What have we done to deserve this? Once again, Vince Gill is on the Grand Ole Opry schedule this weekend as he will be closing out both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. We all know it is just a matter of time (actually beginning the first of September), when Vince will be back touring with the Eagles, which will pretty much take him through the end of November. In December, Vince will be back at the Ryman Auditorium with Amy Grant, for a number of Christmas shows, which the couple has done on an annual basis. Time is running short and so let's enjoy Vince while we can.
Joining Vince both nights will be the Opry's newest member, comedian Gary Mule Deer. As promised when he joined the cast, Gary has been a pretty regular performer on the show.
Joining those two on the Friday Night Opry will be Dailey & Vincent, Crystal Gayle and Mandy Barnett. Saturday night has Riders In The Sky, Mike Snider and a pair of Hall of Fame members, Bill Anderson and Connie Smith listed.
Only one artist will be making his Opry debut and that will be Nat Myers, who is scheduled for Friday night. Joining Nat will be Lindsay Ell and Billy Ray Cyrus & FIREROSE. Saturday night's guests are Time Jumpers member Wendy Moten and Tyler Braden.
Friday August 11
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Lindsay Ell, Nat Myers, Crystal Gayle
Intermission
8:15: Mandy Barnett, Gary Mule Deer, Billy Ray Cyrus & FIREROSE, Vince Gill
Saturday August 12
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Tyler Braden, Mike Snider, Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Opry Square Dancers, Gary Mule Deer, Wendy Moten, Vince Gill
That all comes out to 9 different Opry members this weekend.
I did want to add that Jeannie Seely was originally on the Friday Night Opry schedule, but she was taken off is she is still resting her voice. Mandy took her spot.
No live TV again this week as Opry Live on Circle TV will feature a previously taped show featuring Vince Gill, Lukas Nelson and Megan Moroney.
Now from 45 years ago, Saturday August 12, 1978:
1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host); Leona Williams
6:45: Billy Grammer (host); Louie Roberts
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); O.B. McClinton, Steve Wariner, Harold Morrison
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee Cooper, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers, Brother Oswald
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Bill Carlisle; Duke of Paducah, Rusty Adams, Lorrie Morgan
8:30: The 4 Guys (host); Stu Phillips, Pinnacle Boys, Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Billy Grammer (host); Harold Morrison, Leona Williams
10:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Willis Brothers
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee Cooper, Woody Paul
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Louie Roberts, O.B. McClinton
10:45: Bill Carlisle (host); Steve Wariner, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: The 4 Guys (host); Fruit Jar Drinkers, Lorrie Morgan, Kirk McGee
11:30: Stu Phillips (host); Duke of Paducah, Pinnacle Boys
(Ernie Ashworth was scheduled for both shows but cancelled. Obviously a pretty thin night for Opry members. Among the non-members that night was O.B. McClinton, Leona Williams, Louie Roberts and the Pinnacle Boys. Also, there was a former member (Duke of Paducah) and two future Opry members (Steve Wariner and Lorrie Morgan)).
For those wondering, the Pinnacle Boys were based out of Knoxville, Tennessee and along with the Knoxville Grass, were considered one of the best of the bluegrass bands that came out of that part of Tennessee in the 1970s. The band had an ever-changing lineup, which was typical of many bluegrass bands, but at their highpoint, the band was led by Bud Brewster, one of two Brewster Brothers who had backed up country legend Carl Story. The group had recorded several bluegrass albums. In the mid-70s, the group recorded an album for Rounder Records, with an attempt to move into more mainstream country, however the record failed to create any excitement and the group faded away.
Finally, going way back, here is the running order from 62 years ago, Saturday August 12, 1961:
7:30: Pet Milk
Roy Acuff: Little Mary
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Louvin Brothers: I Can't Keep You In Love with Me
Melba Montgomery: Are You Teasing Me
Dick Flood: Cowpoke
Tommy Jackson: Back Up & Push
Brother Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Roy Acuff: Wait For The Light To Shine
8:00: Martha White
Cowboy Copas: Filipino Baby
Jim and Jesse: Are You Missing Me
Wilburn Brothers: Which One Is To Blame
Patsy Cline: I Fall To Pieces
Cowboy Copas: Alabam
The Carter Family: Wildwood Flower
Jim and Jesse: Half Hearted
Crook Brothers: Lost Indian
Wilburn Brothers: Legend of The Big River Train
Cowboy Copas: Don't Shake Hands with The Devil
8:30: Faultless Starch
Don Gibson: Sea of Heartache
Bill Anderson: Po' Folks
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Jan Howard: Carless Hands
Don Gibson: The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
Jordanaires: Ain't Gonna Study War No More
Bobby Hodges: Carolina Bound
Instrumental: Sally Goodin
Don Gibson: Oh, Lonesome Me
9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Jim Reeves: Stand At Your Window
Walter Forbes: (?)
