As we enter into March, the big news this weekend is the return of the Friday Night Opry. Hopefully the Friday night shows are here to stay and that they will be well supported by the public.
Looking at what is lined up for this weekend, Grand Ole Opry members listed for the Friday Night Opry include regulars Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky. Also listed on the schedule is the Opry's newest member Rhonda Vincent. Nice to see that Rhonda is already taking her membership seriously.
Guest artists on Friday night include Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz, along with Waylon Payne, and making his Opry debut, Willie Jones.
Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky are back for Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, where they will be joined by member Chris Young. Guesting on Saturday will be very frequent Opry guest Elizabeth Cook, along with Jameson Rodgers, Whitney Duncan, Tenille Towns and comedian Henry Cho.
Friday March 5
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Waylon Payne; Riders In The Sky; Willie Jones
8:00: Don Schlitz; Rhonda Vincent
Saturday March 6
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Whitney Duncan; Riders In The Sky; Henry Cho
8:00: Chris Young; Elizabeth Cook; Jameson Rodgers; Tenille Townes
While it is nice to see the Friday Night Opry back, sadly it is just a 90 minute show
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As mentioned, Willie Jones will be making his Opry debut on Friday night.
Willie Jones is a Shreveport, LA native who is a The Penthouse recording artist and Warner Chappell songwriter. He seamlessly blends hip-hop and country music, paving the way for a genre-expanding sound that’s truly signature to Jones himself. Armed with more than 1 million followers across social platforms, he recently debuted his own Apple Music show called “The Cross Roads Radio.” Willie is slated for Stagecoach 2021 and C2C London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Glasgow (health regulations pending). Jones just released his debut album ‘Right Now’ (The Penthouse / EMPIRE), amassing a cumulative stream count of 27.5M to date on Spotify, featuring the poignant patriotic single “American Dream.” The video clip of this anthem was jointly premiered on CMT and BET, a first for the networks. The rising artist has been covered by NPR All Things Considered, Forbes, Rolling Stone, E! News, PEOPLE, MTV and more.
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday March 6, 1971:
1st show
6:30: Tex Ritter (host); Bobby Lord; Lonzo and Oscar
6:45: Bill Monroe (host); Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Ray Pillow
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Roy Drusky; Skeeter Davis; Stringbean; Jim and Jesse
7:30: Ernest Tubb (host); Billy Grammer; Charlie Louvin and Diane McCall; Crook Brothers; Ernie Ashworth; Tommy Cash
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy C Newman; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Hank Locklin; Charlie Walker
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jim Ed Brown; Bob Luman; Fruit Jar Drinkers; George Hamilton; The 4 Guys
2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host); Willis Brothers; George Hamilton IV; Bobby Lord; Stringbean; Lonzo and Oscar
10:00: Tex Ritter (host); Stu Phillips
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Jim and Jesse; Ray Pillow
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Louvin; Ernie Ashworth
10:45: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Hank Locklin; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Billy Grammer; Charlie Walker; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Jimmy C Newman; Tommy Cash; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Jim Ed Brown; The 4 Guys; Bob Luman
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Looking back to March 5, 1983 which was the final night at the Opry for WSM radio personality and Grand Ole Opry announcer Chuck Morgan.
Chuck Morgan recently posted this on his Facebook page and I hope he will not mind me sharing this:
Saturday March 5, 1983 was my last night on The Grand Ole Opry. Only a few times did I ever get called out to center stage and into the “circle”. And the times that I got called out to the “circle”, it was always by the King of Country Music, Roy Acuff. I was always very proud to announce Mr. Acuff’s portions of The Grand Ole Opry, usually sponsored by Martha White Flour. And I loved reading that commercial copy on the Opry, and saying “Goodness gracious its good.”
What a tough decision it was to leave WSM, The Grand Ole Opry, Music Country Network, The Nashville Network and Nashville.
