Grand Ole Opry 8/2 & 8/3

Welcome to August!! The Grand Ole Opry rolls on with two shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry

Looking at the line-ups. the only Grand Ole Opry member scheduled for both nights are Riders In The Sky. Mike Snider is back on Friday night, after missing a few weeks, along with Bill Anderson, Dailey & Vincent, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites. Saturday night, joining the Riders will be members Jeannie Seely and Jesse McReynolds.

As to the guest list, listed for Friday night are Shelly Fairchild, John Berry, Drew Baldridge, Shenandoah, Gone West featuring Colbie Caillat and The Isaacs. Saturday night has Eric Paslay, comedian Henry Cho, Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy, Charles Esten and Gary P Nunn on the schedule. I am not 100% positive, as his career goes back 50 years, but I do believe that this is Gary's Opry debut.

Friday August 2
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Shelly Fairchild; John Berry
7:30: Dailey & Vincent (host); Drew Baldridge; Shenandoah
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Mike Snider; Gone West featuring Colbie Caillat
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; The Isaacs

Saturday August 3
7:00: Riders In The Sky; Eric Paslay
7:30: Jeannie Seely; Henry Cho
Intermission
8:15: Jesse McReynolds; Gary P Nunn; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Charlie McCoy; Charles Esten

While Friday's show looks pretty solid, it would appear that we have another Saturday night with no hosts. I am not in charge of booking, and I don't know the specific circumstances, but I would think Mike Snider or The Whites, or both, could have been scheduled for Saturday. Just my thoughts.
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Gary P Nunn, who is out of Texas, has been performing for 50 years and it was announced earlier this year that he will be retiring in 2020.  He was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and moved to Brownfield, Texas as a sixth grader. Nunn began his musical career as a 7th grader in a garage band in Brownfield, TX. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Texas Tech University and South Plains College, while he also played with a Levelland, Texas rock band The Sparkles during the 1960s. In addition to the Sparkles, he played in such bands as the Shucks with former Cricket J.I. Allison, and the Night Spots with Don Caldwell.

In 1968 he transferred to the University of Texas at Austin. Nunn was there at the start of the “cosmic cowboy” movement with one of Austin’s favorite bands, The Lavender Hill Express, with the late Rusty Wier. Nunn immersed himself further in the local music scene, playing bass for Michael Martin Murphey, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Willie Nelson. From there he became a member of the Lost Gonzo Band. Jerry Jeff Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band (including Nunn) released six albums through MCA Records over the course of four years. The Lost Gonzo Band parted ways with Walker in 1977, after which they produced three albums for MCA and Capitol Records, finally disbanding in 1980. Nunn then moved on to pursue a solo career.

In 1985, Nunn moved to a family farm in Oklahoma, and he established the Terlingua North Chili Cook-Off and Music Festival there, where now-popular acts like Pat Green and Cross Canadian Ragweed played early in their careers. “It seems every time we had a young and upcoming band up there, it was like they hit a diving board and just sprung into the air,” Nunn notes. And within today’s thriving Texas and Red dirt (music) scene, he’s a revered elder statesman to countless performers and songwriters who teethed and grew up on his music. “They’ve let me know I inspired them and showed them how it could be done.” Nunn moved back to the Austin area in 2003.

Nunn's songs have been recorded by various nationally-known country artists, including Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Murphey, Tracy Nelson, David Allan Coe, Rosanne Cash, and Willie Nelson among others. With a continuing array of successful solo albums and an army of fans, Nunn has made a permanent mark on the Texas/Southwestern/Country/Folk music scene.

Along with being a touring performer, he has appeared on countless programs such as Nashville Now, The Nashville Network's Texas Connection, music videos and special appearances on TNN, Austin City Limits, Texas Rangers (baseball) games (singing the National Anthem), and other appearances too numerous to mention.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of July 31 & August 1, 2009:

Friday July 31
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jonathan Singleton & The Grove
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Ray Pillow; Buddy Jewell
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds and The Virginia Boys; Chris Young
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; Jamie O'Neal

Saturday August 1
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Trent Tomlinson
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Ashton Shepherd
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Jason Crabb; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Charlie Louvin; George Hamilton IV w/Live Issue; Restless Heart

And from 50 years ago, Saturday August 2, 1969:

1st show
6:30: Jack Greene; The Four Guys
6:45: Bill Monroe; Del Wood; Linda Martel
7:00: Bill Anderson; Jan Howard; Jay Lee Webb; Jerry Smith
7:30: Roy Acuff; George Morgan; Wilma Burgess; Crook Brothers; Jimmy Payne
8:00: Lester Flatt; Ray Pillow; Stringbean; Lorene Mann
8:30: Ernest Tubb; Hank Locklin; Louie Roberts; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Billy Parker

2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe; The Four Guys; Stringbean; Jimmy Payne
10:00: Roy Acuff; Jerry Smith; Linda Martel
10:15: Lester Flatt; Del Wood; George Morgan
10:30: Bill Anderson; Jan Howard; Jay Lee Webb
10:45: Ernest Tubb; Wilma Burgess; Crook Brothers
11:00: Ray Pillow; Lorene Mann; Jack Greene; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Hank Locklin; Jeanne Pruett; Louie Roberts

A pretty thin night for Opry members. And remember in 1969 Jan Howard and Jeanne Pruett were not Opry members at that time.

