothers: Big Daddy
Lester Flatt: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jeanne Pruett: Just Like Your Daddy
Jimmy Dickens: Family Reunion
Bill Carlisle: Shanghai Rooster
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Jeanne Pruett: Hold to My Unchanging Love/Love Me/You Don't Need to Move a Mountain/Satin Sheets
Hank Snow: Indian Love Call
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
David Houston (host): Jambalaya
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Billy Walker: Cross the Brazos at Waco
Charlie Louvin: Mary of the Wild Moor
David Houston: Good Things
Ernie Ashworth: The High Cost of Living
David Houston: Almost Persuaded
10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): Never Again Will I Knock on Your Door
Jimmy C Newman: Potato Song
Jim and Jesse: Paradise
Bill Monroe: Mule Skinner Blues
10:15: Union 76
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Loretta Lynn: The Pill
Billy Grammer: What A Friend
Porter Wagoner: Carolina Moonshiner
Mack McGaha: Orange Blossom Special
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Little Maggie
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Arkansas Traveler
Justin Tubb: Loving Arms
Lester Flatt: Let the Church Roll On
10:45: Beech-Nut
Jim Ed Brown (host): The 3 Bells
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Thank God I am Free
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Ida Red
Jim Ed Brown: Southern Loving
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): You're Easy to Love
Jeanne Pruett: Just Like Your Daddy
Osborne Brothers: Ruby
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Jeanne Pruett: Welcome to the Sunshine
Sam McGee: Victor Rag
Hank Snow: My Mother
11:30: Elm Hill
Stu Phillips (host): Loving You; Still Loving You
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Little But I'm Loud/I Love Lucy Brown
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Bill Carlisle: Have a Drink on Me
Ronnie Robbins: Mama Tried/If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Stu Phillips: No One Knows
Once Jimmy Dickens came back to the Opry, he stayed as a beloved member until he passed away on January 2, 2015. While not a member the entire time, Jimmy was around the Opry for 66 years, a great achievement.
There you have it for this weekend. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!
I would be willing to bet a sizable sum that that 1969 show didn't end on time. And the number of members reminds me of Grant Turner's comment that attendance was often lowest at the time of the year that was best to see the Opry because the acts were often in off the road and making appearances.
ReplyDeleteAs for Dickens, I am reminded that Hank Snow, being formal, called him The Potato. Therefore, I must do so. Interesting that Mr. Acuff wasn't there, when he had brought him to the Opry in the first place, and I don't see the Smoky Mountain Boys on the lineup.
I'd just like to add that William Michael Morgan is appearing on the heels of his label dropping him and it seeming more and more unlikely that a major label will pick him up due to being too country.
ReplyDeleteWho do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the write up on Tater. Corny jokes and all I still miss him on Saturday night. Just heard “Ciunty Boy” on Willies Roadhouse a few minutes ago. Nobody and I mean nobody could put more realism into that song than Tater.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Byron. Hope you have a warm weekend.
Country Boy! Spell check gets me every Time!
DeleteToday I took a memory to lunch.....well, not exactly. That is the title of a Bobby Bare tune written by Tom t Hall and the basic story line kind of fits here. I managed to stay at my computer and get some real work done today and was able to listen to some of my Opry recordings from the 80's and 90's. Byron, you will know the recordings I'm talking about!
ReplyDeleteThere was only about three dozen out of thousands I have but they brought back great memories and made me think again just how lucky most of us here have been. It has been discussed here that the Opry became kind of stale in the 80's with the same artist doing the same songs, the same staff band members and the same vocal group for support. But that is not totally true. Jim and Jesse, Billy Walker, the Osborne Brothers, Bill Anderson and Charlie Louvin were always making new recordings as were several others.
It has also been said that although it was portrayed that the Opry was one big happy family, there were conflicts among some of the artist. Most all families have their differences! I can tell you that is not the feeling I had listening to my recordings today. Maybe that's because at the time, most of the acts appearing knew each other and had traveled and appeared together for many years. For me, that was part of the charm at the time, listening to the sincere personal interaction between the artist.
It has also been said here that a play by play or on line stream of what is going on would increase the enjoyment of the Opry for those not attending. Today, I had a very vivid image in my mind what was going on while I listened. The balance between conversation and music was probably 40% to 60% respectively. I think it is about the same today but there is a difference. Back then, more acts introduced the band and talked among themselves. Today, much of the talk is self promotion or idle chatter....or giggling!
