It was certainly a wonderful weekend last week at the Grand Ole Opry, with Jeannie Seely the focal point of the show, and receiving some well-deserved recognition and honors. 55 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and over 5,000 Opry appearances is certainly impressive. And, while not a part of the Opry itself, I have read many positive stories and reviews regarding the Midnite Jamboree. the Texas Troubadour Theater was filled up to capacity, and those attending were entertained. Hopefully, we will see more shows like what the Midnite Jamboree offered last weekend.
So, what does the Opry have for us this weekend? There is a group making their Opry debut on Saturday night and they certainly have some history behind them. Hogslop String Band, and you have to love that name, consists of singer and fiddler Kevin Martin; guitarist, harmonica player and singer Gabriel Kelley; mandolin player and singer Will Harrison; banjo player and singer Daniel Binkley, and bassist and all-round entertainer Pickle. If the last name Binkley rings a bell, that is because Daneil Binkley's Great Grandfather's band, The Binkley Brothers Dixie Clodhoppers, are considered one of the original members of the Grand Ole Opry itself.
According to their website, Hogslop String Band manages to walk that line, with their roots in old-time string band music, and their energy based in wild rock-and-roll, you could almost call them punk purists. Adding, "They thrive on crossing genres, casting off the confines of straight old-time and bluegrass, delving into a deep repertoire of rock, folk, psychedelic, and original numbers that can only be described as, "The Hogslop Sound." It’s clear that these boys are going places, and they've quickly become one of the most unique and exhilarating outfits on the scene today. “It only gets weirder from here,” they often say from stage. They're not kidding."
If nothing else, it should be an interesting Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry.
Taking a look at the two shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry has Opry members Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky on the schedule. The Riders are back on Saturday night, joined by members Rhonda Vincent and Hall of Fame members Bill Anderson and Connie Smith.
Comedian Dusty Slay is guesting on both shows, with Kendell Marvel, Stephanie Urbina Jones, Callista Clark and Wendy Moten joining Dusty on Friday night, while Sam Williams, Radney Foster, and the previously mentioned Hogslop String Band will join Dusty on Saturday evening.
Friday September 23
7:00: Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Kendell Marvel, Wendy Moten
Intermission
8:15: Callista Clark, Dusty Slay, Stephanie Ubina Jones, Riders In The Sky
Saturday September 24
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Sam Williams, Connie Smith, Hogslop String Band
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Opry Square Dancers, Dusty Slay, Radney Foster, Rhonda Vincent
3 Opry members on Friday and 4 on Saturday night. No live Circle TV this weekend as Farm Aid is taking place and will be televised on Saturday.
And now, here is the running order from 50 years ago, Saturday September 23, 1972:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Osborne Brothers (host): Rocky Top
Ernie Ashworth: Wanted Man
Osborne Brothers: You Win Again/Today I Started Loving You Again
6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Louvin (host): Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Charlie Louvin: Amazing Grace
7:00: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
Jim and Jesse: Just One of a Kind
Stringbean: Old Joe Clark
Stu Phillips: I Hear Your Name
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Jim and Jesse: I Heard the Bluebird Sing
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Stu Phillips: Welcome to My World
Charlie Walker: Alabama Jubilee
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Willis Brothers: Pretty Diamond
Grandpa Jones: Columbus Stockade Blues
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Bill Monroe: Wayfaring Stranger
Willis Brothers: Bob
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Orange Blossom Special
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bobby Bare: Sylvia's Mother
George Morgan: Easy Loving
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Roy Acuff: Carry Me Back to the Mountains
Bobby Bare: Come Sundown
George Morgan: To Get to You
8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): Say Something Nice to Sara
George Morgan and Marion Worth: Slipping Around
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking in My Sleep
Wayne Hammond: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Marion Worth: Put Your Hand in the Hand
The 4 Guys: Sweet Yesterday
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Osborne Brothers (host): Fireball Mail
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
Justin Tubb: Traveling Singing Man
Bill Carlisle: Have a Drink on Me
Osborne Brothers: There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Ernie Ashworth: Corrina; Corrina
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Osborne Brothers: Ruby
10:00: Fender
Charlie Louvin (host) w/Diane McCall: Something to Brag About
George Morgan: Candy Kisses
Jim and Jesse: Please Be My Love
Charlie Louvin and Bobby Osborne: Swing Lo; Sweet Chariot
10:15: Union 76
Bill Monroe (host): Molly & Tenbrooks/Blue Moon of Kentucky
The 4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of a Dove
Stringbean: Little Pink
10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): No Letter in the Mail
Bobby Bare: Detroit City
Grandpa Jones: Make Me a Pallet Down on the Floor
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:45: Big Red
Ernest Tubb (host): Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello
Stu Phillips: I Hear Your Name
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Ernest Tubb: Yesterdays' Winner is a Loser Today
11:00: Coca Cola
Roy Drusky (host): Strangers/Anymore/Second Hand Rose
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Sunny Side of the Mountain
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Roy Drusky: The Last Time I Called Somebody Darling
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: White Dove
Sam McGee: Farewell Blues/Alabama Jubilee/Just Because
Roy Drusky: Long, Long Texas Road
11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): I Walk Alone
Marion Worth: Me & Bobby McGee/The Hands You're Holding Now
Don Winters: Jambalaya
Marty Robbins: Singing the Blues/Lovesick Blues/Don't Worry/This Much a Man/Big Boss Man
(Charlie Walker only appeared on the first show and Roy Drusky only on the second, with The 4 Guys scheduled on the second show but canceling).
