Grand Ole Opry 7/14 & 7/15

The Grand Ole Opry posted a couple of items of note this past week: 

First, on Friday July 21, Grand Ole Opry member Jeanne Pruett will be recognized upon her 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jeanne joined the Opry on July 21, 1973. 

Secondly, on Saturday July 22, Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson will be recognized upon his 62nd anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, which will make Bill the longest tenured member in the history of the Opry. 

One of the most awarded songwriters in the history of country music, Anderson was inducted in the Opry family on July 15, 1961. His membership has not lapsed in those 62 years, eclipsing the membership run of past Opry member Herman Crook, who joined the Opry in 1926 and remained with the show until his death in 1988.

“Whisperin’ Bill” will be celebrated with a Saturday night performance which will include Anderson and fellow Opry members Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Jeannie Seely and Ricky Skaggs, among others.

“The Grand Ole Opry continues to be built on the shoulders of Opry members such as Bill Anderson,” says Dan Rogers, Opry Vice President and Executive Producer. “Singling Bill out as the Opry’s longest-tenured member in our history among so many greats who came before him as well as so many contemporaries he calls his friends is a tremendous honor for all of us. We look forward to celebrating his achievement and dedication later this month.”

For those wondering, Herman Crook first appeared on the Opry July 24, 1926. He was an Opry member for 61 years, 11 months and 17 days. (And yes, I did the math). For those interested, yes, I will be at the Opry next Saturday night as Bill is recognized. 

Now looking at the lineup for this weekend, sadly we see that there is a limited number of Grand Ole Opry members on the schedule. (I know of at least one reader who has already commented on the lack of activity by a number of Opry members). 

The only two Opry members on the schedule for the Friday Night Opry are Jeannie Seely and Mike Snider. Jeannie is back again on Saturday night, joined by The Whites and Charlie McCoy. 

As far as non-members, The Malpass Brothers will be appearing both nights. Joining them on Friday night will be Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Emily Ann Roberts, songwriter Tom Douglas, Ryan Griffin and bluegrass legends, The Dillards. 

Colby Cooper, Wendy Moten and Frank Ray will be appearing with The Malpass Brothers on Saturday night. 

Friday July 14
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Ryan Griffin, Mike Snider, The Malpass Brothers
Intermission
8:15: Emily Ann Roberts, The Dillards, Tom Douglas, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Saturday July 15
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Colby Cooper, The Whites, Wendy Moten
Intermission
8:15: The Malpass Brothers, Frank Ray, Charlie McCoy

No Live TV this week as Opry Live will be showing the previously recorded Wednesday night show that featured Carly Pearce, Jackson Dean and Jelly Roll. 

Of interest, and one of the reasons that The Malpass Brothers will be appearing both nights at the Opry, is the Heart of Texas Roadshow will be in Nashville this weekend at the Troubadour Theater. They will be appearing in concert there on Sunday afternoon. Also, the Midnight Jamboree on Saturday night will be hosted by Tony Booth and Darrell McCall. There is a whole group of performers who will be in town and appearing at the Troubadour Theater as part of the Heart of Texas Roadshow. 

The Sunday Night Opry continues this weekend, and The Malpass Brothers will be appearing on that show also, along with Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mandy Barnett and Bill Anderson. Also of note, Steven Curtis Chapman will be appearing. 

Sunday July 16
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Tim Duggar, Mandy Barnett, Bill Anderson
Intermission
8:15: Gabe Lee, The Malpass Brothers, Hannah Ellis, Steven Curtis Chapman

And now, here is posted lineup from 45 years ago, July 14 & 15, 1978: 

Friday July 14
1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Ray Pillow, Jim and Jesse, Helen Cornelius
7:00: Del Reeves (host); Billy Walker, Wilma Lee Cooper, Ernie Ashworth, The Little Colonels
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Walker, Stu Phillips, Justin Tubb, The Willis Brothers, Marion Worth
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jimmy C Newman, Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely
8:30: Bill Monroe (host); The 4 Guys, Jimmy Dickens, The Carlisles, Billy Grammer

2nd show
9:30: Billy Walker (host); Wilma Lee Cooper, Justin Tubb, The Willis Brothers, The Little Colonels
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stu Phillips, Ray Pillow, Jim and Jesse, Helen Cornelius
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Walker, Jimmy C Newman, Ernie Ashworth, Billy Grammer
11:00: Grandpa Jones (host); The 4 Guys, Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely
11:30: Bill Monroe (host); Jimmy Dickens, The Carlisles, Marion Worth

Saturday July 15
1st show
6:30: Justin Tubb (host); The Carlisles
6:45: Billy Grammer (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Dottie West, The Willis Brothers, John Hartford
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Marion Worth, Minnie Pearl, The Crook Brothers, The Tennesse Travelers
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host); David Houston, Linda Hargrove, Stu Phillips
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys, Hoyt Axton, The Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Wilma Lee Cooper, Justin Tubb, The Willis Brothers
10:00: Billy Grammer (host); The Carlisles, John Hartford
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Minnie Pearl
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Hoyt Axton
10:45: Stu Phillips (host); Marion Worth, The Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers, Kirk McGee
11:30: David Houston (host); Linda Hargrove, The Duke of Paducah

