To begin, last weekend Casey and I attended the Grand Ole Opry House 50th Anniversary show, which took place on Saturday night. I have been reading some of the comments made regarding the show, along with messages and emails that have been sent to me. With that, I thought I would share some of my random thoughts, in no particular order.
I will start by saying that it was wonderful to have a show that featured only members of the Grand Ole Opry. With 12 members listed on the schedule, I do believe that is the highest number we have seen on any single Opry show since the 5,000 show a few years back. While The Whites were on the original schedule and cancelled, future Opry member T. Graham Brown and Jamie Dailey did make unscheduled appearances and were part of the opening and closing numbers.
The opening of the show was great and was what I had expected. Mandy Barnett led the cast in the singing of "Wabash Cannonball" while Mark Wills did the official welcome. That was followed by the singing of "Take Me Home Country Roads" which was a very nice surprise. The video presentation during the song was nicely done.
The closing number was Clint Black's "This Old House." As with the opening number, the entire cast came out led by Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely and Connie Smith. The video accompanied the song. It was fine, however my first thought when everyone came back out was that they were going to close with "Will The Circle Be Unbroken."
Speaking of the video screens, at numerous times during the show they were put to good use. When Connie Smith, Jeannie Seely and Bill Anderson were introduced as the only members present who were also there on the opening night, video was shown of each of them performing on that opening show. While each of the other artists appeared, with the exception of Gary Mule Deer, pictures were displayed of those artists from their earlier days. Along with that, additional pictures and videos were shown throughout the night, some of which brought tears to Casey's eyes. When I asked her, she said seeing those pictures and videos of Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Porter, Grandpa and the others, made her realize how much we have lost since the Opry House opened. Hopefully those memories never fade. Sadly, for those listening, that part of the show was missed.
Regarding Gary Mule Deer, I did read the comment about his jokes and his overall act. I felt the same, then I came to remember that while those of us listening on the radio hear the same jokes each time he is on, most of those attending the show are seeing and hearing him for the first time. I have to think back and wonder if we felt the same about some of the older artists singing the same songs each week when they appeared.
The show ran way over on time, almost 45 minutes long. Thankfully, there was no second show that night, nor live television, which gave the Opry the opportunity to put on this type of show. There seemed to be no time restraints at all.
I thought the audience very much appreciated being a part of history. There was great applause and recognition of all of the artists, and I didn't hear any complaints from those that I sat close to. The Opry House was sold out for the show.
I can't say enough about Dan Rogers and his team. From a personal standpoint, he has always been nice and welcoming each time I have seen Dan at the Opry. Each time I see him, he thanks me for coming to the Opry. No, the thanks go to Dan for the shows and lineups he has been presenting. I know they have big plans for the 100th anniversary of the Opry in 2025 and I can't wait. It is going to be an awesome year.
I was fortunate enough to have been backstage for part of the show and to enjoy a piece of the 50th Anniversary cake. Everyone we encountered backstage was so nice and welcoming. Among those we spoke to were Larry and Steve Gatlin, Gary Mule Deer, Jamie Dailey, and with special mention: Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky. Casey is a big fan of both, and it was her first opportunity to meet Jeannie and the Riders. Jeannie, especially, was wonderful to speak with, as she always is, and was very welcoming to Casey.
One of the comments I read was about the curtain being up during intermission and the entire show. As an FYI, that is something they have been doing for some time. Personally, I would like to see the curtain come down, at least during intermission. And of course, I do miss the defined segments with sponsors and hosts, but it appears that the format the Opry is using now is the format going forward.
There have been numerous comments posted about Mike Terry, some positive and some negative. From my own personal viewpoint, Mike does a nice job. So does Charlie Mattos, who generally announces on Friday night. I think that one point that has been missed is that the show is much more scripted now then what it was back in the day, and that includes the announcers. Just remember that for the most part, whoever the Opry announcer is, they are generally following the script in front on them. Their job is to keep the show flowing between the artists. And I think Mike does a good job doing that. Does a mistake happen at times? Of course. Remember, it is live radio.
