Grand Ole Opry 5/28 & 5/29

I am not sure if everyone heard the news but earlier this week Glenn Douglas Tubb, nephew of Ernest Tubb passed away in Nashville. For many years, he was associated with the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree, hosting several shows each year in memory of Ernest. 

As a professional songwriter he had his songs recorded by Johnny Cash , Bob Dylan, George Jones & Tammy Wynette and his uncle Ernest Tubb . Glenn was most proud of his songs about his Savior and his walk with the Lord . 

Among the songs written by Glenn were "Skip A Rope", co-written with Jack Moran and nominated for a Grammy in 1969, "Home of the Blues" with Johnny Cash, and he co-wrote the George Jones and Tammy Wynette hit "Two Story House", with Dave Lindsey and Tammy Wynette. He wrote a gospel song for Johnny Cash titled "I Talk To Jesus Every Day" that was later recorded by Bob Dylan and others. He also wrote an unrecorded song that Hank Williams left behind when he died, titled "Heartbroken, Forsaken And Alone." He was also asked to finish writing the last song that Johnny Cash was working on when he died titled, "My Lord Has Gone." 

In his early career, Glenn did not use his last name of Tubb, he recorded under the name of Glenn Douglas for Dot Records and for Decca Records, where he produced an album and several singles. He recorded under the name of Glenn Douglas Tubb, when he recorded for MGM Records and Mercury Records. In the 1950s, he toured with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, George Jones, Marty Robbins and many others. He appeared on The Friday Night Frolicks, which later became the Friday Night Opry, and he also appeared on Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee, one of the first national country music television shows.

Glenn was married to Dottie Snow and they often appeared together.  A Celebration of Life will take place at the Texas Troubadour Theater, a place when Glenn performed many times on the Midnite Jamboree, on Saturday June 19. 
__________________________________________________________________________

The Grand Ole Opry will close out the month of May with another pair of shows this weekend with the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. What stands out with the shows this weekend is that each night includes a nice collection of Opry members. 

Jeannie Seely, Riders In The Sky, and the Opry's newest member Rhonda Vincent are scheduled for both nights. Joining that group on Friday night will be Mark Wills and Craig Morgan, while Chris Young and Luke Combs are listed for Saturday night. 

Guesting on Friday night will be bluegrass star Sam Bush and Allison Russell, who will be making her Opry debut, while on Saturday night Christian artist Matthew West and Lauren Alaina are listed. 

Friday May 28

7:00: Jeannie Seely; Mark Willis; Riders In The Sky; Rhonda Vincent
8:00: Sam Bush; Allison Russell; Craig Morgan

Saturday May 29
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Matthew West; Rhonda Vincent
8:00: Chris Young; Lauren Alaina; Luke Combs

As mentioned, Allison Russell will be making her Opry debut on Friday night. 

Allison Russell is an artist, activist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of extraordinary power, talent and grace. A founding member of the acclaimed groups Our Native Daughters (with Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla and Amythyst Kiah), and Birds of Chicago (with her husband/musical partner JT Nero), the Montreal native has begun to emerge as a potent force among creative circles worldwide. On her debut solo album Outside Child (Fantasy Records / Concord), Allison unpacks the story of her traumatic childhood in a deeply moving, unforgettable song-cycle of courage, empathy, and love. Outside Child is a powerful and warm statement of hope, resilience and the redemptive power of art – asserted from a place of healing, of motherhood, of partnership – and from a new home made in Nashville. 
______________________________________________________________________

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday May 29, 1971: 

1st show
6:30-George Hamilton IV; Del Wood; Barbara Mandrell
6:45-Hank Locklin (host); Ernie Ashworth
7:00-Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Tommy Overstreet; Bill Carlisle
7:30-Archie Campbell (host); Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Crook Brothers
8:00-Lester Flatt (host); Charlie Walker; Stringbean; Jimmy Dickens
8:30-Hank Snow (host); Dottie West; The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30-George Hamilton IV (host); Willis Brothers; Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
10:00-Hank Locklin (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Barbara Mandrell
10:15-Roy Acuff (host); Dottie West
10:30-Lester Flatt (host); Stringbean; Jimmy Dickens
10:45-Archie Campbell (host); Stu Phillips; Crook Brothers
11:00-Hank Snow (host); Louie Roberts; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30-Charlie Walker (host); The 4 Guys; Tommy Overstreet

