This weekend, the calendar turns from April to May and as it does the Grand Ole Opry will welcome one of its legendary members on Saturday night as Grand Ole Opry member Ronnie Milsap is set to appear on the Opry stage for the first time since 2018. Hard to believe but 2021 marks Ronnie's 45th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. And while Ronnie isn't around often at the Opry, each time he is, it is a special night.
Joining Ronnie on Saturday night will be Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely, along with guest artists Home Free, legendary guitarist Doyle Dykes, Dylan Scott, and making her Grand Ole Opry debut, Priscilla Block. The designated comedian on Saturday is Chonda Pierce and also on the schedule is another of those artists who I think would make for a great Grand Ole Opry member, T. Graham Brown.
Looking at the Friday Night Opry, Grand Ole Opry members Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers will be heading up the broadcast. As with Saturday night, Opry member Jeannie Seely is on the schedule as is Doyle Dykes. Other guest artists on Friday include Levi Hummon, Caroline Jones, Rhett Akins, comedian Dusty Slay and Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz.
Friday April 30
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Levi Hummon; Doyle Dykes; Caroline Jones; Don Schlitz
8:00: Rhett Akins; Dusty Slay; Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
Saturday May 1
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Doyle Dykes; T. Graham Brown; Chonda Pierce
8:00: Dylan Scott; Priscilla Block; Home Free; Ronnie Milsap
Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Priscilla Block moved to Nashville after high school to pursue a career in music.
“I love writing about real life experiences and the ups and downs that I’ve gone through,” says Priscilla. “I don’t sugarcoat anything, and I think that’s the beauty of songwriting and being an artist.”
With an honest and upfront approach, Priscilla promotes self-love, empowerment, and acceptance through her own blend of country pop and southern rock, dubbed the Block Party sound. “It’s a little sass, a little trash, and a little sad,” describes Priscilla with a knowing wink as her catalog rolls so easily from heartbreak to laughter.
Over quarantine, Priscilla began experimenting with some new songs on social media app TikTok. There she developed a rabid fanbase with songs like “Thick Thighs,” an unapologetic anthem about women embracing their bodies, no matter their shape or size. Once her audience heard “Just About Over You,” they rallied together to independently fund the song’s recording. Priscilla in turn shared every moment of the recording and release process including all the emotions as she watched “Just About Over You” race to the top of both the iTunes Country and All Genre Song charts in only 12 short hours. Now, “Just About Over You” is climbing country radio’s Top 40.
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From 50 years ago, Saturday May 1, 1971. This was also the final night that Cousin Jody appeared on the Opry, as declining health forced James Clell Summey into retirement.
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Stu Phillips (host): Let the Guitars Play
Peggy Little: I've Got to Have You
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Stu Phillips: El Tigrae
6:45: Rudy's
Willis Brothers (host): Bob
Justin Tubb: Big Fool of the Year
Willis Brothers: For the Good Times
Cousin Jody: On Top of Old Smokey
7:00: Luzianne
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Tex Ritter: I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven/Boll Weevil
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Nine Pound Hammer
Howdy Forrester: Billy in the Low Ground
Connie Eaton: Take My Hand, Precious Lord
Brother Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Molly & Tenbrooks
The Stonemans: Looking Out My Back Door
Joe and Rose Lee Maphis: If I'm Gonna Have Your Lovin'
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Bill Monroe: Wicked Path of Sin
