Welcome to week #22 of the Saturday night Grand Ole Opry Circle shows.
First, a word about last week which was another great show. Three old friends, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell sat down and joked with each other and sang in perfect harmony. It was a treat to hear the trio featuring songs written by Rodney. You could tell they enjoyed each others company and had no trouble sharing the spotlight. I know Rodney has battled a few health issues over the past couple of years, thus it is nice to see him out performing. Another fine Saturday night show at the Opry.
Secondly, WSM has announced that Jeff Hogue would be the new permanent replacement for Eddie Stubbs. Jeff, who seemed to be everyone's favorite to get the gig, has big shows to fill. Eddie handled the time slot for 25 years and was outstanding. And if anyone has not, please go to the WSM archives and listen to the last three shows that Eddie hosted. Hopefully over time, we will come to fell the same about Jeff as we do about Eddie. Good luck and good health to Eddie as he continues on with his next adventure.
It is shaping up to be another great week at the Opry on Saturday night as Grand Ole Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show will be anchoring the show. Many of us were wondering when this group would show up, and now we have them. I think we can safely say that it will not be an acoustical performance from these high energy guys.
Joining Old Crow will be guest artists Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle and Dom Flemons. Each of these artists will be bringing Bluegrass and Americana sounds to the Opry on Saturday night.
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Looking back from 25 years ago, Saturday August 5, 1995:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Grandpa Jones (host): Free Little Bird
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Grandpa Jones: Four Stone Walls & A Ceiling
6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Charlie Walker (host): Odds & Ends; Bits & Pieces
The Whites: Pins & Needles/San Antonio Rose
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Wilma Lee Cooper: The White Rose
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Brother Oswald: The Old Rugged Cross
Jack Greene: You Are My Treasure
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn
7:30: Standard Candy
Jean Shepard (host): I'm Not That Good at Goodbyes
Forrester Sisters: Sincerely/(?)
Charley Pride: Kiss an Angel Good Morning/Kaw-liga
Jean Shepard: I'll Sail My Ship Alone/Slippin' Away
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy
Stu Phillips: Dust in My Eyes
Skeeter Davis: Rock-A-Bye Boogie
Roy Drusky: Always
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Porter Wagoner: An Old Log Cabin for Sale
8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): It's You, Only You That I Love
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me About It
Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Del Reeves: The Race is On
Hank Snow: That Lucky Old Sun
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Freight Train Boogie
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Unclouded Day
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Porter Wagoner and Brother Oswald: Mansion on the Hill
Porter Wagoner and Colene Walter: My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
Porter Wagoner: Trouble in Amen Corner
10:00: Goody's
Grandpa Jones (host): Banjo Sam
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Grandpa Jones: It's Raining Here This Morning
10:15: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): John Henry
Forrester Sisters: I Fell in Love Again Last Night
Jimmy Dickens: We Could
10:30: Gruhn Guitar
Charley Pride (host): Someone Loves You, Honey
Charlie Walker: Who'll Buy the Wine
Charley Pride: Kaw-liga
10:45: Fairfield
Jean Shepard (host): If Teardrops Were Pennies
Crossmen Quartet: Sweet Heaven Awaits
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Rachel
Jean Shepard: Farewell Party
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Conscience I'm Guilty
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me About It
Ray Pillow: Too Many Memories
Justin Tubb: Keep Me From Blowing
Del Reeves: This Must Be the Bottom
Hank Snow: Little Buddy
11:30: Loreal
Jack Greene (host): Oh, Lonesome Me