A couple of quick notes regarding that night: In 1971 neither Barbara Mandrell or Jimmy Dickens were Opry members. Also, there has been a report over the years that Tommy Overstreet had been offered membership to join the Opry but declined. 
________________________________________________________________________

Looking back at a couple of Opry line-ups, it was 22 years ago, Saturday May 29, 1999 that future Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley made his Opry debut. Over the next couple of years, Brad would make numerous Opry appearances, eventually joining the cast on February 17, 2001. 

Here is the running order from the night of Brad's Opry debut: 

1st show
6:30: Opry Book
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Skeeter Davis: I Can Call Jesus Anytime
Jimmy C Newman: Cochon De Lait
Bessyl Duhon: Texas-Cajun

6:45: The Circle Club
Jack Greene (host): Over There
The Whites: San Antonio Rose
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Stay a Little Longer
Jan Howard: My Heart Skips a Beat
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Joni Harms: Two-Steppin' Texas Blue/Catalog Dreams
Porter Wagoner: When the Saints Go Marching In/I'll Fly Away/Amazing Grace/I Saw the Light/Y'All Come

7:30: Standard Candy
Billy Walker (host): Let's Think About Living
Brad Paisley: Who Needs Pictures/Me Neither
Sherri Austin: Never Been Kissed/Lucky in Love
Billy Walker: Back on the Mountain Again

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): I've Got Way too Much Time on My Hands
Jim and Jesse: Blue Ridge Mountain Sunset
Young Guns: Take this Heart
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Bill Anderson: Still

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Jean Shepard: Tennessee Waltz
Johnny Russell: Got No Reason Now for Going Home
George Hamilton IV & V: Forever Young
Del Reeves: I Would Like to See You Again

2nd show
9:30: BGVR Development
Porter Wagoner (host): Fireball Mail/Night Train to Memphis
Jeannie Seely: I'm Almost Ready
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Honey
Sherrie Austin: Put Your Heart into It/Never Been Kissed
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home/Cabin in Gloryland

10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See
Wilma Lee Cooper: A Hero's Death
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells/Pop a Top

10:15: The Circle Club
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Brad Paisley: Who Needs Pictures/Sleeping on the Fold Out
Jimmy Dickens: A Death in the Family

10:30: Epiphone
Holly Dunn (host): That's What Your Love Does to Me
Jack Greene: This One Belongs to Me
Holly Dunn: There Goes My Heart Again

10:45: Joggin' in a Jug
Jean Shepard (host): Gone; Gone; Gone
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Fire on the Mountain
Jean Shepard: Secret Love

11:00: Coca Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks
George Hamilton IV & V: Abilene
Ray Pillow: Cinderella
Joni Harms: Two-Steppin' Texas Blues/Catalog Dreams
Bill Anderson: Deck of Cards

11:30: Opryland Inn
Johnny Russell (host): Folsom Prison Blues
Stu Phillips: Colorado/Only God
Del Reeves: You Comb Her Hair
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down/There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
______________________________________________________________________

To finish it up for this week, let's go back 72 years to Saturday May 28, 1949: 

7:30: American Ace Coffee
Roy Acuff: Mommy Please Stay Home With Me
Tommy Magness: Mulberry Gap
Dot & Smokey: Picture on the Wall
Jimmy Riddle: Rubber Dolly
Roy and Pete: Branded Wherever I Go
Uncle Dave: Tennessee Farmer
Jug Band: A Little Birdie Told Me
Roy Acuff: Thank God
Joe Zinkas: Corina
Dot & Smokey: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Oswald: The Girls I Love Don't Pay Me No Mind

