Welcome to the first full year of 2022 and like a lot of others, I am hoping for a much better year than the one just ended. At the Grand Ole Opry, it was a pretty eventful year as the Opry added several new members and celebrated its 5,000th Saturday night show.
Looking at the line-up for this weekend, while solid, there is really nothing that stands out. Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely, Connie Smith and Riders In The Sky are scheduled for both nights, with Bobby Osborne joining them on the Friday Night Opry.
Comedian Henry Cho is scheduled for both nights, as the Opry continues the pattern of having a comedian on most of the shows. Joining Henry as a guest on Friday night will be the legendary group, Sawyer Brown. I saw the group on the Opry Classics Show in October and Mark Miller and the guys were great. Mark still has a lot of energy!! Also scheduled on Friday night is Muscadine Bloodline. Matthew West and The Frontmen of Country (Larry Stewart, Tim Rushlow and Richie McDonald) are listed for Saturday night.
There are three artists who will be making their Opry debuts this weekend. Logan Mize is scheduled for Friday night, while Tyler Braden and ERNEST are scheduled on Saturday night.
Friday January 7
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Muscadine Bloodline; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith; Logan Mize; Henry Cho; Sawyer Brown
Saturday January 8
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Tyler Braden; Riders In The Sky; Matthew West
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith; ERNEST; Henry Cho; The Frontmen of Country
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From 50 years ago, Saturday January 8, 1972:
7:00: Stonewall Jackson (host); Osborne Brothers; Bill Carlisle
7:30: Archie Campbell (host); Charlie Walker; Skeeter Davis; George Morgan
8:00: Bill Monroe (host); Grandpa Jones; Billy Walker; Crook Brothers; Del Wood
8:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Jimmy C Newman
9:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Stu Phillips; Ray Pillow; Fruit Jar Drinker; Ernie Ashworth
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; The 4 Guys; Stringbean
10:00: Osborne Brothers (host); Billy Walker; Bill Carlisle; Charlie Walker
10:15: Wilburn Brothers (host); Skeeter Davis; Archie Campbell and Phil Campbell; George Morgan
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Stonewall Jackson; Grandpa Jones; Del Wood
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Crook Brothers; Stringbean
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Ray Pillow; The 4 Guys; Justin Tubb; Ernie Ashworth
(Del Reeves, Jean Shepard and Marion Worth were also scheduled but cancelled. Jimmy C Newman only did one spot on the early portion of the show, while Marty Robbins and Justin Tubb only did the late segment).
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Looking back 72 years ago, it was a very special night at the Grand Ole Opry as Hank Snow not only made his Grand Ole Opry debut, but he also became a member of the Opry the same night.
For most of his career, prior to 1950, Hank Snow struggled. He made a name for himself in Canada, but had trouble establishing a career in the states. He traveled around to various locations, including Wheeling, California, and eventually Dallas, Texas, where he had his greatest success. It was along that journey that he met Ernest Tubb. Hank had been trying to connect with Ernest for some time, as both had a love for the music of Jimmie Rodgers. Prior to that first meeting in Texas, Hank and Ernest had exchanged letters. Upon that initial meeting, Ernest told Hank, "It's all happening in Nashville. Nashville is the home of country music. If you want to advance your career, you should be there. I promise you I'll do my best to get you on the Opry, but there's one problem. The Opry will not sign any new artist unless the artist has a hit record. However, I'm on my way to the West Coast, and I've taken a leave of absence from the Opry for a few months. Maybe they will accept you as a stand-in for me while I'm away."
Nothing happened at that point, but Ernest did try. He talked to Jim Denny, manager of the Opry, and to Jack Stapp, the program director at WSM, and both told Ernest that they couldn't handle a new member at that time. So, Hank continued to stay in the Dallas area, performing at clubs when the opportunity came. But he kept in contact with Ernest, hoping that his dream of going to Nashville and being on the Opry could come true.