Tompall and The Glaser Brothers: Words Come Easy
Stringbean: Pretty Polly
Jim Reeves: It's Nothing To Me
Cousin Jody: Lady Cop
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bile Them Cabbage Down
Jim Reeves: What Would You Do
Blue Boys: Alabama Jubilee
9:30: Stephens
Roy Drusky: I've Got Some
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink On Me
Johnny Seay: Wayward Wind
Rusty Adams: (?)
Roy Drusky: I Went Out of My Way
Loretta Lynn: The Darkest Day
Wes Holly: Remember Me
Bill Carlisle: Little Liza Jane
Roy Drusky: Anymore
10:00: Standard Oil
Billy Grammer: Wabash Cannonball
Louvin Brothers: I Love You Best of All
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Billy Grammer: Finger/Billy's Polka
10:15: Rock City
Wilburn Brothers: Blue, Blue Day
Bill Anderson: Po' Folks
Archie Campbell: Grab A Little Sunshine
Wilburn Brothers: Knoxville Girl
10:30: Roses Dog Food
Roy Acuff: 'Til No Longer You Care
Cowboy Copas: Flat Top
Brother Oswald: Black Smoke's a 'Rollin
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
Howdy Forrester and Jimmy Riddle: Jesse Polka
10:45: De Con
Don Gibson: Sea of Heartbreak
Jim and Jesse: Gosh, I Miss You All The Time
Patsy Cline: Loose Talk
Crook Brothers: Ragtime Annie
Don Gibson: Oh, Lonesome Me
11:00: Coca Cola
Jim Reeves: Your Old Love Letters
Walter Forbes: (?)
Wes Holly: Shotgun Boogie
Cousin Jody: Don't Make Love In A Buggy
Jim Reeves: Waltz Melody
Jordanaires: How Great Thou Art
Sam and Kirk McGee: Y'all Come
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dance All Night
Jim Reeves: Am I Losing You
Blue Boys: Wheels
11:30: National Life
Roy Drusky: I Went Out of My Way
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink On Me
Dick Flood: Jambalaya
Tompall and The Glaser Brothers: Ballad of Kitty Wells
Roy Drusky: Another
Johnny Seay: Keep My Skillet Good & Greasy
Bobby Hodge: You're Always Welcome To Cry On My Shoulder
Roy Drusky: I've Got Some
Any complaints?
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.
I don't think anyone can complain about how much Vince has given to the opry over his career and certainly not this year! He is, without doubt, probably the single most loved and respected musician in Nashville, and has the best reputation of anyone in music I've ever heard about! It is my dream to sing for him just once before I die!
ReplyDeleteAlso, in the last few weeks a channel called "tnn the Nashville Network" has appeared on youtube. As the name suggests they've uploaded a ton and I mean A TON of tnn content including a bunch of Opry live shows. I'm sure it's not official, and they might be taken down soon, but go watch them while you can!
I saw it, too, and it's great!
DeleteEZ , thanks for the heads up about TNN on You tube. Been watching it all day. You should post a video on here. I'm sure everyone would enjoy it. Would love to see it.
ReplyDeleteSharing this from Tracy Pitcox:
ReplyDeleteCountry Music entertainer Shoji Tabuchi has passed away.
In the mid-1960s, Tabuchi was a sophomore in his college and had heard that Roy Acuff was coming to Osaka, Japan. Tabuchi went to his concert and got to meet Acuff backstage. Acuff's music inspired Tabuchi to pursue country and bluegrass music.
When Tabuchi was in college, he formed a band called The Bluegrass Ramblers, which led them to win a national contest in Japan. He decided to travel to the United States with his violin and only $500.
After living in San Francisco, Kansas City, and Louisiana, Tabuchi moved to Nashville to reconnect with Acuff, who arranged an appearance for Tabuchi to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Tabuchi later made numerous appearances on the Grand Ole Opry.
Tabuchi arrived in Branson around 1980. After performing successfully for a few years, he built one of Branson's most elaborate theaters, which was completed in 1990, and began hosting his own show. Besides country music, The Shoji Tabuchi Show has incorporated polka, gospel, Cajun, Hawaiian, rap, and rock music.
Tabuchi developed a loyal fan base through his Branson show. He employed about 200 personnel at his elaborate 2,000-seat theater, where he performed two shows daily most of the year.
The theater was closed due to a backstage fire in May 2017. It reopened the following year, on October 22, 2018.
Thanks for sharing this sad news. He made a lot of Opry appearances, and for some reason I think he might have worked for a while with David Houston?
DeleteMike, you are correct. There were a few times when he appeared with David on the Opry.
Delete