So, did I miss anything while I was gone other than Keith Urban's annual Opry appearance?
Anyways, back from the mountains and it will be a big weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as there are two shows scheduled for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry.
The Friday Night Opry will feature the Opry's newest member, Kelsea Ballerini, who is scheduled for both shows. Joining Kelsea will be Opry members Mike Snider, Ricky Skaggs, Dailey & Vincent, John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Jesse McReynolds and Diamond Rio.
John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, and Ricky are also scheduled for Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, will they will be joined by members Old Crow Medicine Show, Bill Anderson, The Whites, Jeannie Seely, and for the late show only, Bobby Osborne.
Guesting on the Friday Night Opry will be Morgan Evans (Kelsea's beau), and making his Opry debut, Chris Shiflett. As far as Saturday night is concerned, the guest list for both shows includes Devin Dawson, Frankie Ballard, Brett Young, and on the first show, Charlie Nagatani, who will continue his streak of annual Opry appearances.
Friday May 17
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Mike Snider; Morgan Evans
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Chris Shiflett
8:00: Dailey & Vincent (host); Diamond Rio
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Kelsea Ballerini
2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Mike Snider; Morgan Evans
10:00: Dailey & Vincent (host); Kelsea Ballerini
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Chris Shiflett
11:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Diamond Rio
Saturday May 18
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); John Conlee; Devin Dawson
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Nagatani; Frankie Ballard
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Brett Young; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Riders In The Sky
2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); John Conlee; Devin Dawson
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Frankie Ballard
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Brett Young; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Riders In The Sky
Raised alongside the California coastline in Santa Barbara, Chris Shiflett kicked off his career in seminal pop-punk groups like No Use For a Name and the Gimme Gimmes. As the 90s gave way to the 2000s, he joined the Foo Fighters' line-up. He's since become one of the band's longest-running members, flying the flag of modern rock & roll for two decades. Along the way, he's also become the host of a bi-weekly Americana podcast, "Walking the Floor," as well as the driving force behind solo projects like Chris Shiflett and the Dead Peasants. "Hard Lessons" follows "West Coast Town" as the second solo record to bear his name alone, and it's perhaps the most Shi-flett-sounding album in his entire catalog, with songs that nod to the classic Bakersfield sound one minute and Keith Richards' greasy guitar style the next.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the 3rd weekend in May 2009:
Friday May 15
7:00: Hal Ketchum (host); Connie Smith; Jim Ed Brown
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Ashton Shepherd
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jack Greene; Keith Anderson
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Gary Mule Deer; Gene Watson
Saturday May 16
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; David Nail
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jewel
8:00: Marty Stuart (host); Jan Howard; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Jack Greene; Charlie Daniels Band
Now from 25 years ago, Saturday May 21, 1994
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me and You and A Dog Named Boo
Jean Shepard: I'm Just an Old Bridge that You Keep Burning
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Old Rattler
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World/Lovesick Blues
Grandpa Jones: Little Old Log Cabin by the Stream
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates: Make Him a Soldier
Bill Carlisle: Hand Me Down My Walking Cane
Jan Howard: Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye
Porter Wagoner and Colene Walters: Please Don't Stop Loving Me
Porter Wagoner: Wake Up Jacob
7:30: Standard Candy
Jack Greene (host): Looking Back is Easier
Rhonda Vincent: I'm Not Over You
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Charley Pride: Shutters & Boards/Is Anybody Going to San Antone/Kiss an Angel Good Morning
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of a Fool
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): But You Know I Love You
Roy Drusky: Somewhere My Love
Jimmy C Newman: Louisiana Cajun Band
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Bill Anderson: The Unicorn
8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Ramblin' Rose
