What a great show last week. Reading some of the online comments, I can't believe there were actually people complaining about it. But then again, it was more Americana and Bluegrass than what most of the shows have featured and I have to believe that the casual country fan had no idea who Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings or Dom Flemons are. I am going to guess that those fans will be very happy with the show this week as Grand Ole Opry member Darius Rucker is set for another appearance, and he will be joined by Luke Bryan.
Luke Bryan made his Opry debut on April 6, 2007 and has made a few Opry appearances since then. At the time when Dustin Lynch became a member of the Opry in 2018, Luke made some comments about becoming an Opry member.
“I don’t think I was Dustin’s first call [after he was invited to join the Opry], but I congratulated Dustin,” Luke shared. “I mean, these are hardworking guys out there that are … you know, when they get these Opry nods it changes their life.”
Luke then commented indirectly about not being a member of the Grand Ole Opry yet himself. “I’ve got to put in some good word with them, maybe I can be a member one day,” he stated.
Luke is very aware of what the long-time country music organization does for the genre.
“What they do for country music is amazing,” he says. Continuing, “You know, me and my managers sit down and I’m like, ‘I’ve got to get my butt out to the Opry and play more’,” Luke admits, “So, Opry, save me some dates I’m comin’.”
I guess Saturday night will be one of those dates.
____________________________________________________________________
25 years ago, Saturday August 12, 1995:
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Billy Walker; Jean Shepard
6:45: Jeanne Pruett (host); Bill Carlisle
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Skeeter Davis; Charlie Louvin; Charlie Walker; Mike Snider
7:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jeannie Seely; Victoria Shaw
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Brother Oswald; Jack Greene; Claire Lynch; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; Del Reeves; Ray Pillow
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Charlie Walker; Charlie Louvin; Jeanne Pruett
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Stu Phillips
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Claire Lynch
10:30: Mike Snider (host); Roy Drusky
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Victoria Show; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; Jeannie Seely
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Billy Walker; Del Reeves; Jean Shepard
50 year ago, Saturday August 15, 1970:
1st show
6:30: Billy Grammer (host); LaWanda Lindsey; Cousin Jody
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); Lorene Mann; Del Wood
7:00: Charlie Louvin (host); The Four Guys; Tom T Hall; Darrell McCall
7:30: Billy Walker (host); Stringbean; Peggy Sue; Crook Brothers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Ernie Ashworth; Hugh X Lewis
8:30: Hank Locklin (host); Marion Worth; Merle Kilgore; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Jay Lee Webb
2nd show
9:30: Billy Grammer (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; LaWanda Lindsey; Cousin Jody
10:00: Stu Phillips (host); Del Wood; Lorene Mann
10:15: Charlie Louvin (host); Tom T Hall; Darrell McCall
10:30: Charlie Louvin (host); Stringbean; Peggy Sue
10:45: The Four Guys (host); Hugh X Lewis; Crook Brothers
11:00: Roy Acuff (host); Ernie Ashworth; Merle Kilgore; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Hank Locklin (host); Marion Worth; Jay Lee Webb
_______________________________________________________________
When going back and looking at the records of the Grand Ole Opry, some of the dates are a little hard to confirm, however, best that I can determine, it was August 14, 1965 that Bobby Bare originally became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Bobby, of course, gave up his Opry membership after the Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the new Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. While he gave up his membership, Bobby didn't completely go away, and rejoined the Opry on April 7, 2018. One of my joys was being backstage at the Opry on the night of Jim Ed Brown's 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and meeting Bobby backstage, who was on the schedule for that night.
