First, I thank everyone for their continued support and reading. There just hasn't been much news to report or comment on lately. On a personal basis, I hope all of you continue to be safe and well, along with being careful when going out in public.
As I write this on Wednesday morning, the Grand Ole Opry is still advertising and promoting that they plan on resuming shows with live audiences from the Opry House on Friday May 1st, when the state of Tennessee is scheduled to lift some restrictions. Personally, I can't see it. While we are all anxious for the Opry to resume normal shows, I still think it is too early to do that and I would expect some sort of update soon as to how the Opry is going to proceed. I think even in a best case scenario, it is going to be well into summer or fall before fans are back in the Opry House. I hope I am wrong but better safe then sorry.
As far as this Saturday night, Luke Combs and Craig Morgan are the only two scheduled to perform, with Bobby Bones continuing to host on Circle. While we have gotten use to three artists on the show, I think Luke and Craig can easily fill the hour and it should be another great show.
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And now, from 25 years ago, Saturday April 22, 1995:
1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Bill Anderson (host); Del Reeves
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Charlie Louvin; Ricky Skaggs; Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Mark Collie; Jeannie Seely
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Brother Oswald; Jean Shepard; The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Jeanne Pruett; Jack Greene; Johnny Russell
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jimmy C Newman; Jan Howard; Stu Phillips
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Roy Drusky
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mark Collie
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jean Shepard
10:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Stonewall Jackson; Ray Pillow; Billy Walker
11:30: Johnny Russell (host); Del Reeves; Charlie Walker; Connie Smith; Johnny Counterfeit
And from 50 years ago, Saturday April 25, 1970:
1st show
6:30: Charlie Louvin (host); Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
6:45: George Morgan (host); Duke of Paducah
7:00: Bill Monroe (host) and Charlie Louvin; Archie Campbell; Skeeter Davis; Harold Weakley
7:30: Del Reeves (host); Osborne Brothers; Willis Brothers; Stringbean; Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Johnny Carver; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Peggy Sue; The Four Guys
8:30: Ernest Tubb (host); Loretta Lynn; Billy Grammer; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Billy Parker
2nd show
9:30: Bobby Lord (host); Willis Brothers; Osborne Brothers; Duke of Paducah
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); James William Monroe; Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
10:15: George Morgan (host); Archie and Phil Campbell; Peggy Sue
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Skeeter Davis; The Four Guys
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Crook Brothers
11:00: Billy Grammer (host); Loretta Lynn; Stringbean; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Del Reeves (host); Johnny Carver; Bill Carlisle; Jamey Ryan
Over the past several weeks, the name Billy Parker has been listed on many of the Grand Ole Opry line-ups.
Billy Parker was born July 19, 1939 in Okemah, Oklahoma. Not only was Billy a country singer, but he was also an award winning Disc Jockey, having been named Disc Jockey of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1974 and by the Academy of Country Music in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1984. He was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1992, the Western Swing Hall of Fame in 1993, and received the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters' Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.
Between 1976 and 1989, he charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. His highest charting single, "(Who's Gonna Sing) The Last Country Song," peaked at No. 41 in 1982. He also reached the Top 10 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada with the song "You Are My Angel" in 1988.
Another name from the second show that night was Jamey Ryan. Jamey, born in 1947, was actually a cousin of Goldie Hill. She came to Nashville while still a teenager to launch a career in country music. She recorded for Columbia Records with limited success. Of note, in 1965 she married Charlie Dick. The marriage lasted until the early 1970s.
