Grand Ole Opry 10/1 & 10/2

Welcome to October and what is usually a very busy month at the Grand Ole Opry, more so this year as on October 30, the Opry will be celebrating its 5000th Saturday night Grand Ole Opry show. But until then, there are a few more weeks to get through, beginning with this weekend and the Grand Ole Opry's 96th Birthday Bash. There is one show scheduled for Friday night and two shows for Saturday, along with the usual Opry Plaza events. 

Before getting into the lineups for Friday and Saturday night, let me offer my congratulations to Mandy Barnett on being invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. As most of you know, Connie Smith surprised Mandy on Tuesday night, which was also Mandy's birthday, with the invitation to join. Mandy is a wonderful choice as an Opry member and in my opinion, the invitation was long overdue. Mandy has supported the show over the past several decades, with right around 500 guest appearances. While Mandy has never had that breakout national hit, she has a wonderful voice and has made some of the best records Nashville has seen. And of course, she was the star of "Always Patsy Cline."

So for in 2021, the Opry has inducted Lady A, Rhonda Vincent, Carly Pearce, The Isaacs, and now Mandy as new members. With the exception of Lady A, all have supported the Opry over the past several years and will certainly help will the lineups as more of the veterans retire or pass away.

So, will Mandy be the final new member for 2021 or could we see another one before the end of the year? There are a couple of potential new members performing on the Opry this weekend, which leads me to the lineups.

Appearing on all 3 shows this weekend will be Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely and Connie Smith. The only othe Opry member on the schedule is Rhonda Vincent, and she is listed for both shows on Saturday night.

Guesting on all 3 shows are two individuals who I think would make good Opry members: T. Graham Brown and Don Schlitz. Don has appeared on as many Opry shows this year as anyone and is always well received, while T. Graham is one of the legendary veterans in the business. Also appearing on all the weekend shows is comedian Gary Mule Deer.

Filling out the line-up on Friday night will be Jake Hoot, Sister Hazel, and one of the bright young talents in the business, Charlie Worsham. Appearing on both shows Saturday night will be Riley Green and Yola.

Friday October 1
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Jake Hoot; T. Graham Brown; Sister Hazel
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith; Gary Mule Deer; Charlie Worsham; Don Schlitz

Saturday October 2
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; T. Graham Brown; Connie Smith; Gary Mule Deer
8:00: Riley Green; Don Schlitz; Yola Vincent

2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Riley Green; Connie Smith; Yola
10:30: Don Schlitz; Gary Mule Deer; T. Graham Brown; Rhonda Vincent

Sadly, considering that this is the Grand Ole Opry's 96th birthday weekend, the shows are not anything special. Maybe we have been spoiled over the years, or many more effort is being put into the 5000th show at the end of the month, but I know many of us were expecting a big name or two. Not happening this year. I don’t mean to be critical as I do believe that the Opry is doing the best they can in booking the shows. There still are artists that are not actively performing, and some who are have limited their schedules. Regardless, I am sure with the plaza parties and the other activites taking place, it will be a great weekend to be in Nashville, and I am happy to be here.

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Now from Saturday October 2, 1971: 

1st show
6:30: Ernie Ashworth (host): Wilma Lee Cooper
6:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Del Wood; David Rogers; Ed Hyde
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis; Stu Phillips; Johnny Russell
7:30: George Morgan (host); Stringbean; Jimmy Dickens; Crook Brothers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Penny DeHaven; Billy Grammer; Merle Kilgore; Howdy Forrester
8:30: Bobby Lord (host); Marion Worth; Louie Roberts; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Stu Phillips (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Skeeter Davis; Spider Wilson and Jimmy Capps
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Del Wood; David Rogers
10:15: Billy Grammer (host); Stringbean
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); George Morgan; Jimmy Dickens
10:45: Roy Acuff (host); Merle Kilgore; Crook Brothers
11:00: Bobby Lord (host); Penny DeHaven; Johnny Russell; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee; Jerry Whitehurst
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Marion Worth; Louie Roberts

(remember that Johnny Russell and Jimmy Dickens were not Opry members in 1971)
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Looking back, it was on Saturday October 2, 1982 that Grand Ole Opry member Doyle Wilburn made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. 

