Here are the lineups for the mid-week Opry shows:
Tuesday July 5
7:00: Mandy Barnett, David Nail, Lindsay Ell, The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Aaron Weber, Parmalee, Lee Greenwood
Seems like each year, somewhere around the 4th of July holiday, Lee Greenwood is at the Opry, and of course, he will sing "God Bless The USA."
Other than that, nice to see Opry members Mandy Barnett, The Isaacs and Bobby Osborne on the schedule.
Wednesday July 6
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Hailey Whitters, TG Sheppard, Gloria Gaynor
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Kat & Alex, John Crist, The Frontmen
Yes, you are reading that correctly. One of the "Queens of Disco," Gloria Gaynor, will be making an appearance on the Wednesday Night Opry. I am sure she will sing her mega-hit "I Will Survive."
I like disco. I like Gloria Gaynor but like the Beach Boys this is inappropriate.... Do fans actually write the Opry to voice their complaints? Or do we just do it here????
ReplyDeleteOpry is for country music and those other genres in country music. Opry is not for rock n roll, punk rock, disco, etc. What is next 80s rap??? MC Hammer???
If petitions were ever generated by folks here, I'd sign on to a lot of 'em!
DeleteJ in OK
I know the Pointer Sisters did the Opry in the 1970s. And I don't mind having people on from different genres. Again, what bothers me is that so few of the members appear, and it looks like the management--as good a job as Dan Rogers is doing--would rather do this than have on a lot of the members who are available.
DeletePointer Sisters, James Brown, etc. I agree it too bothers me that many members do not appear. Honestly, I think whoever organizes each week goes down a list and knows who to call and not to call. Memebers that they can count on, and members that they cannot count on. Seems to me there are members that they cannot count on and only like the word "membership" associated with their name and do not support the show...... I am positive we can start a list of those people. I am also positive we can make a list of those that do support the show and come out, and also there are names on that list that they DO NOT call up for one reason or another. Dan Rogers is doing a good job, I like most of the people that he has added, but I would like the see the Opry do some things to enhance, and ensure the future of the show, its history in country music, and the proper members to carry that banner.
DeleteThe Pointer Sisters had a song on the Country charts in 1974 “ Fairytale “. They also won a Grammy for C&W Group/ duo performance that year. So that’s probably why they were on.
DeleteI think a lot of us agree that having someone outside of country on a few times a year is fine. But this nearly weekly nod to all other genres is frustrating. It almost feels like the Opry is afraid of being called "not all inclusive". Having said that, it can get a lot worse, I just hope it doesn't. But, I'm not paying hundreds of dollars to see a country show and have rock, disco and all other genres forced on me and that is what this is.
ReplyDeleteI'll give Dan Rogers and team a nod for some of the artist they have signed up, Don and Charlie recently for instance and some other things they have done, but in my book it doesn't excuse bringing all these other non country acts to the stage.
They say pride goeth before a fall. I just hope the Opry has not lost pride in it's purpose as the home of country music and soon falls. But I don't know that country music is even part of the mission anymore. Every business has a mission, anyone know what the Opry considers it's mission these days?
Jim
Should be all the genres of country music from traditional country music to bluegrass to cajun country to mountain music to honky tonk to western swing to western trail ballads to contemporary country pop, etc. Rock, Disco, Punk, Hip Hop, House, R&B, House, NOOOOOOOO
DeleteI don’t mind if it’s a couple times a year. But when it’s a weekly thing, I think it takes the “ Opry moment “ feeling away. I remember one night that Billy Gibbons sat behind me at the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree, but I can’t remember if ZZ Top actually performed on the Opry that night. I was backstage at the Opry one night & Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins was there, but he didn’t perform. Curry
ReplyDeleteMickey Guyton was billed as "country super star" for the PBS Capitol Fourth hosting gig - seriously ?? Gloria Gaynor was also on the program and did sing I Will Survive plus another number. The other country act was Jake Owen, "another country star"?? That was the appropriate venue for a variety of acts - even Keb Mo who has been on the Opry a few times. The Opry is NOT the appropriate venue for bringing those non-country acts to perform on a regular basis -- especially when they don't bring in more bluegrass acts. Agree, not worth the big bucks for the trip and seats to see the few members who do make an effort to be on stage.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Connie Smith and Gloria Gaynor are both off the schedule for Wednesday night, replaced by Rhonda Vincent and The Issacs.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hate it that Connie Smith is off the schedule.
