Looking at the Grand Ole Opry line-up for this week, I notice Steve Wariner is scheduled for Saturday night. Why is that important? Well, it was 25 years ago, Saturday May 11, 1996 that this outstanding guitar picker and singer became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. I am hopeful that during the televised segment, which Steve is scheduled to close out, that special mention will be made of Steve's Opry anniversary.
Another item of note this week is in regards to the number of artists scheduled. While the Friday Night Opry will offer a full show of 8 acts during the two hour show, Saturday's show has 10 artists scheduled, which will be the most acts on the Opry stage since March 2020, well over a year ago. With Bill Anderson writing in his newsletter that artists are allowed to have their band members back at the Opry, I expect we will be seeing more of the missing Opry members, along with more artists scheduled for each show. I think we are all hoping that the Opry will get back to its traditional format of defined segments and hosts relatively soon.
So looking at this week, Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely is scheduled for both nights. Joining her on Friday night will be Opry member Del McCoury, who will be making his first Opry appearance of 2021, while, as mentioned above, Steve Wariner will be joining Jeannie on Saturday night.
Hall of Fame songwriter Don Schlitz is back again on Friday night. Don has been outstanding in his recent Opry appearances and it is nice to hear the audience singing along to his classic hit songs. Also guesting on Friday night will be John Berry, Shawn Camp and Lauren Mascitti, Jon Crist, The McCrary Sisters and Dallas Wayne.
In addition to Steve Wariner, the Circle televised segment will feature Russell Dickerson, Chris Lane, Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser. Guesting on the non-televised portion of the show will be Wendy Moten and Tommy Emmanuel, who will be appearing with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley.
Do you know what is missing this week? There is no comedian on the schedule!!
Friday May 7
7:00: Jeannie Seely; John Berry
7:30: Don Schlitz; Shawn Camp and Lauren Mascitti
8:00: Dallas Wayne; John Crist
8:30: The McCrary Sisters; Del McCoury Band
Saturday May 8
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Wendy Moten; Tommy Emmanual w/Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
8:00: Russell Dickerson; Chris Lane; Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser; Steve Wariner
(Mark Wills was on the original schedule for Friday and Saturday night but has cancelled out)
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Lauren Mascitti is on the schedule for Friday night and I wanted to highlight her as she is from Louisville, Ohio, which is about 10 minutes from my house, and who has been featured in the local media and around Canton. (and no, I have never met Lauren).
Lauren Mascitti is a country music singer/songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and mandolin player from Louisville, OH. Raised by her grandparents, she has been singing since the age of 7 and writing since she was old enough to make up jingles on her toy tape recorder.
After graduating with her Registered Nurse degree, Lauren moved to Nashville after spending most of her summers there doing songwriter showcases at different venues throughout Nashville. She has had the privilege of writing and/or performing with some of Nashville’s greatest talents, such as Larry Gatlin, Pam Tillis, Shawn Camp, Matraca Berg, Wil Nance, Mo Pitney, Pat McLaughlin, Big Al Anderson, Delbert McClinton, Gary Nicholson, Bobby Tomberlin, Bill Whyte, and many more. Since she started singing and recording at the age of 7, Lauren has recorded 9 records, most of which are available on iTunes, CD Baby, and other music download sites.
Lauren just finished a brand new record in Nashville, produced by her fiancé and Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter and producer, Shawn Camp. Look for Lauren’s newest single and music video to be released later this year.
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday May 8, 1971:
1st show
6:30: Osborne Brothers (host); Stringbean
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); Leroy Van Dyke
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); George Morgan; Charlie Walker
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Willis Brothers; Crook Brothers; Connie Smith
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Dottie West; Archie Campbell; The 4 Guys;
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Bobby Bare; Bill Carlisle; Marion Worth; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Osborne Brothers (host); Willis Brothers; Stringbean; Bill Carlisle
10:00: Archie Campbell (host); Lorene Mann; Bobby Bare; Stu Phillips
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); George Morgan
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Connie Smith
10:45: Charlie Walker (host); Dottie West; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Ernie Ashworth; Leroy Van Dyke; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Mario Worth; The 4 Guys
A bit of a rough night at the Opry as Justin Tubb, Jean Shepard and Jimmy C Newman cancelled, while Ernest Tubb only did the first show and Ernie Ashworth the second.