Virgil Doyle Wilburn and he was born on July 7, 1930 in Hardy, Arkansas. Doyle, along with his siblings Teddy, Lester, Leslie and Geraldine, first performed publicly on Christmas Eve in 1937. This performance took place on a street corner in Thayer, Missouri. They were brought to the attention of Roy Acuff, who brought them to Nashville in 1940 to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. However, child labor laws prevented them from joining the cast.

The story on how Roy Acuff brought them to the Opry is an interesting one. Roy was always looking for new acts to bring to the Opry and through his touring and recording, he was known as one of the hardest workers at the show. The Wilburn's were dirt poor during the depression. Their father could not work due to his poor health. He and his wife decided to make the family into a musical group and he ordered instruments from the Sears catalog, built a stage in the backyard, and had the kids practice. That let do their first street appearance in 1937. The local merchants got behind the children and raised money to send them to a talent contest in Jonesboro. They won first prize. They performed everywhere and Pop Wilburn borrowed money against his home to buy a $100 car to travel in. In 1939, their home burned down and the family had to live in a chicken house and then a tent. Then a year later, came the big break and Roy Acuff.

The Wilburn Children were playing at a radio station in Dothan, Alabama, when Pop heard that a Birmingham radio station was having a talent contest that would feature Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe and some other Opry acts. On the way to the contest, a tire blew out on the car and the family arrived too late. As Teddy remembered, "My dad situated us at the side door of the auditorium and when Roy came out Pop had us performing the song, 'Farther Along'. Roy stood there watching us and with tears in his eyes." Roy had the children come up on stage with him that night and had them sing the song and it brought the house down. When Acuff got back to Nashville, he told David Stone, WSM program manager, about the Wilburns. Stone sent them a telegram to come to Nashville for an audition. They rushed to Nashville, did the audition and got hired at the Opry. Mail came in by the sacksful and the fans loved the children. But, the child labor laws were very restrictive at the time and after trying to work around them, it got to much for the Opry and after six months, they had to leave. The Wilburn Children left Nashville, but continued on with their career.

After signing a recording contract with Four Star, the four brothers went to Shreveport, Louisiana, where from 1948 until 1951, they were featured on KWKH radio and the Louisiana Hayride. In 1951, Doyle, along with his brother Teddy, were drafted and both served in the Korean War. One interesting side note to their time in Shreveport is that the brothers invited an unknown Webb Pierce to be a guest on their radio program, which led to Webb's career-launching Louisiana Hayride stint, and eventually Doyle and Teddy played guitar and bass on his first Decca recording session.

After being discharged from the military, Doyle and Teddy, by then a duo, toured with Webb, who was by then a member of the Opry and one of its bigger stars. On November 10, 1956 Doyle and Teddy became members of the Grand Ole Opry. The had also signed a recording contract with Decca Records.

During the late 1950s and 1960s, the Wilburn Brothers recorded such hits as "I'm So In Love With You," "Trouble's Back In Town," "Roll, Muddy River," "Let Me Be The First To Know", and "Somebody's Back In Town." Despite all of these great hits, the Wilburn Brothers never hit #1 on the Billboard charts. They also displayed strong songwriting talents. and were known for their vocal harmonies, singing back up on other artists's recordings.

