Grand Ole Opry 3/10 & 3/11

It will be a big weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as Gary Mule Deer officially becomes an Opry member. 

Gary Mule Deer was born and raised in Deadwood and Spearfish, SD.  Starting his career at the Buffalo Bar in Deadwood with some Johnny Cash songs, then locally with his band The Vaqueros, he headed to Los Angeles in 1964 and joined the folk music group The Back Porch Majority (also the Tennessee Ernie Ford Singers), performing nationwide, then the rock groups The New Society on RCA Victor and Bandanna on Paramount Records.

Adding more comedy with his music, he formed the popular comedy and music duo Muledeer and Moondogg with Dennis Flannigan, performing across the U.S. and on Network TV shows like The John Byner Comedy Hour on CBS, and NBC’s In Concert and The Midnight Special, and David Frost’s Madhouse 90.

In 1975 Gary Mule Deer went out on his own.  He was one of six comedians, along with Jay Leno, to star on the very first HBO Comedy Special, began appearing on The Tonight Show, was comedy host of Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert for four years on NBC and a series regular on Make Me Laugh.  He became a regular performer on TNN for over ten years, appearing often on Nashville Now, and was a Hee Haw cast member in its last two years.

In a nearly 60-year career, he has shared stages with more than a hundred country, pop and rock music icons, including everyone from Merle Haggard, Dolly, Reba, the Everly Brothers and Tammy Wynette, to Roger Miller, Ray Charles, Glen Campbell, The Doobie Brothers, John Denver, and most recently, Vince Gill, Brooks and Dunn, and The Zac Brown Band.  He has also toured as Special Guest with Johnny Mathis and the orchestra since 1994 in major venues across the U.S., Canada and England. Gary is featured on the DVDs Jeff Foxworthy’s Comedy Classics and The World’s Greatest Stand-up Comedy Collection and is one of the most played comedians on Sirius XM’s Laugh USA Pandora and Sound Scan.

Gary Mule Deer’s storied career is currently the subject of a documentary by VIA Productions of Memphis., that will include interviews with David Letterman, Steve Martin, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Johnny Mathis, and rock’s Alice Cooper.  He was also featured on the recent five-part Showtime series The History of The Comedy Store.

In addition to his well-known comedy, Gary is a talented singer and musician, always performing classic country and rockabilly, and especially the music of Johnny Cash since the ‘60s. Great instrumental tracks of his Duck and Cover Band are a big part of his show, featuring some of Nashville’s finest musicians, including Randy Hart, Eddie Bayers, Larry Paxton and Danny Parks of the Opry band, plus Steve Wariner, Willie Weeks, David Hungate and Dan Tyminski.  The popularity of Gary Mule Deer’s clean comedy and music cuts across all ages and demographics.

Gary Mule Deer, along with Henry Cho, were invited by Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart back in January, to become members of the Opry. Henry, who was inducted last month, was the first comedian to join the Opry since Jerry Clower in 1973. This weekend, it is Gary Mule Deer's turn to be inducted, and he will celebrate by appearing on both Opry shows this weekend. 

Gary Mule Deers induction will take place during the Friday Night Opry, where he will be joined by Grand Ole Opry members Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, John Conlee, Jeannie Seely and Mandy Barnett. Looking at the schedule, it would appear that Vince will be handling the welcoming duties. 

Guesting on Friday will be Erin Enderlin and The Bellamy Brothers. Both have guested on the Opry numerous times, with the Bellamy Brothers appearing more often in recent years. In fact, they have another Opry appearance already listed on the upcoming schedule. 

Vince Gill, John Conlee and Gary Mule Deer will be back on Saturday night, joined by Opry members Ashley McBryde, Craig Morgan and Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press. While Ashley appeared with Dierks Bentley last Friday night, this will be her first scheduled appearance of the year. 

Guesting on Saturday will be Jessie James Decker & Billy Currington. Both have appeared on the Opry before, but this will be their first appearance as a collaboration. They recently recorded a new duet, "I Still Love You," that apparently has received good reviews. 

This is a return engagement for these two as the last time they were in the studio together, it was to record the track “Good Night” for Currington’s 2015 album, Summer Forever. This project features several fan favorites including “Don’t It,” “Do I Make You Wanna,” “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” and “Drinkin’ Town with a Football Problem.”