Here is the running order from 55 years ago, Saturday August 14, 1965:
7:30: Luzianne
Leroy Van Dyke (host): It's All Over Now
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Wayne Kemp: Love Bug
Del Wood: Snow Deer
Leroy Van Dyke: I Love You So Much it Hurts Me
Stringbean: Ida Red
Curly Fox: San Antonio Rose
Dottie West: No Sign of Living
Stringbean: Nine Pound Hammer
Leroy Van Dyke: Just a State of Mind
8:00: Martha White
Flatt and Scruggs (host): Salty Dog Blues
Charlie Louvin: Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep
Margie Bowes: Lost
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin
Flatt and Scruggs: Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord
Ray Pillow: Take You Hands off My Heart
Charlie Louvin: See the Big Man Cry
Margie Bowes: I Don't Like Your Kind of Lovin'
Uncle Josh and Cousin Jake: Big Ball in Brooklyn
Flatt and Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
8:30: Stephens
Roy Drusky (host): Peel Me a Nanner
Jim and Jesse: Alabam'
Bobby Bare: Blowing in the Wind/Worried Man Blues
Cousin Jody: Television Set
Roy Drusky: Strangers
Sue York: Love's Gonna Love Here
Bobby Bare: Shame on Me
Jim and Jesse: I'm Lonesome
Roy Drusky: Second Hand Rose
9:00: Pet Milk
Ernest Tubb (host): I'm Looking High and Low for My Baby
Billy Walker: If It Pleases You
Osborne Brothers: I'll Be Alright Tomorrow
Connie Smith: I Can't Remember
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Billy Walker: Cross the Brazos at Waco
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Blackberry Blossom
Osborne Brothers: Ruby
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): I'm Gonna Feed You
Bill Monroe: Jimmy Brown, The Newsboy
Norma Jean: I Wouldn't Buy a Used Car from Him
Glaser Brothers: Teardrops 'Til Dawn
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
David Houston: Livin' in a Houseful of Love
Bill Monroe: Brown County Breakdown
Glaser Brothers: A Girl Like You
Mack Magaha and Buck Trent: Goodbye Liza Jane
Porter Wagoner: Misery Loves Company
10:00: Schick
Charlie Louvin (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore/Less & Less
Dottie West: All the World is Lonely Now
Stringbean: The Man Who Rode Around the World
Dottie West: Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Charlie Louvin: I Just Don't Understand
10:15: Mary Carter
Bobby Bare (host): Four Strong Winds
Margie Bowes: I Can't Stand Your Kind of Lovin'
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Bobby Bare: Just to Satisfy You
10:30: Harvey's
Osborne Brothers (host): This Heart of Mine
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Del Wood: Cattle Call
Osborne Brothers: Bulge Call Rag
10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): Lots of Luck
Crook Brothers: Sally Ann
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
Ernest Tubb: Letter's Have no Arms
11:00: Coca Cola
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Glaser Brothers: South of the Border
Norma Jean: Go Cat Go
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Alabama Gal
Porter Wagoner: Be Careful of Stones That You Throw
Jim and Jesse: When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again
Sam and Kirk McGee: Columbus Stockade Blues
Mack Magaha: Orange Blossom Special
Glaser Brothers: Let Me Down Easy
Porter Wagoner: Howdy Neighbor, Howdy
11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Ruby Ann
Bill Monroe: Live and Let Live
Billy Walker: If it Pleases You
Connie Smith: Once a Day
Don Winters: Change that Dial
David Houston: Livin' in a Houseful of Love
Bill Monroe: So Unlonesome
Billy Walker: I'm so Miserable Without You
Marty Robbins: Ribbon of Darkness/Bouquet of Roses/I Could Never Be Ashamed of You/You Know How Talk Gets Around/Take These Chains from My Heart/Lovesick Blues/(?)
Hope Bobby Bare is doing well and feeling better.
