Sometimes on the weekend of the CMA Music Fest, the Grand Ole Opry has a little trouble putting together a solid line-up, due to the bigger names performing at the stadium shows, and with so much activity downtown. Additionally, many of the artists that have been in town during the week are headed out for shows over the weekend. I know Blake Shelton and Chris Janson are performing in Ohio on Saturday afternoon/evening. Looking at the line-ups for this weekend, I think the Opry did a credible job putting together solid shows both for the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry.
Five Grand Ole Opry members are appearing both nights and that would be Bill Anderson, Riders In The Sky, Jeannie Seely, Mark Wills and the legendary Charley Pride. Joining that group on Friday night will be Mike Snider, Bobby Osborne and The Whites. The list is a little shorter on Saturday night as Jesse McReynolds and Crystal Gayle on the members performing.
As to guest artists on Friday night, Lauren Jenkins, Dillon Carmichael, Gary Mule Deer and Kiefer Sutherland are scheduled. On Saturday night, it will be Charles Esten, Dusty Slay, Aaron Watson and The Wandering Hearts. The Wandering Hearts were on the Opry last June at the invitation of Marty Stuart, and now they are back for a return appearance.
Friday June 7
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Lauren Jenkins; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Dillon Carmichael
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Gary Mule Deer; Kiefer Sutherland
8:45: Mark Wills (host); The Whites; Charley Pride
Saturday June 8
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Wandering Hearts; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Crystal Gayle; Charles Esten
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Dusty Slay; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Mark Wills (host); Aaron Watson; Charley Pride
In addition to the two night time Opry shows, there will also be an Opry Classics show on Saturday afternoon at the Ryman Auditorium
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Charley Pride
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Mason Ramsey, Don Schlitz, Holly Williams
And not to forget the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree which will be hosted by Mel Tillis, Jr. It was always a tradition that Mel Tillis hosted on the Saturday of CMA week and it looks like his son is carrying on the tradition.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of June 5 & 6, 2009:
Friday June 5
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jimmy C Newman; George Hamilton IV; Little General Cloggers
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Carter Twins
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jack Greene; Kathy Mattea
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host) w/Helen Cornelius/The Whites; Mark Chesnutt
Saturday June 6
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mark Wills
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; George Hamilton IV; Crystal Gayle
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stonewall Jackson; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Patty Loveless
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mark Wills
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Crystal Gayle
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Stonewall Jackson; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Patty Loveless
From 25 years ago, Saturday June 4, 1994:
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard; Ramona Jones
6:45: Jimmy Dickens (host); Stonewall Jackson
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mark Collie; Brother Oswald; Jack Greene; Skeeter Davis
7:30: Travis Tritt (host); Mel McDaniel; Jim and Jesse; Joe Diffie
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Jeanne Pruett; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Jeannie Seely; Charlie Walker; Mike Snider
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Joe Diffie; Travis Tritt
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); The Whites
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mark Collie
10:30: Mike Snider (host); Jim and Jesse
10:45: Bill Anderson (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Jean Shepard; Jimmy C Newman; Jeanne Pruett
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Mel McDaniel; Jeannie Seely; Johnny Russell
And from 50 years ago, Saturday June 7, 1969:
1st show
6:30/6:45: Billy Grammer; Jean Shepard; Jack Greene; Margie Bowes; The Four Guys
7:00: Tex Ritter; Archie Campbell; Lorene Mann; Stringbean; Louie Roberts
7:30: Roy Acuff; Bill Monroe; Loretta Lynn; Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt; Willie Brothers; Louie Roberts
8:30: Porter Wagoner; Marion Worth; Del Wood; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe; Willis Brothers; Billy Grammer; Jean Shepard
10:00: Jack Greene; Archie Campbell; Lorene Mann
10:15: Roy Acuff; Margie Bowes; The Four Guys
10:30: Tex Ritter; Loretta Lynn
10:45: Lester Flatt; Stringbean; Crook Brothers
11:00: Porter Wagoner; Del Wood; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: George Hamilton IV; Marion Worth; Louie Roberts
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Finally, it was 27 years ago, Saturday June 6, 1992 that Tom T. Hall made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
Country music is celebrated for the strength of its stories, so it means something when one performer is singled out as "The Storyteller." That performer is Tom T. Hall. The title was natural enough. Tom T. delivered a combination of detailed observation, arresting storyline, and full-bodied characters in such songs as "The Day Clayton Delaney Died," "Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine," "A Week in a County Jail," and "Homecoming."