Stu Phillips: Blue Canadian Rockies
Skeeter Davis: Lovesick Blues
Roy Drusky: Don't It Make You Want to Go Home
Jack Greene: If It's Love You're Playing For/There Goes My Everything
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday August 8, 1970:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Norro Wilson: Do It to Someone You Love
Connie and Mike Eaton: Bye, Bye Love
Billy Grammer: Kentucky
6:45: Rudy's
Willis Brothers (host): There Goes the Farm
Johnny Carver: Hold Me Tight
The Kendalls: Leaving on a Jet Plane
Willis Brothers: A Satisfied Mind
7:00: Luzianne
Stu Phillips (host): Do What 'Cha Do Well
The Four Guys: Don't It Make You Want to Go Home
Merle Kilgore: Folsom Prison Blues
Duke of Paducah: Ding, Dong Daddy from Dumas
Stu Phillips: For the Good Times
The Four Guys: Daddy Sang Bass
Merle Kilgore: More & More
Stu Phillips: Juanita Jones
7:30: Standard Candy
Wilburn Brothers (host): Little Johnny from Down the Street
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Jay Lee Webb: I Come Home A' Drinkin'
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Wilburn Brothers: Somebody's Back in Town
Debbie Turner: Try a Little Kindness
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Jay Lee Webb: Blooming Fools
8:00: Martha White
Del Reeves (host): Girl on the Billboard
Charlie Walker: Let's Go Fishing, Boys
Stan Hitchcock: Free-Born Men
Penny DeHaven: Down in the Boondocks
Del Reeves: Landmark Tavern
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Stan Hitchcock: You Gave Me a Mountain
Del Reeves: Another Bridge to Burn
8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Earl Scruggs Revue: Nashville Skyline Rag
Marion Worth: Okie From Muskogee
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Roy Acuff: Life to Go
Earl Scruggs Revue: Girl From the North Country
Marion Worth: Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Billy Grammer (host): Bonaparte's Retreat
Willis Brothers: Boots & Saddle
Earl Scruggs Revue: Alberta
Norro Wilson: Do It to Someone You Love
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Earl Scruggs Revue: Sing Me Back Home
10:00: Fender
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like the Sun's Gonna Shine
Jay Lee Webb: She's Looking Better By the Minute
Duke of Paducah: The World is Waiting for the Sunrise
Wilburn Brothers: Sing You Heart Out, Country Boy
10:15: Union 76
Stu Phillips (host): Is Anybody Going to San Antone
Johnny Carver: You Lily White Hands
Bill Carlisle: Rough Stuff
Stu Phillips: Crystal Chandeliers
10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Merle Kilgore: Wolverton Mountain
Charlie Collins: The Fighting Side of Me
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:45: Beechnut
The Four Guys (host): Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
Connie Eaton: You Mean All the World to Me
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin
The Four Guys: Love of the Common People
11:00: Coca-Cola
Del Reeves (host): A Dime At a Time
Penny DeHaven: You Have to Do an Awful Lot of Loving Sometimes
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Alabama Gal
Del Reeves: Another Bridge To Burn/Hound Dog/Chug-A-Lug/Who Lotta Shakin' Going On
Del Reeves and Penny DeHaven: Landmark Tavern
Sam McGee: Victor Rag
11:30: Lava
Charlie Walker (host): Let's Go Fishing Boys
Marion Worth: Okie From Muskogee
Stan Hitchcock: The Games People Play
The Kendalls: Leaving on a Jet Plane
Charlie Walker: Little Old Wine Drinker Me
Marion Worth: Tomorrow Never Comes
Stan Hitchcock: Honey, I'm Home
There you have it for this week. Thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry on Saturday night.
Posted today:
ReplyDeleteTo align with Metro Nashville health and safety guidelines amid current COVID-19 concerns, the Grand Ole Opry has cancelled performances that include a live audience through August 31 through September 30 with exception of Saturdays in September. This includes the Opry Country Classics shows scheduled during September.
I am hoping that the very first Saturday that they return for a Grand Ole Opry show they will go ahead and induct Rhonda Vincent - it was a long wait for them to finally make the decision to put her on and she has been waiting since March - if not the first Saturday do it in September if they actually have the live shows --- hoping!
ReplyDeleteDom Flemons.
ReplyDeleteThe last of a dying breed.