Finally, in late 1949, he got the call from Ernest, who told Hank, "I had a talk with Mr. Denny yesterday, and he told me to bring you in to see him. He thinks he'll be able to place you on the Opry, so come to Nashville right away if at all possible." When Hank got to Nashville, he met with Mr. Denny, who didn't say anything about a tryout and that he wanted Hank to start on the Opry on January 7, 1950. Hank also wrote that he would be paid $75 a week. In getting prepared for his debut on the Opry, Hank moved his family to Nashville. Since Hank did not have a band, Ernest allowed Hank to use his Texas Troubadours for his first appearance on the Opry.
Here is the posted running order from that night 72 years ago, Saturday January 7, 1950:
7:30: American Ace Coffee
Roy Acuff (host): It's Alright Now
Hal Smith: Wake Up Susan
Dot & Smokey: Blue Eyes Crying in The Rain
Jimmy Riddle: Steamboat Bill
Roy Acuff: The Day They Laid Mary Away
Uncle Dave Macon & Dorris: Tennessee Farmer
Jug Band: Missouri
Roy Acuff: The Can Only Fill One Grave
Joe Zinkas: Tiger Rag
Dot & Smokey: Sleepy Rio Grande
Rachel & Oswald: Curly Headed Baby
8:00: Purina
Cowboy Copas (host): Crazy Over You
Lew Childre: I Love My Little Rooster
Bill Monroe: Molly and Ten Brooks
Sam, Kirk & Arthur: Black Mountain Rag
Cowboy Copas: One Step More
Bob Eaton: Second Hand Heart
Blue Grass Quartet: He'll Set Your Fields on Fire
Crook Brothers: Billy in The Low Ground
Cowboy Copas: Filipino Baby
Square Dance: Leather Britches
8:30: Royal Flour
Ernest Tubb (host): Biting My Finger Nails
Martha White: If I Could Learn To Yodel
Jimmy Dickens: Lonesome Wind Blues
Hank Williams: Dear John
Possum Hunters: Black Berry Blossom
Ernest Tubb: I Love You Because
Jimmy Dickens: Country Boy
Jimmy Self: Picking Them Up & Putting Them Down
Hank Williams: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Breakdown: Old Joe Clark
9:00: Royal Crown
Jimmy Riddle: Limehouse Blues
Roy Acuff (host): Blue Eyes Crying in The Rain
Lonzo & Oscar: Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dusty Miller
Jamup & Honey: Jokes
Hank Snow: To Be Selected
Jug Band: Shame On You
Roy Acuff: Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Hank Snow: To Be Selected
Rachel & Oswald: Take Me Back to Tennessee
Hal Smith: Done Gone
9:30: Prince Albert
Red Foley (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
Tennessee Ernie: Anticipation Blues
Wally Fowler: You Ain't Got Faith Til You Got Religion
Red Foley: Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Old Hickory Quartet: Oh Miss Hannah
Tennessee Ernie: Cry of the Wild Goose
Rod Brasfield: Jokes
Minnie Pearl: Jokes
Red Foley: Gotta Have My Baby Back
Square Dance: Wake Up Susan
10:00: Wallrite
Bill Monroe (host): Shady Grove
Bill & Mack: I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky
Uncle Dave & Dorris: Over the Mountain
Blue Grass Quartet: Just a Little Talk With Jesus
Bill Monroe: Blue Grass Special
10:15: Warren Paint & Color Co.
