Tuesday Night Opry 3/28 & Wednesday Night Opry 3/29

Before getting into the lineups for the mid-week Opry shows, there is news and observations to share. 

Sadly, Grand Ole Opry member Ray Pillow passed away on Sunday morning. Here is his obituary that was published earlier today: 

Herbert Raymond "Ray" Pillow, 85, of Nashville, Tennessee passed peacefully on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Ray Pillow was born on July 4, 1937, in Lynchburg, Virginia where he began his life with his wife of 66 years, Joanne Pillow, and their three children and eventually their six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Ray was a Veteran of the United States Navy and went on to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry as a country singer and songwriter. Ray celebrated 50 years of being a member of the Grand Ole Opry in April 2016. He represented many musicians in Nashville and charted 18 times himself on the Billboard Country Single Chart. His last charted single was in 1981 with Jean Shepherd. He started Sycamore Records and later worked in the Arts and Repertoire department of Capitol Records while still playing on Friday and Saturday nights at the Opry until retiring in 2018.

Ray enjoyed being surrounded by his family, traveling, and catching up with his buddies when he could.

Ray is predeceased by his eldest son Ronnie "Dale" Pillow who passed last month on February 27, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Joanne Pillow, his daughter, Selena (Joe) Malone, his son, Daryl Ray (Barbara) Pillow, and his daughter-in-law, Julie (Dale) Ewers. Grandchildren: Cory Pillow, Zachary Ray (Telia) Balthrop, Brody Pillow, Ali Ray (Cody) Gaertner, Darby Pillow, Landis Pillow, and great-grandson, Bowden Ray Balthrop.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date by the family.

I know many of us had the opportunity to have seen Ray Pillow perform, either in concert or at the Grand Ole Opry. While Ray never had a "major" hit, he was influential behind the scenes. Many country music stars owe some measure of their success to Ray. What I always liked about Ray was that he featured the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band each time he was at the Opry, mentioning the members by name and giving them the opportunity to share the spotlight. 

My favorite memory of Ray was Grandpa Jones always introducing him as "Ray Piller." Not in disrespect, just that Grandpa seemed to have trouble with the "ow" at the end of Ray's name. 

Our thoughts and prayers go to his widow Joanne, along with his children, other family members and his friends and business associates. 



Now to my observation as this past weekend I was in Nashville and attended both Opry shows. Both shows were sold out, with standing room only, and the crowds were very enthusiastic. Friday, in particular, as the Opry House was hosting a national choir competition and many of the high school choirs, and their chaperones/parents/family members and supporters were in attendance. Among the highlights: a standing ovation to Woody Paul after his wonderful fiddle performance; Junior Brown (although I wished he had sung "Highway Patrol"; Darius Rucker and maybe the highlight of the night, Sean Dietrich. He received a standing ovation not only when he was finished, but also when he was introduced. I will admit I had never heard of him before seeing him listed on the Opry lineup, but Sean was the "real deal" as they say. 

Saturday night belonged to Ronnie Milsap. Each artist who was on the schedule did at least one Ronnie Milsap number, while Mark Wills did two. During each number, there were pictures of Ronnie on the Opry's video screens from various points of his career. Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Mandy Barnett and Don Schlitz performed during the first hour. The second hour began with Trace Adkins, followed by Little Big Town. Trace did four songs while Little Big Town did five, finishing with "Girl Crush." Ronnie closed out the show with four songs, only two of which were his. The final number was a Rolling Stones song "Honky Tonk Women", that included Trace, Little Big Town and Mark Wills on stage with Ronnie. I know Ronnie had recorded that song, would sing it in concert, however I just never associated the song among the hits that Ronnie has had. 

I know that Ronnie has had some health issues over the past several years and has lost his wife and son. Overall, I thought Ronnie looked pretty good, better than I had expected. He did seem engaged. I thought his voice was "ok." He started strong but did faulter a little bit on the next two. Nothing bad, but just a little off. The finish was strong. Ronnie had his entire band with him, and they were very good. His band did include an additional piano player. 

I went into the show not knowing what to expect, but overall was pleased with Ronnie's performance. At the age of 80, I admire him for still being out there. I also thought that this might be the last time to see Ronnie, either in concert or at the Opry. I am glad I was able to be there to see this living legend, who has been an Opry member for 47 years. 


Finally to the Opry shows for this week. Two Opry members, Riders In The Sky, and The Whites on Tuesday night, while three: Jeannie Seely, Del McCoury Band and Don Schlitz are on the schedule for Wednesday. 