Connie Smith: Once A Day
The Four Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Ray Pillow: One Memory to Another
Mike Snider: Lonesome Road Blues/Snuff Dipper
Hank Snow: Blueberry Hill
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host) and Colene Walters: The Last Thing on My Mind
Jan Howard: The One You Slip Around With
Rhonda Vincent: Mama Knows the Highway
Randy Howard: Sally Goodin
Charley Pride: Walk on By/Kaw-liga
Porter Wagoner: The Cowboy's Hat
10:00: Doctor's Cream
Grandpa Jones (host): Oh, Suzannah
Brother Oswald: The End of the World
Grandpa Jones: Dark as the Dungeon
10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Bill Anderson (host): Before I Met You
Stonewall Jackson: 'Ol Chunk of Coal
Bill Anderson: Still
10:30: Gruhn Guitars
Jean Shepard (host): If Teardrops Were Pennies
The Whites: No One Has to Tell Me What Love Is
Jean Shepard and The Whites: Love's Gonna Live Here
10:45: Opry Book
Mike Snider (host): Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Tennessee Waggoner
Randy Howard: Tom & Jerry
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): The Call of the Wild
The Four Guys: Tennessee
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou
Charlie Walker: A Way to Free Myself
Hank Snow: The Rainbow's End
11:30:
General Jackson
Jack Greene (host): Walking the Floor Over You
Connie Smith: I Never Once Stopped Loving You/Sing, Sing, Sing
Billy Walker: Word Games/Singing the Blues
Jeannie Seely: Houston
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
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Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday May 17, 1969 which was the night that Tammy Wynette became, for a short amount of time, a member of the Grand Ole Opry:
1st show
6:30/6:45
Hank Locklin
Willis Brothers
Bill Carlisle
The Four Guys
Bobby Lord
7:00: Luzianne
Bill Anderson (host): I Love You Drops
Charlie Walker: Honky Tonk Season
Stringbean: Ol' Man, Can You Play the Banjo
Del Wood: Ballin' the Jack
Bill Anderson: My Life
Charlie Walker: Jambalaya
Jimmy Gately: Cryin' Don't Pay
Stringbean: Nine Pound Hammer
Bill Anderson: City Lights/I've Enjoyed as Much of This As I Can Stand/I Don't Love You Anymore/Once A Day/Cold Hard Facts of Life/Cincinnati, Ohio/Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Once More
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Jean Shepard: I'm Tied Around Your Finger
Archie Campbell: Scarlet Ribbons
Crook Brothers: Eighth of January
Justin Tubb: The Great River Road Mystery
Roy Acuff: Filipino Baby
8:00: Martha White
George Jones (host): White Lightening
Tammy Wynette: D-I-V-O-R-C-E
George Jones and Tammy Wynette: Milwaukee, Here I Come
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Laurel
Tammy Wynette: Singing My Song
Jones Boys: Fire on the Mountain
8:30: Stephens
Bill Monroe (host): Train 45
Glaser Brothers: California Girl
Margie Bowes: Understand Your Gal/Big City
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
Bill Monroe: I Haven't Seen Mary in Years
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Johnny Cash: Folsom Prison Blues/Orange Blossom Special
Johnny Cash and June Carter: Jackson
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Locklin (host): Geisha Girl
Willis Brothers: Bob
Jean Shepard: Many Happy Hangovers to You
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Willis Brothers: Rambling Boy
The Four Guys: Daddy Sang Base
Justin Tubb: Be Glad
10:00: Fender
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Charlie Walker: Little Old Wine Drinker Me
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:15: Pure
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself A Name
Jimmy Gately: Heavenly Sunshine
Bill Anderson: My Life
10:30; Buckley's
Stonewall Jackson (host): A Wound Time Can't Erase
Bobby Lord: Yesterday's Letters
Johnny Cash: I Still Miss Someone/Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash and June Carter: Jackson
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo
10:45: True
Bill Monroe (host): Blue Moon of Kentucky
Margie Bowes: That Completely Destroys My Plans
Crook Brothers: Sally Ann
Bill Monroe: I'm On My Way Back to the Old Home
11:00: Coca Cola
George Jones (host): The Race is On
Tammy Wynette: Stand By Your Man
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cotton Eyed Joe
George Jones: I'll Be Over When the Grass Grows Over Me
Tammy Wynette: Your Good Girl;s Gonna Go Bad
Sam McGee: Uncle Bud
George Jones: Walk Thru This World With Me
11:30: Lava
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): My Georgia Moon
Grandpa Jones: Raining on the Mountain, Now My Love
The Four Guys: Swing Down Chariot
Wilma Lee Cooper; I Don't Care if Tomorrow Never Comes
Grandpa Jones: T for Texas
The Four Guys: Love of the Common People
Earl White: I'll Love You More Today (Then He Can From Now On)
As I wrote, Tammy Wynette did not stay as an Opry member for very long. She and George were married in February 1969 and the divorce was final in 1975. But by that point, Tammy was long gone from the Opry.