Finally, Marty Robbins was scheduled to host that final segment, however he had a heart attack that week as was not on.
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Continuing with the theme from last week, and looking back to 1974, the first year that the Opry was in the new Grand Ole Opry House, here is the running order from 45 years ago, Saturday August 3, 1974:

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Stu Phillips (host): Catfish John
Ernie Ashworth: Each Moment Spent with You
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way to Say Goodbye

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): Odds & Ends; Bits & Pieces
Connie Smith: I Never Knew What that Song Meant Before/Amazing Grace
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down

7:00: Rudy's
Billy Grammer (host): Detroit City
Leona Williams: Break My Mind
Louie Roberts: Make the World Go Away
Billy Grammer: I Was Sorta Wondering
Brother Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Leona Williams: Dallas
Billy Grammer: What A Friend

7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Karen Wheeler: Born to Love & Satisfy
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Sally Goodin
Jimmy C Newman: A Fallen Star
Karen Wheeler: What Can I Do to Make You Happy
Del Wood: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Jimmy C Newman: Dropping Out of Sight

8:00: Martha White
George Morgan (host): You Turn Me On
Connie Eaton: Let Me Be There
Dick Feller: Making the Best of A Bad Situation
George Morgan: Red Rose from the Blue Side of Town
Connie Eaton: I Can't Stop Loving You
Dick Feller: Biff, The Friendly Purple Bear
George Morgan: Almost/I Can't Help It

8:30: Stephens
Bobby Lord (host): Wake Me Up Early in the Morning
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
David Rogers: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Bobby Lord: Fall Away
Jeanne Pruett: Love Me
David Rogers: Hey There, Girl
Bobby Lord: Hawkeye

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Charlie Walker (host): My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
Connie Smith: Just One Time
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Charlie Walker; Odds & Ends; Bits & Pieces
Connie Smith: How Great Thou Art
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Charlie Walker: It Is No Secret

10:00: Fender
Jimmy C Newman (host): Diggy Liggy Lo
Leona Williams: Dallas
Brother Oswald: John Hardy
Jimmy C Newman: Potato Song

10:15: Union 76
Billy Grammer (host): Wabash Cannonball
Karen Wheeler: Born to Love & Satisfy/What Can I Do to Make You Happy
Billy Grammer: Whispering Hope

10:30: Trailblazer
Stu Phillips (host): If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Louie Roberts: Make the World Go Away
Stu Phillips: Why Me Lord

10:45: Beech-Nut
George Morgan (host): Mr. Ting-A-Ling
Dick Feller: Making the Best of a Bad Situation
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Liberty
George Morgan: Who, At My Door, Is Standing

11:00: Coca Cola
Bobby Lord (host): Mississippi
Connie Eaton: Let Me Be There
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking in My Sleep
Bobby Lord: You & Me Against the World
Connie Eaton: I Can't Stop Loving You
Sam McGee: Victor Rag/Freight Train
Bobby Lord: Live Your Life Out Loud

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Singing the Blues
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets/Count Me Out
David Rogers: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms/Hey There, Girl
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Love Me/Big Boss Man/My Woman; My Woman; My Wife/Long Gone Lonesome Blues

Again, a pretty thin night as many of the Opry's biggest names were missing: Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Bill Monroe, Porter Wagoner, Bill Anderson, Minnie Pearl. Thankfully, Marty was on the 2nd show.

So looking at that night, who remembers Dick Feller?

Best-known for a brief run of country novelty hits in the mid-'70s, Dick Feller was also a songwriter responsible for several hits by other artists, most notably his oftentime writing partner, Jerry Reed.

Feller was born in Bronaugh, MO, in 1943, and started performing and writing in his late teens; he moved to Nashville for a brief period, then went to Los Angeles, where he played in a band and made some demos of his songs. He returned to Nashville in 1966, where he worked as a session musician and in touring bands behind Mel Tillis, Skeeter Davis, and others. Eventually, he landed a songwriting contract with Johnny Cash's publishing company, and wrote the singer's 1972 Top Five hit "Any Old Wind That Blows." The following year, Feller's "Lord Mr. Ford" -- originally written for Jimmy Dean -- became a number one hit for Jerry Reed, who quickly signed Feller to his own publishing staff; Reed went on to record numerous Feller compositions, among them "East Bound and Down" and "I'm Just a Redneck in a Rock and Roll Bar." Meanwhile, Feller also landed a record deal of his own with United Artists, and released his debut single, "Biff, the Friendly Purple Bear," in 1973. 1974 was his best year as a solo artist, bringing two hits in "Makin' the Best of a Bad Situation" and the Top Ten "The Credit Card Song"; his final chart entry came with 1975's "Uncle Hiram and the Homemade Beer."

Even if Feller had an obvious penchant for novelty humor, he could also play it straight, as evidenced by John Denver's 1981 hit version of the ballad "Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)." In 1977, Feller and Reed collaborated on material for the hit film Smokey and the Bandit, which gave Feller his biggest exposure ever. He recorded only sporadically after that, drifting out of the music business after a self-titled 1984 album on the small Audiograph label.

At last report, at the age of 76, Dick Feller is still alive.

And there you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.