A number of pictures and videos have been posted on various web sites from Saturday night, I encourage those who did not attend to check them out. It would be worth your time.
I mentioned Casey a few times. For those who do not know, she is my wife of 48+ years. While not a true country music fan, she has been to the Opry more than a few times and has seen some of the Opry's history. As she mentioned, and taking nothing away from the Friday Night Opry, she said that show, to her, was just an ordinary show. She said the difference between Friday and Saturday was night and day, as was the audience response and enthusiasm.
Overall, it was a great weekend to have been in Nashville and at the Grand Ole Opry. For those that I met this weekend, my thanks and appreciation. It always makes the visits more enjoyable. Casey sends along her thanks also as she has started to put faces to all of the names that I mention each time I am in town. For those associated with the Opry, my thanks also. I am happy that what I am doing does get noticed and makes a difference. Until the next time...
So, moving on to this week at the Grand Ole Opry, there are a couple of very nice shows on the schedule. Grand Ole Opry member Ricky Skaggs is scheduled to appear on both nights. Joining Ricky on the Friday Night Opry will be members Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith, Craig Morgan and making his first Opry appearance of 2024, Eddie Montgomery. Saturday night, in addition to Ricky, has Jeannie Seely and The Isaacs set to appear.
Guesting on Friday are Home Free, Tigirlily Gold and making his Opry debut, Willi Carlisle. Opry NextStage artist Ashley Cooke is scheduled for Saturday, along with Wood Box Heros, and a couple of acts that have not been on the Opry in years, Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich. For those who might have missed it, Gretchen was part of the recent George Jones PBS special, and she looked and sounded great. Glad to see her back at the Opry.
Friday March 22
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Eddie Montgomery, Connie Smith, Home Free
Intermission
8:15: Willi Carlisle, Craig Morgan, Tigirlily Gold, Ricky Skaggs
Saturday March 23
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Wood Box Heros, Ashley Cooke, The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: Ricky Skaggs, Opry Square Dancers, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich
Willi Carlisle, who is making his Opry debut on Friday night, is a folksinger, songwriter and playwright who speaks his truth with a Woody Guthrie like style. He is currently touring in support of his third album, "Critterland." Born in Kansas and now based out of Arkansas, his music pulls from traditional American folk music, punk music, and country music. Many of his songs contain themes of American life.
What a difference a week makes. After the star-studded lineups at the opening of the new Grand Ole Opry House the previous week, it was back to normal the following weekend. Here is the running order for the Friday Night Opry on March 22, and the Grand Ole Opry on March 23, 1974:
Friday March 22, 1974
8:00: Tennessee Pride/Borax
Charlie Walker (host): Stay A Little Longer
Penny DeHaven: I'll Be Doggoned
Mel Street: Borrowed Angel
Joe Edwards: Old Joe Clark
Charlie Walker: Wanting My Woman Again
Penny DeHaven: Down In The Boondocks
Mel Street: You Make Me Feel More Like A Man
Charlie Walker: Wild Side of Life
8:30: Kroger
Roy Acuff (host): Back In The Country
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo
Howdy Forrester: Sally Goodin
Roy Acuff: Wabash Cannonball
Stu Phillips: Pride
Jimmy C Newman: Louisiana Saturday Night
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
9:00: Elm Hill/Schlitz
Roy Drusky (host): Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
Dottie West: Country Sunshine
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Roy Drusky: Satisfied Mind
Dottie West: Last Time I Saw Him
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Roy Drusky: Anymore
9:30: Acme/Beechnut
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Forgive and Forget
Connie Smith: Dallas
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Wilma Lee Cooper: Legend of The Dogwood Tree
Connie Smith: Down In The Valley
Justin Tubb: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Carolee Cooper: North To Chicago
10:00: Cee Bee/Schlitz
The 4 Guys (host): Turn Your Radio On
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Jimmy Dickens: John Henry
The 4 Guys: Top of The World
Del Wood: Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
Jimmy Dickens: One In A Million
The 4 Guys: Catfish John
