This weekend I will be in Nashville and looking forward to attending the Grand Ole Opry where I anticipate a wonderful weekend as on Saturday night the Grand Ole Opry will be honoring Opry member Ronnie Milsap, in recognition of his recent 80th birthday.
Ronnie Milsap was born in a poor region of North Carolina. He attended Morehead State School for the Blind in Raleigh, where he was given strict classical training. But late at night he listened to his favorite country, gospel, and R&B broadcasts.
Ronnie studied pre-law at Young Harris Junior College near Atlanta, eventually earning a scholarship to Emory. Instead of continuing with law, he threw himself into music, forming his own band. During the mid-’60s, he landed a stint with J.J. Cale and session work with producer Chips Moman, notably on Elvis Presley’s “Kentucky Rain” and “Don’t Cry Daddy.”
In 1973, Ronnie moved from Memphis to Nashville. Before one could say “overnight success,” he was signed by RCA and released the two-sided hit, “All Together Now (Let’s Fall Apart)” and “I Hate You.” He followed with “That Girl Who Waits on Tables” and “Pure Love.”
A year later, he had three No. 1 songs. The flood of hits wouldn’t let up for 15 years: “Daydreams About Night Things,” “(I’m A) Stand by My Woman Man,” “Smoky Mountain Rain,” “Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night),” “How Do I Turn You On” and “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me” all stormed the charts.
“Before I joined the Opry in 1976, Jeanne Pruett was always getting me to come out here and guest,” Ronnie recalls. “Eventually she said, ‘I think you need to join the Grand Ole Opry.’ And I said, ‘Well, how do you do that?’
“All of a sudden, one night I was over here, and Mr. Roy Acuff came up to me in the hall and said, ‘Hey, Ronnie, you want to be a member of the Opry?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He said, ‘Okay, then, you’re going to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.’” And on February 6, 1976, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Along with his multiple gold and platinum albums, Ronnie has earned six Grammys and many CMA and ACM Awards. He's a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. The ebullient performer and original stylist changed the face of country music, but he has never forgotten his own difficult road to stardom and his good fortune along the way. In 1986, he established the Ronnie Milsap Foundation to aid the blind and visually impaired. “In some way it’s a blessing that I was born blind,” he once said. “If I had been born sighted in western North Carolina ... I certainly wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now.”
Over the past several years, Ronnie has had some setbacks and health issues. His wife, Joyce, passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and their son had died in 2019. More recently, he has had a few health issues that has caused him to miss some shows. With that in mind, it is wonderful that Ronnie will be back at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night for an evening of great music.
Joining Ronnie on Saturday night will be Grand Ole Opry members Little Big Town, Mandy Barnett, Trace Adkins, Jeannie Seely, Don Schlitz and Mark Wills. For Trace, who Ronnie inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and Little Big Town, it will be their first Opry appearances of 2023.
Saturday March 25
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Mandy Barnett, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:15: Trace Adkins, Little Big Town, Ronnie Milsap
Yes, you are reading that correctly. A Saturday night with only Grand Ole Opry members. While Circle TV will not be live on Saturday, they are taping the final hour for a future broadcast.
While all of the attention will be focused on Saturday night, there is also a pretty good Friday Night Opry this weekend, highlighted by an appearance by Grand Ole Opry member Darius Rucker. Joining Darius will be Opry members Riders In The Sky, Mark Wills, John Conlee.
Heading the list of non-members will be Junior Brown. Junior is a legend based out of Texas, who has appeared on the Opry several times and is known for his singing, songwriting and his fine instrumentation skills. Also scheduled is Ashley Cooke and making his Opry debut, Sean Dietrich.
Friday March 24
7:00: Mark Wills, John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Junior Brown
Intermission
8:15: Sean Dietrich, Ashley Cooke, Darius Rucker
Nice to see five Opry members on Friday night and for those who might be wondering, this will be the first Opry show of the year for Darius.
Sean Dietrich, who is making his Opry debut on Friday night, is considered a master storyteller in the tradition of Will Rogers, Mark Twain, and Lewis Grizzard. His one-man shows have earned him a cult-like following in the southeastern United States and among closeted accordion players worldwide. Formally from Florida, and now based in Alabama, he is known for his podcast "Sean of the South" and his work has appeared in Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, and he has authored fifteen books.