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Finally, looking back 45 years to Saturday May 8, 1976 as this was the night in which George Hamilton IV rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry.
Here is the running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jimmy Dickens (host): May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Jim and Jesse: Paradise
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn
6:45: Rudy's
Willis Brothers (host): Give Me 40 Acres
Justin Tubb: Cold Brown Bottle
Wilma Lee Cooper: Coming Down from God
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
7:00: Shoney's
Bill Anderson (host): I Love You Drops
Billy Grammer: That's Life
Lonzo and Oscar: I'm Moving On #2
Jimmy Gately: The Angel of the Bar Room
Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner: That's What Made Me Love You
Bill Anderson: Mama Sang a Song
7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): On a Highway Headed South
Don Gibson: I Can't Stop Loving You
George Hamilton IV: Early Morning Rain/Abilene
Brother Oswald: Nobody's Business
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Chicken Reel
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Life/The Carroll County Accident/The Last One to Touch Me/Green, Green Grass of Home
8:00: Martha White
Jack Greene (host): Walking on New Grass
Grandpa Jones: Little Pink
Jeannie Seely: Who Needs You
Osborne Brothers: Smokey Mountain Smoke
Hank Locklin: These Arms You Push Away
Stu Phillips: Only You Can Hush the Wind
Grandpa Jones: Dark As a Dungeon
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Hello Love
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Wilburn Brothers: It's Another World
Jimmy C Newman: Shrimp Boats
The 4 Guys: Turn Around; Look at Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Hank Snow: My Mother
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Jack Greene (host): I Need Somebody Bad Tonight
Willis Brothers: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Jeannie Seely: Mama Never Told Me About Cowboys
Lonzo and Oscar: Divorce #2
Webb Pierce and Carol Channing: Back Street Affair
Webb Pierce, Carol Channing, Jimmy C Newman and Hank Locklin: You Are My Sunshine
Del Wood: Alabama Jubilee
Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely: Somebody Touched Me
10:00: Fender
Bill Anderson (host): Thanks/But You Know I Love You/Wild Weekend
Jim and Jesse: Freight Train
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew
Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner: Sometimes
10:15: Union 76
Porter Wagoner (host): On a Highway Headed South
Billy Grammer: That's Life
Wilma Lee Cooper: Give Me the Roses While I Love
Porter Wagoner: Way Down Deep in Love
10:30: Trailblazer
Grandpa Jones (host): Baptism of Jesse Taylor
Don Gibson: Doin' My Time
The 4 Guys: Don't it Make You Want to Go Home
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigrae
10:45: Beechnut
Osborne Brothers (host): Rocky Top
Justin Tubb: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Gray Eagle
Osborne Brothers: Smokey Mountain Smoke
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): The Wreck of the Old 97/One More Ride
George Hamilton IV: Break My Mind
Jimmy C Newman: Shrimp Boat
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
George Hamilton IV: Country Music in My Soul
Kirk McGee: Blue Night
Hank Snow: She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye
11:30: Elm Hill
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like the Sun's Gonna Shine
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets/Count Me Out
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Brother Oswald: The End of the World
Wilburn Brothers: Metals for Mothers
Well, that was certainly an interesting night at the Opry as Webb Pierce and Carol Channing stopped in for the 2nd show that night. Webb and Carol had been working on a country album together. Also appearing that night was Opry member Don Gibson. And Hank Snow and the Wilburn Brothers both ended their segments with a song dedicated to mothers as the following day was Mother's Day.