Larry Schmittou, owner of the Nashville Sounds, called me in December of 1982 and told me that he taking a job with the Texas Rangers Baseball Club in Arlington, Texas and he said, I know it’s a shot in the dark, but how would you like to work in the big leagues? I turned Larry down. I had a lot of things going on, The Nashville Network was just starting up. The Music Country Network was going strong in its first year. It was the first ever satellite delivered radio show, my competition at the time was Larry King. Larry talked politics, we talked country music and to the stars that came by night after night. Announcing at The Grand Ole Opry, I loved the Opry and what it meant to country music and Nashville.
In December of 1982, I lost one of my good friends In Nashville and The Grand Ole Opry, Marty Robbins I have hundreds of hours of me and Marty on the radio at WSM. Sometimes, he would come by to visit with me on the radio a couple of times a week. Sometimes he would call in from the road. He was a great friend. His passing had a big impact on me. After that, I think I lost something on the air, something just didn’t feel right. And that feeling continued after the first of the year. I think Marty’s passing played a role in my decision to leave WSM and the Music Country Network.
I thought more about being in big league baseball, I thought about what I would be doing when I was 50, would I still be playing records on the network or WSM? I was Larry’s first PA guy with the Sounds, if I go to Texas, I will have to do more than just be a PA guy, he said something about selling program ads and promotions, whoa, I never had sold anything before. More I thought about it, maybe I should go to Texas. I didn’t know much about the Rangers other than Buddy Bell, Jim Sundberg and Charlie Hough. And that the ballpark in Texas had a big Texas shaped scoreboard. I had seen some Rangers games on USA Network’s Thursday Night Baseball.
After thinking about it, I called Larry in late February and told him I was coming to join him in Texas.
After announcing Roy Acuff on the Martha White Flour portion of The Grand Ole Opry, 30 days later, almost to the day, I was announcing Buddy Bell playing 3rd base for the Texas Rangers.
Here is the running order from 36 years ago, Saturday March 5, 1983:
1st show
6:30: Bonanza
George Hamilton (host): I Love Music
Jeannie Seely: Roarin' & Runnin'
George Hamilton IV: 'Til I Can Gain Control Again
6:45: Rudy's
Billy Walker (host): One Away From One Too Many Heartaches
Jim and Jesse: Freight Train
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Billy Walker: Looking Through the Eyes of Love
7:00: Shoney's
Bill Monroe (host): Love, Come Home
Skeeter Davis: Rock-A-Bye Boogie
Jimmy Dickens: John Henry
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Boxcar Willie: Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/I'm Movin' On/Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms/Night Train to Memphis/New River Train/Gotta Travel On/The Lord Made a Hobo Out of Me
Bill Monroe (host): The Old Crossroads Is Waiting
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Teddy Wilburn: Lovesick Blues
Lonzo and Oscar: Mountain Music
Roy Drusky: Always
Crook Brothers and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Bill Anderson: Thank You, Darling
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Wilma Lee Cooper: He Taught Them How
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Connie Smith: The Keys in the Mailbox/When God Dips His Love in My Heart
8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Tangled Mind
The 4 Guys: I Don't Want Your Love Forever
Jan Howard: Lord, I Hope this Day is Good
Charlie Louvin and Diane Berry: Running Wild
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
Hank Snow: Among My Souvenirs
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
The 4 Guys: Ruby Red
Skeeter Davis: I Ain't Never
George Hamilton IV: 'Til I Can Gain Control Again
Ray Pillow: Your One Memory That I Would Like to Make Again
Bill Anderson: Thank You Darling
10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Monroe (host): Molly & Tenbrooks/Blue Moon of Kentucky
Billy Walker: One Away From One Too Many Heartaches
Vic Willis Trio: Faded Love
Bill Monroe: Right On
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Drusky (host): What About You
Bill Carlisle: I'm Movin'
Boxcar Willie: Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/I'm Movin' On/Wabash Cannonball/Night Train to Memphis/New River Train/Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms/The Lord Made a Hobo Out of Me
Roy Drusky: One Day at a Time
10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Old Time Sunshine Song
Stu Phillips: The Great El Tigre
Jimmy Dickens: Geraldine
Roy Acuff: Glorybound Train
10:45: Beechnut
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby on My Mind
Crook Brothers and The Melvin Sloan Dancers
Stonewall Jackson: Angry Words
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
Wilma Lee Cooper: He Taught Me How
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dusty Miller
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's a Sunday
Kirk McGee: Milk'em In the Evening Blues
Hank Snow: Bluebird Island
11:30: Hardee's
Jimmy C Newman (host): (?)