And now, from 45 years ago, Saturday March 25, 1978:
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Guy Willis
6:45: Billy Walker (host); Billy Grammer; Charlie Louvin
7:00: Bob Luman (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Justin Tubb
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Jan Howard; Stu Phillips; Crook Brothers; Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Stonewall Jackson; Marion Worth; Bill Carlisle
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Ernie Ashworth; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Billy Walker; Guy Willis
10:00: Bob Luman (host); Charlie Louvin; Billy Grammer
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Woody Paul; Howdy Forrester; Oswald
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Jan Howard; Justin Tubb
10:45: Stonewall Jackson (host); Ernie Ashworth; Crook Brothers; Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Bill Carlisle; Kirk McGee
11:30: Stu Phillips (host); Marion Worth; Louie Robers
(Porter Wagoner was scheduled to host the 7:00 and 9:30 segments but cancelled. Del Reeves, along with Lonzo and Oscar also cancelled. Lester Flatt was on both shows but did not sing and Vic Willis was ill, thus Guy Willis performed as a solo act).
In the mid 1950's, Hank Thompson was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Some dates are harder to come by than others, but the best estimate is that he joined in 1955.
Hank Thompson, who came out of the Southwest, was noted for his "honky-tonk/Western Swing" music, following in the footsteps of Bob Wills. His backup band, The Brazos Valley Boys, were just as famous as Hank, as it was one of the top bands around.
1952 brought his first number-one single, "The Wild Side of Life", which contained the memorable line, "I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels". (This line inspired songwriter J. D. "Jay" Miller to write the 1952 answer song "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", which became the first hit single for pioneer female country vocalist Kitty Wells.) Other hits followed.
From 1947 to 1964, he recorded for Capitol Records, then joined Warner Bros. Records, where he remained from 1966 through 1967. From 1968 through 1980, he recorded for Dot Records and its successors, ABC Dot and MCA Records. In 1997, Thompson released Hank Thompson and Friends, a collection of solo tracks and duets with some of country music's most popular performers. In 2000, he released a new album, Seven Decades, on the Hightone label. The title reflected his recording history from the 1940s to 2000s.
While his time as an Opry member was fairly short, he did return on occasion to make guest appearances. One of those took place on Saturday March 25, 1989.
Here is the running order from that night 34 years ago:
1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See
Hank Thompson: Wild Side of Life/Humpty Dumpty Heart
Jim Ed Brown: I Heard the Bluebird Sing
6:45: Rudy's
Grandpa Jones (host): Uncle Eph's Got the Coon
Roy Drusky: Family Bible
Jeannie Seely: The Divorce Song
Grandpa and Mark Jones: Arkansas Traveler
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): 'Ol Slewfoot
Connie Smith: Walk Me to the Door
Billy Grammer: When It's Darkness On the Delta
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Jan Howard: Heartaches By the Numbers
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand
7:30: Standard Candy
John Conlee (host): Fellow Travelers
Vic Willis Trio: Sioux City Sue
George Hamilton IV: The Old Rugged Cross
Charlie Louvin: Every Time You Leave/The Precious Jewel
John Conlee: The Old School
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): The Wabash Cannonball
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chuck of Coal
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band/Jole Blon
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Lady of the Lake
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light
8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): Bummin' Around
The Whites: Doing It By The Book
Charlie Walker: Deep Water
Dottie West: We've Got Tonight
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Hank Snow: Easter Parade
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Ray Pillow: I Guess He Knows Something I Don't Know
Jeannie Seely: That May Be All I Need To Know
Roy Drusky: Too Old To Die Young
Billy Grammer: I Was Born In Renfro Valley/Gotta Travel On/Detroit City
Porter Wagoner: I'm Gonna Act Right
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host)
George McCormick: Y'all Come
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby On My Mind
Ray Kirkland: The Old Man On The Mountain's Coming Home
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Low & Lonely
Jan Howard: You Belong To Me/Where No One Stands Alone
Connie Smith and The Carolee Singers: Sing, Sing, Sing
10:30: Pet Milk
Jim Ed Brown (host): Everyday People
George Hamilton IV: The Old Rugged Cross
Jim Ed Brown: A Child Is Born
10:45: B.C. Powder
John Conlee (host): Fellow Travelers
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Rachel
John Conlee: Common Man
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Between Fire & Water
Jean Shepard: A Tear Dropped By
Justin Tubb: Coronation Day
The Whites: It's Not What You Know; It's Who You Know
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water
Hank Snow: On The Old Hawaiian Shore with You
11:30: Creamette
Jimmy C Newman (host): Diggy Liggy Lo
Dottie West: Every Time Fools Collide
Charlie Walker: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore
Johnny Russell: Me & Bobby McGee
Wade B. Landry: Orange Blossom Special
Hank Thompson was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997. He continued touring until early 2007. In October of that year, he was diagnosed with lung cancer on November 6, 2007, at the age of 82.
