Grand Ole Opry 7/5 & 7/6

Getting it in early before the July 4 holiday, the Grand Ole Opry has posted the schedules for the upcoming weekend shows.

In looking at the line-ups, Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights include Jeannie Seely, The Whites and Ricky Skaggs, all of whom are hosting segments both nights. Riders In the Sky join the trio hosting on Friday night, along with Bobby Osborne, while Jesse McReynolds is feeling better and back on the schedule for Saturday night.

Williams & Ree are guesting both nights. On Friday night Eddy Raven, Ray Scott, songwriter Erin Enderlin, King Calaway, Dillon Carmichael and former "Nashville" star Charles Esten are on the list, while on Saturday Lucas Hoge, Jillian Jacqueline, T.G. Sheppard, Tyler Farr, Darin & Brooke Aldridge and Sam Bush will be joining Williams & Ree. T.G., by the way, has a new radio show on the XM/Sirius Elvis channel.

Friday July 5
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Eddy Raven; Ray Scott
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Erin Enderlin; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
Intermission
8:15: The Whites (host); Williams & Ree; King Calaway
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Dillon Carmichael; Charles Esten

Saturday July 6
7:00: The Whites (host); Lucas Hoge; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jillian Jacqueline; T.G. Sheppard
Intermission
8:15: Ricky Skaggs (host); Tyler Farr; Opry Square Dancers; Darin & Brooke Aldridge; Williams & Ree; Sam Bush

One of those rare weekends when nobody is making their Opry debut. With five Opry members scheduled on Friday night, that is actually better than last weekend, while four are on the schedule for Saturday night.
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As the July 4th weekend continues, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of July 3 & 4, 2009:

Friday July 3
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jesse McReynolds; Holly Williams
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; The Grascals
8:00: Mike Snider (host); The Vanderbilt Kennedy Music Camp; Jan Howard; Jack Greene
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Stonewall Jackson; John Conlee; Connie Smith

Saturday July 4
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Christy Sutherland
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; The Grascals
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Stonewall Jackson; Chris Young; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mandy Barnett; Jim Ed Brown w/The Browns

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday July 2, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jim Ed Brown
6:45: Jean Shepard (host); Bill Carlisle
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Stonewall Jackson; Charlie Louvin; The Whites
7:30: The Four Guys (host); Darryl and Don Ellis; Mel McDaniel
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mike Snider and Bob Clark; Brother Oswald and Buck White; Jack Greene; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); George Hamilton IV; Jeannie Seely; Jimmy C Newman

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Billy Walker
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Roy Drusky
10:15: Jean Shepard (host); Charlie Louvin
10:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Charlie Walker
10:45: Jack Greene (host); Mike Snider; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); George Hamilton IV; The Whites; Jimmy C Newman
11:30: The Four Guys (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jeannie Seely; Mel McDaniel

And from 50 years ago, Saturday July 5, 1969:

1st show
6:30/6:45: Glaser Brothers; Del Wood; The Four Guys; Charlie Louvin
7:00: Roy Acuff; Billy Grammer; Loretta Lynn; Stu Phillips
7:30: Porter Wagoner; Dolly Parton; Mel Tillis; Crook Brothers
8:00:  Lester Flatt; Webb Pierce; Dottie West; Jimmy Johnson
8:30: Hank Snow; Del Reeves; Margie Bowes; Ray Pillow; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Billy Grammer; Glaser Brothers; Del Wood; The Four Guys
10:00: Charlie Louvin; Stu Phillips; Kenny Price; Diane McCall
10:15: Roy Acuff; Loretta Lynn
10:30: Porter Wagoner; Dolly Parton
10:45: Lester Flatt; Mel Tillis; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow; Webb Pierce; Dottie West; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Del Reeves; Ray Pillow; Bob Luman; Margie Bowes
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Looking back, it was on Saturday July 6, 1985 that Johnny Russell became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

From time to time, a song gives country music's core audience a picture of itself that is attractive or amusing enough to become a kind of anthem. Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee" is perhaps the best known, but the singer and songwriter Johnny Russell will be remembered by enthusiasts for his affectionate cultural cameo, "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer." He reached a much larger audience, though, with his composition, "Act Naturally," first a hit for Buck Owens, then for Ringo Starr on the Beatles' album, Help!

Born in Roundaway, Mississippi, Johnny spent his teenage years in Fresno, California. Inspired by country stars of the 1940s and 50s, such as Lefty Frizzell and Ernest Tubb, he began entering talent contests, performing in clubs and writing songs. "In A Mansion Stands My Love," which he wrote and recorded at the age of 18, earned him a long-running income as the flipside of Jim Reeve's 1960 multi-million seller, "He'll Have To Go."

Excited by this brush with success, he moved to Nashville, but made little headway and was soon back in California, where Buck Owens had a No. 1 hit with "Act Naturally" in 1963. The Beatles' recording followed a couple of years later and, in 1989, the song was revived when Buck and Ringo recorded it as a duet.