An ENTERTAINER!
https://youtu.be/qVJVOmMBNug
There won't be any live audience shows until the virus is under control. I predict that won't be until next Summer--- Dashmann ( Byron, please remove my other 2 comments )
ReplyDeleteI hope I didn't offend anyone, however I did delete a couple of the comments. I agree that we should stick to the Opry and music.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that each of us does hope that the Opry, and live music everywhere, will return as soon as it is safe. And I do know that once it is safe to return to live shows, many of us will be doing just that.
Again, if I offended anyone by deleting their comments, I apologize. Let's start fresh again.
Thanks:
Byron
A couple of words, if I may.
DeleteByron is a Facebook friend of mine, and he knows I have a lot of political opinions. We're all entitled to our opinions (I'm reminded of David Brinkley entitling a book, Everyone Is Entitled to My Opinion). But I express those on political sites. This is a site about the Opry. If it's relevant to the Opry, well, fine--I don't think it's wrong to say Charlie Daniels had strong political opinions that people agreed or disagreed with, but also expressed them on his website in a place where he intended them to be, not as the reason for his stage show. So, Byron, I'm happy to stand by you.
By the by, I finally got on WSM's mailing list, and they're advertising airing the classic Opry broadcasters right after the one-hour Circle Network show. This week, the first living member of the Hall of Fame and three who should be in the Hall: June Carter, the Wilburn Brothers, and Archie Campbell. And I doubt there's much debate about THAT! :)
Yes, let's debate June Carter, Wilburn Brothers and Archie Campbell. Archie, along with Doyle and Teddy, should have been elected long ago. I would have a little bit harder time making a case for June. She was a fine talent, great comedic skills, but she just wasn't that great of a singer. She would be borderline, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteArchie seems to have been overlooked. Grand Ole Opry star, he set the standard for country comedians not to be dressed as if they just came off the farm. A prime member of the Hee Haw cast, along with being a writer on the show.
We can all speculate on why the Wilburn Brothers have not been elected. It seems as if one name keeps coming up as to why they have been left out. They have been finalists in the past, but with the continued backlog of veteran candidates, their days might be numbered. RFD-TV is showing their syndicate show on Saturday nights at 7:00. A bit of trivia: their show was the first syndicated country show to be produced in color.
And Mike, thanks for the kind words.
Who do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteFolks,
ReplyDeleteI agree on the politics and keeping it away from this blog and said as much a few weeks back. Like Mike, I have some strong political opinions too. As I said before, this should be a place to get away from all of that and share and enjoy what bonds all of us, the Opry and "Good old Country Music" as I remember hearing Hank Snow say.
I will add this. I have made some comments in the past about where I think our culture is going and how that is playing into the changes in our music. I tried to make those comments non political and hopefully I was successful. But, if I offended anyone I apologize.
I think we all have an opinion about why Teddy and Doyle are not in the HOF. As long as Doyle's daughter is still around I don't think the chance will completely die. Just thinking about it, didn't Lester and Lesley have kids too.
Archie Campbell is like Jimmy Dickens in a way. Everyone thinks of Jimmy for his comedy songs but he was one heck of a ballad singer. So was Del Reeves but he is always thought of as a singer of trucker and novelty tunes too. If you have never listened to his Christmas LP you should check it out. His best work in my opinion. And Archie, he wrote some really great serious songs and was fine fine singer. He even did pretty good on the guitar as I recall. Certainly should be in the HOF.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I also think the Wilburns and Archie deserve HOF status, but in any HOF there are the numerous fence sitters ---- subject to the voters and competition in any year ---- one man's treasure is another man's trash ---- Hey, if everybody made the HOF it wouldn't be a HOF ----- but we have our memories --- anyone we loved can be in our personal HOFs ---- Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan
ReplyDeleteByron, thanks. And June ... I'm actually prepared to argue that "The Carter Family" is an umbrella that includes all of them. But then again Roy Rogers went in independently of the Sons of the Pioneers, so what do I know, and if I do know, why should anyone care!