Now back to George Hamilton, who originally joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry on February 6, 1960. In 1971 he left Nashville and the Opry, moving back to his native North Carolina. By the time he had returned to the Opry, he had cemented his reputation as country music's "International Ambassador," as he traveled the globe becoming the first country music artist to perform in Russia and other Eastern European countries.
George loved the Grand Ole Opry and as he said, "It's been a real honor to have been associated with the Opry for this period of time," he said in an official biography. "It's been my musical homeplace which I first started visiting as a teenager. Back then, I would regularly catch a Greyhound bus from North Carolina and dream of performing on the Opry."
Once he returned, George remained an Opry member until passing away on September 17, 2014 at the age of 77. Not only was George a great country/folk singer, but he was about the nicest man I ever met. George did so much for country music that I have been somewhat surprised that his name has not come up over the years in regards to the Hall of Fame. He really was an ambassador.
That covers it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
I received this email from the Opry this afternoon:
ReplyDelete"To align with Metro Nashville health and safety guidelines, the Grand Ole Opry will be increasing audience capacity to 100% for all Opry shows as of May 14, 2021. You are receiving this notice because you purchased tickets for a show on or following that date.
Your safety, and the safety of our artists and team continue to be our first priorities at the Grand Ole Opry. We will be abiding by all rules and orders set forth by Nashville Metro Government and Public Health Department to ensure that your experience is safe and fun when you attend a Grand Ole Opry show.
Current Nashville regulations require the wearing of a mask. At this time, we will continue to require that all guests wear masks while visiting the Grand Ole Opry. Guests may only remove while actively eating or drinking. If you don't have a mask, we will provide one for you."
Thoughts?
Here in Texas, lots of venues are returning to normal. Gruene Hall will be at 100% capacity with no mask requirement beginning June 1st.
DeleteThis is the first indoor venue I've heard of going to 100% capacity in Nashville. I would hope anyone who purchased tickets for what they thought would be a socially distanced show will be given the option to get a refund if they're not comfortable with this arrangement.
ReplyDeleteI know the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team has made this same decision and is allowing refunds. They're also reserving 4 sections that will still be socially distanced for guests who wish to attend and want to be distanced.
I wish the Opry would have the Square Dancers on the televised portion one time. Anybody think this will happen? Bob
ReplyDeleteI am in 100% agreement with the notion of 100% attendance.
ReplyDeleteI've been vaccinated, and soon (if not already) every adult US citizen will have had the opportunity to be vaccinated.
And, the Square Dancers would be a GREAT addition to the televised show, which has generally been about as exciting as watching paint dry.
The 'Opry would greatly benefit with a full crowd and some acts with some personality.
Just got back from the Carolinas, where I saw Rhonda Vincent and Little Roy and Lizzie. BOTH acts have pep and are bound and determined to put on a show.
The 'Opry made a great move with Rhonda, and could use some more acts that actually entertain a crowd.
I wish Charter Spectrum would have left CIRCLE NETWORK on, instead of putting a western channel on, in Fort Payne, Al..
ReplyDeleteLora, are you sure you weren't watching Circle?
DeleteThey're putting on a large number of very old western movies.
4:00 P.M. CST McClintock with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, I have nothing against western movies, (down in the right hand corner of the screen GRIT). This is not CIRCLE NETWORK, I would love to be watching Dailey & Vincent, but I'm not.
DeleteI wanted to pass along this sad news:
ReplyDeleteLongtime radio personality, voice talent and musician Matthew Gillian passed away Monday (5/3). He was 63. Gillian was born in West Virginia and worked on-air at WWVA and WQBE in Charleston and was a performer and host at the Wheeling Jamboree. In 1984, he moved to Anchorage where he helped launch and program KASH. In 1989, he moved to Nashville and joined the staff of WSM-AM. He became host of the station's late-night Opry Star Spolight program upon its re-launch in 2003. Since retiring from radio he had run his own Sandstone Mountain Productions. There will be two services, one in Nashville on Sunday, May 16 at the Texas Troubador Theater, and one in Sandstone, WV on Saturday, May 29.