______________________________________________________________________
Finally, 38 years ago, Saturday August 14, 1982 was the final Grand Ole Opry show for the legendary Ernest Tubb. Here is the running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
The Four Guys (host): Turn Your Radio On
Wilburn Brothers: Arkansas
The Four Guys: A Blaze of Glory
6:45: Rudy's
Billy Grammer (host): Georgiana Moon
Skeeter Davis: Just When I Needed You Most
Billy Grammer: Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party
7:00: Shoney's
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks a Lot
Jean Shepard: Blanket on the Ground/I'll Be There
Lonzo and Oscar: Ramblin' Fever/Windy City
Jack Leonard: I Can't Help It/Take These Chains from My Heart/Half as Much/Your Cheating Heart
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas/Walkin' the Floor Over You
7:30: Standard Candy
Billy Walker (host): When a Man Loves a Woman
Jeannie Seely: You Don't Need Me, But You Will/I'm All Through Crying Over You
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: The Key's in the Mailbox/'Til I Kissed Ya
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Roy Thackerson: (?)/Orange Blossom Special
Carolee Singers: A Song the Holy Angels Cannot Sing
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
8:30: Acme
Bill Monroe (host): My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling
Roy Drusky: I Really Don't Want to Know
Del Wood: The World is Waiting for the Sunrise
Vic Willis Trio: Faded Love
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Bill Monroe: Little Cabin Home on the Hill
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Ernest Tubb (host): Seaman's Blues
Skeeter Davis: Me & Bobby McGee/The Old Rugged Cross/The King is Coming
Wilburn Brothers: I Know a Goodbye When I See One/Because He Lives
Ernest Tubb: Another Story; Another Time; Another Place
10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Monroe (host): On & On
Connie Smith: Satisfied
Bill Monroe: Come Hither to Go Yonder
10:15: Sunbeam
Billy Grammer (host): Wildwood Flower
Lonzo and Oscar: Old Songs
Billy Grammer: I Was Born in Renfro Valley
10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Roy Thackerson: Sally Goodin/Orange Blossom Special
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland
10:45: Beechnut
Billy Walker (host): A Million & One
Jean Shepard: Alabama Jubilee
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Liberty
Billy Walker: Cattle Call
11:00: Coca Cola
Roy Drusky (host): There'll Never be Anyone Else But You for Me
Jeannie Seely: I'm Almost Ready/Healing Hands of Time
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sugar Tree Stomp
Kirk McGee: Blue Night
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Roy Drusky: Just a Closer Walk with Thee
11:30: Bama
The Four Guys (host): Cottonfields/Mariah
Del Wood: There's a Big Wheel
Charlie Walker: Don't Play Me no Songs About Texas
Vic Willis Trio: Shenandoah/You Were Always on My Mind
The Four Guys: Made in the USA
Pity that Hank Snow wasn't on that final night. If not for Ernest Tubb, there would have been no Hank Snow on the Opry.
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys Darius and Luke on Saturday night.
Big news out of Nashville this morning as the Country Music Hall of Fame announced the 2020 inductees. From the Veterans category, Hank Williams, Jr. was elected. The Modern era inductee is Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart and the Songwriter elected is Dean Dillon. Great choices and actually a surprise with Hank Jr. finally getting in.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy about all three picks! I'd love to see an upcoming Opry with those three as the performers. I know it would make an excellent show.
DeleteA.B.
I am thrilled Hank, Jr. and Marty are being inducted. And maybe I’m a big conspersicy theorist reading this news, but I would not be surprised if 2020 is not a “special class” due to the COVID-19 outbreak. I think the goal here may be not to have a formal “red carpet concert”. Here are my thoughts.
Delete1) Hank, Jr. – Years overdue and suddley this year he gets in. Perharps because he could not voice any political or CMA opionions at an acceptance speech or concert.
2) Marty Stuart – Well deserving, but his greatest accomplishments have been behind the sceens, as an ambassador of preserving country music, etc. His catelog of songs are not as big as his peers, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson or Brooks and Dunn. Imagine a concert with “Hillbiilly Rock” a a few others.
3). Dean Dillon – There are at least half of dozen songwriters I would have put in prior to Dillion. So when is the best year to put in a songwriter who’s categlog is composed of manly one artist (George Strait)? How about the pandemic year with no concert. It would virtually be Strait singing a half dozen of his songs, with maybe one or two other artists (if they would show up).
In reality the next announced should be in a short 6 months. Hopefully COVID will be dead or died down and it will be business as usual.
Do not get me wrong. All of these guys are deserving. I’m a huge fan of Marty and Jr. But like the mass induction class of 2001, this may be a “great it over with” year (for example, Don Gibson, Waylon Jennings, Webb Pierce, ect).
I’m 100% convinced this election process is phoney as a $3 bill.