One of ten children born to a Baptist minister, Tom T. began playing guitar at age four and wrote his first song at nine. In his teens, he formed a bluegrass band, which performed locally. After a stint in the Army, while working as a radio copywriter in Roanoke, Virginia, he wrote songs on the side that were recorded by Jimmy C Newman, Johnnie Wright, Dave Dudley and Bobby Bare.
After moving to Nashville in 1964, he had several early hit recordings of his own, including "I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew," and when Jeannie C Riley's recording of his "Harper Valley P.T.A" sold six million copies and swept away multiple awards, Tom T.'s own recording career at Mercury Records accelerated. That career continued through more than 45 albums. For two years, he hosted the syndicated TV program Pop Goes the Country and made guest appearances on several other shows.
Tom T. has authored a string of books, including an autobiography, a songwriting textbook, and several novels. His songs continue to be recorded by bluegrass bands and country and Americana acts alike.
In 2008, Tom T. Hall was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and this past year, he was elected to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.
Tom T. Hall originally joined the Grand Ole Opry on January 1, 1971. After the Opry left the Ryman Auditorium for the new Grand Ole Opry House in March 1974, he left the show. He returned as a member in 1980.
And now, here is the running order from Saturday June 6, 1992, the final time that Tom T. Hall appeared on the Grand Ole Opry:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Porter Wagoner (host): Ole Slewfoot
Jim Ed Brown: Lyin' In Love with You
Porter Wagoner: What Ain't to Be, Just Might Happen
6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Going Down the Country
Charlie Walker: Roly, Poly
Del Reeves: Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime at a Time/Looking at the World Through a Windshield
Grandpa Jones: Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea
7:00: Shoney's
Tom T Hall (host): Ravishing Ruby
Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Billy Grammer: Somebody Loves You
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Tom T Hall: Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Brooks & Dunn: Another Neon Moon/Boot Scootin Boogie
Randy Travis: Better Class of Losers/He Walked on Water/Diggin' Up Bones
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Breakdown
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
The Four Guys: I'm Bound for Higher Ground/We're Only Here for a Little While
Mike Snider: (?)/The Fur Coat (Putting on the Dog)
Opry Square Dance Band and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sail Away Ladies
Roy Acuff: Blue Eyes Cryin' In the Rain/How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
8:30: Opryland
Hank Snow (host): Silver Rails, Keep Me Free
Charlie Louvin and Charles Whitstein: The Family Who Prayers
Jeannie Seely: When He Leaves You
Hank Locklin: My Turning Point in Life
Jack Greene: There's A Lot About a Woman A Man Don't Know
Hank Snow: Let Me Go Lover
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Wilma Lee Cooper: Singing Waterfall
Billy Walker: Cross the Brazos at Waco
Brooks & Dunn: Another Neon Moon/Boot Scootin Boogie/Brand New Man
Porter Wagoner: Carolee Cooper Accident/Green Green Grass of Home
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Ain't It Hard
Stonewall Jackson: Why, I'm Walkin'
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Grandpa Jones: I'll Meet You in the Morning
10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top/The 3 Bells
10:30: Pet Milk
Tom T Hall (host): The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
Roy Drusky: Too Old to Die Young
Tom T Hall: I Love
10:45; B.C. Powder
Bill Monroe (host): Why Did You Wander
Del Reeves: A Dozen Pair of Boots
Opry Square Dance Band and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Goard
Bill Monroe: Wayfaring Strangers
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): There's A Fool Such as I
Charlie Louvin and Charles Whitstein: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Billy Grammer: Ain't Misbehavin'
The Four Guys: How Married Are You Mary Ann/May You Always
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing That was Good in My Life
11:30: Creamette
Jack Greene (host): Satisfied
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone
Mike Snider: Shuckin' the Corn/Snuff Dipper
Jack Greene: Statue of a Fool
Tom T. Hall was scheduled for the June 20th show but cancelled. What was interesting about Tom T was that up to the June show, and for several years preceding that date, he was actually making somewhat regular appearances on the Opry. Then he just stopped coming. There had been reports that Tom T had been asked why he had not been back to the Opry and his only response was that he didn't know why they kept him as a member as he was never going back. Another one of those mysteries.
