A couple of interesting shows at the Grand Ole Opry this weekend featuring a nice group of Grand Ole Opry members.
The Friday Night Opry has Jeannie Seely, Riders In The Sky and Dailey & Vincent on the schedule, while Saturday's Grand Ole Opry has Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, John Conlee, Ricky Skaggs and Craig Morgan scheduled to appear.
Circle TV will be televising the final hour on Saturday night, featuring Ricky Skaggs, Craig Morgan and Lainey Wilson.
Lainey Wilson is one of the artists who has really made a name for herself in country music in the past year. In addition to being one of the Opry's Next Stage Artists, Lainey was also the ACM New Female of the Year for 2022, and that was after being named Billboard's Top New Country Artist of 2021. To top it off, Lainey is the top nominated artist for this year's CMA Awards (broadcast on Wednesday night), with six nominations including Album of the Year. Her other nominations include Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. She is only the fourth artist to earn six nods in their first year being nominated in CMA Awards history. Glen Campbell, Brad Paisley and Kacey Musgraves are the other singers. And to think, this is the first year she has been nominated for any CMA award.
Looking at the other non-members on the schedule, there are a couple of Opry debuts this weekend as Tyler Hubbard will make his debut on Friday night, and, hard to believe, John Ford Coley will debut on Saturday night.
Bluegrass group Po' Ramblin' Boys, who I saw make their Opry debut last year, will appear on Friday night, along with Carter Faith, The McCrary Sisters and Mickey Guyton.
Friday November 11
7:00: Jeannie Seely, The Po' Ramblin' Boys, Carter Faith, Riders In The Sky, The McCrary Sisters
Intermission
8:15: Lindsay Ell, Tyler Hubbard, Mickey Guyton, Dailey & Vincent
Saturday November 12
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, John Ford Coley, John Conlee
8:00: Lainey Wilson, Ricky Skaggs, Craig Morgan
I was really surprised when I saw that this will be the Grand Ole Opry debut for John Ford Coley, who is probably best known for his partnership as England Dan & John Ford Coley.
At age 74, John Edward Colley was born in Dallas, Texas and he said that he grew up listening to not only rock and roll music, but also the Grand Ole Opry. His classmate in school was Dan Seals, and while they were part of another band, they began their own acoustic act as Colley and Wayland, later renaming themselves England Dan & John Ford Coley. Signed to A&M Records, their big break came in 1972 with the international hit "Simone." The record, however, did not do well in the United States and after three unsuccessful albums, were released by the label.
Two years later, they acquired another record deal from Atlantic Records subsidiary Big Tree Records and released the song "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight". Overall, they had four top-ten hits and two top-twenty hits. They were nominated for a Grammy Award, received triple-platinum and gold records and released eight albums; additionally, other recordings were released abroad. In 1980, the duo disbanded.
John Ford formed another group that released an album on A&M Records: Leslie, Kelly and John Ford Coley (featuring sisters Leslie and Kelly Bulkin). He acted in teen films in the 1980s, acquired a small ranch in the 1990s, and wrote songs for film and television. He returned to touring in 1996 and has played with groups and artists including Ambrosia and Terry Sylvester (formerly of The Hollies), Three Dog Night, Lou Gramm (of Foreigner), Christopher Cross, Poco, Stephen Bishop, Al Stewart, Edgar Winter and others.
In 1996, he made a trip south for Tin Pan South and began making trips to Nashville to be part of the music community. He moved his family and horses across country to Tennessee in 1999.
From 50 years ago, Saturday November 11, 1972:
1st show
6:30: Osborne Brothers (host); Del Wood; Jeanne Pruett
6:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy C Newman; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
7:00: Roy Drusky (host); Charlie Louvin; Ivory Joe Hunter; Jerry Whitehurst
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Willis Brothers; Bailes Brothers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Stonewall Jackson; Skeeter Davis; Grandpa Jones
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Justin Tubb; Stu Phillips; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Roger Miller
2nd show
9:30: Billy Walker (host); Willis Brothers; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Jimmy C Newman
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Osborne Brothers; Cates Sisters
10:15: Charlie Louvin (host) and Diane McCall; Del Wood; Jeanne Pruett; Bobby Osborne
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Skeeter Davis; Bailes Brothers
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Stonewall Jackson; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Grandpa Jones; Justin Tubb; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Stu Phillips (host); Louie Roberts; Reggie Alley
(Marion Worth was scheduled for both shows but canceled. Roy Drusky only appeared on the first show while Billy Walker was on just the late show, while Roger Miller and Ivory Joe Hunter guested on the first show).