If you look at a list of all of the Hall of Famers and study it, you won't find one who doesn't deserve to be there. But then you'll say, hm, why isn't so-and-so in there? Or why did that person get inducted THEN? Politics (I mean in the sense of the office, not the political parties) does enter into these things. So, Marty hasn't had the records others have had, and he has been active behind the scenes, but he also has been in the business for almost 50 years, as hard as it is to believe, and he has crossed genres.
DeleteWithout knowing the finalists, it's harder to say. I will say this: Dean Dillon before Dallas Frazier? For that matter, several of the songwriters before Dallas Frazier? Um, no.
Dallas Frazier, Bob McDill, Jenny Lou Carson (yes from the 40s and 50s), Curly Putman and even Johnny Russell all come to mind prior to Dillon. And as far as these rotating categories goes, anyone prior to the Nashville sound era has been totally ignored.
DeleteCuts by Strait, Alabama, George Jones, Vern Gosdin, Keith Whitley, Hank Williams Jr, Pam Tillis, Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Womack, Toby Keith, Chris Stapleton. Yeah, I’d say Dean Dillon deserves induction.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI know it has been mentioned before, but there is such a backlog in the veterans, musicians, and songwriters category. At least there is a veteran inductee every year, but in the case of the musician and songwriter category, they are on a three year rotation. At that rate, it will take decades to get in all of the deserving candidates, and that is just scratching the surface.
DeleteAnd in those intervening decades will be many others who will get inducted ahead of those more deserving due to the "recency bias".
DeleteAs mentioned by Michael, you can look at all the members of the HoF and not see anyone who is not deserving, but there are far too many who are also deserving who are not in.
These three are all worthy, but I can name 10 in each of this years categories that are also deserving.
To me, the categories need to be updated and have a Veteran Artist, Modern Artist and Songwriter each year and then have the "Musician" category be two out of three years and "Contributor be every third year.
The Songwriter being only every third year is causing a huge backup in that category. As they say, "It All Begins with a Song". I know there are Halls of Fame for Songwriters and Musicians alike, but they are no where near the honor of being in the CMHoF and they both tend to include too many "Artists" among their inductees in order to bolster their prestige.
I can't fault anyone's passion for a particular artist or their love for Country Music, but sometimes I think we take the Hall of Fame selections too personally. It is a place for the artists, musicians, writers, industry people....to be recognized, not a place for me to pick who I think is deserving or who I want history to remember. In all actuality, what does having our favorite in the hall of fame benefit us? Most of us can't view the Hall of Fame ceremony. Someone being elected isn't going to add anymore displays into the HOF, I mean look through the Hall and see if you can find anything that has anything to do with Roy Acuff besides his plaque. They featured more artifacts on Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift than they did Mac Wiseman or Floyd Tillman. I think we should just be happy that 3 people had their day's made the other day and just enjoy the music, there is a ton of stuff out there to still be discovered.
DeleteHard to argue with those three.
ReplyDeleteGood deal.
I know many of our folks here probably don't like him or know any of his stuff, but Luke is one of the biggest names not just in country music, but in all of music period and has been for the last decade! He's very much the Allen Jackson of this generation. Having him is a major get for the opry and should generate a ton of mainstream coverage. I also feel he'd make a fantastic member if he shows up more. He gets the history better probably than anyone of this generation.
ReplyDeleteE. Z.
Has anyone else noticed how much publicity and advertising the Opry and Circle is doing regarding Luke Bryan's appearance on the Opry this Saturday night? Much more than normal.
ReplyDeleteI know he has new music out and he is one of country music's bigger artists, but.....
Just find it all interesting.
I thought the same thing..... 🙄🙄
DeleteByron, what are you insinuating with your "but....."?
ReplyDeleteI don't know Patrick. Just getting a funny feeling. I'm checking the rumor mill.
DeleteHeard Luke Bryan interviewed on Coffee Country Country and Codee one morning. Then heard the same interview again the same day.
ReplyDeleteThen again the next day.
Well, I actually heard it once then left the show on the replays! :)
All Luke all the time baby!
Coffee Country and Cody. I'll get it right in a minute.
ReplyDeleteAnother very nice Opry show tonight.
ReplyDeleteNatalie Stovall goes backstage at the 10:00 mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBkxeBDNSYg Bob
ReplyDelete