Lew Childre: Riding on the Elevated
Hank Williams: Long Gone Daddy
String Beans: Hot Corn, Cold Corn
Hank Williams: Lost Highway
Fiddle Tune: Old Joe Clark
10:30: Darimix
Roy Acuff (host): Pale Horse and His Rider
Jimmy Riddle: To Be Selected
Roy Acuff: Poem
Gang: Waiting for My Call to Glory
Hal: Bill Cheatham
10:45: Dr. Le Gear
Cowboy Copas (host): Road of Broken Hearts
Lonzo & Oscar: Sheepskin Corn
Cowboy Copas: Tennessee Waltz
Lazy Jim Day: Singing the News
Cowboy Copas: Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me
11:00: To Be Selected
Ernest Tubb (host): Give Me a Hundred Reasons
Billy Byrd: Steel Guitar
Jimmy Dickens: Sleeping At the Foot of the Bed
Wally Fowler: Lead Me to That Rock
Ernest Tubb: Unfaithful One
Gully Jumpers: Forked Deer
Jimmy Dickens: My Hearts Bouquet
Wally Fowler: Lead Me Gently Home Father
Ernest Tubb: That Wild and Wicked Look in Your Eyes
Mac McGarr: Katy Hill
11:30: Jefferson Island Salt
Sam, Kirk & Arthur: Listen to the Mocking Bird
Hank Snow: To Be Selected
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin
Sam, Kirk & Arthur: Love Letters in the Sand
Hank Snow: To Be Selected
11:45: Coyne Electric Co.
Hank Williams (host): Mansion on the Hill
Jimmy Self: I Miss You So Much
Fruit Jar Drinkers: My Little Girl
Hank Williams: Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Ravins Gap
In his autobiography, Hank wrote about that night:
I remember that night so well. I put on my beautiful custom-made gold suit, and I did something that I have done very few times since. I wore my big white Stetson hat. Back then hats were not so important to country singers. Most artists on the Opry didn't wear them. Only a few did, like Ernest Tubb. He was known for his white Stetson.
Believe me, I say this in all honesty: I said many prayers during the few weeks before my Opry debut that I would be a success. God has His plan worked out for all of us, even a little weakling from Nova Scotia, Canada.
Ernest introduced me, "From up Canada way, here's the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, the Singing Ranger, Hank Snow!" My whole body was trembling as I went out on that stage, and I sang the song that had done so much for me in Dallas, "Brand on My Heart." When I finished, I got only mild applause, not anything near what I was getting in Dallas or back in Canada. I felt sort of embarrassed, and I couldn't leave the stage fast enough.
Hank wrote that when he left the Opry that night with his wife Min, he told her he was never going back to the Opry and that he would go back to Canada, where he was appreciated and known. He wrote that Min set him straight, telling him, "Now you can't expect everything to happen in just one night. People will become more familiar with you as time goes on. You're lucky you've been given this chance."
Hank wrote that he kept going back and the response was the same. He was actually in danger of being fired from the Opry, but then "I'm Moving On" came along and the rest became history. Hank would become one of the pillars of the Grand Ole Opry, continuing as a member nearly 50 years, settling into hosting the 8:30 and 11:00 segments each week.
I find it interesting that Hank wrote that he was introduced by Ernest Tubb that night, but based on the program, he was actually on Roy Acuff's segment, nor was his second spot on Ernest's late segment. Hank was very clear about his first night at the Opry, so perhaps Ernest came out and introduced Hank, or a change in the program? Sadly, there really aren't any individuals left living from that night at the Opry who could fill in the blanks.
One final note from that night: You might have noticed the name of Tennessee Ernie (Ford) listed on the Prince Albert nationally broadcast portion of the Opry hosted by Red Foley. Like Hank Snow, this was Tennessee Ernie's debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Unlike Hank, Ernie Ford was already an established star, thus he was featured on the national broadcast that night. While Tennessee Ernie never became an Opry member, he had an open invitation to appear on the Opry whenever he was in town.
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.
Thanks for this. This is also another example of how little we often know or more accurately are certain about when it comes to the Opry's history--as in who introduced Hank Williams the night of his debut.
ReplyDeleteBut thank goodness ET stuck to it for Hank Snow!
As I recall the story, Tennessee Ernie had become a father that week and threw cigars out from the stage. If you've seen his son's book about his dad, it's quite a harrowing story.
It's really interesting that Hank Williams was not on the national broadcast that evening. Hank, Ernie Ford, and Red would've made quite the segment.
