Grand Ole Opry 4/19 & 4/20

It's Easter weekend and the Grand Ole Opry has scheduled two very nice shows this weekend, both featuring Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill. Over the past couple of years, Vince has really reduced his Opry appearances as he has been very busy touring with The Eagles and making his own solo concert appearances. Add in his Monday night gig with The Time Jumpers, attending Nashville Predator hockey games, and his other charitable activities, I can see why he hardly finds time to make it to the Grand Ole Opry House. Hopefully, we will see more of Vince as the year goes on.

Appearing with Vince both nights will be Opry members Jeannie Seely, Dailey & Vincent and Bill Anderson. Joining that quartet on the Friday Night Opry will be members Terri Clark, Mike Snider, John Conlee, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites and Jesse McReynolds. That adds up to 10 members for the Friday show. On Saturday night, Old Crow Medicine Show is once again on the schedule, along with Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith and Bobby Osborne, which will give us 8 members on Saturday.

Guesting on Friday night will be Christian comedian Chonda Pierce, and making their Opry debut, Mandolin Orange. Saturday night has Zach Williams, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde and, making her solo Opry debut, Wendy Moten.

Friday April 19
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; Dailey & Vincent
7:30: Terri Clark (host); Mike Snider; John Conlee
Intermission
8:15: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Chonda Pierce
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mandolin Orange

Saturday April 20
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Riders In The Sky; Zach Williams
7:30; Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Connie Smith; Ashley McBryde
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Maddie & Tae; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Wendy Moten; Dailey & Vincent

It is nice to see Terri Clark and Old Crow Medicine Show hosting segments. It is always a pleasure to see fresh faces headlining the segments and it is needed. Mark Wills and Dailey & Vincent have also taking their turns at hosting and each of those acts have done a very nice job. As more and more of the veteran acts reduce their appearances, the Opry needs to take advantage of these newer and younger members who have stepped up to support the show.
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As mentioned, there are two artists that will be making their Grand Ole Opry debuts this weekend, Mandolin Orange on the Friday Night Opry and Wendy Moten on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry.

Mandolin Orange is described as a folk duo based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They are gaining quickly in popularity and in the fall they will be headlining two sold out shows at the Ryman Auditorium. This is in addition to a constant tour schedule. The group was formed in 2009 and consists of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz. Andrew is the group's songwriter and thus far the duo has produced five albums of his his original work. In addition to touring extensively in the United States, they have also tour Europe and have made appearances at Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Newport Folk Festival, and MerleFest. Their latest album, Tides of a Teardrop, was released February 1st.

While Wendy Moten will be making her solo Opry debut on Saturday night, she has appeared on the Opry before, with Vince Gill. In fact, she performed with him on the night of Vince's 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Wendy is from Memphis, Tennessee and sang in the nationally known Overton Choir. She got her first break singing with Michael Bolton at a benefit concert. She signed with EMI in 1992 and that year she released her self-titled debut album. Her biggest hit single came over 20 years ago, with "Come In Out of the Rain" making the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a No. 5 Adult Contemporary hit. In addition to her work with Vince Gill, she has also supplied background vocals for a number of other artists including Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the 3rd weekend in April 2009:

Friday  April 17
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely; Dean Brody
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Darius Rucker
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Sons Of The Pioneers
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host): Jimmy C Newman; The Whites

Saturday April 18
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Steve Wariner (host); Rascal Flatts

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Steve Wariner (host); Rascal Flatts

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday April 16, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Skeeter Davis; Brother Oswald
6:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jeanne Pruett
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Charlie Walker; Riders In The Sky; Mike Snider
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Doug Stone
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Bill Carlisle; Jean Shepard; Mel McDaniel; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Jeannie Seely; Billy Walker; Jimmy C Newman

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jean Shepard; Doug Stone
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host); Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Jan Howard
10:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Four Guys; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jack Greene; The Whites; Ray Pillow; Johnny Russell
11:30: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely; Billy Walker; Mel McDaniel

(During the televised portion of the Opry that night, Minnie Pearl was inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame)

Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday April 19, 1969:

7:30: Bobby Lord (host); Skeeter Davis; Johnny Darrell; Minnie Pearl
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); The Hardens; The Four Guys; Crook Brothers; Arlene Harden
8:30: Roy Drusky (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Red Sovine; Ernie & The Countrymen; Cousin Jody
9:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Jeannie Seely; Jim and Jesse; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Billy Parker
9:30: Bill Monroe (host); Willis Brothers; Del Wood; Cal Smith
10:00: Bobby Lord (host); The Four Guys; Skeeter Davis
10:15: Lester Flatt (host); The Hardens; Johnny Darrell
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Cousin Jody; Red Sovine
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Jeannie Seely; Crook Brothers
11:00: Willis Brothers (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Del Wood; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Rouse Brothers; Sam McGee
11:30: Roy Drusky (host); Jim and Jesse; Cal Smith; Ernie & The Countrymen

There were a couple of acts that night that a few might not be familiar with, the first being Ernie & The Countrymen. Ernie Kucera was from Nebraska and in the mid 1960s he established a four piece band that played a lot of dates in the Midwest. The original members of the group were Ernie Kucera, Larry Sedlak, Lynn Lueben and Art Hoffbar. The group entered a competition: the Marlboro Country Music Contest, winning the local, state and national levels and as a result, were awarded a guest spot on the Grand Ole Opry. The group continued on, with various members, until 1992 when Ernie became ill and the group disbanded.