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. It sounds like Saturday will be a special night.
Who do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded that we lost Hank Thompson and Porter Wagoner close to the same time with the same illness.
ReplyDeleteSadly, those were not the only two who passed away from the same illness. The effects of smoking was a contributing cause of death to a number of country entertainers from that era. (Byron)
DeleteSean Dietrich gettin' it done ladies and gentlemen!
ReplyDeleteBring him back often!
Standing ovations at beginning and end of performance. Then a third one after the lengthy interview.
I completely agree, Nat. He was outstanding!!!
Delete(Jeanene)
Reporting live from Nashville and a beautiful sunny Saturday morning:
ReplyDeleteLast night's Friday Night Opry was very, very good. It was sold-out, standing room only and it was one of the most enthusiastic crowds I have seen at the Opry in a long time. There is a national high school choir contest taking place at the Opry House this week, and I would say that a good number of the contestants were at the Opry last night.
I will admit that I had never seen, or heard of Sean Dietrich before. He was really good. Obviously, many of those who were at the show last night had heard of him as he received a standing ovation before he even started, plus one at the end. I could see him being asked back again.
Riders In The Sky, specifically Woody Paul, also received a standing ovation, as did Darius Rucker who closed out the show with Wagon Wheel, giving a mention of Old Crow Medicine Show. Darius was filmed for a future Opry Live broadcast.
It was fun last night and looking for more tonight.
A few decades ago, a group of cheerleaders were in Nashville for a competition. A large group of them attended the 'Opry. They literally danced in the aisles and made the show so much more fun to attend. Kids do bring life to the party!
DeleteI'll bet you had a blast Byron. Keep us posted.
Mark Wills sounds just like Ronnie Millsap. Awesome job!!!
ReplyDeleteGrand Ole Opry star Ray Pillow passed away this morning.
ReplyDeleteThat is very sad news. He was one of our favorites on the Opry especially in the 80's and 90's when the core of the staff band we enjoyed most backed him. And he is one of the few of that era we never got to meet. We came close. He was supposed to meet us at the side door after his show one night, around 2011 I think it was, and he forgot. He was hosting and got distracted. By the time we got home I had an email from Ray apologizing for forgetting.
ReplyDeleteThis getting old(er) can be kind of tough....if you let it. We were watching CFR Celebration last night. Charlie Louvin sang "Think I'll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep. It hit me hard in several ways. I was remembering how he took us backstage briefly one evening after we had visited with him and his wife Betty at the museum in Bell Buckle most of that afternoon and how he followed us all the way out to the car. And I thought about Bill Anderson talking to my brother on Facebook when our mom passed and one of the things they were talking about was that song and how he could write such a song. And that brought back memories of loosing mom.
We've been blessed to live in a time when we could still experience and meet these folks, even if we never quite got there with Ray.
Thanks for letting us know.
Jim
Ray Pillow was always a class act on the Opry. I looked forward to his appearances and usually performing Texas shuffle songs with such a smooth, sincere voice ! Rest in peace my radio friend ---
ReplyDeleteFlushing, Michigan Dashmann --
SOOOOO! Now that I have returned, let me tell you guys about this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo, many of you have heard my story here over the years. I'm blind, I sing, I teach voice, and I grew up with tnn. I never thought an opry trip would ever happen, cuz prices. Then Byron texted me several weeks ago about Saturday. I've met Ronnie several times and was produced by his lead guitar player/ road manager, but he and Mark are 2 of my top 4 favorite singers of all time! So when I found out about this, it was full speed ahead to try to get inside and hopefully for free as I would have to pay double for a guide. I was blessed to get to work with a lot of folks in Nashville as a child, and have a lot of friends in the business. I called all of them. They all said "the opry has changed so much. 20 years ago we could've gotten you whatever backstage, tickets, anything, but now no."
FINALLY, Luke Bryan's piano player called opry star Mark Wills, and he got me the best seats in the house!
That morning, while eating at the opry backstage grill, I was telling the server about it all and she goes, "Mark is outside." I got to thank him, talk to him, and sing with him! The show was exactly as Byron said, and I was thrilled to meet Byron himself and spend quite a bit of time talking! All in all, it was a wonderful experience.