Grand Ole Opry 1/8 & 1/9

It's another weekend at the Grand Ole Opry and while he will not be appearing, Saturday January 9 will mark Tom T. Hall's 50th anniversary of his first appearance as a member of 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.

After he retired from performing, Tom T. supervised acoustic sessions at his own recording studio, continued to write those utterly distinctive songs, and would 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. 

Over the course of his career, Tom T. 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. As a recording artist, Tom T. has released 35 albums and 50 singles, 8 of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard County Chart. 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 2008, Tom T. Hall was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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What is interesting is that the Opry considers January 1st as the date of Tom T. Hall's Opry membership, but it wasn't until January 9th that Tom T. was formally inducted as an Opry member. 

While Tom T. Hall is not on the schedule for this weekend, Grand Ole Opry member, Emmylou Harris is, and she is scheduled to appear both Friday and Saturday night. She will be joined by both nights by fellow Opry member Mark Wills, with Jeannie Seely is on the schedule for Friday, while Connie Smith and Terri Clark are set for Saturday. 

Guesting this weekend will be Brad Upton, who is listed for both nights,  and will be joined on Friday night by Stephanie Quayle and Collin Raye. Joining Brad on Saturday night will be Kalie Shorr and 

January 8
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Mark Wills
7:30: Stephanie Quayle; Brad Upton
8:00: Collin Raye; Emmylou Harris

Saturday January 9
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Connie Smith; Mark Wills; Kalie Shorr; Brad Upton
8:00: Terri Clark; Lindsay Ell; Emmylou Harris
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As noted, Saturday January 9, 1971, was the night that Tom T. Hall became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Here is the running order from that night 50 years ago: 

7:00: Roy Drusky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jim and Jesse; Ray Pillow
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Walker; Tom T. Hall
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Stonewall Jackson, Hank Locklin, Del Wood, Crook Brothers
8:30: Bill Monroe (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; George Morgan; Stringbean; Stu Phillips
9:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Osborne Brothers; Ernie Ashworth; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Del Reeves; Grandpa Jones; Marion Worth
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy C Newman; Jim and Jesse
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Ray Pillow
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Grandpa Jones; Willis Brothers; Tom T. Hall
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; George Morgan; Hank Locklin; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Osborne Brothers; Stringbean; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Del Wood; Margie Bowes; Sam McGee
11:30: Del Reeves (host); Marion Worth; Justin Tubb; Ernie Ashworth; Stu Phillips

On the early show, Tom T. Hall sang "Ballad of 40 Dollars," while on the late show he did "100 Children."

As far as his history with the Opry, Tom T. has had two runs as a member of the Opry. As noted, he originally joined on January 9, 1971 and then gave up his membership after the Opry moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. While he didn't appear on the opening night of the new Opry House, he did make two appearances before giving up his membership: April 13, 1974 and June 7, 1974. After he quit the Opry, as Tom T. tells the story, he was approached one evening by Ernest Tubb, who told him that the Opry missed him and he needed to return. His return took place on March 28, 1980, and while he still remains an Opry member, his last appearance was on June 6, 1992. In looking at his appearances during that period from 1980-1992, Tom T. actually appeared on the Opry on a somewhat regular basis. But apparently, he just decided he was done with the Opry. I was told that he had informed Opry management that he was not going to return but they still kept him on as a member. While I am certain he will not appear to be honored upon his 50th anniversary, I hope that the Opry will at least mention the milestone. 
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Another Grand Ole Opry induction also took place on January 9th, however it was in the year 1965 and on that date former Opry member Norma Jean joined the cast of the Opry. 

Norma Jean was a member of Porter Wagoner's road show for a few years, prior to Dolly Parton. While she toured with Porter, and often appeared on Porter's Opry segments, Norma Jean never did any duets with Porter. She did have a somewhat successful career as a solo artist. 