Jan Howard: Gold Watch & Chain/Where No One Stands Alone
Charlie Louvin: I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Charlie Louvin, Buck Evans and Diane Berry: Red, Red Wine
Cajun Country: Little Cajun Queen
When I listen to my old Opry tapes and hear Chuck Morgan announcing a segment, I realize just how good he was. He was so smooth reading those commercials, and as he wrote, he was usually announcing Roy Acuff's segment on the 2nd show.
For those wondering, Chuck is still alive and working with the Texas Rangers, doing the announcing in their home ballpark. He is on Facebook and posts regularly and I do believe that he reads this blog on occasion.
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.
Who do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteChuck Morgan also did a great job on the "Stars of the Grand Ole Opry" show that TNN ran--I guess those were recordings of matinee performances, and I remember him getting to stand out on stage and make the introductions.
ReplyDeleteHis successor was Charlie Douglas. Charlie's successor was Eddie Stubbs. I think Eddie's will be Jeff Hoag. That's a pretty good run.
Nice to see that Waylon and Willie will be on the Opry tonight
ReplyDeleteTook me a minute to catch that. Good one!
DeleteWell, our newest member went over pretty good tonight even though she did old songs by other artist. No way here at home to know the average age of the audience but given COVID and the audience demographic the Opry is courting, I'd say that age isn't within the gray hair category.
ReplyDeleteI see Whitney Duncan is on the lineup tomorrow night. Bill Cody said they hadn't seen her in a while. Best I can recall, the last time she was there was Friday October 21, the next to last time Ray Price appeared. I was there that night and if you were in the front row her mini dress left little to the imagination and she knew it. I would have picked another venue had I wanted that kind of show! Hoped that was her one and only time but bad pennies.......! Maybe 10 years makes a difference but I won't hold my breath.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
In reading this again I notice I didn't give a year. That was October 21, 2011! Had Duncan appeared since then?
DeleteJim
$75 or $125 for a one and a half hour show (including ads) seems more than a little steep to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen the 100th anniversary show happens, by that time 'Opry shows will be (at the current rate of change)one hour long and cost $200! :)
Since live audiences have returned, lots of Jeannie Seely and Riders in The Sky, what gives??? Are others still staying away out of fear?? or not being asked??? As vaccination is going fast and protocol is tight, one would think that some of the vets would be appearing more now.
ReplyDeleteBill Anderson and John Conlee are not appearing as they are not allowed to bring their own band members with them and are required to use the Opry Staff Band. Bill has said as soon as he is allowed to have his own band members with him, he will be back. I assume it is the same for John. Ricky Skaggs and The Whites are playing it safe and helping to protect Buck.
DeleteJesse McReynolds will be back as soon as it is safe. He is over 90. I have not heard anything regarding Bobby Osborne and I would assume age and health is keeping him away. Mike Snider seems to have no interest in appearing right now. Connie Smith has not been back since she cancelled a few weeks ago, simply saying she was under the weather.
So, that does leave us with Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky. Mark Wills seems to be appearing somewhat on a regular basis, and we have seen some appearances by Dailey & Vincent and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers.
Vince Gill is a mystery as he has not appeared on his own since last October. Usually you can count on Vince to appear. In the past, Trace Adkins could be counted on to appear and not sure of his current status either.