Tuesday Night Opry March 28
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Travis Denning, The Whites, Alana Springsteen
Intermission
8:15: Della Mae, Niko Moon, The Malpass Brothers, Maggie Rose

Wednesday Night Opry March 29
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Cooper Alan, Jillian Jacqueline, Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Restless Road, Chonda Pierce, The French Family Band, Don Schlitz

(Both shows are subject to change)

I want to specifically mention The French Family Band, who will be making their Opry debut on Wednesday night, with a very special performance. 

Hopefully, they won't mind if I share parts of their bio from their website: 

Country music just sounds better when a family sings it. That’s where it all began: mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all huddled together, picking and singing on a porch in the twilight. That’s why when The French Family launch into the bittersweet ache of a classic or the startling tenderness of one of their self-penned original songs, the hairs on country music loving necks stand up, and we instinctively––sometimes tearfully––recognize this father, mother, and son as the real thing.

“We’ve just got to stay true to who we are and what we do,” mother Camille French says. “We’ve always done that––and we won’t change.” Camille is reflecting on a two-decade long career with her husband Stuie at the family’s new home in Nashville, oceans away from their childhood worlds where they both fell in love with country music and ultimately, mastered it. 

Touring over the last almost 20 years as Camille and Stuie, the duo became beloved in Australia. They earned three Australian Golden Guitar Awards––that country’s equivalent to the CMAs. The Golden Guitars have recognized both their singing and playing: In 2013, the couple earned their first trophy together for Best Alternative Country Album of the Year, while in 2017, Stuie received Best Instrumental Album honors for his stunning Axe to Swing. Now as the French Family Band they earned their first Golden Guitar Award for Instrumental of the Year from their album "Me and Dad". Two of the pair’s original songs––“Gone for All Money” and “Pretty Katalina” ––were also featured on the wildly popular Australian television drama A Place to Call Home and in 2022 the French Family were featured in a National Holiday Season television campaign for the JC Penney Department store chain.

Nashville noticed. Grammy-winning Western Swing maestros The Time Jumpers invited Stuie and Camille to sit in at the group’s 3rd & Lindsley residency. That night, grinning widely and dazzling both a crowd already accustomed to greatness and their fellow musicians on stage, Stuie and Camille realized dreams that had begun in grade school.

Stuie grew up in Tasmania. He felt drawn to the guitar and his father and big brother’s old Johnny Cash records. “The guitar was so prominent and dominant on those records that I just wanted to learn it,” Stuie says. “We had an old Yahama acoustic guitar. Then in the mid-70s, my brother went and bought me an electric. He was a mechanic and didn’t have much money, but he bought me a guitar.” 

Stuie became a monster player with chops that sublimely meld the virtuosity and instinct of jazz with the clear tone and restraint of American hillbilly roots music. Also a fine singer, his vocals nod to the gentle ease of Western swing greats such as Tommy Duncan. Stuie’s prodigious skill led to high-profile sideman gigs with Australia’s top touring artists, as well as recognition from his own heroes including Tommy Emmanuel, who asked Stuie to serve as a tutor at the Tommy Emmanuel Guitar Camp Australia, and Les Paul, who invited Stuie on stage to play with him in New York. Stuie also toured and jammed with his idol Merle Haggard on the latter’s Australian tour as a member of the opening band.

Camille, née Camille Te Nahu, was raised in New Zealand. A Maori whose mother was also part Samoan, Camille grew up immersed in a tight-knit familial culture that encouraged singing and dancing. Her voice, somehow both crisply expressive and immeasurably rich and smooth, can sit back to soothe in a pocket before jumping out to thrill. “I fell in love with country music,” Camille says. “From a very early age, I just knew it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Camille made her way to Australia, where gigs as a backup vocalist for established greats including Kasey Chambers family soon followed. She never forgot her roots––and they never forgot her. Years later, New Zealand television series Unsung Heroes of Maori Musicwould devote an entire episode to Camille.

Stuie and Camile toured as sidemen for top Australian acts and often opened those shows together for two years before deciding to go out on their own, as a pair. “Once we got together, I always thought he was too good to be in the background––and he thought I was too good to be in the background,” Camille says with a laugh. “So we joined forces just to see where it took us.” 

Now performing as The French Family, Camille, Stuie, and Sonny are acclimating to life stateside––deep roots in tow. “I love being able to share our family music with people,” says Camille. “I think people crave it. They come up and tell me how much they love seeing the love among our family and what we do––and I love being able to share that with everybody.”

Stuie agrees, adding, “We hope our music takes people back to a time when the essence of country music was twangy guitars, honest songs, and vocals that tear your heart out.” 

I am looking forward to hearing them this week on the Opry.