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.
I really hope the Midnite Jamboree gets back on track. I am a huge E.T. fan and I want at least that part of his legacy to keep going if the record shop is no more.
ReplyDeleteI would hate to think that the Midnite Jamboree was just a onetime deal. It seems to have gone over very well. I would think not having the record shop open yet might be one of the reasons for the delay. Hopefully we will have more news soon but nothing has been posted, from what I have seen, in regards to any future shows.
DeleteRhonda Vincent will be hosting the Midnite Jamboree this Saturday night. Curry
DeleteSo happy to hear about the Midnite Jamboree. I sure have missed listening to it on WSM the past months as I have for the past 50 years. It's like like Eddie Stubb's retiring: feels like a Death in the Family.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that. And thanks for using a Bill Anderson penned song that Jimmy Dickens did to drive home your point!
DeleteJim
One of the last surviving members of Nashville's "A-Team", Ray Edenton, passed away on Wednesday. Another legendary musician that won't get to enjoy seeing his plaque in the Hall of Fame. Here's a great interview that everyone might enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN_201Kzy1Q&t=8s
ReplyDeleteNot quite sure what the business model would be for the Midnight Jamboree continuing, unless Spring Mountain Farms uses it as some form of advertising.
ReplyDeleteWere there any ads during the show for the first one?
I didn't stay up that late.
Again, why does Mo Pitney get ignored and passed over ??? Mo bleeds real country ---
ReplyDeleteHow many time have we heard Mike Terry say "make some noise" in the first 15 minutes? Even when the crowd is going nuts over the riders. It's just a habit and bad one I might add.
ReplyDeleteByron: Are they still printing programs. Be a same if they are not but I guess I really don't care. The way they give the run down like Mike just did makes me think that they are not.
Jim
I was there in February and they still had programs. Curry
DeleteI can't type but you get my point.
ReplyDeleteJim
Shame on the Opry for robbing Hogslop String Band out of an encore. They got a standing ovation and Mike Terry chose to make small talk with them -while the audience roared for more- instead of letting them to do another song. I miss Eddie & Hairl Hensley. Mike talks way too much about nothing and we need segment hosts back! Hogslop was really fantastic - not to mention one of the members that sang is the great-grandson of Amos Binkley of the Binkley Brothers who were Opry members from 1926-1938! They even did a Binkley Brothers song! I hope they come back soon! I happened to meet their fiddle player on Friday afternoon playing in a band called the Cowpokes at Acme Feed & Seed downtown. They play every afternoon there and I would recommend them. Super nice guy said Hogslop got the Opry spot bc someone else canceled. The Cowpokes were covering Charlie Louvin, Stonewall Jackson and Bob Wills among others. The entire Saturday night Opry line-up was great (though Whispering Bill was on the verge of a train wreck on Someday It Will All Make Sense) and Rhonda Vincent closed the show with a blistering set that included a tribute to Loretta Lynn's 60th Opry Anniversary by singing Blue Kentucky Girl. Unfortunately, I went home on Saturday morning and the Friday Night Opry wasn't worth the price for three Opry members!
ReplyDeleteThe kind of thing you speak of with Mike Terry is what I have tried to speak of in the past. I just get the feel from him that is not just there to support the artist and the show but is very much a part of the program. And that is fine if you have something to contribute other than a radio voice and saying make some noise. He might be a great guy but I'm just not that crazy about his announcing. The same thing happened Friday night after Riders did the Marshall Dillon an Kitty song and the audience was roaring. Mike said make some noise and they already were. I think the Riders could have done a little more of something and the crowd would have approved.
ReplyDeleteI did not take offense to the comment about Whisper but you know I'm a fan and I'd still rather hear him on his worst night than some of the acts they parade out on their best night. Most of the time his songs are a very strong story and paint a great picture.....and the audience usually seems to appreciate them. Time will come, we won't have worry about it anymore!
Jim
Mike introduced himself last Saturday night (maybe he always does, I haven't listened in a while) by saying "I'll be your host." He also made a comment trying to explain to the audience that he would be telling them about different offers (think that's what he said before he did the first commercial without saying it was a commercial or a sponsor. I guess they have to explain to the audience what a commercial is in a radio show? Because people have complained for years they didn't know there were going to be commercials even when Eddie did the BEST pre-show warm up explaining a live radio show and the history. I miss the distinctive sponsor themes and the ANNOUNCER saying, "This next portion of the Grand Ole Opry brought to you by...." or "Settle back for the sweetest half hour in country music brought to you by the Standard Candy Company, makers of the Goo Goo Cluster... Go get a Goo Goo, they are GOOD!" sigh.
ReplyDelete