First, I wanted to comment on last Saturday's show, which I thought was very, very good. Chris Young acted as "host" and was joined by Chris Janson and Brett Young. You could tell that all three have worked together in the past and enjoy each other's company. The song selections were excellent and there was a lot of stories about each song. Some were very emotional. Continuing what seems to be a pattern, a couple of classic country songs were also included, including Chris Young singing the Joe Diffie song "Pick Up Man," Chris Janson singing "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and Brett Young doing the George Jones classic "Bartender Blues."
What also helped was that there were several members of the Opry Staff Band on stage and that helped to bring some up-tempo to the songs, a change from what has been mostly acoustic performances on the shows.
Now let's look ahead to this Saturday night as the month of June gets off to a very solid start with Grand Ole Opry member Steve Wariner making his first appearance on the newest, and hopefully, temporary version of the Opry. Joining Steve this week will be another of the young married couples in country music: Michael Ray and Carly Pearce. And, I am happy to say, that there will be a fourth performer on Saturday as Lee Brice, who currently has a duet out with Carly will also be appearing.
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And now, the Grand Ole Opry line-up from 25 years ago, Saturday June 3, 1995:
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard
6:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Bill Carlisle
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Del Reeves; Jerry Clower
7:30: Bill Monroe (host); Mel McDaniel; Karen Peck and New River; Johnny Russell
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; George Hamilton IV; Jack Greene; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Riders In The Sky; Jeannie Seely; The Four Guys; Mike Snider
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Brother Oswald; Roy Drusky; Jean Shepard; Charlie Walker
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jerry Clower
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); Johnny Russell
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Ray Pillow
10:45: Billy Walker (host); The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Jeannie Seely; Mike Snider
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jack Greene; Stu Phillips; Mel McDaniel
From 50 years ago, Saturday June 6, 1970:
1st show
6:30: Hank Locklin (host); Stringbean; Ernie Ashworth
6:45: Jack Greene (host); Jeannie Seely; Del Wood
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Ray Pillow; Cousin Jody; James William Monroe
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; Willis Brothers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Stu Phillips; Lonzo and Oscar; Justin Tubb
8:30: Del Reeves (host); Margie Bowes; Archie Campbell; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Jack Greene (host); Willis Brothers; Jeannie Seely; Stringbean
10:00: Hank Locklin (host); Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); Earl Scruggs; Revue; Ray Pillow
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Stu Phillips; Cousin Jody
10:45: Roy Acuff (host): Justin Tubb; Crook Brothers
11:00: Del Reeves (host); Grandpa Jones; Archie Campbell; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Bob Luman; Lonzo and Oscar; Margie Bowes
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It was 28 years ago this weekend, Saturday June 6, 1992 that Grand Ole Opry member Tom T. Hall made his last appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
One of 10 children born to a Baptist minister, Tom T. began playing guitar at age four and wrote his first song at nine. In his teens, he formed a bluegrass band, which performed locally. After a stint in the Army, while working as a radio copywriter in Roanoke, Virginia, he wrote songs on the side that were recorded by Jimmy C. Newman, Johnnie Wright, Dave Dudley, and Bobby Bare.
After moving to Nashville in 1964, he had several early hit recordings of his own, including “I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew,” and when Jeannie C. Riley’s recording of his “Harper Valley P.T.A.” sold six million copies and swept away multiple awards, Tom T.’s own recording career at Mercury Records accelerated. That career continued through more than 45 albums. For two years, he hosted the syndicated TV program Pop Goes the Country and made guest appearances on several other shows.
He has written 12 No. 1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the No. 1 international pop crossover smash "Harper Valley PTA" and the hit "I Love", which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. He is included in Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Songwriters. He became known to fans as "The Storyteller," thanks to his storytelling skills in his songwriting.
In his later years, Tom T. supervised acoustic sessions at his own recording studio, continued to write those utterly distinctive songs, and could be seen at venues from Nashville’s Station Inn to festivals across the country in support of the bluegrass music he holds especially dear.
Tom T. has authored a string of books, including an autobiography, a songwriting textbook, and several novels. His songs continue to be recorded with by bluegrass bands and country and Americana acts alike.
In the course of his career, Tom T. has received numerous honors. He was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2002. On February 12, 2008, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In regard to Hall's longer-than-anticipated wait to be inducted, he attributed it to being somewhat reclusive and "not well liked" among the Nashville music industry, noting that he almost never collaborated with other songwriters and by the 1990s was largely out of step with the corporate style of country music.