The Stonemans: Orange Blossom Special
Joe and Rose Lee Maphis: Gotta Lotta Lovin'
8:00 Martha White
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Bill Carlisle: Shanghai Rooster
The 4 Guys: My Special Angel
Bobby Lewis: He Gives Us All His Love
Archie Campbell: Hey Waiter
Del Wood: Kentucky Turnpike
The 4 Guys: Ruby, Don't Take Your Guns to Town
8:30: Stephen's
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Marion Worth: How Great Thou Art
Charlie Walker: My Baby Used to Be That Way
Louie Roberts: Sandy/Cattle Call
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
Marion Worth: Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Hank Snow: I've Cried a Mile
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Justin Tubb (host): Be Glad
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Peggy Little: Son of a Preacher Man
Stringbean: Ruby
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Peggy Little: I've Got to Have You
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
10:00: Fender
Stu Phillips (host): Me & Bobby McGee
Connie Eaton: Take My Hand, Precious Lord
Cousin Jody: On Top of Old Smokey
Stu Phillips: For the Good Times
10:15: Union 76
Bill Monroe (host): I Haven't Seen Mary in Years
Tex Ritter: Wayward Wind
Joe and Rose Lee Maphis: Run That By Me One More Time
Bill Monroe: I'll Never Love No One Else But My Darling
10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:45: Beechnut
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Crook Brothers: Old Joe Clark
Archie and Phil Campbell: Release Me
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Charlie Walker: My Baby Used to Be That Way
The Stonemans: White Lightening #2
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Hank Snow: Bluebird Island
Charlie Walker: Tell Her Lies & Feed Her Candy
Sam McGee: Where the Roses Never Fade
Hank Snow: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
11:30: Elm Hill
The 4 Guys (host): Cottonfields/Maria
Marion Worth: Okie From Muskogee/How Great Thou Art
Louie Roberts: Sandy
Bobby Lewis: From Heaven to Heartache/He Gives Us All His Love
The 4 Guys: Sweet Caroline/One Pair of Hands
James Clell Summey was born on December 14, 1914 at Possum Hollow, near Sevierville, Tennessee. His family relocated to Knoxville where he grew up in a musical environment, since both parents (Matty and Jim) were musicians. Other musicians regularly stayed in the home and young Jody soon learned to play several instruments. He initially favored the guitar but by 1931, was an accomplished dobro player (a relatively new instrument in those days, having only been developed in the late 20s).
By 1933, he was playing local venues with a group known as the Tennessee Crackerjacks, when they were joined by Roy Acuff. He became an important member of Acuff’s band and in February 1938, when Acuff and his band played the Grand Ole Opry, he became the first player to feature the dobro there. He also provided the dobro backing on most of Acuff’s early recordings including ‘The Great Speckled Bird’ and ‘Wabash Cannonball’.
After differences of opinion over material, Summey and two other band members left Acuff in January 1939. He returned to Knoxville but was soon back in Nashville, where he worked with Pee Wee King, Lonzo And Oscar and briefly as a comedy duo with Oral Rhodes, as Odie And Jody. He had played the comedian during his days with Acuff and finally became a solo Opry act in his alter ego role of the baggy-panted and toothless grinning hayseed, Cousin Jody. In this guise, he mixed rube comedy with his instrumental talents and for many years remained a very popular Opry regular. He died of cancer in 1976.
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Finally, remembering Charley Pride on what would have been his 28th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Here is the running order from Saturday May 1, 1993, the night Charley joined the Opry's cast:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
The 4 Guys (host): If It's From the Country, It's Coming From the Heart
Wilma Lee Cooper: Sweeter Than the Flowers
The 4 Guys: (?)