8:00: Purina Show
Cowboy Copas: Tragic Romance
Lonzo and Oscar: My Little Indian Maid
Cowboy Copas: Its Wrong to Love You Like I Do
Lazy Jim Day: Singing the News
Blue Grass Quartet: Remember the Cross
Possum Hunters: Off to Charleston
Cowboy Copas: I Love to Tell the Story
Red Heron: Cluck Old Hen

8:30: Prince Albert
Red Foley: Home in San Antone
Milton Estes: Keep a Talking Baby
Wally Fowler: The Hallelujah Song
Red Foley: No Tears in Heaven
Old Hickory Quartet: Home on the Range
Zeb Turner: To Be Announced
Red Foley: Born to Lose
Minnie Pearl: Gags
Square Dance: Ida Red

9:00: Royal Crown Cola
Crook Brothers: Green Back Dollar
Roy Acuff: Wabash Cannonball
Jamup & Honey: Gags
Jimmy Riddle: I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover
George Morgan: Please Don't Let Me Love You
Jug Band: Camptown Races
Uncle Dave: Going Back to Dixie
Rachel & Oswald: Little Pal
Roy Acuff: Where the Soul Never Dies
George Morgan: The Gods Were Angry with Me
Tommy Magness: Wake Up Susan

9:30: Warren Paint
Lew Childre: Hang Out the Front Door Key
Ernest Tubb: The First Years Blues
String Beans: Crazy War
Jimmy Dickens: Cold Tater
Robert Lunn: Crawdad Song
Ernest Tubb: I Believe I'm Entitled to You
Mel & Stan: Whispering Now
Jimmy Dickens: Pennies for Papa
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bile Them Cabbage Down
Ernest Tubb: I Hung My Head and Cried

10:00: Wallrite
Bill & Don: Molly & Tenbrooks
Lew & String: Maple on the Hill
Mac Wiseman: Six More Miles
Blue Grass Quartet: Shine Hallelujah Shine
Trio: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain

10:15: Gaylark
Roy Acuff: Have You Ever Been Lonely
Uncle Dave: Good Bye My Honey
Roy Acuff: Poem
Roy & Gang: Glory Bound Train
Tommy Magness: Up Jumped the Devil

10:30: Roy Flour
Milton Estes: Wish I Had a Nickle
Jimmy Dickens: John Henry
Jimmy Selph: Beautiful Moon
Milton Estes: Give Me Your Hand

10:45: Dr. Le Gear
Cowboy Copas: Package of Lies Tied in Blue
Robert Lunn: Blue Ridge Blues
Lazy Jim Day: Singing the News
Cowboy Copas: Waltzing with Texas in My Eyes
Red Heron: Fire in the Mountain

11:00
George Morgan: Chime Bells
Lonzo and Oscar: Good Old Mountain Dew
Velma: Chain of Broken Hearts
George Morgan: Will the Angels Let Me Play
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel

11:15
Ernest Tubb: Our Baby's Back
Butter Ball: Mind Your Own Business
Drake Brothers:  Remember Me
Ernest Tubb: I Hate to See You Go

11:30
Jimmy Dickens: Look What Those Blue Eyes Did to Me
Mel & Stan: The Blue Hills of Virginia
Fruit Jar Drinkers: A Little Bird
Jimmy Dickens: Charming Betsy
Zeb Turner: A Little Bit of Boogie

11:45
Wally Fowler: Lead Me to That Rock
Gully Jumpers: Forked Deer
Bradley Kincaid: Somebody's Waiting for You
Wally Fowler: I Cried and Cried to the Lord
Bradley Kincaid: Blue Tail Fly

As with these older line-ups, a lot of artists and many songs that you really don't hear much of any more. Always great to look back. 

As a final reminder, Grand Ole Opry member Rhonda Vincent will be hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree from the Texas Troubadour Theater following the Opry. This will be the final broadcast from the Texas Troubadour Theater and the final Midnite Jamboree until July, when the show will originate from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Broadway in downtown Nashville. 

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.