ReplyDeleteRalph Emery once said of Doyle Wilburn something along the lines that he was always up to something, making deals. It helped the whole family, I'm sure. But in that case, you are likely to antagonize a few folks, and that could be part of it, too. That is certainly not a criticism of Doyle or any other Wilburn, and I hope it isn't taken that way. Today is the birthday of Webb Pierce, who was another strong, tough customer who could be controversial (and played a role in the Wilburns' career), and we know politics came into his induction. As for Archie, considering how well known Hee Haw remains, it's more of a surprise to me that he isn't in.
FINALLY !!!!! SOME BLUEGRASS!!!!!! While the shows have been great, I really needed this!!!!! There had been only 2 bluegrass acts up till now...... Hopefully more of this.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the histess tonite, she can keep the gig... Leave Bobby wherever they find him.... She is better , much better....
There was very little of Natalie on the TV side tonight. It seemed as if they turned it over to Ketch to handle the introductions.
DeleteWhat an outstanding show tonight and what a finale!!!!
ReplyDeleteI will say it right now: Dom Flemons should be the next Opry member.
I 100% agree with that assessment Byron.
DeleteAs the years tick by, enthusiasm and the ability to entertain become an attribute I enjoy more and more.
Last night's show was by the far the best 1 hour show since the pandemic began in my mind.
Ask Dom Flemons to become a member immediately. He brings something the 'Opry has been missing for a while. An ENTERTAINER!
I agree. He would be a great additon. Because of this show I have added several of his albums to my apple music collection. I can hear Acuff, Monroe, Wills, such a combination.
DeleteDom Flemons was fantastic. I liked how he did music that showed the roots of African American influence in country. Using teh harmonica as emphasis and playing bones. Was a throwback to DeFord Bailey...... Totall agree he would be a great Opry Member for it would give teh Opry a musician that is familiar with that part of the American songbook. He has a unique sound.
ReplyDeleteIt is a unique sound that I miss, which is why I liked Jimmy C. Newman and his cajun country..... If it had not been for Jimmy C. Newman I would never have discovered cajun, zydeco, nor cajun country music.
As a result of Flemons, I am going to look more beyond De Ford Bailey, blues musicians, gospel, spirituals.......
Jesse McReynolds needs our prayers.
DeleteMessage From Joy McReynolds...Jesse's Wife. I would appreciate your prayers for Jesse. I had to take him to the ER this evening because he was having some numbness in his arm. They’re doing some tests but he’s in good spirits and I’ll keep you posted. Bob
Jesse McReynolds needs our prayers.
ReplyDeleteMessage From Joy McReynolds...Jesse's Wife. I would appreciate your prayers for Jesse. I had to take him to the ER this evening because he was having some numbness in his arm. They’re doing some tests but he’s in good spirits and I’ll keep you posted. Bob
Jesse McReynolds is a treasure along with his late brother Jim that will never be replaced on the Opry ---- We are losing our legends -
ReplyDeleteHis wife said he was doing better, the numbness was gone, and they were keeping him overnight, but that he was doing well and eating a lot (considering that it's hospital food, he really must be hungry).
DeleteGood to hear that Jesse is doing better. Bob
ReplyDelete2nd show
ReplyDelete9:30: 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
I'm curious here, was it known at the time it was ET's final Opry performance, or did they just go on with "business as usual?"
Also, how many more shows did Doyle Wilburn make as he died on Oct. 16, 1982 from lung cancer? I'm sure in August, he wasn't feeling well or maybe he was taking treatments if he had knowledge he had cancer at that point.
Thinking back to the time, I do not believe it was known that it would be Ernest's final Opry shows. It was also the night that he hosted the Midnight Jamboree for the final time. After what turned out to be his final night, he just didn't feel strong enough to do the Opry or Midnight Jamboree any longer.
DeleteAfter that final Opry show, he only performed several more times: August 29 in Memphis, Texas and then the weekend tour in November. By 1982, he was having a very difficult time singing and even breathing.
As to Doyle Wilburn, from what I have in my notes, his final Opry show was October 2, just a couple of weeks before he died. The following week, October 9, Teddy did a solo appearance on the Opry, and he did the same on October 16, the day Doyle died.