Here is the actual running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Osborne Brothers (host): Midnight Rider
Del Wood: Up A Lazy River
Jeanne Prutt: Lily of the Valley
Osborne Brothers: Love's Gonna Live Here
6:45: Rudy's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Mariah
Jimmy C Newman: Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: I Shall Not Be Moved
Jim Ed Brown: Unbelievable Love
7:00: Rudy's
Roy Drusky (host): Alone with You
Charlie Louvin: She Just Wants to Be Needed
Ivory Joe Hunter: Since I Met You Baby/Empty Arms/Worried Mind
Roy Drusky: The Last Time I Called Somebody Darling
Charlie Louvin: (?)
Jerry Whitehurst: Cajun Hop
Roy Drusky: Red, Red Wine
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Willis Brothers: A 6ft 2 by 4
Bailes Brothers: Remember Me/Jesus, Hold My Hand
Crook Brothers: Turkey Knob
Willis Brothers: Blue River
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
8:00: Martha White
Ernest Tubb (host): Baby, It's So Hard to Be Good
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Skeeter Davis: Hillbilly Song
Grandpa Jones: Darby's Ram
Ernest Tubb: Mr. Jukebox
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walking
Skeeter Davis: Rocky Top
Grandpa Jones: It's Raining Here This Morning
Ernest Tubb: Walkin' The Floor Over You
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Stu Phillips: I Hear Your Name
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Lost Indian
Roger Miller: Dang Me/You Don't Want My Love/King of the Road
Hank Snow: The Governor's Hand
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Billy Walker (host): Charlie's Shoes/Heartaches By The Numbers
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Nobody's Darling but Mine
Jimmy C Newman: Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues
Billy Walker: Sing Me a Love Song to Baby
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Me & Jesus
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
10:00: Fender
Jim Ed Brown (host): Morning
Osborne Brothers: Fireball Mail
Cates Sisters: What's a Little Love
Jim Ed Brown: Looking Back to See
10:15: Union 76
Charlie Louvin (host) and Diane McCall: Baby, What's Wrong with Us
Del Wood: Cajun Stripper
Jeanne Pruett: Love Me
Charlie Louvin and Bobby Osborne: Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot
10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Skeeter Davis: Hillbilly Song
Bailes Brothers: How Do You Talk to a Baby
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:45: Beech-nut
Ernest Tubb (host): A Million Miles from Here
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Ernest Tubb: Say Something Nice to Sara
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Miller's Cave
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
Justin Tubb: Traveling Singing Man
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Blackberry Blossom
Grandpa Jones: Eight More Miles to Louisville
Sam McGee: Victor's Rag
Hank Snow: So, Goes My Heart
11:30: Elm Hill
Stu Phillips (host): Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me
Louie Roberts: Just A Little Lovin'/Anytime/Bouquet of Roses
Reggie Alley: Bill Bailey
Louie Roberts: Hey, Good Looking/The Richest Man in the World
Stu Phillips: Welcome to My World
Ivory Joe Hunter was an interesting name from that night. He was known as a rhythm-and-blues singer, pianist, as well as being a noted songwriter. His nickname was The Baron of the Boogie. His big hit was "Since I Met You Baby," from 1956, a song that he did sing on the Opry that night. What is interesting about Ivory Joe is that besides his R&B success, later in his career, as his star power began to decline, he was also known for his country success.
Starting in the late 1960s, he began making appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and recorded an album titled "I've Always Been Country. Sonny James issued a version of "Since I Met You Baby", which topped the country charts in 1969, paving the way for Hunter's album The Return of Ivory Joe Hunter and his appearance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. The album was recorded in Memphis with a band that included Isaac Hayes, Gene "Bowlegs" Miller and Charles Chalmers. Jerry Lee Lewis recorded a cover version of the song in 1969.
Ivory Joe Hunter passed away from lung cancer in 1974 at the age of 60.
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 have to say something about that lineup from 1972. First, what I would have given to hear Charlie Louvin with Bobby Osborne doing the high tenor part that Ira used to do. Second, Hank Snow did well with Ivory Joe Hunter's "I Almost Lost My Mind." But, being Hank Snow, he always had trouble with the name, and it sounded like he said "Ivy Joe Hunter." I thought of Rollin Sullivan joking about how Mr. Snow never could quite get his act's name right, and for years it was "Mumble Mumble and Oscar," and finally "Alonzo and Oscar." Just mentioning that so people don't think Roy Acuff and Grandpa Jones had the monopoly on people's names.