6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Don't 'Cha Cry, Melinda
Jim Ed Brown: Lyin' In Love With You/The 3 Bells
Grandpa Jones: Four Stoned Walls & A Ceiling
7:00: Shoney's
Del Reeves (host): Lay A Little Lovin' On Me
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Jean Shepard: Many Happy Hangovers to You
Osborne Brothers: Rock of Ages
Eddy Raven: Who Do You Know in California/Bayou Boy's Sleep All Day; Run All Night
Del Reeves: The Race is On
7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy C Newman (host): Cajun's Dream
Jan Howard: Crazy Arms
Riders In The Sky: Lovely Yukon Stars
Charley Pride: Kiss An Angel Good Morning/Wings of a Dove/Kaw-Liga
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Charlie Walker: Who Will Buy the Wine
Brother Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday Dear Tony
Mike Snider and Charlie Cushman: Sally Goodin
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Breakfast With the Blues
Billy Walker: A Million & One
Roy Drusky: Mississippi
Ray Pillow: Invitation to the Blues
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby on My Mind
Hank Snow: I'm Not That All Sorry for You
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Del Reeves: There She Goes
Stonewall Jackson: Side-Steppin' the Blues
Charley Pride: Every Heart Should Have One/Mountain of Love/Kiss An Angel Good Morning/Kaw-Liga
Porter Wagoner: On A Highway Headed South
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Banjo Sam
The 4 Guys: My Special Angel
Jean Shepard: Wabash Cannonball
Grandpa Jones: Old Camp Meeting Time
10:15: Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
Jim Ed Brown (host): Everyday People
Bill Carlisle: Rusty Old Halo
Jim Ed Brown: Will The Circle Be Unbroken/I Saw the Light/I'll Fly Away/Gone at Last
10:30: Piccadilly
Billy Walker (host): Charlie's Shoes
Lost and Found: Left Over Biscuits
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
10:45: Opry Book
Osborne Brothers (host): Midnight Flyer
Charlie Louvin: See the Big Man Cry
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Liberty
Osborne Brothers: High On a Hilltop
David Crowe: Sally Goodin
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Ramblin' Rose
Riders In The Sky: Son of the Western
Justin Tubb: You Nearly Lose Your Mind
Eddy Raven: Sometimes A Lady/I've Got Mexico
Hank Snow: Old Shep
11:30: General Jackson
Jimmy C Newman (host): Pistol Packin; Mama
Connie Smith: Then & Only Then
Roy Drusky: All For the Love of a Girl
Mike Snider: Squirrel Hide
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Charley always enjoyed performing on the Grand Ole Opry and it was a pleasure seeing him on the show. Sadly, Charley passed away late last year from Covid complications.
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.
I had a problem posting yesterday. So I'll post now that I agree with Nat and Byron about George Thorogood Bob
ReplyDeleteI will always cherish the night Charley Pride was inducted because, for one, he wanted Jimmy C. Newman to do the honors, and, second, the telegram that Henry Cannon sent congratulating him.
ReplyDeleteIt's always exciting to me when Milsap is on the schedule! Not only or even because we're both blind, hahhahahaha, but because, and I'm probably gonna get in trouble with my good buddy Jim for this, but I think his versatility when it comes to styles is such a huge part of what makes him amazing! He can go as stone cold country as anybody, but crossed over successfully bringing more fans to the opry. I've met him multiple times and was produced by Jamie Brantley his lead guitar player and band leader a few years ago. His health is not the best, so hopefully we can all forgive him for not appearing often. Also I've been told that he always wanted his opry appearances to be special and bring people to the show so he kept them further apart. I wouldn't be shocked though, if his touring slows, to see him on much MUCH more often.
ReplyDeleteE. Z.
Hey E.Z....hope you are doing well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about Ronnie being versatile in many styles and he handles it all very well. He's recorded and performed his share of hard core country over the years and done a wonderful job. I have a tribute LP he did to Jim Reeves that I am looking forward to listening to. Maybe it is just me but some artist have a way of doing crossover music with dignity and maintain an air of country roots and I think he is one of them. I know Ronnie enjoys many kinds of music but he didn't progressively move to less country and stay there. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems to me he did some more commercial less country things to stay relevant them would go back to something hard core before once again doing something more commercial. And, listening to some of his conversations with Eddie Stubbs over the years I think his first love was the hard core country.
Rambling a bit but I look forward to him being on the Opry. I hope his health his well and he is able to put in a strong performance.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Love Ronnie Milsap - will be great to hear him; have seen his concerts and at the Grand Ole Opry - always a wonderful experience. (from Anonymous in PA)
ReplyDeleteJim I wasn't sure how you'd feel about his going back and forth between pure country and not so clearly defined musical styles! haha I agree with you totally. His roots are hard core country, and I just feel like as long as you do what you do well and with respect, music is music. I'm very well, and I love your comments and insane amount of notes which may rival Byron!