In November 2018 Tom T. and his wife Dixie were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and in June 2019, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Now retired at the age of 84, his last appearance was in 2011.
Tom T. Hall originally joined the Opry on January 1, 1971. He left the Opry after the move to new Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, but returned as a member in on March 28, 1980.
In the years after his final Opry appearance, he reportedly told people that he didn't understand why the Opry kept him as a member as he had no intention of coming back to the show. By that point in his career, he was performing very little, concentrating on his bluegrass recording and songwriting with Dixie.
Here is the running order from Saturday June 6, 1992, Tom T. Hall's final Opry appearance:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jim Ed Brown: Lyin' In Love With You
Porter Wagoner: What Ain't to Be, Just Might Happen
6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Going Down the Country
Charlie Walker: Roly Poly
Del Reeves: Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime at at Time/Looking at the World Thru a Windshield
Grandpa Jones: Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea
7:00: Shoney's
Tom T Hall (host): Ravishing Ruby
Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Billy Grammer: Somebody Loves You
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Tom T Hall: Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Brooks & Dunn: Another Neon Moon/Boot Scoop Boogie
Randy Travis: Better Class of Losers/He Walked on Water/Diggin' Up Bones
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Breakdown
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
The Four Guys: I'm Bound for Higher Ground/We're Only Here for a Little While
Mike Snider: (?): Puttin; on the Dog (The Fur Coat)
Opry Square Dance Band and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sail Away Ladies
Roy Acuff: Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain/How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
8:30: Opryland
Hank Snow (host): Silver Rails, Keep Me Free
Charlie Louvin and Charles Whitstein: The Family Who Prays
Jeanne Seely: When He Leaves You
Hank Locklin: My Turning Point in Life
Jack Greene: There's a Whole Lot About a Woman A Man Don't Know
Hank Snow: Let Me Go Lover
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Wilma Lee Cooper: Singing Waterfall
Billy Walker: Cross the Brazos at Waco
Brooks & Dunn: Another Neon Moon/Boot Scoop Boogie/Brand New Man
Porter Wagoner: Carolee Cooper Accident/Green Green Grass of Home
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Ain't it Hard
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Grandpa Jones: I'll Meet You in the Morning
10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top/The 3 Bells
10:30: Pet Milk
Tom T Hall (host): The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
Roy Drusky: Too Old to Die Young
Tom T Hall: I Love
10:45: B.C. Powder
Bill Monroe (host): Why Did You Wander
Del Reeves: A Dozen Pair of Boots
Opry Square Dance Band and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Goard
Bill Monroe: Wayfaring Stranger
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): There's A Fool Such As I
Charlie Louvin and Charles Whitstein: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Billy Grammer: Ain't Misbehavin
The Four Guys: How Married Are You Mary Ann/May You Always
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing That Was Good in My Life
11:30: Creamette
Jack Greene (host): Satisfied
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me, I'm Falling
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone
Mike Snider: Shuckin' the Corn/Snuff Dipper
Jack Greene: Status of a Fool
Every segment that night, with the exception of the final 30 minutes, was hosted by either a current Hall of Fame member, or a future member.
To conclude, Bobby Bones mentioned in the coming weeks something special would be happening at the Opry that has never happened before. No clues and I have no idea what he might be talking about. Maybe we will find out more this Saturday.
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this Saturday night.
Who do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. Have they ever done the HoF announcement from the Opry stage? That would be something special. It gives the inductees an hour to shine and a lot of exposure. The only downsides are you can't announce who's on ahead of time and if one or more inductees are deceased.
ReplyDeleteA.B.
To the best of my knowledge it happened only once. In 2002, during a televised segment of the Opry (I forget the date off the top of my head), the Dixie Chicks called Porter Wagoner and Bill Carlisle out on stage and announced that they had been elected to the Hall of Fame. I haven't seen the clip in several years, but I do remember that Porter had that expression on his face, as if he had a few things to say but was keeping his thoughts to himself. I do know that Porter was long overdue for the Hall.
DeleteI did see that the Hall of Fame said that they expect to make an announcement in about a month, probably taking place when the Hall of Fame reopens.
I know the Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the more exclusive hall of fames out there, but I really would have assumed Jimmy Capps was in there already. His contributions to the genre run the gamut from studio recordings to TV shows to of course the Opry band.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of, I am pleased to see the Opry is moving in a position direction toward reopening with adding more of the band back and with allowing a 4th artist this weekend. I did not watch or listen to last week's show, but based on the review I think I may go back and listen to it.