Friday March 10
7:00: Ricky Skaggs, Jeannie Seely, Mandy Barnett, The Bellamy Brothers
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee, Erin Enderlin, Gary Mule Deer, Vince Gill

Saturday March 11
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Craig Morgan, John Conlee, Jessie James Decker and Billy Currington, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
Intermission
8:15: Ashley McBryde, Opry Square Dancers, Gary Mule Deer, Vince Gill

Some really good lineups this weekend with a nice group of Opry members on stage. Five members on Friday night and six on Saturday, where Gary Mule Deer will do his first show as an official member. 

Continuing with the look back at the Opry from 45 years ago, here is the running order from Saturday March 11, 1978: 

1st show
6:00: Vietti
Jimmy C Newman (host): Big Bayou
Charlie Louvin: My Baby's Gone
Lonzo and Oscar: When The Fields In The Valley Turn Green
Ray Pillow: Texas
Billy Grammer: Maiden's Prayer/Faded Love
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo

6:45: Mrs. Grissoms
Bill Monroe (host) On & On
Willis Brothers: Cimarron
Wilma Lee Cooper: Where Is America Going
Bill Monroe: Rocky Road Blues

6:45: Rudy's
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Wilburn Brothers: Troubles Back In Town
Ernie Ashworth: There's No Place I'd Rather Be Tonight
Phil Campbell: Foggy Mountain Breakdown

7:00: Shoney's
David Houston (host): No Tell Motel
Skeeter Davis: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels/Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's A Sunday/What's Wrong with The Way That We're Doing It Now
Jim and Jesse: The Voice of My Darling
David Houston: Almost Persuaded

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jean Shepard: Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain/I Don't See How I Can Make It with You Gone
Stonewall Jackson: Life To Go
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Katy Hill
Brother Oswald: Mountain Dew
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light

8:00: Martha White
Jack Greene (host): The Life of A Rodeo Cowboy
Jeannie Seely: Since I Met 'Cha, Boy
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Stu Phillips: She Thinks I Still Care
Bill Carlisle: Same Ol' Tale That The Crow Told Me
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): With This Ring I Thee Wed
Billy Walker: San Antonio Rose/You Gave Me A Mountain
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Marion Worth: We'll Sing In The Sunshine
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Hank Snow: Tammy

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Jimmy C Newman (host): Big Mamou
Archie and Phil Campell: That's Good; No, That's Bad
Charlie Louvin: Little Reasons/Will You Visit Me On Sundays/What Are Those Things
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Legend of The Dogwood Tree
Billy Grammer: Somewhere My Love
Willis Brothers: Home On The Rang
Bessyl Duhon: Instrumental Bayou

10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): Wicked Path of Sin
Lonzo and Oscar: Green, Green Grass of Home
Skeeter Davis: Give All Into Love
Ray Pillow: Texas

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting In The Air
Jean Shepard: I Love You Because
Wilburn Brothers: Country Kind of Feelings
Roy Acuff: Farther Along

10:30: Trailblazer
Jack Greene (host): My Home In San Antone
Jeannie Seely: Make The World Go Away
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong with The Way That We're Doing It Now
Ernie Ashworth: There's No Place I'd Rather Be Tonight

10:45: Beech-nut
Jerry Clower (host): Comedy
Jim and Jesse: Paradise
David Houston: No Tell Motel
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Liberty
Jerry Clower: Neugene Lied About The Dog

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Merry Go Round of Love
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo/Angry Words
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Stu Phillips: Learning To Lean
Kirk McGee: While I'm Away
Hank Snow: Storms Never Last

11:30: Elm Hill
Billy Walker (host): Cross The Brazos At Waco
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Marion Worth: Just A Little Lovin'
Bill Carlisle: Rusty Old Halo
Boys From Indiana: Harley's Dream
Billy Walker: How Great Thou Art

(Porter Wagoner was scheduled to host the 7:00 and 9:30 segments but cancelled). 

On the last segment that night, The Boys From Indiana performed. 

The Boys From Indiana were a traditional bluegrass group, originating from Milan, Indiana. They formed in 1973 by brothers Aubrey and Jerry Holt, their Uncle Harley Gabbard, and Middletown, Ohio radio host and fiddle player Paul “Moon” Mullins, along with banjo player Noah Crase. The Boys recorded an all-Gospel album, as their first project, but success came a few years later, in 1975, after they recorded “Atlanta is Burning”. The song gained them national attention and they began touring heavily throughout the United States and Canada.

Paul Mullins played with the Burns Brothers, who issued a few 45’s in the early 1960’s. Aubrey Holt and Harley Gabbard played with the Logan Valley Boys on two singles released in the late 1950’s.

The group, which released several albums, was active through the mid 1990s. 

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.