Tom T Hall is now retired.
There you have it for this week. Thanks for reading and as always, I hone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!
Byron mentioned the ROPE Luncheon in his notes for the Tuesday show. Here is a quick overview of who was there and the activities.
ReplyDeleteThe performance lineup was set to be Tim Atwood, Teresa Street(local talent), Tommy Cash, Teea Goans and Little David Wilkins. Tommy Cash became ill and they were not sure he was going to be there so Charlie McCoy was there to step in.
Tommy did make the show and did three songs but he was not feeling well. He said he was suffering from vertigo and had been nauseous earlier. Like so many of these folks, he was a real trooper and wanted to keep his commitment. Charlie McCoy then did four tunes.
The performance turned out better overall than I had anticipated. Teea Goans was the highlight to me. She's a great singer and carries the traditional music well. Joe and Jan Edwards were in the audience and when Teea sang Pick Me Up On Your Way Down, my brother said he looked at Joe and he lifted his arms like it was second nature to do the fiddle break!
Bill Anderson stopped by to sign autographs and stayed for a good while watching the show. Moe Bandy, Becky, Kim and Isabella Brown, Gus Arrendale, Bennie Birchfield, Hawkshaw Hawkins Jr., Bobby G Rice and Melissa Luman were there. Kieth Bilbrey was the host. I'm sure there were some other notables in the crowd that were not mentioned and we did not recognize.
The band was Larry Barnes on bass, Ron Elliott on steel, David Johnson on fiddle, Dina Johnson on drums, Willie Rainsford on piano and Charlie Vaughan on lead guitar.
Stan Hitchcock was to be there but had just had surgery and did not make it. Jeannie Seely was also supposed to be there but was not.
Not as rewarding as in years past but it was still neat to be there and see some of these folks interacting with each other. With all the negative things on TV these days, it was nice to be at and event that had a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and America played by Ron Elliot on steel before the activities!
One of the best things for us was spending a few minutes talking with Becky Brown who was very pleasant and also talking to Bennie Birchfield.
One thing I did find odd is that they did not mention the passing of Mac Wiseman but they may have avoided doing that for fear of missing someone if the started listing names.
Bill Anderson is in Effingham,Illinois next Friday night. Let you know how that goes.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Gus Arrendale is pretty much keeping traditional country music alive all by himself.
ReplyDeleteJim, as always, my thanks for your detailed observations from the ROPE luncheon. Sadly, the list of the legends and veterans who attend seems to get a little shorter each year. I didn't see you list Stu Phillips, so I assume he was not there. I know in the past he usually attended.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Benny Birchfield was there. I had heard after the death of Jean and the shooting of his granddaughter that he had moved away from Nashville. And nice that Becky Brown attended.
I know the ROPE luncheon used to be one of the highlights of the old Fan Fair week. It is nice that they carry on with the show and that the veterans, who are able, continue to come and support.
Byron,
ReplyDeleteI think Stu has been to two out of the five we have attended now. Benny(not Bennie-sorry) looked good and acted like he did when we last talked to him in 2013. I believe I was told he had moved to Alabama! I know that he and Bill Anderson greeted and hugged like they had not seen each other in a while.
Jim
Knightsville, IN