Grand Ole Opry 7/19 & 7/20

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the four shows this weekend. Yes, there are two shows each night thanks to an appearance by Grand Ole Opry member Carrie Underwood. I know a few of us have mentioned it before, but Carrie continues to be the leader of her generation in supporting the Opry. While Brad Paisley (whom I like a lot), and a few of the others talk about supporting the show, Carrie actually does, and for that we should all appreciate her.

Additionally, Connie Smith is listed on the schedule, opening both shows on Friday night. This will be Connie's first Opry appearances since early June. There has been nothing official stated as to why Connie has not been on the Opry, or making other appearances, but hopefully whatever the issue was, it is now well behind her.

Besides Carrie and Connie on the Friday Night Opry, Bill Anderson is the only other Opry member scheduled for both shows. The veteran bluegrass members, Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne will be trading off that night, with Jesse set for the first show and Bobby the second.

Saturday night, in addition to Carrie, Bill is back for both shows, joined by Opry members The Whites and Mark Wills.

Guesting on Friday night will be the legendary Gene Watson. Joining Gene will be Adam Doleac, The Grascals and Dom Flemons. Saturday night has The Sisterhood, A Thousand Horses, comedian Henry Cho and veteran artist Tracy Lawrence on the schedule

Friday July 19
1st show
7:00: Connie Smith; Adam Doleac
7:30: Jesse McReynolds; Bill Anderson
8:00: The Grascals; Gene Watson
8:30: Dom Flemons; Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Connie Smith; Adam Doleac
10:00: Bill Anderson; Carrie Underwood
10:30: Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Gene Watson
11:00: Dom Flemons; The Grascals

Saturday July 20
1st show
7:00: Bill Anderson; The Sisterhood
7:30: Tracy Lawrence; Henry Cho
8:00: A Thousand Horses; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mark Wills; Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson; The Sisterhood
10:00: Tracy Lawrence; Carrie Underwood
10:30: A Thousand Horses; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Henry Cho; Mark Wills

Like last weekend, the shows have the mid-week format with just eight artists scheduled. However, unlike last week, the quality of those appearing is much better.

It does make you wonder if this is going to be a new booking approach by the Opry for the weekend shows. Just thinking out loud, Bill Anderson, The Whites and Mark Wills on Saturday night are all capable of hosting segments, and they have gone with just three segments before (actually they have also gone with only two). Friday night, Connie Smith and Bill Anderson could have hosted, and while I am not 100% sure, The Whites or Mark Wills could have been available.

That is the hole the Opry gets into when those capable of hosting, such as Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, and John Conlee, among the veterans, have booked themselves out for the night, or have other reasons for not being on the Opry this particular weekend.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the 3rd weekend in July 2009:

Friday July 17
7:00: John Conlee (host); Riders In The Sky; Jack Greene; Rhonda Vincent
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds; Daryle Singletary
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Hal Ketchum
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Jim Ed Brown; Roy Clark

Saturday July 18
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; The Lovell Sisters
7:30: Roy Clark (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy C Newman; Riders In The Sky
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Hal Ketchum; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); T Bubba Bechtol; Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; The Lovell Sisters
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy C Newman; Hal Ketchum
10:30: Roy Clark (host); Jan Howard; Riders In The Sky; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); T Bubba Bechtol; Connie Smith

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

1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates
6:45: Mike Snider (host); Bill Carlisle
7:00: The Whites (host); Brother Oswald; Ray Pillow; Jeanne Pruett
7:30: Johnny Russell (host); Jan Howard; Carolee Singers; Johnny Lee
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Hank Locklin; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Charlie Walker; Jeannie Seely; Billy Walker

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Ray Pillow; Steve Hall
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Roy Drusky
10:15: Mike Snider (host); Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates
10:30: Billy Walker (host); Jeanne Pruett
10:45: Jean Shepard (host); Whitstein Brothers; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Hank Locklin; The Whites
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Walker; Johnny Lee; Stonewall Jackson

And from 50 years ago, Saturday July 19, 1969:

1st show
6:30/6:45: Glaser Brothers; Jean Shepard; George Hamilton IV; Del Wood; The Four Guys; Ray Pillow
7:00: Hank Lockin; Jim Ed Brown; Loretta Lynn; Mel Tillis; Willis Brothers; Bill Carlisle
7:30: Roy Acuff; Margie Bowes; Grandpa Jones; Billy Grammer
8:00: Lester Flatt; Tex Ritter; Bob Luman; Marion Worth
8:30: George Jones; Tammy Wynette; Del Reeves; Charlie Walker; Stu Phillips; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Glaser Brothers; George Hamilton IV; Willis Brothers; Jim Ed Brown; Jean Shepard
10:00: Roy Acuff; Del Wood; The Four Guys
10:15: Billy Grammer; Loretta Lynn
10:30: Tex Ritter; Grandpa Jones; Mel Tillis
10:45: Lester Flatt; Bill Carlisle; Crook Brothers; Margie Bowes
11:00: Hank Locklin; Ray Pillow; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Del Reeves; Bob Luman; Charlie Walker; Marion Worth
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As previously mentioned, the Opry Encore show on RFD-TV this Saturday night will feature a show from Saturday October 19, 1985. The televised portion was hosted by Roy Acuff,  and featured Loretta Lynn, and the final night that Lonzo and Oscar performed on the Opry (in addition to the televised segment, Lonzo and Oscar also appeared on the 2nd show that night). As to Roy, he had been off of the Opry for a number of months due to heart issues. The previous week, he walked on with the birthday cake but did not perform.