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard Charlie and Bobby together on the Golden Age of the Opry shows. Curry
DeleteNice tribute to Jeannie Seeley. I really was hoping for more. There was actually more Country Music on the show this year than any year I can remember recently.
ReplyDeleteI have the awesome pleasure of seeing two of this weekends Opry acts in solo shows this weekend. Last night (Thursday), Riders in the Sky appeared at the Franklin Theater to celebrate 45 Years, the Cowboy Way and tonight is Craig Morgan at The Ryman. While I've seen Riders on the Opry Stage many times, it was great to see their full show, they played for about 1-3/4 hours and were absolutely great. They also signed autographs and met with fans in the lobby of the theater after the show. To "Ranger" Doug, Woody Paul, Too Slim (Fred) and Joey, the Cow Polka King, thank you for a fantastic show and your warm friendliness post-show. I'm really looking forward to seeing Craig tonight, especially since it is Veterans Day and with him being a veteran, it will be even more special.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Lainey Wilson on the "big double" from the CMA's, could she go from "next stage" to "opry member"
? Time will tell!
Patrick, I have to believe she is on the short list of future members.
DeleteThe first hour, and most of the cmas there after were fantastic! Luke said it best and he's right! "This show sounded a lot more country tonight than it has in years!"
ReplyDeleteI LOVED the start honoring Loretta, the Rocky Top dancer, and Luke's final shout out that E.Z. mentioned. Didn't bother to watch the rest of it. My wife picked out the parts she thought I would like! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been disappointed too many times over the years.
I neglected to mention this, but Mr. Coley is following in the footsteps of his old partner. I really thought Dan Seals might have become an Opry member--he did a good number of appearances and recorded some good songs.
ReplyDeleteNobody can be more obnoxious than Natalie Stovall. She ruined this evening with all her mindless chatter.
ReplyDeleteI had to do other things after the first half-hour and missed the rest, but Connie and Bill both sounded great. Whisper sings a third verse of "Peel Me a Nanner" that Roy Drusky (and he deserves to be remembered more) didn't do, and I've wondered if Whisper added it.
ReplyDeleteMichael: Agree on Connie and Bill. I did think Connie sounded a little weak but I'm sure not complaining...not at all. And, I thought Bill sounded especially clear and strong last night.
DeleteAnd I agree, Roy Drusky is largely overlooked. Sometimes Bill will mention him. If I recall, Roy really didn't want to record the song but was happy with it's success. Roy had 14 top 10's on the Billboard carts from 1960 to 1970. His only #1 was "Yes Mr. Peter's" with Priscilla Mitchell(She was married to Jerry Reed almost 50 years) in 1965.
I started to make this comment twice last night and stopped myself. Hopefully putting it off will have toned it down some.
Friday night there was some young artist on that was really flat. Later, there was a female artist on at the end of her song there was this obnoxious loud rock guitar solo. When she was done, Mike Terry said, "and a little Jimmy Hendrix guitar work". Last night we got to here John Ford Coley and the crowd was very pleased. It is sad to me to see a trend here. The Opry audience is changing rapidly. Part of that is society and part of it is by design by Opry management, consultant and promoters. If the first is true, that it is a society or audience taste change, you can't really blame the Opry for following that change, thus the money. And yes, they may applaud nicely for Bill, Jeannie and Connie but for the most part, they don't know who they are and may not care after they leave the house.
What breaks my heart is that only the real super super stars like Cash, Willie, Dolly, maybe Haggard and handful of other Country acts pre 1980, are going to be remembered. That is so sad because there is so much great music that was made by non super stars. It is too bad that more of the generation that followed them were not influenced more by Country than other genres and could do what Merle used to do. Remember he would tell people that if you like my music, go study Bob Wills, Jimmie Rodgers, Stuart Hamblin, Lefty, and Wynn Stewart. See where my music came from.
Somehow it feels like education and exposure to history is a downfall of a lot of things around us today.
As Fred would say to Ester on Sanford and Son "back to your cave bat". I'm going....or as Grady said "Leaving, leaving, leaving".
Jim
Nat, I think you should watch this Cody Johnson guy! He's very VERY good and setting the woods on fire!
ReplyDelete