The Wilburn Brothers were also successful businessmen. They owned and operated the Sure-Fire music publishing firm and the Wil-Helm Talent Agency. That talent agency was also co-founded with Don Helms. While Sure-Fire published early songs by Loretta Lynn, whose Decca contract was negotiated by the Wilburns, Wil-Helm booked top country acts such as Jean Shepard, Sonny James and the Osborne Brothers. In 1963 the Wilburn Brothers also began a highly successful syndicated TV show, which featured Loretta Lynn, who had been part of their road show in the 1960s. The program, which can still be seen today on RFD-TV, was one of the first syndicated programs to be in color. After Loretta left the show in the early 1970s, the duo signed 15-year-old Patty Ramey, who appeared on their TV shows and toured with them on her summer vacation. Patty Ramey would go on to have a very successful career as Patty Loveless. Their television show lasted until 1974.

Doyle was married for a brief time to fellow Opry member Margie Bowes. On October 16, 1982, he passed away from cancer at the age of 52. His brother Teddy would continue on as a solo artist and Opry member, and would remain with the show until his death in 2003. Doyle is buried in the Nashville National Military Cemetery, next to his brother Teddy. 

Here is the running order from Saturday October 2, 1982, the final night Doyle Wilburn performed on the Grand Ole Opry: 

1st show:
6:30 Mrs. Grissoms
4 Guys (host): I Don't Want Your Love Forever
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
4 Guys: Catfish John

6:45 Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): I've Still Got Room For One More Heartache
Lonzo & Oscar: Take Me Home Country Roads
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of a Fool

7:00 Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy Neighbor, Howdy
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Ernie Ashworth: There's No Place I'd Rather Be Tonight
Charlie Louvin: Mama's Angels
Jeannie Seely: You Don't Need Me, But You Will
R.E. Hardaway: N.Y. City Song
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand/Ole Slewfoot

7:30 Standard Candy
Grandpa Jones (host): Eight More Miles to Louisville
Charlie Walker: T for Texas
Jean Shepard: Alabama Jubilee
Ray Pillow: She's Doing It to Me Again
Billy Grammer: Homestead on the Farm
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Joe Carroll: Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party

8:00 Martha White:
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
David Houston: Almost Persuaded
Stonewall Jackson: Life to Go
Wilburn Brothers: The Light House
Roy Acuff: Jesus Will Outshine Them All

8:30 Acme
Hank Snow (host): Right or Wrong
Vic Willis Trio: Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink On Me
Roy Drusky: What About You
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
Hank Snow: I'm Glad I Got To See You Again

2nd show:
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy Neighbor, Howdy
4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Jeannie Seely: I'm All Through Crying Over You
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Lonzo & Oscar: I Can Hear Kentucky Calling Me
R.E. Hardaway: N.Y. City Song
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand

10:00 Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Banjo Sam
Skeeter Davis: I'll Fly Away
Charlie Louvin: Northwind
Grandpa Jones: It's Raining Here This Morning

10:15 Sunbeam
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Jean Shepard: Too Many Rivers
Ray Pillow: One Too Many Memories
Charlie Walker: Waltz Across Texas

10:30 Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Low & Lonely
Wilburn Brothers: Arkansas
Roy Acuff: Farther Along

10:45 Beech-Nut
Roy Drusky (host): Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy
Billy Grammer: I'm Letting You Go
Crook Brothers: Billy In The Low Ground
Roy Drusky: Blues In My Heart

11:00 Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Down The Trail Of Aching Hearts
Jan Howard: Where No One Stands Alone
Justin Tubb: Pull The Covers Over Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
David Houston: I'm Gonna Hire A Wino
Kirk McGee: Blue Night
Hank Snow: Old Doc Brown

11:30 Hardee's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Vic Willis Trio: Last Cheater's Waltz/Let It Be Me
Bill Carlisle: Same Ol' Tale That The Crow Told Me
Sheila & Bill Carlisle Jr: In The Pines
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk Of Coal/Waterloo
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To finish it up on this birthday weekend, let's go back 61 years to Saturday October 1, 1955:

7:30: Federal Fertilizer Co. 
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Marty Robbins: Maybelline
Fiddle Tune: Leather Britches
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
George Morgan: Ain't Love Grand
Fiddle Tune: Old Hen Cackled