Tammy's Grand Ole Opry induction came at about the same time that George Jones rejoined the Opry. While Tammy left, George more or less stayed.
That is it for this week. As always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend and thanks for checking out this week's blog.
Quite a show in 1969. Interesting that Roy Acuff did Filipino Baby, popular by other artist, when he had just done a LP called Treasury of Country Hits that contained several covers.
ReplyDeleteAlso interesting was to see Whisper do such a long medley of self penned tunes. And it is nice to see Jimmy Gately performing. He was a good singer and songwriter as well and important to Bill as a friend and to Po'Boys. And, I did not know Earl White sang, I assume he sang the tune listed. Wonder if he ever sang on record?
Byron: Hank Snow did some interesting tunes on that 94 show icluding one of your favorite, Ramblin' Rose.
Thanks for taking the time to post these great lineups each week!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I forgot to point out that this week's Opry Encore on RFD-TV on Saturday night will feature Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells and The Jordanaires.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that RFD is showing a "Reunion Night."
ReplyDeleteI got to know Earl White a bit through the internet, and have some CD's he did in his later years. He did one that's mostly him singing. Earl first did the Opry in 1955 with Marty Robbins and was mostly out of the business from 1963 (he had been close to Jean Shepard and Hawkshaw Hawkins) to 1973, when Herman Crook brought him in as the fiddler for the Crook Brothers. But if you want to talk about long tenures around the Opry, Earl played it until just before he died in 2014.
Micheal,
ReplyDeleteI wish I had met Earl. I believe he would have visited some via email like with you. I emailed him a photo I took in the dressing room with Os and Charlie and he was there. I guess we met him, but I did not get acquainted or visit with him that night! A fourth man was there that I did not know by sight. Come to find out from Earl, it was Charlie Bush! I will have to look into his recordings. You mentioned being close to Jean and Hawk and it seems I recall him telling on one of Eddies March 5 memorial shows that he was supposed to go to KC with Hawk. He was devastated after the accident.
Thanks for the info and memories.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I am in Nashville until Sunday. We took in the Country Music hall of Fame today. It was awesome. Top floor of course was my favorite. The beginnings through the golden age of the Opry. I will say I was some disappointed there was no personal items on display for Roy Acuff, Little Jimmy Dickens, Ernest Tubb & others. I’m certain there are items in storage. I know I have been The Duke Of Paducah’s famous green suit online. It was not on display. But it is a wonderful place for a true country fan to visit.
ReplyDeleteWe are doing the 9:30 Opry tonight. My girlfriend is excited about Kelsea. Me I’ll be looking forward to Ricky, The Riders, Daily & Vincent, Conlee & Diamond Rio.
Tomorrow we’ll take in the Johnny Cash Museum and The Antique Archeology Store (American Pickers).
We did go to Opry Mills today. I just wish I had been there 25 or 30 years ago. I find it funny all the “Opryland” exit signs, etc still being used. Lots of old ghosts on the property. I couldn’t help but think of Roy Acuff, Porter Wagoner, Bashful Brother Oswald, and others who dedicated themselves to Opryland.
David, nice that you are enjoying your trip to Nashville. I know each visit I make is a special time and I always seem to find or discover something new. Hopefully, you enjoyed the Opry last night. While Kelsea was the big name last night, there was a very nice of veteran Opry members.
DeleteI highly recommend the Johnny Cash Museum. It is one of my favorites and I would also recommend the Patsy Cline Museum, which is just above the Cash place. Same ownership and in fact, you enter through the same door. Somewhat smaller than the Cash Museum but I found it very enjoyable.