The other act from that night were the Rouse Brothers, who were described as "hard drinking fiddle demons who lived in the Everglades amongst the outlaws and wetlanders, shack shakers, and juke jointers. They were party lifers, and money spenders." They were also chart topping songwriters. Ervin Rouse is the man responsible for the "Orange Blossom Special," which has been covered on over 200 records and made most famous by Johnny Cash and Bill Monroe, among others. They first recorded the song in 1939. And of course, on that night in 1969, they played "Orange Blossom Special."
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Going back into the history of the Grand Ole Opry, it was on Saturday April 19, 1947 that Roy Acuff returned to the Grand Ole Opry.

One year earlier, on Saturday April 6, 1946, Roy quit the Opry in a salary dispute. At the time, he was the host and star of "The Prince Albert Show" segment of the Grand Ole Opry that was broadcast on the NBC radio network. He was making $15 per night at the Opry and asked for a raise to $100 per night. When Opry and WSM management refused his demands, he left the show and went out to California on an extended tour, that included personal appearances and an attempt at movie making. Over the years, Roy never talked much about leaving the Opry, but he knew that as the Opry's biggest star, he could make more money out on the road on extended tours, in areas that his commitment to the Opry would not allow. Depending on who is doing the talking, the West Coast tour wasn't very successful and Roy missed the Opry and being in Nashville. A year later, according to the story, Ernest Tubb and Harry Stone went to see Roy, who was in a Nashville hospital, asking him to come back to the Opry, saying the show was in trouble without him. While there is no evidence to support that statement, it worked and Roy came back to the Opry. However, since Red Foley was now the host of the Prince Albert portion, Roy would return as the host of the Royal Crown Cola segment of the Opry. That would begin on Saturday April 26. However, to publicize and build up Roy's return to the Opry, he was scheduled to appear on the Prince Albert show on April 19.

Here is the running order from 72 years ago, Saturday April 19, 1947, the night Roy Acuff returned to the Opry.

8:00: Purina
Oklahoma Wranglers: Rocky Mountain Express
Eddy Arnold: You're Not My Darling Any More
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: Wish You All Well
Eddy Arnold: Rocking Alone in an Old Rocking Chair
Rod Brasfield: Jokes
Oklahoma Wranglers: Old Indians Never Die
Annie Lou and Danny: Mountain Maw
Lonzo and Oscar: Corn Bread and Molasses
Eddy Arnold: Chained to a Memory

8:30: Warren Paint and Color Co.
Lew Childre: Fog on the Rio Grande
Paul Howard: Somebody Else's Trouble
Bill Monroe: Blue Moon of Kentucky
Milton Estes: Cowboy Has to Sing
Clyde Moody: Leaf of Love
Lew and Stringbean: Rabbit in the Log
Chubby Wise: Down Yonder
Marie and Clyde: Railroad Boomer
Possum Hunters: Miss Sally
Robert Lunn: Since They Put a Radio in the Henhouse
Jimmy Walker: Gone, Gone, Gone

9:00: Royal Crown Cola
Golden West Cowboys: Alabama Jubilee
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Billy in the Low Ground
Cowboy Copas: Texas Red
Texas Ruby: Kansas City Blues
Curly Fox: Farmer and His Mule
Bradley Kincaid: Billy Richardson's Last Ride
York Brothers: Life Can Never Be the Same
Cowboy Copas: Tragic Romance
Johnnie and Jack: This World Can't Stand Long
Shorty Boyd: 8th of January

9:30: Prince Albert
Red Foley: Tennessee Central No. 9
Square Dance: Turkey in the Straw
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Oak Ridge Quartet: Blind Bartemus
Ernest Tubb: There's Gonna Be Some Changes Made Around Here
Red Foley: I'll Never Let You Go Little Darling
Minnie Pearl: Jokes
Roy Acuff: Wait for the Light to Shine
Instrumental: Careless Love
Square Dance: Leather Britches

10:00: Wall-Rite
Earl Scruggs: Why Did You Wander
Bill and Lester: True Life Blues
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: Pleasure Down on the Farm
Quartet: Shining Path
Lester: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You

10:15: Weatherhouse
Paul Howard: There's a Big Rock in the Road
Lew and Stringbean: Roll On Buddy Roll On
Clyde Moody: Where the Old River Flows
Johnny and Jack: Sing Tom Kitty
Possum Hunters: Old Rat

10:30: Cherokee Mills
Roy Acuff: No One Will Ever Know
Rachel and Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Curly Fox and Ruby: Did You Ever Go Sailing
Jimmy: My Life's Been a Pleasure
Jug Band: Detour
Arthur Smith: Kicking Mule

10:45: Southern Woodenware
Golden West Cowboys: Tennessee Waltz
Bill Monroe: My Rose of Old Kentucky
Bradley Kincaid: Granny's Old Arm Chair
Crook Brothers: The Old Account Was Settled
Golden West Cowboys: Cowboy's Special

11:00: Eddy Arnold Songbook
Eddy Arnold: I Couldn't Believe It Was True
Lily Belle: You Only Want Me When You're Lonely
Lonzo and Oscar: John Henry
Eddy Arnold: You Can't Break the Chains of Love

11:15: Ernest Tubb Songbook
Ernest Tubb: Rainbow at Midnight
Hal Smith: Joe Turner Blues
Dot and Smokey: Let's Pretend
Ernest Tubb: I'm Telling You

11:30: Saf-Kill
Wally Fowler: Waiting for My Call to Glory
Oklahoma Wranglers: A No Good Son of a Gun
Curly Fox: Bully of the Town
York Brothers: Life Can Never Be the Same
Gully Jumpers: Dance All Night

11:45: Michigan Bulb
Milton Estes: I'm Writing You Darling Through Tears
Jimmy Walker and Robert Lunn: I'd Trade All My Tomorrows
Kirk McGee: I'm Gonna Be Boss from Now On
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Chinese Breakdown
Milton Estes: I Don't Care

By the way, when Roy came back, he was paid above union scale, a practice that the Opry still follows today.

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