ReplyDeleteTragic news in this morning's Tennessean.
ReplyDeleteCoroner has determined that Tom T. Hall took his own life.
So very sad.
Byron, could you copy the article Nat is referring to on Tom T? Their website is not as blind friendly as it could be. Also, do you have a recording of that Jan 7 pa show? I believe all of those survived?
ReplyDeleteLet me see what I can do.
Deletehttps://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/01/05/tom-t-hall-died-suicide-medical-examiner-autopsy/9109362002/
DeleteMight be subscription only, not sure.
THis the quote from teh Coroner´s report:
DeleteThe Williamson County, Tennessee Medical Examiner’s report conducted by Samuel Smith M.D. reads that Tom T. Hall “had sustained an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, to the head, on the morning of 8/20/2021. A 911 call was placed at 1115 hours on 8/20/201. Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and Williamson Medical Emergency Medical Services (WMC EMS) responded to the call. Paramedics confirmed death at approximately 1133 hours, due to obvious injuries.”
This referenced on the website and blog
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/on-the-new-details-of-country-legend-tom-t-halls-death/
The Friday night Opry has been cancelled this week due to unsafe road conditions in the Nashville area. I live a couple of miles from the Opry House and received about 7" of snow at my house on Thursday and the overnight low was about 12 degrees and the expected high temperature for Friday is only in the mid 20's.
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to it Patrick. Thanks so much. I think I read that this was the biggest 24-hour snow fall in the history of Nashville. While I don't believe any other Opry show has ever been cancelled due to weather, this was probably the right move.
DeleteJeff Hoag didn't make it in for his broadcast last night. Like Charlie said it was probably a good thing. Because he might not have made it back home. Charlie sat in for Jeff. Stayed at the Opryland over night and was back on the air at 5:25 AM this morning. Bob
DeleteCharlie taped the show ahead of time for Jeff, THEN broadcast the Vanderbilt women's game where about 30 people attended.
DeleteSo Charlie was on WSM "doing" Jeff's taped show while broadcasting the game live on WNSR at the same time. Dueling Charlies!
Thanks Patrick. That was just confirmed by WSM. Bob
ReplyDeleteLets all CONRATULATE our friend Byron on his retirement. Enjoy Byron. Bob
ReplyDeleteByron, this was the 23rd largest 24 hour snowfall in Nashville history (since 1876), the 6.3 inches officially recorded by the NWS set a record for the date. Congratulations on your retirement, may you enjoy an equally long career of leisure!
ReplyDeleteThanks Patrick. Living here in Northeast Ohio, I feel your pain with the snow. What is interesting for us, we have only had an inch of snow so far this season, which is about 20 inches below our average. Just one of those years.
DeleteThe Opry has stirred up a hornet's nest with Saturday night's performance.
ReplyDeleteHere's a quote from an Opry Tweet of June 9, 2020.
"Racism is real. It is unacceptable. And it has no place at The Grand Ole Opry."
The Tennessean reported a few minutes ago: "The appearance was first reported via the Grand Ole Opry's Twitter feed with a tweet at 8:41 PM CST stating, "Surprise! @MorganWallen joins @ernest615 to perform their new duet 'Flower Shops.'"
Almost immediately, the Grand Ole Opry's Twitter feed was inundated with fierce backlash to Wallen's appearance"
My question: How tone deaf does an organization operating in 2021 have to be to not understand the likely repercussions of Wallen's appearance? A case could be made it's time to forgive and forget, but it seems to me that when it comes to racism, no amount of time is long enough for some folks, and the 'Opry has made a huge mistake here.
I won't argue with anybody who disagrees, because neither of our minds would likely be changed.
I feel bad for the "Ernest" guy who invited him on to sing with him. Heard him on Bill and Charlie last week, and he seemed like a real nice guy who understands traditional country music. Now he no doubt feels really bad for the trouble his invitation has caused.
I will go back and listen to see how the crowd responded. That may tell me something.