Here is the running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Louvin (host): You Gave Me A Mountain
Ernie Ashworth: My Love for You
Del Wood: Red Wing
Charlie Louvin: Tiny Wings
6:45: Rudy's
George Morgan (host): Lilacs & Fire
Duke of Paducah: Four Leaf Clover
George Morgan: My Woman, My Woman, My Wife
7:00: Luzianne
Bill Monroe (host) w/Charlie Louvin: Can't You Hear Me Calling
Archie Campbell: Hey Waiter
Skeeter Davis: I'm A Lover; Not A Fighter
Harold Weakley: All I Have to Offer You is Me
Bill Monroe: Walk Softly on My Heart
Archie Campbell: Make Friends
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Bill Monroe: Katy Hill
7:30: Standard Candy
Del Reeves (host): A Lover's Question
Osborne Brothers: Ruby, Are You Mad
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
Stringbean: Me & My Old Crow
Del Reeves: Girl on the Billboard
Crook Brothers: Instrumental
Osborne Brothers: Tennessee Hound Dog
Willis Brothers: Jambalaya
Del Reeves: One Dime at a Time
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Johnny Carver: You Lily White Hands
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Guide Me Home, My Georgia Moon
Peggy Sue: After the Preacher's Gone
Uncle Josh: Just Joshin'
The Four Guys: Shenandoah
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: I'll Be a Friend to Jesus
Lester Flatt: I've Been Walking
8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): It's America
Loretta Lynn: Your Squaw is on the Warpath
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Billy Parker: I Get a Happy Feeling
Loretta Lynn: I Know How
Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn: Who's Gonna Take the Garbage Out
Billy Grammer: San Antonio Rose
Ernest Tubb: Letter's Have No Arms
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bobby Lord (host): Rainbow Girl
Willis Brothers: Pretty Diamonds
Osborne Brothers: You Win Again
Duke of Paducah: If You Knew Susie
Bobby Lord: You & Me Against the World
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Bobby Lord: Y'All Come
10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host)
James William Monroe: Sweet Mary & The Miles in Between
Ernie Ashworth: Mind Your Own Business
Del Wood: Pony Boy
Bill Monroe: McKinley's March
10:15: Union 76
George Morgan (host): Is Anybody Going to San Antone
Archie and Phil Campbell: Faded Love
Peggy Sue: After the Preacher's Gone
George Morgan: Lilacs & Fire
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Skeeter Davis: Am I That Easy to Forget
The Four Guys: Daddy Sang Base
Lester Flatt: I Live the Life of Riley
10:45: Beechnut
Ernest Tubb (host): Answer the Phone
Wilma Lee Cooper: Wedding Bells
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Ernest Tubb: Dear Judge
11:00: Coca-Cola
Billy Grammer (host): Lonesome Road Blues
Loretta Lynn: Fist City/I Know How
Stringbean: Me & My Old Crow
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Billy Grammer: Georgiana Moon
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Sam McGee: Amos Johnson Rag
11:30: Lava
Del Reeves (host): Be Glad
Johnny Carver: Proud Mary
Bill Carlisle: Dirty Old Man
Jamey Ryan: Holy Cow
Del Reeves and Jamey Ryan: We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds
Johnny Carver: Hold Me Tight
Sheila and Bill Carlisle, Jr: When I Stop Dreaming
Del Reeves: A Lover's Question
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry on Saturday night. Continue to be safe and well.
Byron, Thanks for all you do to support the Opry and keep us informed. By my count, this is the 7th week without an audience and will be announced as the 4,921st Consecutive Saturday night Broadcast.
ReplyDeleteAm I missing the date for the "Here is the running order for that night"?
April 25, 1970. He first listed the lineup and then the running order with names of songs performed.
DeleteDanny, April 25, 1970 was the lineup from 50 years ago.
DeleteI was referring to the what date was the show that started out with:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Louvin (host): You Gave Me A Mountain
Patrick, that was actually the detailed running order from that 1970 show. Sorry I wasn't more clear on the date. I guess I need a new proof reader!!!!
DeleteThe thing I remember about Jamey Ryan was that, along with Chase Webster, she was a regular on Del Reeves' Country Carnival syndicated TV show. Prior to Del Reeves the show had been hosted by Billy Walker without other regulars.
ReplyDeleteBilly Parker was the voice of Tulsa for many years at KVOO in the early 70’s. He was a huge fan of Roy Clark. He did a short stint in OKC as a DJ.
ReplyDeleteHe was a great Ambassador in Tulsa. Very community and civic focused.
I guess in theory they could open up with distancing, but then how many people could actually attend the show, and how would it be policed? It would be a problem.
ReplyDeleteWhile Conway Twitty lived in
ReplyDeleteOklahoma he became great friends with Billy Parker. The line, “my friend Billy Parker’s dad”, in Twitty’s 1976 No. 1, “The Games That Daddies Play”, is a fictional reference to the Billy Parker we speak of.
Posted tonight by the Opry:
ReplyDeleteOpry Fans and Family,
To maintain health and safety amid current COVID-19 concerns and to align with Metro Nashville guidelines, the Grand Ole Opry has paused performances that include a live audience through May 16, 2020.
During this time, the Saturday Night Grand Ole Opry continues on in its original format as a live broadcast without a live audience.
Fans around the world can still tune in to the Saturday broadcasts on Circle or listen on WSM.
Really the only surprise is that the Opry waited until the week before the May 1st show to make the announcement.
Hopefully conditions will continue to get better and the Opry will return with live audience shows soon.
Sad news from overnight. Harold Reid passed away on Friday in Staunton, Virginia. https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2020/04/24/harold-reid-founding-member-statler-brothers-dies-80/3013597001/
ReplyDeleteThanks Barry. While the Statler Brothers were never members of the Opry, they did perform on the show several times with Johnny Cash, back in the 60s and 70s, and they did make a solo appearance or two during their TNN television days.
DeleteOf course, Harold was a terrific singer and comedian, but my all-time Statlers Opry moment was when they guested early in 1986, after the 60th anniversary special in which Porter Wagoner was relegated to narrating a feature about Opryland and Hank Snow refused to perform after being told his contribution for the entire show would be a verse and a chorus of "I'm Movin' On." The Statlers were on Porter's segment and after their first song Don thanked everybody for their welcome and said that while they appreciated it, the people who really mattered were the regulars there each week, and when network television came to the Opry, the regulars like Porter Wagoner and Hank Snow should be featured. ENORMOUS ovation. And I think there might have been some unhappiness at corporate, you know?
DeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteI have listened to that performance on one of my tapes in the past couple of month's. They did Elizabeth and Hello Marylou and got a huge ovation and Porter ask for a third song and they did Do You Know You Are My Sunshine. Harold was ask from the crowd for some Road Hog and he did a few lines. They said they had not been there since 1978 along with the comments about the Opry stars you mentioned. What I have on tape was the second show but they did the same three songs on the 7:00 TV portion. This was Jimmy's first time on the Opry.
I always wondered why they didn't appear on the Opry more. We know they traveled a lot. Up through the 80's I can understand or at least know what the norm was, since not that many non members appeared. Yet I remember people like Roger Whittaker and others being on several times. But, even in the 90's and after Fisher took over and opened the show to just about anyone, they still didn't appear. They didn't retire until 2002!
The Statler Brothers were just plain good. Funny, great writers and super singers and performers. I know the boys are out there but I think Dailey and Vincent have done a wonderful thing keeping their music going. Even on the so called oldies stations today, they play very little of the Statlers because most that Cr--- is based on number one songs. As Eddie Stubbs points out, good music goes so much deeper that the number one or even chart music. If my count is right they placed 66 songs on the Billboard charts from '66 to '90. More Than A Name On The Wall was the last top ten making #6 in 1989. Jimmy Fortune's songwriting helped keep them in the charts and was a great replacement for Lew who had one of the most unique voices!
Three recordings that featured Harold in recitation stand out to me. Your Picture in the Paper (#13, 1976), That Summer, and a Christmas song called Something You Can't Buy.
As they said on that segment of their TNN show, "Memories last forever" and Harold helped the Statler make wonderful music for us to cherish forever.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, great tribute, and I'm with you all the way. What I also remember about them is that at the awards shows, they and the Oaks were always the big competition, and when they would show them, they all made it a point to glare and look serious. As I remember, when the Statlers did either their first special or their first TV show, they had on the Oaks. It was all in fun, of course.
DeleteUnfortunately, we lost Roadhog a while ago. On Nashville Now once, Ralph asked what had happened to him and Harold deadpanned, "He's been recovering from an autopsy," and poor Ralph was finished.
We have always loved the Statler Brothers and still Jimmy Fortune. My husband first saw them with Johnny Cash in DE in 1965. We were privileged to attend many of their concerts, their July 4th Staunton VA Happy Birthday USA concerts, their TV show in Nashville, and their farewell tour. We have everything they recorded including the farewell tour DVD. In other words, they have been our favorites for a very long time. They were a class act all the way and often billed as the "most awarded act in country music" - believe that may still hold. We loved Harold and his great bass voice and wonderful humor. Although they have been retired for years, their music and memories will always be alive in our home. (from anonymous in PA)
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, last night's show with Luke Combs and Craig Morgan was another very good one. Not as good as the week before with Ricky and Dailey & Vincent, but no complaints. They seemed to get along fine and each brought a guitar player with them. It will be interesting to see what artists the Opry will get for this weekend.
ReplyDeleteA better show last night, I thought, was the webcast that took place before the Opry on Circle with Ketch Secor and Charlie Worsham. They were funny and also historical. That was a fun and entertaining show. And actually, that could have been an Opry show. Nicely done.
I agree with you Byron Bob
ReplyDeleteI though this week's show was another good one and I loved the final song as a duet singing Rose Colored Glasses - to me, John Conlee is worthy of HoF Induction, his career has been very similar to what Don Williams had.
ReplyDeleteI was sorry to hear of the passing of Harold Reid. I didn't become a fan of the Statler Brothers until the late 70's / early 80's, but I've been a fan since the first time I heard them. As a young high schooler, they weren't in too many of my classmates tape decks, but I wasn't ashamed to play them on mine as I "Cruised Hamburger Dan's" playing Class of '57 and their other hits.
As for who I'd like to see on the upcoming editions of the Opry while it's in an audience free mode and assuming the "stalwarts" are out due to their increased risk if exposed, I would like to see another show of all women, perhaps, Martina McBride, Lorrie Morgan and Rhonda Vincent. Another good show lineup would be Trisha Yearwood and her husband, perhaps with another younger artist who would get some great exposure by being on with those two.
Funny you should mention Trisha and her husband. He mentioned on Insta today that we're all double dating with him and Trisha at the Opry on Saturday. I guess we know our next lineup.
DeleteA.B.
Can't wait to see what songs they cover on Saturday. I immediately thought of Garth when the Opry went to these shows and I think it is a perfect match.
DeleteA.B. I see that in the Circle Network's Facebook posts as well, the Circle Sessions at 6:30 features Scotty McCreery.
ReplyDelete