(The only change from the posted lineup was Jean Shepard was added to the 9:30 segment on the 2nd show)

During this time period, when Opryland was open, the Opry also had a Friday, Saturday and Sunday matinee shows. Here are the lineups for those shows that weekend: 

Friday Matinee July 14
3:00: Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Jimmy Dickens
3:30: Bill Monroe, Billy Walker
4:00: Ray Pillow, The 4 Guys
4:30: Roy Acuff, Charlie Walker

Saturday Matinee July 15
3:00: Jimmy C Newman, Wilma Lee Cooper
3:30: Justin Tubb, Billy Grammer, The Carlisles
4:00: David Houston, The 4 Guys
4:30: Roy Acuff, Danny Gregg

Sunday Matinee July 16
2:00: Stu Phillips, The Willis Brothers
2:30: Billy Grammer, Wilma Lee Cooper
3:00: The 4 Guys, Justin Tubb
3:30: Roy Acuff, The Carlisles

When looking at these lineups, even the matinee shows were very solid and needless to say that Roy Acuff was a very busy man that weekend. 

As mentioned, July 15, 1961, was an important date in the history of the Grand Ole Opry as Bill Anderson became a member of the Opry. This will be Bill's 62nd year as an Opry member, and it should be noted that once Bill joined the Opry's cast, he never left. 

Bill first appeared on the Opry in 1958 and was a guest for the next several years before being asked by Ott Devine to become an official member. Currently, Bill is the longest active member of the Opry and if his health continues to hold up, he will soon become the longest tenured Opry member in the history of the show. 

Here is the running order from Saturday July 15, 1961: 

7:30: Pet Milk
Ray Price (host): (?)
Cowboy Copas: Filipino Baby
Bill Monroe: (?)
Stringbean: Barnyard Banjo Picking
Ray Price: (?)
Tommy Jackson: Snowflake Reel
Jan Howard: If Your Conscience Can't Stop You
Cowboy Copas: Alabam'
Ray Price: (?)

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Dick Flood: Cowpoke
Bill Anderson: (?)
Loretta Lynn: Gonna Pick My Troubles
Flatt & Scruggs: (?)
Crook Brothers: (?)
Cousin Jake: Old McDonald Had A Farm
Dick Flood: Take Good Care of Her
Flatt & Scruggs: Polka On A Banjo

8:30: Faultless Starch
Porter Wagoner (host): Sugarfoot Rag
Bobby Lord: (?)
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Jordanaires: (?)
Porter Wagoner: Your Old Love Letters
Margie Bowes: I'd Rather Die Young
Bob Luman: Private Eye
Opry Staff Band: Leather Britches
Porter Wagoner: Everything She Touches Gets The Blues

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Roy Drusky (host): I'd Rather Loan You Out
Tompall and The Glaser Brothers: Words Come Easy
Stonewall Jackson: For The Last Time
Skeeter Davis: (?)
Roy Drusky: Another
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back To Tulsa
Cousin Jody: (?)
Tompall and The Glaser Brothers: (?)
Roy Drusky: Three Hearts In A Tangle

9:30: Stephens
George Hamilton IV (host): (?)
Bill Monroe: (?)
Johnny Forbes: (?)
Lonzo and Oscar: (?)
George Hamilton IV: (?)
Mary Bee: (?)
Bill Monroe: (?)
Lonzo and Oscar: (?)
George Hamilton IV: (?)

10:00: Standard Oil
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Salty Dog Blues
Jan Howard: Carless Hands
Jordanaires: (?)
Flatt & Scruggs: Cabin On The Hill
Earl Scruggs: Flint Hill Special

10:15: Rock City
Bobby Lord (host): (?)
Loretta Lynn: Heartaches Meet Mr. Blues
Stringbean: (?)
Bobby Lord: (?)

10:30: Roses
Roy Drusky (host): Just About That Time
Margie Bowes: I'm Alone Because I Love You
Stonewall Jackson: Hungry For Love
Roy Drusky: Anymore

10:45: De Con
Tompall (host) and The Glaser Brothers: (?)
Cousin Jody: (?)
Crook Brothers: (?)
Tompall and The Glaser Brothers: (?)

11:00: Coca Cola
Porter Wagoner (host): Falling Again
Bob Luman: He Hasn't Gone Home &You've Turned Down The Light
George Hamilton IV: (?)
Lonzo and Oscar: (?)
Porter Wagoner: Satisfied Mind
Sam and Kirk McGee: John Henry
Jordanaires: (?)
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire On The Mountain
George Hamilton IV: (?)
Porter Wagoner: Rock A Bye Boogie

11:30: Mohawk
Bill Monroe (host): (?)
Bill Anderson: (?)
Skeeter Davis: (?)
Dick Flood: Three Bells
Bill Monroe: (host):
Johnny Forbes: (?)
Bill Anderson: (?)
Dick Flood: It's My Way of Loving You
Bill Monroe: (?)

Looking at the performers from that night, and with the death of Dick Flood earlier this year, I do believe that Ray Walker of the Jordanaires and Bill, are the only two living artists left from that night. 

Congratulations to Bill Anderson upon his 62nd year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and we are all looking forward to next Saturday night. 

As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.