Nat, I listened to the show on Saturday night and had a feeling Morgan would come out on stage as there were pictures of him posted on social media at the beginning of the show. From what I heard on the radio, Mike Terry, who was announcing, made no mention of Morgan's name at the beginning of the song, but did say his name as he was leaving the stage. I know it was a fairly small crowd Saturday night, but there was a cheer at the beginning of the duet. That was how I remembered it.
DeleteTo clarify, the pictures of Morgan backstage were prior to his appearance and appeared to have been taken toward the start of the Opry. The caption on one of the posts mentioned his name and that he was a surprise guest at the Opry that night. Based on that, I figured he would be out to do a duet with Ernest.
DeleteOpry Instagram indicates that Ernest didn't know Morgan would join him. We'll never know!
DeleteI'm listening right now Byron, and I think you're spot-on. It wasn't a big deal the way it was done, but it's certainly a big deal now. "That's Ernest with Morgan Wallace" was how Mike Terry closed it out. Only mention to the crowd that he was even in the building. The crowd loved Ernest, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm thunder-struck that nobody at the 'Opry could see how the rest of the world of today would react. Just simply don't understand how tone-deaf they were.
I only listened to a minute or two of ERNEST and did not hear Morgan Wallen. But, I really don't need to know how that all went to make a comment. And I am not voicing an opinion pro or con to what Wallen said for I have only heard opinions about what he said or did and could not repeat any of it. I just don't know what took place. This is about what such issues could do to the Opry.
ReplyDeleteIn this day of cancel culture toward almost anything we might call traditional or traditional family oriented, it is or was only a matter of time before the Opry appeared on the radar. I think it is or was inevitable. Opinions and acceptable cultural norms have and will evolve as we grow as a society. Lack of knowledge and understanding of (our) history encourages this intolerance of past norms so they must be cancelled.
If you think about the people, institutions and memorials related to our history that are beginning to be banished from our society and public eye, you have to think that the Opry "could" end up on that list. There are just too many things over the history of the Opry that can be an easy target if you are looking for acceptable norms from a different generation that is unacceptable today. What would you expect from an institution that started a mere 55 or so years after the end of the Civil War and slavery? The name of a gallery, the name of a long time member, the dress code over the years, limitation on who could host, the statements of members such as saying someone was lazy. You might even be able to bring up past sponsors. What about the politicians who have appeared on the stage from all political views over the years. If the Opry represents part of American culture it is vulnerable. The more the Opry is mainstreamed and diversified the higher the risk of it becoming a target. A double edged sword?
There was a post on Jeannie Seely's Facebook page recently about the flag that stands on the Opry stage and that she promoted the idea of it being there. Lets hope that doesn't change. That can even be a target of cancel culture today. Nothing is safe and shinning a light on possible targets is unwise.
In the case of the Opry, maybe this is a time when the lack of knowledge of history....of the Opry......is a good thing.
I sure hope my thoughts do not materialize. It would be a sad day for the Opry.
Hopefully I said all of that without voicing a political viewpoint. If I did not, I sincerely apologize.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI don't think the 'Opry did anything sinister or with evil intent when they had Morgan Wallace appear. Wallace has apparently seen the error of his ways.
But it's 2022 and the world is one of political correctness and no tolerance for stuff that the world overlooked a while back. I'm not all that happy about it, but it's the world we live in.
The 'Opry just made a mistake by inviting him that I suspect (and fear) will have negative consequences. It was a mistake in my mind, nothing more.
The 'Opry should have seen it coming. That's my point.
I am not one bit worried about the 'Opry catching flack about American flags, singing gospel music, or honoring the military. If THAT causes trouble, we're all in trouble.
Hi, all. In my day job, I'm a history professor, and I focus in part on the Civil War. I'll wade in with the note that I apologize in advance for sounding like a history professor, and that I do not want to politicize anything, and the less we say here about politics the better. In fact, one of my favorite bloggers just complained about his commenters getting into politics, even when they AGREE with him. He said, that's not what this blog is for, so stop it.
