Labor Day weekend is usually a tough time at the Grand Ole Opry. Many of the country artists, and Opry members, are out on the road as State Fair and County Fair season wraps up in many areas. In the past, Opry members made up the bult of county fair acts, as well as the outdoor music venues. Not so much anymore, but still enough of them are out on the road to affect the weekend lineup as there are only four Opry members each night, with two of those repeating.
John Conlee and Don Schlitz are the members who will be appearing each night. They will be joined by Jeannie Seely and Mike Snider on Friday and Dailey & Vincent and Connie Smith on Saturday.
Mark and Maggie O'Connor will be guesting on Friday night, along with Craig Campbell, Jake Hoot and Ben Folds, who will be making his Opry debut.
Saturday night will feature John Oates, of Hall & Oates, making another Opry appearance. Also scheduled are Christian artists Keith & Kristyn Getty, Jessica Willis Fisher, and an act that we haven't seen on the Opry in a while, Sweethearts of the Rodeo.
Also Saturday night, the Grand Master Fiddle Champions will be appearing. This is a tradition that goes back to the Opryland days, and it is wonderful that the Opry continues the tradition of having the winners appearing on the show.
This will be the 52nd year for the contest, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday. at McAfee Concert Hall at Belmont University. Contestants from all over the world will be competing for the Champion titles in Youth, Traditional, and Open categories. The contest is Free to attend and will also be livestreamed. There is no entry fee and parking is free.
Special guests this year Mark and Maggie O'Connor and Mike Snider, who will be receiving the Dr. Perry F. Harris Distinguished Fiddler Award. Congratulations to Mike.
Friday September 1
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Jake Hoot, Mike Snider, Craig Campbell
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee, Mark and Maggie O'Connor, Ben Folds, Don Schlitz
Saturday September 2
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Dailey & Vincent, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Grand Master Fiddle Champions, John Conlee
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Opry Square Dancers, Jessica Willis Fisher, John Oates, Don Schlitz
As mentioned, Ben Folds will be making his Opry debut on Friday night.
He is an Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer and has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records. His latest album What Matters Most was released this summer to rave reviews and sold-out performances. He currently tours as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras and serving as the first ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, Ben is also working on new compositions for film, tv and theatre. He also frequently guest stars in films and TV.
Now from 45 years ago, Saturday September 2, 1978:
1st show
6:30: Justin Tubb (host); Louie Roberts
6:45: Stonewall Jackson (host); Skeeter Davis
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Willis Brothers; Brenda Kay Perry; John Hartford
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Melba Montgomery; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Stu Phillips (host); Marion Worth; Bill Carlisle: Leona Williams
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Steve Wariner; Janie Fricke; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Willis Brothers; Skeeter Davis
10:00: Stonewall Jackson (host); Brenda Kay Perry
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Melba Montgomery; Harold Weakley
10:30: Justin Tubb (host); John Hartford
10:45: Bill Carlisle (host); Leona Williams; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Duke of Paducah; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Kirk McGee
11:30: Stu Phillips (host); Janie Fricke; Steve Wariner
(Del Reeves was scheduled for both shows but cancelled. And as you can tell, it was another pretty thin night for Opry members. It was Labor Day weekend, which was traditionally a big fair weekend and country music was very big at state and county fairs. As a reminder, both Janie Fricke and Steve Wariner were at the very early part of their solo careers).
Over the history of the Grand Ole Opry, there have been lots of sponsors. Some came and went quickly, while others endured for a long time. One of those sponsors was the Standard Candy Company, the makers of Goo Goo Candy Cluster. The company started in 1912 and the Goo Goo was considered America's first combination candy bar. The candy became an immediate hit.
What is interesting is that when you read about the history of the company, it states in several places that Standard Candy began advertising on the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. However, I hate to dispute that fact, but in looking at the older Opry programs, Standard Candy, along with the famous Goo Goo theme song, became an Opry sponsor on Saturday September 2, 1967. (It was also a night that featured Tammy Wynette).
Here is the running order from the show that night:
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Stu Phillips (host): Little Old Wine Drinker Me
Tammy Wynette: Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad/I Don't Wanna Play House/Apartment #9
Spider Wilson: Instrumental
Stu Phillips: (?)