Who do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteWow no intermission on a Friday night....... weird
ReplyDeleteI think because they don't want people walking around and leaving their seats at the Opry House, that could be the reason for no intermission.
DeleteThat makes sense!!!!!
DeleteDon´t know why... and I have tried for many years.... I just cant get into Steve Wariner. I have this same problem with the Righteous Brothers, dont know what it is, but I just need to tune them out, but Lord knows I have tried......
ReplyDeleteGarth Brooks a surprise on the Opry tonight
ReplyDeleteWonderful that Steve Wariner performed almost for an extra half hour after the Circle Opry tonight --- that is what the Opry is all about !!! Thanks so much Steve ---- Dashmann, Flushing , Michigan ---
ReplyDeleteNow, at 1:30 am in Michigan, listening to Leona Williams on the ETRS and still wondering what the roadblocks are to Leona performing on and becoming a full fledged Opry member ????? She is wonderful COUNTRY artist !! Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan ---
ReplyDeleteDashmann,
DeleteCompletely agree. We just listened to the mini box set of Leona a few weeks ago and reading the small book you can see that she was always close to "making it" but never had the right support and backing at the right time. Reading between the lines, according to her side of the story, Merle didn't help. He was "the star" and she had to stay in the back even though they did that duet album. Look at the album "Roots of My Raising". Leona is leaning against the far side of the Cadillac with her back to the camera and her head turned just enough you can tell who she is. In other words, she didn't steal the picture.
She is a neat lady to talk too. She is very friendly and willing to discuss her career and music. She's got a fine singer in her son Ron and her daughter is pretty good too>
As to her being on the Opry, I thought the same for many years. I can remember Jean Shepard bringing her out to sing the gospel medley they were doing on the Grand Ladies Show in Branson. She could have had her own spot but that was about as good as it got. Not my thought, but what I figure the Opry thinks, she's too old now. With the market they are after they are probably not too interested in a great hardcore country female that is her age and few under 50 have ever heard of.
My discouraging word for the week!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
There are some nights when the Opry reminds us what it once was and last night was one of those nights. A fantastic show well worth the $125 that patrons paid to attend. And for those listening or watching, a surprise appearance by Garth Brooks and a show that ran over by almost 30 minutes. I know I watched it all on the Facebook stream but I do believe that those watching Circle TV on their cable or through their local over-the-air channels, did not see Garth as his appearance came as the network show went off the air.
ReplyDeleteGarth and Steve were both amazing last night, and how about the Jamey Johnson/Randy Houser pairing. Just wonderful. And lets not forget Tommy Emmanuel, along with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, who were not on the televised portion, but were wonderful and amazing.
Next weekend the Grand Ole Opry House opens up to 100% capacity and Lady A will be appearing, making their first Opry appearance since becoming members. It promises to be another great weekend.
I can't believe Circle didn't follow up with Garth and Steve.
DeleteReally odd to cut away to some show about Southern Living or whatever.
Garth and Steve sounded great on the WSM app.
They had a ball.
Too bad the Circle folks missed all of the fun!
Nat, this reminds me of when TNN did the shows and they didn't always end on time. Why not stay on and finish the segment?
DeleteAnyone hear anything about Connie Smith? Seems like three months or so since she was last on and I remember her cancelling the last time she was scheduled.
ReplyDeleteJim
Christian Davis had a picture of him, Connie and Marty in the studio a few weeks back on Facebook, but otherwise it's been radio silence.
DeleteI figure at this point, she's waiting until she can use her band to play the Opry. Since the bands are slowly coming back, I would hope it won't be much longer.
A.B.
I would think the same. Bill Anderson is back next Tuesday night and I see that John Conlee was working the road this past weekend in Texas. I would think that as things continue to open up you will see more of these veterans back in the Opry rotation.
DeleteDon Schlitz would make a great Opry member.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know where a person can find the schedule for upcoming artists at the ET Record Shop?
ReplyDeleteTheir website is almost a year behind.