Grand Ole Opry 7/16 & 7/17

It will be a very special Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry as Bill Anderson will be celebrating his 60th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It is a milestone that has been achieved by very few members of the Opry, and much like Jean Shepard, who was the last Opry member to observe a 60 year anniversary, Bill did it uninterrupted. Once Bill joined on July 15, 1961, he stayed. 

When Bill Anderson reflected on the evolution of the Grand Ole Opry since he joined the cast many years ago, he said, “It has changed gradually, but, when you look at it in its entirety, there have been a lot of dramatic changes.” 

The same could be said about Bill’s career. 

Bill Anderson has been using that philosophy for over 60 years to capture the attention of millions of country music fans around the world, en route to becoming a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and one of the most popular, most enduring entertainers of our time. He’s known, in fact as “Whispering Bill,” a nickname hung on him years ago as a result of his breathy voice and his warm, soft approach to singing a country song. His credentials, however, shout his prominence: One of the most awarded songwriters in the history of country music, a million-selling recording artist many times over, television game show host, network soap opera star, spokesman for a nationwide restaurant chain, and a consummate onstage performer. His back-up group, The Po’ Folks Band, has long been considered one of the finest instrumental and vocal groups in the business.

Bill Anderson was born in Columbia, South Carolina, but spent most of his growing-up years around Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, having worked his way through college as a disc jockey on nearby radio stations. It was while he was still in school that he began performing and writing songs. At the age of nineteen, he composed the country classic, “City Lights,” and began rapidly carving his place in musical history.

He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, secured a recording contract with Decca Records, and began turning out hit after hit with songs like “Po’ Folks,” “Mama Sang A Song,” “The Tips Of My Fingers,” “8X10,” and the unforgettable country and pop smash, “Still.” His compositions were recorded by such diverse musical talents as Ray Price, Porter Wagoner, James Brown, Debbie Reynolds, Ivory Joe Hunter, Kitty Wells, Faron Young, Lawrence Welk, Dean Martin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Walter Brennan and many others.

Bill has been voted Songwriter Of The Year six times, Male Vocalist Of The Year, half of the Duet Of The Year with both Jan Howard and Mary Lou Turner, has hosted and starred in the Country Music Television Series Of The Year, seen his band voted Band Of The Year, and in 1975 was voted membership in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Ten years later, the State of Georgia honored him by choosing him as only the 7th living performer inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In 1993, he was made a member of the Georgia Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame. In 1994, South Carolina inducted him into their Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. And in 2001, he received the ultimate honor, membership in Nashville’s prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame.

An entertainer in every sense of the word, Bill Anderson was the first country artist to host a network game show, starring on ABC-TV’s, The Better Sex. He also appeared for three years on ABC’s Daytime soap opera, One Life To Live.

For six years he hosted a country music game show on The Nashville Network called, Fandango, later an interview show called Opry Backstage, and somehow found time to be co-producer of another TNN Show called, You Can Be A Star. In addition, Bill has appeared frequently as a guest star on television’s top variety and game shows, including The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Match Game, Family Feud, Hee Haw, and others. For seven years he hosted the acclaimed Bill Anderson Visits With The Legends show on XM satellite radio.

Bill Anderson’s first autobiography, Whisperin’ Bill, was published in 1989 and made bestseller lists all across the south. Bill’s second book, a humorous look at the music business titled, I Hope You’re Living As High On The Hog As The Pig You Turned Out To Be, was published in 1993 and is currently in its tenth printing. His most recent literary effort, published in the fall of 2016, is an updated autobiography written with noted Nashville journalist, Peter Cooper, titled Whisperin’ Bill Anderson – An Unprecedented Life In Country Music. It is available in both print and audio formats.

Since 1997, Bill has also hosted the highly-rated television series on RFD-TV, Country’s Family Reunion, a show where legendary country stars sit alongside both their peers and newcomers to the industry, singing their songs and swapping their stories.

In the mid-nineties, after a ten-year self-imposed hiatus, Bill returned to his first love, songwriting, and for the second time in his life cut a wide path across the creative landscape. He co-wrote giant hits for Vince Gill (“Which Bridge To Cross – Which Bridge To Burn”), Steve Wariner (“Two Teardrops”), Mark Wills (“Wish You Were Here”), Joe Nichols (“I’ll Wait For You”), and Kenny Chesney (“A Lot Of Things Different”). He won Song Of The Year honors in both 2005 and 2007 for helping to write “Whiskey Lullaby” for Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss and “Give It Away” for George Strait. He also won a Dove award for co-writing the Country/Gospel Recorded Song of the Year, “Jonah, Job, and Moses” for the Oak Ridge Boys, plus the CMA Vocal Event of the Year for “Too Country,” recorded by Brad Paisley, George Jones, Buck Owens, and Bill himself. Both “Give It Away” and “Two Teardrops” afforded Anderson Grammy nominations.

In 2002, Broadcast Music, Inc. named Anderson its first country music songwriting Icon, placing him alongside R&B legends Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and James Brown as the only recipients of that prestigious award. In 2008, the Academy of Country Music honored him with their inaugural Poets Award.

Bill Anderson continues to paint a broad stroke across the Nashville music scene. He has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961 and performs there regularly. He continues to tour and to record, his latest releases being the self-descriptive, Songwriter and the critically acclaimed Life. In addition, Bear Family Records has released Bill’s first box set, Bill Anderson – The First Ten Years, a 126-song collection of works initially released between 1956 and 1966. The 4-disc package is accompanied by a 64-page hard-cover book full of stories and timeless photographs.