What I heard today was Roy Acuff singing Carry Me Back To The Mountains with that chilling dobro of Oswald's and Charlie Collins reminding him how the second verse started! Hank Snow doing The Caribbean and hitting every lick on the guitar at 80 years old. Jeans Shepard, Simon Crum and Ferlin Husky recalling old times and singing Dear John Letter. Hank Locklin doing Danny Boy with Weldon Myrick giving me chills on steel. Jim and Jesse singing When I Dream About The Southland. Ernie Ashworth singing Memphis Memory and more.
To quote a line from the Wilburn Brothers recitation Living In An Old Folks Home, "things have sure changed in these modern times". It's a different time and many of the generations coming along behind me have different ideas about music and comedy and just the world around us. Things about the Opry that made me smile, cry or puff up with pride are not understood so much today. And the way the business or industry has changed, if there is camaraderie among the acts today then it might fulfilled in a different way than by those we are so fond of.
I was just a little sad and a little happy today as I listened and thought back to the good time for me when I was listening, recording and going to see these folks and the Opry and how blessed we were.
To quote a line from the song Little Things that Willie and Shirley Nelson wrote and Jeannie Seely recorded (the title to an LP) "These were just some little things I thought you'd like to Know". Or little things I was thinking!
Thanks for indulging me!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, you brought back many wonderful memories, and it may even have helped to explain that when I watch, on You Tube, the Crook Brothers and the Stoney Mountain Cloggers, I tear up.
DeleteJim: I just love your posts. Bob
DeleteBob and Michael:
DeleteI appreciate the comments. Sorry for some of the errors. Jean Shepard hated to be called Jeannie, wonder how she'd feel about Jeans?
Something that just came to mind mentioning Jean is a story she told on one of the early Family Reunion series. She talked about Webb Pierce and how he would stand up for his friends and how he went after a promoter one night to see all his costars on the show got their money. I don't recall her saying it but I figure he had a pretty big ego in his heyday, maybe always, but he stuck together with his Opry and music friends. Goes along with that feeling that they were all just trying to make a living doing what they loved, which many of them admitted was better than physical labor they had experienced in their childhood or early adult life.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, thanks for that. Webb helped Faron and the Wilburn Brothers, among others. Oswald talked about how in the old days at the Opry, backstage, everybody would be checking on how they did the previous week--did they need any money to make it through? That isn't to say they didn't fight. I always think of when Lonzo and Oscar retired, and Oscar said he'd never heard a harsh word at the Opry. I turned to my mother, who introduced me to country music, and said, "What about Monroe and Lester and Earl?" She said, "He's still right. They just didn't speak."
DeleteWho do you guys see being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it when folks on this blog share their memories about all our Opry stars that have faded away! Brings back so many good memories to me as well! I'm intrigued by the personal relationships at the Opry. We know Mr. Acuff had no use for Bob Luman's music and was reportedly responsible for Rose Maddox's departure from the Opry. Whether he liked them personally, who knows. Jean Shepard, in her book, which has an entire chapter called "Backstage Drama", talks about some serious tension between her and the Singing Ranger, where she called him a pompous little "donkey" when they were assigned the same dressing room at the Opry. And, I always thought Jean must have been fit to be tied when Reba kept saying in interviews how proud she was to go into the Hall of Fame with "Jeannie Shepard!" I've heard a story (whether it's true I don't know) that Del Wood made it known that Barbara Mandrell thought she was hot um, "stuff" and that when Del passed away the biggest floral arrangement came from Barbara! And, finally, I was told first hand that Jimmy Martin showed up at the Opry one night in the 90s after a little "nip" and got so mad that George Hamilton IV sang "Truck Driving Man" (which George also had a hit on) he threatened to fight George (the nicest man on the planet) on the spot! That episode apparently got Jimmy banned from backstage. Some funny stories and good memories that show the humman side of our Opry family! (Oldtimeopry)
ReplyDeleteThose comments by Jean about Hank Snow were interesting to me. Again, like some families, people have differences and are sometimes jealous but when the chips are down they circle the wagons.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between Jean, her husband Bennie and Hank Snow is part of the reason we were invited backstage by them all night in April 1999.