7:45: American Ace
Faron Young: Go Back You Fool
Bill Monroe: I'm Sorry I Stayed Away Too Long
Louvin Brothers: Make Him a Soldier
Faron Young: God Bless God
Fiddle Tune: Bill Cheatham

8:00: Martha White
Flatt and Scruggs: Theme Song
Hank Snow: To Be Announced
Ray Price: Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes
Flatt and Scruggs: Have You Come to Say Goodbye
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Car Hoppin' Mama
Carlisles: Lil Liza Jane
Possum Hunters: Black Berry Blossom
Hank Snow: To Be Announced
Flatt and Scruggs: Is There Room For Me
Ray Price: One Broken Heart
Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy

8:30: Prince Albert
Ernest Tubb: The Yellow Rose of Texas
Rod Brasfield: Comedy
Goldie Hill: Ain't Gonna Wash My Face
Fiddle Tune: Mississippi Sawyer
Ernest Tubb: Stand By Me
Del Wood: Rocky Mountain Express
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Goldie Hill: Why Don't You Let Me Go
Grandpa Jones: Kitty Clyde
Ernest Tubb: I'm Gonna Make My Home A Million Miles from Here
Fiddle Tune: Old Joe Clark

9:00: Royal Crown Cola
Lonzo and Oscar: Theme Song
Roy Acuff: Little Moses
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Lonzo and Oscar: Skunk Skin Britches
Johnny and Jack: South of New Orleans
Jug Band: Shot Gun Boogie
Kitty Wells: Making Believe
Roy Acuff: Lights in the Valley
Bashful Oswald: Curly Headed Baby
Jimmy Riddle: Bill Bailey
Big Howdy: Indian Creek

9:30: Jefferson Island Salt
Old Hickory Singers: Theme Song
Carl Smith: Don't Tease Me
Jimmy Dickens: We Could
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Old Hickory Singers: I Want a Girl
Carl Smith: I Just Dropped In to Say Goodbye
Chet Atkins: Spaghetti Rag
Jimmy Dickens: A Ribbon and A Rose
Fiddle Tune: Ragtime Annie

10:00: Wall-Rite
George Morgan: The Best Mistake I Ever Made
Bill Monroe: Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus
Carlisles: Knot Hole
George Morgan: I Think I'm Gonna Cry
Fiddle Tune: Blackeyed Susie

10:15: Dr. Le Gear
Marty Robbins: Maybelline
Goldie Hill: Cry, Cry Darling
Justin Tubb: All Alone
Marty Robbins: Call Me Up and I'll Come Calling on You
Fiddle Tune: Sally Goodin

10:30: Hester Battery
Ernest Tubb: Kansas City Blues
Jimmy Dickens: When I Play the Fiddle
Del Wood: Smoky Mountain Polka
Ernest Tubb: Journeys End
Fiddle Tune: Turkey in the Straw

10:45: D Con
Hank Snow: To Be Announced
Red Sovine: A New Love Affair
Gully Jumpers: (?)
Hank Snow: To Be Announced
Fiddle Tune: 

11:00: W. E. Stephens
Lonzo and Oscar: Theme Song
Carl Smith: (?)
Ray Price: Let Me Talk to You
Lonzo and Oscar: Skunk Skin Britches
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Carl Smith: Lonesome Old Town
Grandpa Jones: Lonesome Road Blues
Ray Price: I'll Be There
Lonzo and Oscar: Cold Tater Pie
Carl Smith: Kisses Don't Lie
Fiddle Tune: Wake Up Susan

11:30: Delited
Faron Young: Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young
Louvin Brothers: The Family Who Prays
Hawkshaw Hawkins: The Love You Steel
Sam and Kirk: You Won't Be Satisfied that Way
Lew Childre: Hang Out the Front Door Key
Faron Young: Satisfied Mind
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Grey Eagle
Louvin Brothers: Love Thy Neighbor
Hawkshaw Hawkins: (?)

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.