I would assume, with the age of many of the Opry's members, most are continuing to try to stay safe and maybe for many of them, coming to the Opry to sing two or three songs jus isn't worth the risk. For others, without their band members, maybe they feel it just isn't worth doing. What I can tell you is that Dan and his team are doing their best to schedule these shows and present a show that is representative of the Opry.
Bill Anderson has also posted on his website that he will travel again until 2022. In part because of COVID but also because his grandson Gabe is about to go through bone marrow transplant and his sister is the donor. Bill stated he would not want to be on the road in time of his family's need.
DeleteHe is looking to be back at the Opry as soon as they let the bands back.
Jim
Should have added this above. Can't remember is it has been posted here yet or not. Bill's 60th anniversary will be celebrated Saturday July 17, 2021. And, after a year delay, plans are for the exhibit on his career to go up at the HOF in late fall.
DeleteJim
Elizabeth Cook is looking COUNTRY TO THE BONE tonight. Bob
ReplyDeleteWho do you see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteLast evening, we set and watched the TNN portions of four Opry shows from 1999 along with the backstage show. There were some missing sections because we did not spend tape on some of the newer acts such as Michael Perterson.
ReplyDeleteFirst was July 10 when June Carter and John Carter Cash appeared with Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowel. Next was 7-24-99 with Tater, Del Reeves, Johnny Lee and Michael Peterson.
The July 31 show featured Bill Anderson, Wilma Lee Cooper, Stu Phillips and Anita Cochran. Anita was named after Anta Carter who had just passed on Thursday 7-29 at age 66. At the end of the show Bill ask her to lead "Will the Circle be Unbroken". Bill then took a verse and then many of the cast joined on stage and Jan Howard took the last verse. She started her part too high and had to start over then did an excellent job. On stage you could see Charlie Louvin, the Four Guys, Mike Snider, Stu Phillips, Jeannie Seely, Jim Ed Brown, Billy Walker and others. During the backstage portion Bill interviewed Skeeter Davis who was battling cancer but still working. She said she would be in Nashville, Indiana the following Saturday, a show we attended. Before taking the stage Bill told Gary Beaty he would be away on road dates the next few weeks. Bunker Hill, Indiana (Grissom AFB) was one of those dates on Friday 8-20 which we attended. Jeannie Seely and Jeanne Pruett were to be with Bill but Jan Howard filled in for Jeanne Pruett. Additionally, Martha Carson did the Midnight Jamboree that night!
The next show we viewed was 8-14-99. Because Bill was on the road, Jeannie Seely did the backstage show. She interviewed Rhonda Vincent who had appeared on the first segment. Rhonda was just returning to Bluegrass after her brief try at commercial Country. Twenty one years later.....! On the TNN portion that night was Jean Shepard, Mac Wiseman and Doug Kershaw. Backstage, Jean had granddaughter Icie May(SP) with her, she was about 1-1/2 I think. On stage Doug Kershaw received partial standing ovations and Johnny let him close the show.
It was hard to watch all this with dry eyes. A lot of good memories came rushing back. That was a banner year for me, my brother and our mom who we always took to any show we attended. We visited the Opry four times, backstage with Jean and Bennie in April and a fast trip to see the Browns September 25th. We attended nine road shows.
There is a reason I am relating all of this. As I watched these shows and thought back I realize that there is something that has pretty much disappeared from the Opry. No one but father time....and maybe music consultants.....is to blame.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
PART TWO-Too long winded I guess!
ReplyDeleteThe comradery and personal feel of the Opry is disappearing. Even in 1999, nearly everyone on those portions were still traveling the road. They mentioned the dates (before Mr. Fisher put a stop to it) and many were working shows together. Yes, they were not the big names riding the charts by then but they were still working. Yet, they were back at the Opry keeping it alive almost any time they were not on the road. When you set in the audience, listened on WSM or watched on TNN, you had the feeling you were all as one with the people on stage or like they were visiting at your house. So much of that feeling, to me anyway, is missing today. Other than being in the Opry House, we are getting to the point where you are seeing a concert with commercials. Again, I don't think there is blame to be placed, it is just the nature of the time and state of the business. But that does not mean we are progressing. Anyone or anything can grow but often something is lost along the way as we write it off as progress.
