So, who else misses the old Fan Fair? So many memories of the fairgrounds where it really had the down-home country feeling. Like many others, I remember the free shows and the long lines for the autographs and pictures (I am sure there are many who still remember the Garth Brooks marathon!). With the CMA now in control, lots has changed, but we should still be thankful for the artists who still host fan club parties, picnics, etc., and take the time to meet the fans. Sadly, many of the big names no longer do that. However, I still have my memories, as to others, of the earlier days of Fan Fair, where there really was a connection between the artists and the fans.
Fan Fair week once gave us great Opry shows and many surprises. So many of the Opry's members were in town that the weekend schedule was "loaded." You never knew who would appear unannounced. Sadly, as you will see when looking at the schedule for this weekend, it seems to be no longer the case. There are the usual eight artists scheduled each night as it seems that the Opry continues to take a back seat to the stadium shows downtown.
Looking at the artists who are on the schedule for this weekend, Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill is listed for both nights. It is nice to see Vince back on the Opry schedule. There was a time when Vince was almost an Opry regular, appearing 20-25 times a year. Now with his commitment to The Eagles and with his own tour coming up, he rarely appears on the Opry stage.
Joining Vince on the Friday Night Opry will be Opry members Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Riders In The Sky and Mike Snider. Along with Vince, Bill Anderson is back on Saturday night, joined by Craig Morgan. That's it, just three members on Saturday night.
With five Opry members on the schedule for Friday night, the only non-members listed are Steven Curtis Chapman, Mickey Guyton and Caitlyn Smith. Saturday night has a pair of Hall of Fame members on the schedule as Charlie McCoy and Don Schlitz head up the list, with a return appearance by Jelly Roll, along with Caroline Jones and Ray Fulcher.
Opry Country Classics will be presenting a special Saturday matinee show at the Ryman Auditorium, headed up by Larry Gatlin and Spotlight Artist Sara Evans.
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Sara Evans
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, John Berry, Billy Yates and The Frontmen.
Saturday June 11, 1949 was one of the most significant nights in the history of the Grand Ole Opry as it was this night, 73 years ago, in which Hank Williams made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
As I do each year, here is the posted Opry lineup from that night:
7:30: American Ace
Roy Acuff: Low and Lonely
Tommy Magness: Black Mountain Rag
Dot & Smokey: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Jimmy Riddle: Dill Pickle Rag
Roy and Oswald: Eye From on High
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: Take Me Back to My Old Carolina Home
Jug Band: Johnson's Old Grey Mule
Roy Acuff: Unclouded Day
Joe Zinkas: 12th Street Rag
Dot & Smokey: Are You Tired of Me Darling
Rachel & Oswald: Jesse James
8:00: Purina Show
Cowboy Copas: Dolly Dear
Uncle Dave Macon: Chewing Gum
George Morgan: Candy Kisses
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Girl I Left Behind Me
Cowboy Copas: Careless Hands
Lazy Jim Day: Singing The News
George Morgan: Rainbow in My Heart
Robert Lunn: Talking Blues
Hank Garland: Short Creek Shuffle
Cowboy Copas: One Step More
8:30: Prince Albert
Red Foley: Tennessee Polka
Tommy Wakeley: Try To Understand
Fowler Quartet: Ole Blind Bartimaeus
Red Foley: Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Jimmy Wakeley: Someday You'll Call My Name and I Won't Answer
Old Hickory Quartet: In The Good Ole Summertime
Red Foley: I'm Throwing Rice at the Girl I Love
Square Dance: Stony Point
9:00: Royal Crown Cola
Possum Hunters: Widow McGraw
Roy Acuff: Tennessee Central No. 9
Jamup & Honey: Jokes
Jimmy Riddle: Wabash Blues
Jimmy Dickens: Cold Tater
Jug Band: Uncle Noah's Ark
Lonzo & Oscar: I Wish I Had a Nickle
Rachel & Oswald: Rabbit in the Log
Roy Acuff: Waiting For My Call To Glory
Bradley Kincaid: Won't You Come Over To My House
Tommy Magness: Leather Britches
9:30: Warren Paint
Lew Childre: My Mammy
Ernest Tubb: I'm Biting My Finger Nails Thinking of You
Bill Monroe: To Be Announced
Hank Williams: Lovesick Blues
Crook Brothers: Old Joe Clark
Ernest Tubb: Daddy When is Mommy Coming Home
String Beans: Cross Eyed Girl
Mel & Stan: I'll Gladly Take You Back Again
Bill Monroe: To Be Announced