Joining Bill on this special night will be Grand Ole Opry members Vince Gill, Mark Wills, Ricky Skaggs and Jeannie Seely. Guest artists include Stephanie Quayle, Sara Evans and this weeks designated comedian, Gary Mule Deer. 

Jeannie and Mark are also on the schedule for the Friday Night Opry where they will be joined by Opry members the Gene Watson and Bobby Osborne with his Rocky Top X-Press. Sara Evans and Gary Mule Deer are also on the schedule for Friday night, joined by Hannah Dasher, Lindsay Ell and veteran artist Darryl Worley. 

Friday July 16
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Darryl Worley; Hannah Dasher; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Lindsay Ell; Gene Watson; Gary Mule Deer; Sara Evans

Saturday July 17
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Stephanie Quayle; Ricky Skaggs; Gary Mule Deer
8:00: Mark Wills; Sara Evans; Vince Gill; Bill Anderson

Nice to see four Opry members on the Friday Night Opry and five Opry members on Saturday night. It is especially nice to see that three of the four acts on the televised segment are Opry members including Bill Anderson. Hopefully there will be a surprise guest or two to help honor Bill on his 60th anniversary as an Opry member. And yes, I will be at the Opry this weekend
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday July 17, 1971: 

1st show
6:00: Roy Drusky (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Bill Carlisle; Del Wood
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Ray Pillow; Jan Howard
6:45: Mel Tillis (host); Charlie Walker
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis; Earl Scruggs Revue; Billy "Crash" Craddock
7:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Grandpa Jones; The 4 Guys; Crook Brothers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Dottie West; Billy Grammer; Leroy Van Dyke
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Tompall & The Glaser Brothers; Stu Phillips; New Frontier; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Mel Tillis (host); Dottie West; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Charlie Walker; Bill Carlisle
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Del Wood
10:15: Wilburn Brothers (host); Billy "Crash" Craddock
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones
10:45: Billy Grammer (host); New Frontier; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Tompall (host) & The Glaser Brothers; Stu Phillips; Leroy Van Dyke

(Interesting that Mel Tillis was hosting Opry segments that night. Part of the mystery as to whether Mel was actually an Opry member at that time). 
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As mentioned, Bill joined the Opry on Saturday July 15, 1961. Here is the running order from that night 60 years ago: 

7:30: Pet Milk
Ray Price (host)
Cowboy Copas: Filipino Baby
Bill Monroe
Stringbean: Barnyard Banjo Picking
Ray Price
Tommy Jackson: Snowflake Reel
Jan Howard: If You Conscience Can't Stop You
Cowboy Copas: Alabam"
Ray Price

8:00: Martha White
Flatt and Scruggs (host): I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Dick Flood: Cowpoke
Bill Anderson
Loretta Lynn: Gonna Pick My Troubles
Flatt and Scruggs: Canaan's Land
Crook Brothers
Cousin Jake: Old McDonald Had a Farm
Dick Flood: Take Good Care of Her
Flatt and Scruggs: Polka on a Banjo

8:30: Faultless Starch
Porter Wagoner (host): Sugarfoot Rag
Bobby Lord
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Jordanaires
Porter Wagoner: Your Old Love Letters
Margie Bowes: I'd Rather Die Young
Bob Luman: Private Eye
Fiddle Tune: Leather Britches
Porter Wagoner: Everything She Touches Gets the Blues

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Roy Drusky (host): I'd Rather Loan You Out
Tompall & The Glaser Brothers: Words Come Easy
Stonewall Jackson: For the Last Time
Skeeter Davis
Roy Drusky: Another
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Cousin Jody
Tompall & The Glaser Brothers
Roy Drusky: Three Hearts in a Tangle

9:30: W. E. Stephens
George Hamilton IV (host)
Bill Monroe
Johnny Forbes
Lonzo and Oscar
George Hamilton IV
Mary Bee
Bill Monroe
Lonzo and Oscar
George Hamilton IV

10:00: Standard Oil
Flatt and Scruggs (host): Salty Dog Blues
Jan Howard: Careless Hands
Jordanaires
Flatt and Scruggs: Cabin on the Hill
Earl Scruggs: Flint Hill Special

10:15: Rock City
Bobby Lord (host)
Loretta Lynn: Heartless Meet Mr. Blues
Stringbean
Bobby Lord

10:30: Roses
Roy Drusky (host): Just About that Time
Margie Bowes: I'm Alone Because I Love You
Stonewall Jackson: Hungry for Love
Roy Drusky: Anymore

10:45: De-Con
Tompall (host) & The Glaser Brothers
Cousin Jody
Crook Brothers
Tompall & The Glaser Brothers

11:00: Coca Cola
Porter Wagoner (host): Falling Again
Bob Luman: He Hasn't Gone Home; You've Turned Down the Light
George Hamilton IV
Lonzo and Oscar
Porter Wagoner: A Satisfied Mind
Sam and Kirk McGee: John Henry
Jordanaires
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
George Hamilton IV
Porter Wagoner: Rock-A-Bye Boogie

11:30: Mohawk
Bill Monroe (host)
Bill Anderson
Skeeter Davis
Dick Flood: Three Bells
Bill Monroe
Johnny Forbes
Bill Anderson
Dick Flood: It's My Way of Loving You
Bill Monroe

60 years ago and how many besides Bill are still alive? Ray Walker of the Jordanaires, Loretta Lynn, Dick Flood and Stonewall Jackson. And Bill is the only one of that group still actively performing. 

There you have it for this week. I will be at the Opry this weekend and looking forward to both nights. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and as always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.