Here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry August 31
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Tyler Rich; Tenille Arts; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson; Killer Beaz; Chris Shiflett; Scotty McCreery
Back after American Idol, Scotty McCreery was making some Opry appearances and there was some talk that he would make a good Opry member. You don't hear that talk anymore as his Opry appearances have pretty much faded away. Regardless, it is always good to hear and see Scotty on the Opry.
As to the rest, it is nice to see 3 Opry members on the Tuesday night show.
What good members Daily & Vincent have turned out to be.
ReplyDeleteBluegrass acts tend to show up both before and after induction, it seems to me.
ReplyDeleteExcept Alison Krauss ~ that's okay, we have a good handful of bluegrass artists happily coming to the stage & one great family joining the Opry family in a couple of weeks.
Delete(Jeanene)
This is off topic here at the moment but is relative to what I am currently doing. I'm reviewing my old recordings of some 40 years ago....that's hard to swallow....looking for interesting stuff to send a friend.
ReplyDeleteToday I listened to Roy Acuff doing Sunshine Special and I'm Only Half Way Home on February 19, 1982, an obviously interesting date. On Sunshine Special all the band members got a break. Oswald, James Lawrence Riddle as Roy introduced him, Charlie Collins, Onie Wheeler and finally Howard Forrester. Onie Wheeler blew the train whistle too. Then on I'm Only Half Way Home, Onie Wheeler has the only solo which is longer than most he got. He also sang the bass or low part in the group sing on the chorus with his great baritone voice.
This was the Smoky Mountain Boys I knew so well when I started listening to Roy Acuff every time I possibly could on the Opry. They were all important but it felt like Os and Howdy got most of the acknowledgement. Onie Wheeler always seemed to be in the background and he was in and out of the band from the 60's into the late 70's. He was always there though when I was listening.
Charlie McCoy is probably the most famous and recorded harmonica player in the world, for sure in Country. In my mind he is probably the most technically correct player. Jimmie Riddle was great playing the older style and the chromatic harp. I offer that Onie Wheeler played with the most heart. Larry McNeely did a respectable job after Onie passed but it just wasn't the same. He was also a fine singer and I wish he had recorded more albums in his later years. You have to go looking for 45's to find most of his later offerings. And, as far as I know, he never recorded a harmonica LP. If anyone know of one please post about it here.
Onie was a writer as well and did a lot of recording in the 50's that leaned toward Rock-a-Billy. Mother Prays Loud in Her Sleep and Run Em' Off, which Lefty recorded, are among his writings. Somewhere I heard or read that he could have been a bigger star if he had tried a little harder.
I just wanted to give a nod to Onie as I was listening to him this afternoon. His missing voice in the group sings is not like Oswald not being there but he is a strong second. And his harmonica was refreshing and excellent on songs Roy's later songs and recordings like Back in the Country and Old Time Sunshine Song.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Chris Shiflett can't carry a tune in a bucket.
ReplyDeleteBut you know what, he let the staff band shine, played a mean guitar himself, and was obviously 100% thrilled to be on the stage of the Grand Old 'Opry.
Close enough for me!
Your mileage may vary! :)