I listened to replays of the last 2 Opry shows - even though I respect Byron's review etc, they are just too dry and slow for me. It just seemed that each artist sounded like the next one. I love Steve Wariner but do not know the others so I don't expect anything different this week - will try listening after the fact again and I can skip over portions.
ReplyDeleteThe death of Jimmy Capps, a 60 year veteran in Country music, and at age 81, is a prime example of the CMA needing to add additional categories or a few extra inductions each year into the Hall of Fame. There’s no reason this legend should not have already been enshrined, and enjoyed the honor while alive.
ReplyDeleteOne item I forgot to mention about this week's show, specifically in regards to Carly Peace. Last week, she was interviewed by Bill Cody prior to the Opry on Circle. She mentioned several times how much she loves the Opry and the people, and I do know that Jeannie Seely is a big fan. In the course of the conversation with Bill, it came up that this will be Carly's 75th appearance on the Opry.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't expect Carly to be invited to be the Opry's next member, as I don't think they will be inviting anyone until Rhonda Vincent is formally inducted, I can see the argument and case being made for Carly to become an Opry member at some point.
Willingness to appear doesn't mean much to the folks who determine future members.
ReplyDeleteChris Janson had well over TWO HUNDRED appearances before the powers in charge determined he was worth of 'Opry membership. :)
Sad, but true.
Nat, I know you are right!!! But maybe, just maybe, we will see a few changes and maybe, just maybe, the willingness to appear will be taken more into consideration.
DeleteRegarding the HOF, it was in 2001 that there was a "super class" of inductees (12) to make up for a large "backlog" of deserving inductees that had been overlooked. Of course that year coincided with the opening of the new location of the CMHOF&M.
ReplyDeleteWhile the past nine years have had 3 inductees (Modern Era, Veteran artist and the Rotating 3rd Category), there have been years with 2 or 4 inductees in years between 2001 and 2011.
Including the first class of three inductees in 1961, there have been one year of zero inductees, 17 years in which there was only 1 inductee, 15 years with 2 inductees, 20 years with 3 inductees, and there have been 4 inductees in 5 years for a total of 139 inductees.
People who were parts of Groups or Duos, such as the Statler Brothers, The Joranaires, Brooks and Dunn or Felice and Beauleaux Bryant are counted as one inductee each. Roy Rogers is the only person to be inducted twice, once as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers (1980) and than again as a solo artist (1988).
I personally think it's time for another "super class" of inductees, I can think of 10 or more artists I personally feel are deserving of enshrinement. With only one modern era and one veteran per year, the backlog is only going to get bigger and bigger. A "super class" every 20 years or so is something that should be strongly considered.
Some would argue this would water down the HOF, but there are many artists who've had long, established, commercially successful careers that will never get in without widening the door a bit.
Who do you guys see being the 2020 Hall of Fame inductees?.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on the Hall of Fame election procedures:
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree that there are probably a dozen individuals who should be in the Hall of Fame and are not. Sadly most will never get in and if they do, it will be long after they have passed away.
Personally, I have a couple of ideas as to changing the election process:
1) Change the categories. What they have now is fine, but I would change the rotating categories and include those categories each year. In addition, I would split the veteran category in half; with one new Hall of Famer from the era before 1970, and they other Hall of Famer from the era from 1971 to where the modern class starts. By taking those steps, you would have 6 new inductees each year instead of 3.
2) If keeping the current categories, instead of electing the act who gets the most votes, change it to a percentage basis. For example, the Baseball Hall of Fame puts in anyone who gets 75% of the vote and higher. The Pro Football Hall of Fame I believe is at an 80% level. I am not sure about the Rock Hall of Fame, but they seem to elect up to 5 each year. That might ensure multiple new inductees in each category.
While the idea of a mass induction is appealing, there doesn't seem to be much interest in it from the Hall of Fame. I also remember from 2001 that there were some elected who did not appreciate being a part of a mass induction as some felt it took a little away from the honor.
That said, something needs to be done to increase the membership of the Hall of Fame. Country music has grown tremendously in the past several decades, with more artists and fans. As stated, too many are being left behind and many of those artists have had better careers then some of those already in the Hall.
Of the rotating categories, the “musician” category of inductees (which comes around next year) has the most serious backlog of deserving people. At the current rate of inductions it would take nearly half a century to see the names of Pete Drake, Bob Moore, Buddy Harman, Boots Randolph, Tommy Jackson, Bashful Brother Oswald, Ray Edenton, Hank Garland, Lloyd Green, Junior Husky, Don Rich, Buck Trent, Jimmy Capps, Danny Davis, Bill Walker, the Anita Kerr Singers, Millie Kirkham, Buddy Emmons, Pete Wade and the other dozen or so musicians in that upper echelon included. Most of these have already passed on so it’s too late for them to enjoy the honor and how long does it take for certain names to simply pass from the memory of the voters?