DeleteE.Z.,
ReplyDeleteByron's posts, especially from the 80's on, encourage me to look at my own records and see if I am missing any valuable info he has. Many times in the summer evenings WSM would not come in until about 8pm or later and I could not hear who was on the early portions. That was before you could call and get the lineup and long before websites. So, when I compare notes, if I have any additional info I think folks would enjoy I post it. I know sometimes it looks like I'm checking up on Byron or correcting him but in no way is that my intentions. As I have said before, participating here has kept me engaged in the Opry more than I probably would have at this late date and I appreciate all who participate her.
I'll get a little goofy here but here it goes. Over the years, especially when my brother and I were in our 20/30's in the 80's and 90's, I think our age was one of the reasons people like Jean Shepard and Billy Walker and others were so open with us. They saw at least another generation who would be listening to their music after they were gone and we might just encourage others to listen to them. This blog and sharing these memories is to me part of what I think they might have hoped for. Yet another generation that might be at least aware of them and their music. Sharing and passing it on is what it is all about.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Byron posted on FB that the Louvin Brothers Museum was destroyed by fire today - a tremendous loss of historic information. We viisted with Charlie at the museum at Music Valley Drive - he was so friendly and proud of the material and we even reminisced about a place they played in MD that was owned by my Great Aunt's family and my Grandmother; I remember being there as a child - little pavilion along the creek and picnic tables. (from Anonymous in PA)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHere is a more detailed article regarding the fire that destroyed much of the Louvin Brothers archives:
ReplyDeleteTuesday’s fire at Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse on Monteagle Mountain apparently destroyed hundreds of historical items of the Louvin Brothers country music stars.
The Louvin Brothers were raised on a farm in Henagar, Ala. The brothers were very popular in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Charlie Louvin said in the early days the brothers worked third shift at Peerless Woolen mills in Rossville. Louvin said the brothers would take their break from 4:30–5:30 and rush to WDEF radio in the Volunteer building in Chattanooga. They would do a 15-minute radio show from 5-5:15. Louvin said they took turns driving to the radio program and eating sandwiches their mother fixed them.
The Louvins joined the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 1955.
Charlie collected all the brothers' memorable and opened a museum at the North Alabama home place. Charlie sold the farm and moved his residence and museum to Bell Buckle, Tn. Ira Louvin died in a car accident in 1965. Charlie Louvin died of cancer in 2011.
Former Cleveland, Tn. Mayor Tom Rowland said he was told Jim Oliver and Charlie Louvin were good friends. Charlie’s family apparently donated the museum items to Oliver and he re-opened the museum in his Smokehouse at Monteagle.
The fire apparently destroyed hundreds of Louvin Brothers historical pictures and LP jackets. A fire official said it will be impossible to replace those items. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
That's sad to hear. Hopefully that last sentence is correct and much of what was lost exists and can be replaced. We visited the museum when it was next to the Troubadour Theater on Music Valley Drive. Charlie and Leroy Troy were there. At that time Charlie had a small framed photo collage we had given him hanging on the wall. It contained some photos from the Opry with Charlie, Roy Acuff, Terry Hampton and Lisa Carey and a couple others. Nothing special but it must have filled some void in time that he wanted to present. That was neat to see.
ReplyDeleteA few years later in 1998 we visited with Charlie and Betty at the museum in Bell Buckle. Charlie made a radio promo for my brothers classic country show and that night he met us at the side stage door and took us back to Oswald and Charlies dressing room where Charlie Bush and Earl White were hanging out as well.
I recall that Charlie had several scrap books of newspaper articles and press items from their career including local paper reports on Ira's terrible wreck. He also had a stack of current Opry programs that we went through and took many. He said each act was allotted so many per week.