ReplyDeleteBUT, I can not think of two better replacements for anybody than Rhonda Vincent and the Isaacs!
I know Gloria Gaynor will survive. Sorry, the devil made me say that!
RHinda Vincent and Isaacs.... Thast perfect. Wish Connie can be there but its all good. As for Gloria gaynor, love her music and I love disco, but not on the Opry Stage.
DeleteAlthough I have made 25 or so 500 mile drives to the Opry from Michigan in the past, I am done doing that with the 2 hour shows possibly featuring The Pointer Sisters or Wendy Motrin. I am not racist, but I am Country. Charlie Pride and Darius Rucker are gut wonderful -------------- and Country !!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, her name is Wendy Moten, and she is extremely talented. I was there recently and her cover of “Jolene” gave me chills. Wendy describes herself as having grown up watching “Hee Haw and Soul Train”, so in my book, she’s good. Second, The Pointer Sisters haven’t been on since the 70s, and the likelihood of them being on again is pretty slim, as one of them is dead. It’s still a country show. Its still the show that made country music famous. It will always be a country show and I guarantee it’s worth the drive for those that love the classics, but are also open to new artists or artists who may not fit exclusively in one category.
DeleteI've said it before and I'll say it again! I get it, but they have to move tickets! If you want any of the triditions to carry on, people have to be willing to come. All the regular members that we all love so much just ain't gonna get that done alone.
ReplyDeleteWhen I go to the Opry and someone asks if it's "Your first visit to the Opry", the crowd is almost always a majority of first timers, and often times, a great majority. This has been true over the 30 plus years, I've attended (mostly within the last 10 years, but my first visit was in 1987 or 1988.
ReplyDeleteThe Opry of today is not the same as the Opry of the 1990's, but then the Opry of the 1990's was not the same as the Opry of the 1950's and the Opry of the 1950's was not the same as the Opry of the 1920's. I'm sure if there had been a website paying homage to the Opry in the 1950's, the people who were there in the 1920's and 1930's would have been complaining that this Opry won't last with all these electrified guitars and drums.
We don't have to like change, but we do have to learn to accept it because it's going to happen.
Patrick,
DeleteUs old codgers may eventually accept it, but we darned sure don't have to like it! :)
You're correct, change is inevitable. I think what most of us don't like is the abandonment of country music for more of a variety show format.
My personal complaint is how simply mediocre many of the new acts are. Simply not good entertainment, and certainly not good country music.
I've come to accept the change whether I like it or not.....with the country acts. As Fred in Bismark used to say "I've got my records and old Opry recordings to listen to" so I can live in the past if I want to. What I can't accept is the transition to an all genre show that forces styles of music on us that just can't be considered country even by todays standards....almost every week. Now and then to expose us to other genres is fine but to make it almost impossible to go to a show without getting it is a different story. I seriously doubt that someone who goes to the symphony or an opera would appreciate Mike Snider and his banjo performing at intermission. At least not every time they went!
ReplyDeleteI know that we are really comparing different management regimes here. Dan Rogers seems to be trying to also recognize some of the overlooked country acts that Fisher shunned. Actually, the root of my frustration for this new era is in the Fisher years when the veteran Opry members and even non members were pushed aside or limited to their stage time. For that to have happened to those who supported the Opry so much and then to see people like the Beach Boys and potentially Gloria Gaynor and others welcomed to the stage with open arms now that they are gone is what I am having the most trouble with.
On top of all that is Byron's statistics that we have already had 44 debut acts on the show this year. Some of those are established acts, others not. Still, it feels like a talent show at some times. Again, this is something that has always happened, it has to, there has to be a first time for everyone. But when you are paying hundreds of dollars you probably expect to see a few names you know. And I admit that does not mean a full show of veterans that are also mostly unknown to today's audience. When you get right down to it, the problem is really not with the Opry or management as much as it is with the membership. Loyalty and dedication is not what it used to be in this old world today.....from the bottom up or the top down! If the members would be committed and dedicated to showing up a few times a year, heck even once, we wouldn't be having this conversation. There wouldn't be room for a debut or an old rocker every weekend.
As far as accepting change, I knew 10 or 15 years ago that the day would come for me when the Opry was not as enjoyable. I knew that with the passing of Charlie Louvin, the Walkers, jean Shepard and all of those generations, it just wouldn't be the same. If it wasn't for joining this blog some ten years ago....wow.....I would have much less interest than I do today. That would have been sad because there is still plenty to like and enjoy about the Opry.....on some nights!
Jim
Knightsville, IN