Ernest Tubb: I Hung My Head and Cried
10:00: Wallrite
Bill Monroe: Kitty Clyde
Bradley Kincaid: When I Was A Boy From The Mountains
Blue Grass Quartet: A Beautiful Life
Bill Monroe: Goodbye Old Pal
Shenandoah Balley: Live and Let Live
10:15: Gaylark
Milton Estes: John Henry
Jimmy Dickens: Bible on The Table
Jimmy Selph: A Petal From A Faded Rose
Milton Estes: Build Me A Cabin in Glory
10:30: Royal Flour
Roy Acuff: Coming From The Ball
Uncle Dave Macon & Dorris: Kissing On The Sly
Roy Acuff: Poem
Roy and Gang: Farther Along
Tommy Magness: Cackling Hen
10:45: Dr. Le Gear
Cowboy Copas: Package of Lies Tied in Blue
Mel & Stan: Two Little Rose Buds
Lazy Jim Day: Singing The News
Cowboy Copas: Waltzing With Tears in My Eyes
Red Herron: Sally Goodin
11:00: Allen Manufacturing Co.
George Morgan: Need You
Hank Williams: Mind Your Own Business
Velma: That Little Kid Sister of Mine
George Morgan: Put All Your Love In A Cookie Jar
Gully Jumpers: Going Cross The Sea
11:15: Sustaining
Ernest Tubb: Don't Rob Another Man's Castle
Lew & String Bean: Darling Nelly Gray
Butter Ball: I Can't Go For That
Ernest Tubb: Frankie & Johnny
11:30: Sustaining
Jimmy Dickens: The Rose From The Brides Bouquet
Lonzo & Oscar: Sour Wood Mountain
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Jimmy Dickens: Pennies For Papa
Zeb Turner: (?)
11:45: Sustaining
Wally Fowler: Lead Me To That Rock
Robert Lunn: Corina
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Alabama Jubilee
Wally Fowler: May The Circle Be Unbroken
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Leather Britches
Wally Fowler: Get On Board
Enough has been written about that night thus I don't feel I need to add anything more. But I will add that on Hank's first night, he was not on the Prince Albert portion of the Opry. However, due to the response, the following week, he was.
To finish it up for this week, on Saturday June 10, 2006, future Grand Ole Opry member Chris Young made his Opry debut.
Here is the running order from that night 16 years ago:
1st show
6:30: Cracker Barrel
Jimmy Dickens (host): May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band/Jambalaya
Charley Pride: Kiss An Angel Good Morning/Kawliga
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew
7:00: Tootsie's/Martha White
Montgomery Gentry: If You Ever Stop Loving Me
Pam Tillis: Band in the Window/That Was a Heartache
Keith Anderson: Every Time I Hear Your Name/Picking Wildflowers
Opry Staff Band: Pork Chop Stomp
Gretchen Wilson: California Girls/Red Neck Woman
Chris Young: Drinking Me Lonely Tonight
Montgomery Gentry: She Don't Tell Me To/Hillbilly Shoes
Pam Tillis: A Train Without A Whistle
8:00: Opry.com
Porter Wagoner (host) and Ralph Stanley: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Ralph Stanley: Distant Land to Roam
George Hamilton IV: A Rose & A Baby Ruth
Mel Tillis: Good Woman Blues/I Got the Hoss; You Got the Saddle/Heart Over Mind
Opry Square Dance Band: Cherokee Shuffle
8:30: Tennessee Pride
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Jack Greene: Statue of A Fool
Riders In The Sky: Ghost Riders in the Sky
Mark Wills: Red Necks Anonymous/Nineteen Hundred Something
Bill Anderson: Whisky Lullaby
2nd show
9:30: Cracker Barrel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Mel McDaniel: Stand Up
Jimmy C Newman: Allons Ah Lafayette
Montgomery Gentry: Something to Be Proud Of/My Town
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way
10:00: Sirius Radio
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol Slewfoot
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back to Little Rock/Evil on Your Mind
Ralph Stanley: Worried Man Blues
Nathan Stanley: Sandy Ridge
Chris Young: Girl, You're Gonna Love Me/Drinking Me Lonely
10:30: Johnny Walker Tours
Pam Tillis (host): Shake the Sugar Tree
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Mel Tillis: Coca Cola Cowboy/There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
Pam and Mel Tillis: Waiting on the Wind
Opry Square Dance Band: Rachel
Pam Tillis: Ring of Fire
11:00: Gaylord Productions
Bill Anderson (host): Don't She Look Good
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Keith Anderson: Every Time I Hear Your Name/Picking Wild Flowers
Bill Anderson: A Death in the Family
11:30: Gaylord Attractions
Riders In The Sky (host): Back in the Saddle
Charlie Louvin: Blue Skies & Sunshine
Mark Wills: Entertain the Angels
Riders In The Sky: Wahoo, Wahoo, Wahoo/Happy Trails to You
Chris Young would turn out to be a popular guest and on October 17, 2017, he would become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Overall, he has been a good member.