DeleteByron, I like your idea to switch up the categories. While it’s not necessarily accurate, I’ve heard the argument that most of the early pioneers of country music are already in the Hall and therefore there isn’t a need to expand the “veterans” category. I can think of a dozen artists and business people that were active in the industry prior to 1950 that deserve to be recognized but it is what it is. What would happen if you added another “rotating” category for artists active prior to 1960 or 1970 and do it every other year and do “pioneers” and “songwriters” one year and “non-performers” and “musicians” the next? Just a thought.
Barry, you are so right about the musicians. It needs to be included every year.
DeleteRegarding the pioneers, and to support what Barry said, the change in the category took place after Pop Stoneman was elected. Many of the voters thought he was the best of a poor group and went to the CMA afterwards and stated that they felt there were no more quality candidates to elect from that early period. So the veteran category was changed to what it is today.
Obviously some of the voters had blinders on, and are uninformed on the history of country music, as there are still a good group of artists from the pre-World War II era that should be in the Hall of Fame. Sadly, most have been forgotten and have no one to push their candidacies forward.
What has happened to Eddie Stubbs on WSM ??????? I really enjoy Jeff Hogue's show and he is quite a historian also ----- but I haven't heard Eddie for a while, hope all is well with him and his bride --- Dashmann, Flushing , Michigan
ReplyDeleteAll i've heard is that Eddie is high risk with Covid19. Bob
DeleteWow!!!!!! That is horrible to hear!!!! I too have been missing him at the Opry and on WSM
DeleteSteve Warriner was the class of the stage tonight ---- Steve's songs had pleasing melodies and there is life in the lyrics - the kids tried hard tonight --they have a lot of talent , but their songs are so lacking a melody or catch phrase that I don't even hear them - sounds like they HAD to write a song and that's what they came up with ---they all sound the same ---- what has happened to country song writing in Nashville ????? of course it's Dashmann the grouch from Flushing, Mich ----
ReplyDeleteIt seems many of those who have been on the Opry lately, and specifically the younger talent, seem to be writing a lot of new songs. That's the good thing. Hopefully they keep writing and learning the art of a good song.
DeleteIt was nice that Steve included everyone last night and kept the show rolling. Overall, I thought it was good.
I like some of Byron's ideas on the hall of fame, but I fear expanding to 6 per year would be too big of a change and could diminish the prestige of the hall. Maybe a compromise would be to have 4 rotating categories with 2 of them elected each year (so each category gets an election every other year instead of the current every third year). The 4th rotating category could be for the pioneers. Probably not a perfect solution, but it would up the inductions to 4 per year without dramatically changing the process. Some would probably not like the pioneers only getting a chance every other year, but I think we are already at that point as more modern artists slip into the "veterans" category. At least doing it this way would ensure that more of them do get in and are not all stuck in line behind the Ray Stevens and Tanya Tuckers of the world.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the mass induction, I can understand the pushback against being one of the people inducted that way, although I would also tell them getting in that way is better than not getting in at all. That said, I probably wouldn't do a mass induction AND expand the annual classes, and I think expanding the annual classes is more important right now as the backlog is only going to continue to build.
WSM will be airing Jimmy Capp's memorial service live.
ReplyDeleteI think we now know the big surprise that Bobby Bones was talking about. Jimmy Buffett will be making his Opry debut on June 27. He will be appearing with Brad Paisley.
ReplyDeleteIt must be 5 O'Clock Somewhere. Bob
DeleteThat's an interesting development. Jimmy Buffett came to Nashville to be a Country singer and was pretty much shut out by the mainstream industry so he created his image as a beach bum and now is a highly recognizable "brand" of the "beach life" lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI've been a fan of his for many years- going back to pre-Mararitaville days, so I'm happy he is finally playing the Opry. His catalog, especially his older, more "country-pop" stuff is really good.
Maybe a surprise visit from Alan Jackson or Kenny Chesney might be in order for that night since they have a close association with him as well as Paisley.
Interesting that Brad Paisley is returning so soon! I would expect the 27th will be an upbeat night - it is needed.
ReplyDeleteWonderful "Celebration of Jimmy Capps Life" today. The remarks were so heartfelt and the music was beautiful. Jimmy who wasn't prideful would still be proud of his family and friends.
ReplyDelete