As a side note, the live commercials have lost their charm as well, in part due to the announcers and again because of the atmosphere at the Opry. There was a time when that nearly now lost host artist would throw it to the announcer in a way that might make you think it was really a part of the performance to hear a commercial. Now, it fells like we are "taking care of business".
I believe that Dan Rogers and staff have the best for the Opry at heart and this change is mostly beyond their control. My comments are not complaints directed to anyone but only of the times we live and "progress". The Opry may continue to grow and thrive and that is what we all want, but the charm and personal atmosphere that to me made it so great is being or is lost to history.
I need to hear Whisper do his song "Thankful" which is what I am for all the great times and memories the Opry and the artist have provided me and my family "through the years".
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, I want to thank you for this. As I've said, I wish things didn't change, but of course they do. That said, I can never forgive Pete Fisher for the damage he did to that place.
DeleteMy eyes well up when I see old clips of, say, the Crook Brothers and the dancers, realizing, everybody is gone from that time. It's what the Opry was when I came upon it--I wish I had been around for the 1950s and 1960s, but by the time I was old enough to appreciate anything, we had no access to it (I grew up and live in Las Vegas, and WSM didn't reach us).
It's not just the Opry that Pete wasn't good at managing. Do you know Paul Brandt? He's a Canadian country star and a huge success there. Even a member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. He was sort of popular in the U.S. in the 90s. Pete Fisher was his manager in the 90s. I really think Paul could have been a huge success here in the U.S. if he would have only found a better manager than Pete.
DeleteA.B.
Country Rhodes hit it right on the nose ----it always felt in the 50s , 60s , and 70s that the OPRY FAMILY was coming into your living room to visit with you on the radio on Friday and Saturday nights ---- The Friday show now has some of that feeling --- The Saturday show has none of it, knowing Dry Bones and the crew will come in, cut the Opry in half after 50 minutes, and hijack the audience most weeks with sound alike moaning and squeeling barely country artists ---- the Opry has sold it's soul to the Devil ----- Dashmann, Flushing , Michigan ---
DeleteDashmann,
DeleteI agree with you.
I will say that I always felt that up into the mid 90's or so, the music maintained some of its original form. The theme or story in many of the songs still told somewhat of a story and made some real life sense. There was still some semblance of a pleasing melody and you could still hear some fiddle and steel with emphasis on "some". George Strait, Alan Jackson, even a little Jones and Haggard could still be heard, some of what Reba did and probably some others had a hint of the roots in the things they were doing. By the time 2000 came along it was almost gone and it's been "slipping away" ever since.
To me, with a few brief era's of strays, for about 70 years, country was relatively consistent. You could always find some resemblance of what went before. Now, like so much around us, it has been melted down into one ugly pot of mostly waste.
My brother is playing Kitty Wells and the Whisper penned "Fickle Fun" Gonna stop writing and enjoy.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
For Rhonda Vincent fans. On March 11th Rhonda will be on RFD TV. She announced it on her facebook live Bob
ReplyDeleteI don't get RFD TV. So please comment on it and let me know how awesome it was. Thanks in advance. :) Bob
ReplyDeleteBill Anderson writes in his fan club newsletter: "Starting on Saturday, March 20th, which just happens to be the first day of Spring, I am going to begin a series of live Facebook chats with the and fans all around the world. I want to do one of these every month while I'm not on tour just so we can stay in touch. We'll have more information about it shortly, but meantime mark March 20th at 2 p.m. Nashville (Central) as the time for our first get-together, and plan to join us if you can. We'll visit and talk about all kinds of things." Bob
ReplyDelete