When we met them for our second time in July 98 we ask how Hank was doing, him now being semiretired for over a year. Their eyes lit up that two guys in their 30 were asking about Hank. They said they talked to every week or two and made a funny comment about his personality and said he still thought he was going to came back and perform. You could tell they thought he was as Marty Robbins called him one night "the strange ranger" but it felt with admiration, respect and love. Then we ask Jean about Marion Worth and that was the icing on the caked that brought the backstage invitation! You'll recall that she and Hank passed just days apart at the end of 1999.
Again, how blessed we are considering many of us we not even born when all these folks were in their prime.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Very interesting stuff!
DeleteI remember an interview with Jean where she told the story about telling off Mr. Snow, and he glared at her, then looked down and said, "You're right," and they were great pals after that. I thought of Jan Howard's great story of when Patsy Cline walked up to her and called her a stuck-up etc. for not talking to anybody; when Jan replied that where she came from, people welcomed newcomers and they could all etc., Patsy roared with laughter and said, "You're all right. You talked back to the Cline!"
On Mr. Acuff and Bob Luman, there's a clip of Luman on the Opry where his harmonica player was ... Jimmie Riddle. I have the funny feeling Mr. Acuff got along with him but wasn't a fan of the rock and roll, but also knew it was good for business and fun to have a feud going.
I have the feeling that if Jimmy Martin had been able to control his drinking and his temper, he would have been a longtime Opry member.
Michael,
DeleteFrom several recordings I have heard of Bob Luman appearing on Mr. Acuff's portion, I tend to have the same feeling. That Mr. Acuff like him but just didn't care for some of his more Rockabilly tunes.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, I thought of one of the old Opry TV shows in the 1950s where Lonzo and Oscar did "I'm Movin' On, #2," and Hank Snow comes out to glare at them.
DeleteBut then I also think of when Porter invited James Brown to the Opry, and a few of the members refused to perform that night. I think it was fine, although Brown went over the top (as did Jerry Lee when he did the Opry). But they had plenty of non-country performers show up who loved country music or wanted to be able to do the Opry. One of my all-time favorites was when Foster Brooks did the Opry and, after his stand-up routine, did "Make the World Go Away," and he could have been an opera singer.
Foster Brooks was great. Bob
DeleteMichael:
ReplyDeleteThere is a great DVD called King of Bluegrass: The Life & Times of Jimmy Martin (I just watched it again a couple of weeks ago.) It was released in 2004 about a year before Jimmy died. It's well done and features Marty Stuart. Jimmy talks about the Opry throughout the documentary and carried the hurt of not becoming an Opry member until he died. (oldtimeopry)
"Somewhere along the way, moonshine and dynamite collided. The result is the musical genius and three-chord scholar named Jimmy Martin."--Marty Stuart
ReplyDeleteJimmy Martin was volatile and unpredictable but, my Lord, did he make some of the greatest music ever to come out of Tennessee! If you want to a good read, I highly recommend Tom Piazza's "True Adventures With the King of Bluegrass". It's essentially a reprint of a magazine article in book form but it recounts in vivid detail a wild, whiskey fueled night backstage at the Opry where Jimmy takes on Ricky Skaggs and nearly punches out Bill Anderson for some perceived slights. It's one of the favorite books in my library. You should also check out the documentary "The King of Bluegrass". It can be found in parts on YouTube but it gives great insight to the man and the artist.
One of my favorite stories about Hank Snow is when Chubby Wise told Willie Nelson he should follow Hank around for a week, talk to him and try to figure him out and see what made him tick. About a week later, Willie came back and said, "Chubby, there ain't nobody in the world that can figure that little bastard out!"
Am I the only one here having to go though many pages checking off photos when I post? I just went through over three dozen. Makes me think my security clearance is about to be pulled! :)
DeleteJim
Knoghtsville, IN
Jim: Are you checking off the correct ones? I usually only have to check off 3. Bob
DeleteI had to go through a lot of photos that time. Bob
ReplyDeleteMy apologies to all. I will try to figure out what is going on. I didn't change anything on my end so maybe Google did something. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you all. I did see the documentary but haven't read the pieces mentioned. I'll check them out.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I have to wade through the photos and sometimes I don't. It appears that whenever the Google geniuses have a bee in their bonnet, things happen!
Thanks Byron. Bob
ReplyDeleteJim: What browser are you using? Bob
ReplyDeleteI'm using Google if that is what you mean.
ReplyDeleteByron, please don't take it as a complaint toward you. It is frustrating and I wondered if it had something to do with me always posting as anonymous.
I'm not far ahead of Jean Shepard. I know how to turn the computer on and dust it off!
Jim
Knightsville, IN