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.
Jellyroll is one of the most popular artists in music right now among a ton of folks! He may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he cried like a child to even be asked to play o be one the show the first time.
ReplyDeleteByron,
ReplyDeleteWe never went to Fan Fair. I hate big crowds! We did attend events surrounding Fan Fair. So we do not have any memories of the events at the fairgrounds.
The key words in your comments are "down home country feeling". I think as time passes that feeling and persona is becoming less acceptable. As the music and Opry become more homogenized and all genre inclusive I think that "down home county feeling" will disappear. Hee Haw sure wouldn't go well today for many reasons!
Jim
I watched an interview with the son of Bradley Kincaid (his name slips my mind). The junior Kincaid indicated that his father made his decision to leave the Opry soon after the arrival of Hank Williams. He felt that the musical style of the Opry was going in a direction that did not coincide with his own. Kincaid was old-timey mountain music, the type the Opry was established on. With Hank Williams came modern music, instruments, and as Kincaid put it, "celebrity status". And I see his point. After Hank Williams came Hank Snow, Lefty Frizzell, Webb Pierce, and others. Artists such as Kincaid soon fell on the back burner. Kincaid was at one time the most popular "country" performer in the United States. Had he stayed at the Opry, I feel, his name and recognition would have not faded as it did. He truly was an early music legend in country music, and I feel he is the one of the most glaring omission from the Country Music Hall of Fame, near the top with along with the Maddox Brothers & Rose.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I know we are in agreement regarding both Bradley Kincaid and the Maddox Brothers & Rose. Bradley especially has been overlooked and I am sure that the majority of voters either have not heard of him or are aware of his career. Sadly, he was left behind when the Opry moved into the "modern era." He probably doesn't stand a chance unless some type of pioneer or historic category is added.
DeleteAnother great Hall of Fame addition would be Skeeter Davis. With her cross over success and many tours to other countries, she helped spread and popularize Country Music. PS - Byron, you do an amazing job with this site. Thank you for taking the time to make so much information available to everyone!
DeleteCharlie McCoy was asked tonight by Vince Gill to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Another great choice and well deserved.
ReplyDeleteErnest Tubb, Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff may not have had the greatest voices in the world, they weren't Eddy Arnold, Marty Robbins, George Morgan or George Jones but they didn't make me cringe when they sang and want to cover my ears. If I can't tolerate your voice or delivery I'm not going to get the message in your song. I've heard two acts tonight the fit that description.
ReplyDeleteI'm becoming one of those gray hairs like Pete Fisher promised to eliminate!
My discouraging words for the week!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Now Don Schlitz. 2 in one night
ReplyDeleteWHAT! A! NIGHT! Two very dedeserving members in one evening! Don will be the new Bill Anderson for years to come I'm sure and Charlie is Charlie and one of the best musicians of all time!
ReplyDeleteIs this the first time one has become a member known only as a songwriter? I like Don and he is very good with the audience. I think he will make a good member. Maybe we'll get to hear more of his catalog as time passes.
ReplyDeleteCharlie will make a good member too.
See, I can be positive once in a while!
Jim