ReplyDeleteThe Opry is not going to go away unless there's incredible mismanagement--in other words, for financial reasons (I thought that was possible during a previous manager's term; I have more faith now). As we know, the Opry has changed dramatically over its 96 years. We've all talked--and often complained--about that here. Right now, the Opry isn't being done the traditional way on Saturday nights, and I regret and miss that, and I don't know how much of the old ways will return when we have gotten through the worst of the pandemic (frankly, I doubt that Opry management knows, either--and I don't mean that unkindly).
Then I remember that before Vito took over as stage manager in 1934, it wasn't organized into the same kinds of sponsored segments--no wonder it was called "a good-natured riot." We used to have string bands and amateurs, and now we don't get the string bands and the only amateurs are famous for other things. We can't replace an Acuff, Monroe, Tubb, Snow, or Mrs. Cannon. But we can have the modern stars who carry on--except that the Opry makes them less money than it made the others; the Opry no longer makes a career the way it used to. The world changes, and I'm for the Opry changing as it has to change to survive.
The Opry does have a racist history if you look at DeFord Bailey and James Brown, to name the two most obvious examples, though there are others. But it's also the case that Charley Pride became a member long (maybe 20-plus years?) after he was originally asked--it wasn't that the Opry didn't want him; he was part of the generation that made their money on Saturday nights, and he didn't live in Nashville, so I understand that. If there are too few members who are from diverse groups--and I can make the case that there are--it's also true that country music itself hasn't been incredibly diverse, either (the same can be said of classical music). And change usually doesn't come overnight.
I think this was a misstep--not because of evil intent, but because it created a controversy that the Opry didn't need. It also reflects a changed world--there are more people than ever involved in country music who would respond differently to Morgan Wallen than there used to be, and there are more ways out there for them to respond. The Opry will survive this, and might learn from it. Then again, we'll survive this, and WE might learn from it!
Thus endeth today's sermon!
I was shocked that morgan is currently #1 on either the country or pop chart. At least that's what I was told? Country fans might be more forgiving than we think. Byron and I in our other lives are both huge pro wrestling fans and discuss it often. Hulk Hogan made comments much MUCH worse than Morgan, and returned to tv. I think it has to do with who your fan base is.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I've said way more about this incident than you, but what you said above struck me as perfect and a whole lot more insightful than anything I have said!
ReplyDeleteI ESPECIALLY appreciated : "I think this was a misstep--not because of evil intent, but because it created a controversy that the Opry didn't need. It also reflects a changed world--there are more people than ever involved in country music who would respond differently to Morgan Wallen than there used to be, and there are more ways out there for them to respond. The Opry will survive this, and might learn from it. Then again, we'll survive this, and WE might learn from it!"
I just heard FOX news on the radio, and Morgan and the 'Opry were one of their three blurbs at the top of the hour. This IS a BIG deal nationally.
But, hopefully, "there's no such thing as bad publicity!" :)
Nat, believe me, you're far too kind. Thank you.
DeleteMorgan's album sales actually increased in the last year. The opry could argue that he's still a big enough deal to have on the show. Also, if people start digging back far enough, Jam Up and Honey are gonna be a real problem particularly because there's an album out on digital platforms with old OLD recordings from the 50s focusing on Hank Williams, but they are on that album.
ReplyDeleteWhat you must understand is that there is a very vocal minority of professional whiners out there who are determined to destroy the unique American institutions we cherish. Any attempts to reason or compromise with these creeps are seen as weakness and once they choose a target nothing but total destruction will satisfy them. When Ringling Brothers Circus bowed to the demands of animal rights zealots to get rid of elephants did these people show their appreciation by buying tickets??? Hell no and today the circus is only a memory thus their mission is accomplished. The Opry has nothing to apologize for and certainly no reason to appease those who have no intentions of supporting the show. We saw how that worked for Ringling.
ReplyDelete