With September upon us, in addition to the Tuesday and Wednesday mid-week Opry shows, Opry Country Classics is back for the fall run of shows that will last for the next several months.
Tuesday September 3
7:00: Riders In The Sky; Kalie Shorr
7:30: Jeannie Seely; Steven Curtis Chapman
Intermission
8:15: Jimmy Allen; Neal McCoy
8:45: Dusty Slay; Ricky Skaggs
Wednesday September 4
7:00: Connie Smith; Maggie Rose
7:30: Del McCoury Band; Marcus King
Intermission
8:15: Sister Hazel; Jeff Allen
8:45: Ashley McBryde; Scotty McCreery
The noteworthy event for the Wednesday night show is the Opry debut of Marcus King.
Marcus King, who is noted as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, is the leader of the Marcus King Band. Raised in Greenville, South Carolina, Marcus was brought up on the blues, playing shows as a pre-teen sideman with his father, the fellow bluesman Marvin King. The band includes drummer Jack Ryan, bassist Stephen Campbell, trumpet/trombone player Justin Johnson, sax player Dean Mitchell, and keyboard player, Simon Thomas George.
The Marcus King Band released their debut album, Soul Insight on October 30, 2015 on Warren Haynes' Evil Teen Records. Soul Insight reached No. 8 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart.
The band's second full-length LP and first album for Fantasy Records, The Marcus King Band, was released on October 7, 2016. The album was produced by Haynes and recorded at Carriage House Studios in Stamford, Connecticut.[4] The Marcus King Band reached No. 2 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart.
On August 22, 2018, it was announced the band would release their third full-length LP, Carolina Confessions, on October 5, 2018, via Fantasy Records. The album was recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, and produced and mixed by Dave Cobb. While not entering the Billboard 200, it was the band's first entry on the magazine's US Top Current Albums chart, peaking at No. 55, and was another No. 2 hit on the Blues chart for them. The album also reached No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.
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As previously mentioned, Opry Country Classics is back for the fall run with the shows taking place at the Ryman Auditorium. For the show this week, Larry Gatlin will be the host and the spotlight artist is Crystal Gayle.
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Crystal Gayle
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers; Mandy Barnett; Don Schlitz; Mo Pitney
Some nice shows this week.
Well, maybe a little sarcasm to this thought but not too much.
ReplyDeleteI realize that at this date, Crystal Gayle probably best fits the classic or veteran category. Nothing against her or any other artist they choose to celebrate...but, there's always a but, how about really doing a classic artist. How about Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, the Jordaires, George Morgan, Marty Robbins. There is really all kind of possibilities in newer artist or groups who could perform the songs of these folks. They don't have to do every show on someone as far back as these acts. Or maybe they only dedicate a segment to them if they really wanted to keep the history alive. I can understand that the audience might not accept a full show on the music of an Acuff or Tubb but it would sure be nice if they could be exposed to 2 or 3 tunes by one of these artist once in a while. Then, the Thursday night show might live up to it's name.
Not complaining, just an observation.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, not only are you right, but when you consider how much the Opry markets itself--understandably--as so historic, it would strike me just as good salesmanship.
DeleteThis is a wonderful idea! It would also help the younger artists learn of how they are standing on the shoulders of the performers who came before them.
ReplyDeleteNow for a comment that could be viewed as negative: would anyone be surprised if some noted performer from the 60's was mentioned, they would know anything about them. How many would know anything about George Morgan, the Wilburn Brothers, Hank Snow, Hank Locklin, or Mother Maybell Carter? Just insert the name of one of the younger performers of today (someone who has been inducted into the Opry in the past five or six years) would they know the song, "Trouble's Back In Town or "I'm Moving On." If some of the newer artists would occasionally perform one of these types of songs on the Opry, what a wonderful "tip of the hat" to the veterans this would show. This is my opinion.
I haven't been to the Opry since 2013 and I don't recall what they were doing then. Come to think of it, we might have got inside about 10-15 minutes late. I think we had been over in west Tennessee at a Country's Family Reunion Show.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, can anyone tell me if they still play the introduction video. At one time it opened with black and white footage of Roy Acuff and Opry cast from one of those old movies then went on through history. I just wonder if they still show it and if they have revised it to take the older stuff out.
Jim
Knigthsville, IN
Jim, they still play the same video that was updated in 2010. Some of the older stuff that was in the original video has been taken out.
DeleteCrystal Gayle has cancelled as spotlight artist on Country Classics Thursday. Bob
ReplyDeleteConnie Smith has replaced Crystal Gayle as the spotlight artist on Country Classics. Bob
ReplyDelete