6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Louvin (host): Off & On
Jeannie Seely: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
Harold Morrison: How Sweet It Is
Charlie Louvin: I Forgot to Cry
7:00: Luzianne
Billy Walker (host): Let's Think About Living
Ray Pillow: I Just Want to Be Alone
Justin Tubb: You Nearly Lose Your Mind
Norma Gail: Love of the Common People
Billy Walker: I Taught Her Everything She Knows
Ernie Ashworth: My Love For You
Norma Gail: Ava Maria
Billy Walker: Cross The Brazos at Waco
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Don't Pull That Stuff on Me
Billy Grammer: Browns Ferry Blues
Skeeter Davis: Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
The 4 Guys: Walkin' In The Sunshine
Roy Acuff: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Brother Oswald: Weary, Weary Blues
Billy Grammer, Gene Martin and Jimmy Riddle: 12th Street Rag
Skeeter Davis: What Does It Take
8:00: Martha White
Earl Scruggs (host): Roustabout
Dottie West: Like A Fool
Bobby Lord: Shadows on the Wall
Earl Scruggs: Are You Washed in the Blood
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Diane Dawn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Earl Scruggs: Sunny Side of the Mountain
8:30: Stephens
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
Tex Ritter: Just Beyond the Moon
Marion Worth: I Fall to Pieces
Hank Locklin: Hasta Luego
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: The Birds Are Back to Sing
Del Wood: Cajun Stripper
Tex Ritter: The Working Man's Prayer
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: There's A Big Wheel
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host0: In The Misty Moonlight
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Charlie Louvin: How Great Thou Art
Jeannie Seely: Everything I Had Going For Me Is Gone
Hank Snow: I Cried A Mile
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
Charlie Louvin: Drive Me Out of My Mind
Hank Snow: I've Been Everywhere
10:00: Schick
Roy Acuff (host): Ball Knob Arkansas
Del Wood: Down at Papa Joe's
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Larry McNeely: Dixie Breakdown
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
10:15: Pure
Billy Grammer (host): Detroit City
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Stu Phillips: Little Old Wine Drinker Me
Billy Grammer: Sugarfoot Rag
10:30: Buckley's
Tex Ritter (host): Just Beyond the Moon
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: You're Never Very Far From My Mind
Tex Ritter: Suppertime
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Big Midnight Special
10:45: Kent
Bobby Lord (host): Life Can Have Meaning
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler
Ernie Ashworth: My Love For You
Bobby Lord: One Day Down & Forever To Go
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Ray Pillow: I Wish That I Could Fall In Love Today
The 4 Guys: Mariah
Fruit Jar Drinkers: The Old Cacklin' Hen
Hank Snow: Snow In Hawaii
Sam McGee: Nine Pound Hammer
Ray Pillow: I'd Fight the World
Hank Snow: Ninety Miles an Hour (Down A Dead-End Street)
11:30: Lava
Hank Locklin (host): Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Marion Worth: Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad
Harold Weakley: Almost Persuaded
Cousin Jody: Wabash Cannonball
Hank Locklin: Release Me
Carl Belew: Am I That Easy to Forget
Marion Worth: All The World is Lonely Now
Hank Locklin: Hast Luego
(Lester Flatt was not on that night as he had become ill on the road several weeks earlier and was still recovering. Also, in the notes, Diane Dawn, who performed earlier in the show, is identified as Dottie West's sister. Justin Tubb, Tammy Wynette and Carl Belew each had only one spot).
Standard Candy would remain an Opry sponsor until January 28, 2006. I can still hear that jingle in my head: "Go get a Goo Good, it's Good!"
There you have it for this week as we enter the month of September. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
In all these years seeing Mike Snider perform, I have never seen him play a fiddle, always the banjo - interesting on the award category
ReplyDeleteI think the award has been given to folks who PROMOTE fiddle music as well as excellent fiddle players.
DeleteDolly Parton even got it once.
This is Mike, relegated to anonymous again, probably for my own good.
ReplyDeleteI MISS the Goo Goo ads, and Martha White, and the others. Mr. Acuff used to call Hairl Hensley and Harold Weakley "the Goo Goo twins." And they involved the audience, too.
If I'm correct, Dr. Perry Harris may have discovered or helped discover Larry McNeely, who is on the 1967 program and is, again if I'm correct, the last living Smoky Mountain Boy.
Dr. Harris was Larry's father in law.
DeleteLast night I barely got in to hear what should have been Bill Andersons spot. Instead, Mike was on. Did Bill appear earlier or not at all?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Jim
Bill was on what was Mike’s spot.
DeleteThanks.
DeleteJim
Can I get a link for the fiddle championships live stream someone? Also, if the contest is Saturday and Sunday, how are the winners on tomorrow night?
ReplyDeleteE.Z.: It is the winners of the previous year that appear on the Opry. The winners on Sunday will appear next year, if invited by the Opry. There are several different categories, and the Opry usually will invite a couple of the winners, including the Open champion. Also, there is a livestream link on their website. I know for years; this was held at Opryland with Porter Wagoner hosting.
DeleteA couple of random thoughts. I'm kind of sour these days so I try not to say too much.
ReplyDeleteI've just been thinking how much bigger the Opry would have been and how well it would be known today if those hillbillies had just accepted Elvis and made him a member and accepted Rock and Roll as a part of Country. Not sure how the Opry has survived up to know without letting all genres of music appear routinely.
On a different subject, I heard Craig Campbell talking about his song and another artist being on the charts for 50 some weeks and setting records. I had to go look at Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On" to be sure I was recalling correct. It was #1 for 21 weeks and on the charts 44 weeks. The thing is, if I'm understanding correctly, even in 1958, there were only 30 positions in the charts. It is commendable to stay in the charts 50 some weeks in these modern times but exactly what does that mean. Remaining among 100 songs. Back in 1950, the strange little ranger did it with fewer than 30 positions. I've tried to find out how many positions there were in 1950. I'm thinking it was 15 or 20. Please, if anyone knows, feel free to contribute.
It's another one of those situation where we need to know and appreciate our history to understand today.
My discouraging words for the week.
Jim
Knightsville, IN.
Just doing a quick check, the first country chart from Billboard was printed in 1945 and it was initially just a Top 10 list. By 1958, the list had 30 songs on it, as you noted. What I am not sure of is how the chart progressed from 10 to 30 songs.
DeleteThanks for the additional info Byron.
DeleteJim
Jim, I am reminded of the night Garth Brooks was on and Mr. Acuff began introducing him by saying, "This boy is really big." And the crowd screamed. He smiled and said, "Well, I was big, too." It spoke volumes. As big as Garth has been and is, can he possibly be in Roy Acuff's league? I don't think so. I doubt Garth would think so, either.
ReplyDelete