The Grand Ole Opry is back to three mid-week shows this week as Opry Country Classics returns on Thursday night, resuming its Spring run of shows. But, before getting to that show, let's take a look at the Tuesday and Wednesday night lineups.
Looking at the Tuesday Night Opry, there are a couple of names that stand out. First, in a move that I am sure many will like, Mo Pitney is back on the schedule. I know there are many, including myself, who have been or heard Mo and have been impressed each time. He hasn't been on the Opry in a while, and it is nice to see him back.
Also on the Tuesday night schedule is a band making its Opry debut: TSU Aristocrat of Bands. Yes, a marching band will be appearing on the Opry stage. This is not an ordinary band, but an award-winning band representing Tennessee State University.
The band is historic and among their notable achievements, they were the first HBCU to perform at the Presidential Inauguration for John F. Kennedy in 1961, the first HBCU to be appointed by the NFL in 2002 as an official band for the Tennessee Titans, the first collegiate band to perform for the NFL Hall of Fame Halftime Show in 2014, the first band to play on the White House lawn for the celebration of opening of the National Museum of African American History & Culture in 2016, and the first HBCU wind ensemble to perform literature in the 2018 Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival in Chicago, IL.
According to their website, the band is known for playing a variety of music such as jazz, classical, contemporary, and popular pieces, and is heralded for its distinct musical style using clean articulation, expressive dynamics, balance, and technical ability.
And no, they are not the first marching band to perform at the Opry.
Also appearing on Tuesday Night will be Opry members Rhonda Vincent, Riders In The Sky, Henry Cho and Don Schlitz.
Tuesday April 4
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Louis York, Mo Pitney, TSU Aristocrat of Bands
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky, Katy Nichole, Henry Cho, Don Schlitz
Riders In The Sky return on Wednesday night along with members Jeannie Seely, Gary Mule Deer and Dailey & Vincent, along with Stephen Wilson, Jr., who will be making his Opry debut.
Wednesday April 5
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Stephen Wilson, Jr., Jeannie Seely, Madeline Edwards
Intermission
8:15: Rhett Akins, Gary Mule Deer, Elle King, Dailey & Vincent
Stephen Wilson, Jr. is a singer/songwriter from Indiana. Stephen released his first single “The Devil” and a cinematic video for the song in Sept. 2019 with follow-up, "Year To Be Young 1994" which is currently featured on Spotify's Next From Nashville editorial playlist, Apple Music's 5th Gear editorial playlist and is in rotation at Nashville's Triple A station, Lightning 100. He almost always plays a late-70’s gut-string acoustic and some of his main influences are Willie Nelson, Kurt Cobain, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, The National, Glen Campbell and Randy Travis.
Finally, Opry Country Classics returns on Thursday night with Larry Gatlin back as host and featuring Opry member Lauren Alaina.
The show will spotlight the songs of Tammy Wynette on the 25th anniversary of her passing.
Thursday April 7
Opry Country Classics 7:00
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Lauren Alaina
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Georgette Jones, Lauren Mascitti, Wendy Moten, Chuck Mead
Definitely a busy week of shows at the Opry House.
The 2023 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees have been announced and they are Bob McDill (Songwriter), Patty Loveless (Modern Era) and Tanya Tucker (Veterans Era).
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think?.
Can’t complain about that group.
DeleteI'm a little surprised by Patty Loveless at this point. I thought she may have had a few more years to wait. But, I'm happy she's in - it's well deserved.
DeleteI think Tanya's been overdue, and Bob McDill's a great choice.
J in OK
I'd love to know who the finalists were. Tanya was long overdue. The other two are great choices. I still say that category is meaningless without Dallas Frazier being in, but better roses to the living than wreaths to the dead, I guess.
DeleteThere are some glaring oversights in each category that they need to fix.
DeleteNot that you don't know that. I just need to vent.
J in OK
Unfortunately Dallas was ineligible this year as he had passed at the beginning of 2022.
DeleteA.B.
When will Jeannie Seely get in? It's a shame with all she's done for Country Music and the Opry.
ReplyDeleteHas to be Jeannies' turn next year ! She has almost singlehandedly kept our beloved Opry still being the Opry many times ---- and she is the sexiest old lady this 80 year old fan has ever seen !! Flushing ( MIch)
ReplyDeleteDashmann
Dashmann, Mr. Stuart might suggest his bride can compete in that category!
DeleteThere are so MANY deserving possibilities. Frankly, they could have put Tanya Tucker in under the Modern Era category. I mean, her career has been amazing.
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ReplyDeleteThe Stanley Brothers, Ralph and Carter, should be seriously considered and I have heard their names mentioned. Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley, both of whom are in the Hall, received their start from Ralph. Patty Loveless is another who was influenced greatly by the Stanley Brothers and has been a strong supporter. There are others in the Hall who also have worked with the Stanleys or have been influenced by their sound.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered if there's a feeling that there's a bluegrass hall of fame, so there's no need for more bluegrass folks in the country one. I hope not. The Stanley Brothers had an influence beyond bluegrass that strikes me as greater than anyone else associated with their music who is not in the hall--meaning Mr. Monroe, and Flatt and Scruggs. I can make a case for instrumentalists who were in bluegrass but also in country (Chubby Wise and Howard Forrester and his Str-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-radivarius come to mind).
DeleteI have to speak up for the Wilburn Brothers. Loretta and Patty were both helped by them. They had such a broad footprint in town from the late 50's to the early 70's. I just don't see how they can be ignored. If it ever happens, I feel sure it would only officially be Teddy and Doyle but Lester and Leslie were very much a part of all of it.
DeleteAs Whisper says in Too Country, I don't understand. But maybe I do. That dirty word politics.
Jim
Jim, I'm betting you're right about politics. But I also think the voters have made a conscious decision to try to honor living recipients where possible. I'd add that my mother, who introduced me to country music, wondered how the Hall of Fame could have inducted Willie before Ray and Faron, and Dolly before Porter, when neither of them would have gotten to that point without the others helping them.
DeleteCoffee, Country, and Cody, the morning show of WSM, features a highlight of the previous night's 'Opry.
ReplyDeleteThis morning they just featured the TSU Aristocrat of Bands, and judging by the crowd's reaction, they were a BIG hit last night.
Not typical 'Opry fare, but if it goes over big with the crowd, I'm on board !
I think Bill and Charlie enjoyed last night's Opry. They just featured Katy Nichole.
ReplyDeleteDoes Wendy Moten sound like Mandy Barnett or what? Both are amazing. Bill and Charlie playing Wendy this mornning from last night's Country Classics singing Tammy's "I'll keep on falling in love."
ReplyDelete