Here is the running order of the entire show from 34 years ago:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Del Reeves (host): Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime at a Time/Looking at the World Through a Windshield
Vic Willis Trio: You Looked So Good in Love
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me

6:45: Rudy's
The Four Guys (host): Give Me One More Chance
Wilma Lee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
The Four Guys: My Special Angel

7:00: Shoney's
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Loretta Lynn: Wouldn't That Be Great/Heart, Don't Do This to Me/Coal Miner's Daughter
Lonzo and Oscar: I'm My Own Grandpa/A Beautiful Life
Howdy Forrester: Instrumental
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy Dickens (host): I'm Little But I'm Loud
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
George Hamilton IV: Early Morning Rain
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar In the Goard
Jimmy Dickens: Raggedy Ann

8:00: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Pie
Jeanne Pruett: A Rented Room
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Roy Drusky: Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy
Connie Smith: You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me
Tommy Hunter: Paradise
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home

8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): I Have You and That's Enough For Me
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Charlie Walker: Time Changes Everything
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Bill Carlisle: Some Ol' Tale That the Crow Told Me
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing That was Good in My Life

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Del Reeves (host): Louisiana Legs
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
The Four Guys: Whiskey & Water
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough/Fist City/Don't Come Home A' Drinkin'/You're Looking at Country/Wouldn't That Be Great
Del Reeves: Anywhere U.S.A.

10:00: Little Debbie
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Jan Howard: Why, Lady Why
Ray Pillow; The 24th Hour
Jimmy Dickens: My Eyes are Jealous

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Connie Smith: Did We Have to Come This Far to Say Goodbye/Sing, Sing, Sing

10:30: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host): Nelly Bly
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me Again
Lonzo and Oscar: Wedding Bells/I Can't Help It/You Win Again/Your Cheatin' Heart/Cold, Cold Heart
Grandpa Jones: The Sweet Sunny South

10:45: Beech-Nut
Jack Greene (host): Midnight Tennessee Woman
Jean Shepard: I Just Had You on My Mind
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Old Joe Clark
Jack Greene: I'm Going Through Hell for an Angel

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Wreck of the Old 97
Justin Tubb: Be Better to Your Baby
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Billy Walker: Coffee Brown Eyes
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Hank Snow: My Rose

11:30: Quincy's
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Charlie Walker: Whose Heart Are You Breaking
Roy Drusky: Have I Stayed Away Too Long
Johnny Russell: Kaw-Liga/No One Will Every Know
Jimmy C Newman: Twana Woo-Woo

Rollin Sullivan was a singer, songwriter and mandolin player when he joined Opry member Paul Howard and his group, the Arkansas Pickers in 1942. After his brother Johnny left the Navy in 1944, the brothers became members of Eddy Arnold's Tennessee Plowboys.

In 1946, Eddy paired Rollin and fellow band member Lloyd George as a music and comedy team which opened Eddy's shows. The duo adopted the name "Lonzo & Oscar" with Rollin as the comedian and Lloyd, who played guitar and sang, as the straight man. They were instant hits.

They were so good that Eddy urged them to go out on their own. He helped them to get a recording contract with RCA Records, and recommended the duo to Opry management. In 1947-48, Lonzo and Oscar had a million selling smash hit, "I'm My Own Grandpa." While Lonzo and Oscar had the original version of the song, it was recorded by many others.

In 1950, Lloyd George, the original Lonzo, decided to try a solo career and quit the duo. He was replaced by Rollin's brother, Johnny. That version of the duo scored a 1961 radio hit "Country Music Time" on Starday Records. This duo also recorded songs for Decca, Dot, GRC, Capital and Columbia among other labels.

The duo also was known for a string of comedy songs such as "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea," "Take Them Cold Feet Outta My Back," and "You Blacked My Blue Eyes Once Too Often." However, it was their live act that brought them the most stardom as not only were they comedians, but they were also excellent and serious musicians.

Following Johnny's death in 1967 at the age of 49, Rollin teamed up with a third Lonzo, David Hooten. This version of the duo made a non-comedy album for GRC, and from it came the 1974 hit "Traces of Life."

In 1985, both Rollin and David had some health issues and made the decision to retire. After that, both continued to perform on occasion individually and with others. David Hooten is still alive while Rollin passed away in 2012.

One interesting fact regarding Lonzo & Oscar is that reportedly they were the first Grand Ole Opry act to have their own custom tour bus, beginning a Nashville tradition that continues to this day.

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading the blog and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.