When we left the museum in Bell Buckle, he walked out the car with us. It's been six years since mom passed and I did pretty good this year. Writing this, I recall that night on Charlie's Opry portion he said "We want to welcome Rick and Jim Rhodes tonight and they've got mama with them. They visited us at the museum in Bell Buckle today". Thinking of that brings tears to my eyes. Our trip to the Opry in July will be the first without mom with us!
Thanks for the memories Charlie.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Sorry folks, I misread the statement about the items lost being IMpossible to replace. I was thinking photos and LP jackets might exist somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
Hopefully Charlie's widow Betty was able to have retained some of Charlie's items. It would certainly be sad if all was lost.
DeleteGood news from Bill Anderson. He wrote this in his May newsletter that posted this morning:
ReplyDelete"It's starting off merry for me because I just found out we'll be returning to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry this month....Tuesday night May 18th to be exact...for the first time in six months. I just hope I remember the words to my songs and which end of the microphone to sing into!!
The COVID restrictions have been lifted to the point that I can return with my full band, and it's hard to know if I'm more excited or if my band members are. We'll only be on once in May as they try to ease other Opry members back into the rotation as well, but they have promised us more appearances leading up to my 60th Opry Anniversary on July 17th."
Sounds like other Opry acts might be returning also. Very good news.
Very good news, indeed, and I do think one of the reasons for how the shows have been run lately is that very fact: Not wanting more people around the stage and backstage than absolutely necessary.
DeleteGreat news about Bill Anderson; he was to have another livestream last week but had to cancel for technical problems - hope he will do another. Good news for other performers as well.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope we can get back to something this Summer that actually represents the traditional Saturday night Opry. There have been good moments and bad moments accommodating the Circle shows, but there is NO feeling of the almost 100 year intimate, friendly family atmosphere of the Grand Ole Opry which drew me to the Opry in the first place !! ---- especially for this 78 year old loyal listener --- Flushing MIchigan , Dashmann
ReplyDeleteDashmann, I would suggest respectfully, that people probably said the good ole days were over in 1939 when Prince Albert took the opry national, or when tnn began airing its weekly show. As a kid in the 80s and 90s, I would never have listened, if I could have found am radio had it not been for tv. So to stay at all relevant, the opry has to keep up with where people are. Today, that's online on social media, and streaming tv much more than radio. I think they have to do what they're doing or just keep having big names all the time to get tickets sold one or the other. Point being they've always tried to expand. I think Fridays and the first hour on Saturdays will always be as it is. E. Z.
DeleteWELL! Now we know why legends are not on Circle often! Other than the obvious fact that they worry about ratings and views, the tv hosts clearly don't know anything about them! Ronnie is one of the more well known veteran artists having such a huge cross over career, and Bobby still managed to get almost everything WRONG! He was not in Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder's band, he had 40 #1 singles, and I think he missed something else! If he messes up that badly with someone that well known, riders, or even maybe but probably not cuz of the modern hits he wrote, bill Anderson, or Mrs. Smith, wouldn't have a chance of getting proper promotion! I still believe it's true, people from my generation on down know Bill, but that's about it from the opry regulars, who like, don't have a lot of outside exposure, but I'd expect better from Bobby! I do like Natalie though!
ReplyDeleteThis is E. Z. by the way.
DeleteAnyone know if the Midnight Jamboree was new last night. I heard Glenn Douglas Tubb start the show but Jennifer didn't announce anything that proved it was new and not an old anniversary show. I couldn't stay up and listen.
ReplyDeleteJim
I saw that the next live taping will be on Saturday May 29 with Rhonda Vincent. No, last night was a archived show.
DeleteThanks Byron. The way it has been for the past year I have had a hard time keeping up on the Midnight Jamboree.
DeleteJim
Home Free is a group I've been a big fan of and has really delivered some great Opry appearances, but I was quite disappointed in them last night.
ReplyDelete