Over the next few years, Johnny worked in California and Nashville, writing songs for the Wilburn Brothers' publishing company, Sure-Fire. In 1971, Chet Atkins, who had produced the Reeves recording of "In A Mansion Stands My Love," signed him to an RCA contract. Apart from "Rednecks," a hit in 1973, and a similar southern study, "Catfish John," he never sold a great many records, but critics approved of his albums Catfish John/Chained and Mr. and Mrs. Untrue.

He continued to write songs for other artists, among them "Let's Fall to Pieces Together," a chart topper for George Strait in 1984, and "Making Plans," originally recorded as a duet by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, and later chosen by Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for their album, Trio. He also placed songs with Loretta Lynn, Gene Watson, Dottie West and Vince Gill. Though he enjoyed writing and plugging songs, it annoyed Johnny that his skill prevented him from performing as much as he would have liked. He worked in Las Vegas and on television variety shows, and had a few characters parts in TV dramas, but finally found his niche in 1985 as a cast member of the Grand Ole Opry. "Probably my greatest satisfaction," he said, "is to see my audiences give off a good belly laugh." He also appeared on Hee Haw.

Many of his Opry colleagues gathered for a benefit concert that took place in March 2001, shortly before his diabetes led him having both legs amputated below the knee. Twice married, Johnny had a son and a daughter.

Born on January 23, 1940, Johnny Russell died on July 3, 2001.

Here is the running order from 34 years ago, July 6, 1985, the night that Johnny Russell joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. (By the way, the segment in which Johnny became an Opry member was televised on RFD-TV a couple of weeks ago).

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
The Four Guys (host); Cottonfields/Mariah
Jean Shepard: The Wonders You Perform
The Four Guys: How Married are You Mary Ann

6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host); Looking Back is Easier
Brother Oswald: Mountain Dew
Jack Greene: The Great Speckled Bird

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ole Slewfoot
Johnny Russell: Red Necks, White Socks, & Blue Ribbon Beer/Act Naturally
Dottie West: Country Sunshine/American Trilogy
Porter Wagoner: I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name

7:30: Standard Candy
George Hamilton IV (host): Break My Mind
Ray Pillow: Dim Lights; Thick Smoke
Crook Brothers and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Gray Eagle
Connie Smith: Louisiana Man/A Far Cry From You
George Hamilton IV: (?)

8:00: Martha White
Ricky Skaggs (host): Highway 40 Blues
Jan Howard: Lord, I Hope this Day is Good
Charlie Louvin: He Can be Found
Roy Drusky: Have I Stayed Away to Long
Ricky Skaggs: I've Got a New Heartache/Honey, Open that Door/Hallelujah, I'm Ready

8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Jeannie Seely: Once You're Gone
Billy Grammer: Birth of the Blues/Drifting Back to Dreamland
Hank Snow: Among My Souvenirs

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
The Four Guys: Operator; Information; Give Me Jesus on the Line
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Dottie West: We Know Better Now/Rocky Top
Porter Wagoner: Everything I've Always Wanted

10:00: Little Debbie
Ray Pillow (host): You're One Memory That I'd Like to Make Again
Jean Shepard: Then He Touched Me
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore

10:15: Sunbeam
Ricky Skaggs (host): Country Boy
Connie Smith: A Far Cry from You
Ricky Skaggs: Something in My Heart

10:30: Martha White
Billy Walker (host): Ashes of Love
Justin Tubb: The Wino's Prayer
Billy Walker: He Sang the Songs About El Paso/Charlie's Shoes

10:45: Beech-Nut
Roy Drusky (host): Mississippi
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Crook Brothers and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Roy Drusky: Second Hand Rose

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): There's A Fool Such as I
Jeannie Seely: One Step Away from Going Home
Brother Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Billy Grammer: When It's Darkness on the Delta/Homestead on the Farm
Hank Snow: Old Shep

11:30: Quincy's
Jack Greene (host): The Devil's Den
Charlie Louvin: Today All Over Again
Jan Howard: Slow Burning Memory
Johnny Russell: Kaw-liga/No One Will Ever Know

When looking at the line-up from that night, you will notice that Roy Acuff was missing and Brother Oswald had a spot on each of the two shows. On Sunday June 16, 1985, Roy experienced pain in his right chest and coughed up blood. He was taken to the hospital where he was admitted for several days. The doctors found a blood clot on his right lung and prescribed blood thinners. On Saturday September 14, Roy went on Bill Anderson's show and talked about his 82nd birthday, which was the following day. He did not perform and as a birthday gift to Roy, WSM sent Roy and some friends to Atlanta for the game between the Braves and the Cincinnati Reds. It wasn't until October 12 that Roy was back on the Opry to help celebrate the Opry's 60th birthday. He did not sing that night, but the following week, October 19, he was back performing.

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