The folks at the Country Music Hall of Fame do an amazing job. They keep the exhibits fresh and rotate items in and out. When they do a special exhibit, they really go all out. Most Saturdays they have either a special program or a songwriters session, which is free with admission, and it gives folks a chance to meet the featured writer or performer and hear some great stories on how some of the songs came about. For Opry related items, the backstage tour seems to be the place to go. I just think the tour is over priced, but it gives fans a chance to see the backstage area of the Opry and all they have done there since the flood of 2010.
As to the Opryland signs, I still smile when I see those.
For those who might not have heard, Travis Tritt's tour bus was involved in a deadly crash last night. 2 people were killed in the vehicle that hit Travis' bus. Apparently, the vehicle was in the wrong lane and hit the bus. Alcohol is suspected.
ReplyDeleteHopefully some of you were able to watch the Opry encore last night on RFD-TV. Roy Acuff hosted and you forget what a great host he was on his segment. Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright were both very good as were the Jordanaires. Coming back from the commercial breaks, Keith did a short interview with Carl Butler on one segment and David Houston and his wife on another.
ReplyDeleteBack to Roy, he actually took time to talk to Kitty and Johnny when introducing them and the banter between all of them was very good. This was from 1989, before Roy really started to decline in his health. He looked sharp and sounded sharp.
Next weeks show is scheduled to be hosted by Bill Anderson and will feature Anita Cochran, Wilma Lee Cooper and Stu Phillips.
It was wonderful to see that one and they also have recently shown the 1993 inductions of Charley Pride, who is still an Opry member, and Travis Tritt, who never really was.
DeleteI should clarify that I meant the inductions of Pride and Tritt as Opry members. It was special to me as a longtime fan that Jimmy C. Newman did the honors for Charley, who, I believe, requested him.
DeleteI'm just an emotional person so it doesn't take much to bring me to tears and that show did last night. I'm sure we have the 89 show on VHS somewhere but haven't watched in a long time. Watching Roy Acuff on stage and obviously enjoying every minute if it just intensifies my feelings of clinging to these artist that have passed and what they did. And to the few that are left keeping a faint heartbeat alive. The culture has changed and no matter what takes place on stage between the newer acts, I just do not get that same feeling of friendship and admiration among peers. I am not so naive not to realize that there was competition and possibly animosity between many of out past favorites in their peek days. But I still think it was different.
ReplyDeleteFriday night I went to a weekly gathering of local musicians where I have been doing some recitations. One of the songs performed was Murder on Music Row. I get in the car to head home and what should my ears hear but murder at 2804 Opryland Drive. It sounded worse in the car than the second time around at home but I was still frustrated.....no tears for this! Where do aging Rock and Rollers go to perform but the Grand Ole Opry. The lead singer of Foo Fighters who Byron wrote has flown the flag for modern Rock for two decades graced the Opry stage for the first time! Waylon sang "I don't think Hank done it this way". Well, I don't think Buck and Don done it this way.....telecasters or not. Too loud and too much amplification. I see that Shiflett points to a Bakersfield influence. Acuff, Monroe, Snow and so many others must be turning in their graves like the Minutemen in that Stonewall Jackson song. I'm sorry but is there no limit to the range of music they will have on the Opry anymore. I know there has been an acceptance to acts well outside of Country since James Brown and even before. However, it was not almost every show.
Nods to the past like reinstating Bobby Bare just can't offset the prostitution of of the sacred Opry brand that takes place anymore. But....but....listen to the audience. The same audience that really applauded and showed great appreciation for soon to be 90 year old Jesse McReynolds, turns around and proves they now all about Rock and Roll and Foo Fighters and screams and yells for Shiflett. So, no matter how much I despise the far beyond Country acts that appear, I guess this is what it has come to to keep the show going. I just hate to see traditions evolve so dramatically that one day they will not resemble the founding principles or styles they were built on. That is how nations and empires fall....I think!
Again, I give a nod to the management and the difficulty of running something like the Opry. And I think Sally Williams has been more attentive to tradition that Mr. Fisher was but at the same time acts like Shiflett showing up bring clouds of doubt to that.
Been a while since we have had a discouraging word from Knightsville. Back to my cave!
Jim
Knightsville, IN