Here is the line-up from Saturday January 9, 1965, the night Norma Jean became a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

7:30: Jimmy Newman (host); Bill Carlisle; Bobby Lord; Loretta Lynn; Del Wood; Ernest Ashworth
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Louvin; Dottie West; Willie Nelson; Osborne Brothers; Norma Jean; Crook Brothers
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Wilburn Brothers; Bill Anderson; Archie Campbell; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Margie Bowes
9:00: Leroy Van Dyke (host); Skeeter Davis; Sonny James; Curly Fox; Glaser Brothers; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30; Hank Snow (host); Bill Monroe; Roy Drusky; Willis Brothers; Marion Worth; The Browns
10:00: Bobby Lord (host); Loretta Lynn; Osborne Brothers; Del Wood
10:15: Jimmy Newman (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Bill Anderson; Bill Carlisle
10:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Norma Jean; Sonny James
10:45: Roy Acuff (host); Margie Bowes; Wilburn Brothers; Crook Brothers; June Stearns
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Bill Monroe; Leroy Van Dyke; Glaser Brothers; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Dottie West; Sam and Kirk McGee
11:30: Roy Drusky (host); Charlie Louvin; Marion Worth; The Browns; Willie Nelson; Curly Fox

Norma Jean, who is the last living former female Opry member, made her final appearance as an Opry member in August 1969, after which she left Nashville and moved back to Oklahoma. 
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To finish it up for this week, 54 years ago, Saturday January 8, 1966 was the final appearance by Sonny James as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Sonny had joined the Opry on October 27, 1962, thus he remained an Opry member for just over three years. Like others who joined in the 50s and early 60s, he found being a member of the Opry hindered his personal appearance schedule as the Opry required 26 Saturday nights, and those nights were the most lucrative on the road. 

Here is the running order from the final appearance by Sonny James as a member of the Opry: 

7:30: Luzianne
Roy Drusky (host): White Lightning
Osborne Brothers: Up This Hill & Down
Norma Jean: You're Drivin' Me Out of My Mind
Stringbean: Crazy Vietnam War
Roy Drusky: Second Hand Rose
Willie Nelson: I Love You Because
Del Wood: Cattle Call
Ernest Ashworth: I Wish
Opry Staff Band: Soldier's Joy
Roy Drusky: Strangers

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (host): Gonna Have Myself A Ball
Sonny James: Behind the Tear
Margie Bowes: Lost
Crook Brothers: The Eighth of January
Flatt and Scruggs: Houston
Grandpa Jones: Fallen Leaves
Dottie West: Before the Ring on Your Finger Turns Green
Sonny James: True Love's A Blessing
Flatt and Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Breakdown

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Freight Train Blues
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: It Started Again
Bobby Bare: 500 Miles
Wilburn Brothers: Someone Before Me
Tex Ritter: The Men in My Little Girl's Life
Loretta Lynn: Dear Uncle Sam
Bob Luman: Memphis
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

9:00: Pet Milk
Ernest Tubb (host): I'm Looking High & Low For My Baby
Bill Monroe: I'll Live in the Past
Skeeter Davis: Under Your Spell Again
Glaser Brothers: Teardrops 'til Dawn
Ernest Tubb: Answer the Phone
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Billy Grammer: I'm Letting You Go; Goodbye
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World

9:30: Kellogg's
Jimmy Newman (host): Jambalaya
Willis Brothers: I'm Gonna Swing 'til the Rope Breaks
Curly Fox: Spanish Two Step
June Carter: Everything Ain't Been Said
Jimmy Newman: Artificial Rose
Jim and Jesse: Johnny B. Goode
Marion Worth: I Will Not Blow Out the Light
Jimmy Newman: Seasons of My Heart

10:00: Schick
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): It Started Again
Stringbean: Ol' Man, Can You Play a Banjo
Norma Jean: Then Go Home to Her
Willie Nelson: Columbus Stockade Blues
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Wedding Bells

10:15: Pure
Roy Drusky (host): Peel Me a Nanner
Margie Bowes: I Can't Love That Way
Osborne Brothers: Memories
Del Wood: Waiting for the Robert E Lee

10:30: Harvey's
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (host): Detroit City
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew
Ernest Ashworth: A Week in the Country
Flatt and Scruggs: Houston

10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): Turn Around; Walk Away
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Bobby Bare: Blowing in the Wind/A Worried Man
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin

11:00: Coca Cola
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Bill Monroe: There's an Old, Old House
Wilburn Brothers: It's Another World
Tex Ritter: Take Him Fishin'
Glaser Brothers: Stand Beside Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Instrumental
Loretta Lynn: Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
Curly Fox: Alabama Jubilee
Sam and Kirk McGee: Milk'em In the Evening Blues
Roy Acuff: Carry Me Back to the Mountain

11:30: Lava
Jimmy Newman (host): Big Mamou
Willis Brothers: A 6ft 2 By 4
5 Miles from Home
Skeeter Davis: Walkin' the Floor Over You
Jim and Jesse: Memphis
Marion Worth: He Thinks I Still Care
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Jimmy Newman: A Fallen Star

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.