10:30: Shoney's
Billy Grammer (host): Detroit City
Barbara Mandrell: Midnight Oil
Jerry Clower: Rat Killing
Billy Grammer: Under The Double Eagle/Black Mountain Rag
Barbara Mandrell & Ronnie Shaw: I Love You; I Love You
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Now moving ahead to the following night, the second Saturday night at the new Grand Ole Opry House:
Saturday March 23, 1974:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Truck Stop
Merle Kilgore: Wolverton Mountain
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
6:45: Rudy's
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Poor Ellen Smith
Justin Tubb: Rambling Man
Del Wood: Keep On The Firing Line
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Coming Down From God
7:00: Rudy's
Roy Acuff (host): When I Lay My Burdens Down
Jean Shepard: At The Time
Jimmy Dickens: Take An Old Cold Tater
Minnie Pearl: Maple On The Hill
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Jimmy Dickens: We Could
7:30: Standard Candy
Stu Phillips (host): Pride
Dottie West: Country Sunshine
Johnny Carver: Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Soldier's Joy
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
Dottie West: Last Time I Saw Him
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
8:00: Martha White
Roy Drusky (host): Second Hand Rose
Connie Smith: Dallas
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Louie Roberts: Don't Worry/Tonight Carmen
Roy Drusky: One Day At A Time
Connie Smith: He Touched Me
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Roy Drusky: Alone with You
8:30: Stephens
Jim Ed Brown (host): Stay A Little Longer
The 4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of A Dove
Stan Hitchcock: The Same Old Way
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Jim Ed Brown: Sometimes Sunshine
The 4 Guys: Down By The Lazy River
Stan Hitchcock: You Gave Me A Mountain
Cates Sisters: Uncle Pen
2nd show
9:30: Kellog's
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Big Midnight Special
Willis Brothers: Bob
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Merle Kilgore: Ring of Fire
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: I Dreamed About Mama Last Night
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Stoney Cooper: Golden Slippers
10:00: Fender
Roy Drusky (host): Strangers
Dottie West: Country Sunshine/Last Time I Saw Him
Roy Drusky: Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:30: Trailblazer
Justin Tubb (host): Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Jean Shepard: At The Time
Johnny Carver: Country Lullaby
Justin Tubb: Traveling Singing Man
10:45: Beechnut
Stu Phillips (host): Crystal Chandeliers
Connie Smith: Dallas
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Stu Phillips: A Castle; A Cabin
11:00: Coca Cola
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Jimmy Dickens: Out Behind The Barn
Cates Sisters: Uncle Pen
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Jim Ed Brown: Why Me Lord
Jimmy Dickens: John Henry
Sam McGee: Farewell Blues/Alabama Jubilee/Just Because
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top
11:30: Elm Hill
The 4 Guys (host): Cottonfields/Maria
Stan Hitchcock: I'm Back In Baby's Arms
Louie Roberts: Just A Little Lovin'/Anytime/Bouquet of Roses/Cattle Call
The 4 Guys: Fall Away
Stan Hitchcock: Just Call Me Lonesome
The 4 Guys: Let Me Be There
There you have it for week #2 at the Grand Ole Opry House. As you can see, a lot of the big names that made opening night were not to be found. Most were back on the road.
Thanks, as always for reading and commenting. I do appreciate it. And, as always, I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
The 2024 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees are: James Burton, John Anderson and Toby Keith.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts on this year's Hall of Fame class?.
Thanks Byron for the great synopsis of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteSounds like after 48 years, Casey is finally becoming a country music lover! :)
Thanks as always for the updates. And Casey may have had to become a country music fan in self-defense!
ReplyDeleteDan Rogers has been elevated to Senior Vice President of Executive Producer of the Opry.
ReplyDeleteSharing the press release:
ReplyDeleteGrand Ole Opry VP/Exec. Producer Dan Rogers has been promoted to SVP/Exec. Producer, adding new executive producer roles on upcoming domestic and international broadcasts, many related to the Opry’s 100th anniversary next year. Opry Entertainment Group CEO Patrick Moore says, “Under his leadership, the Opry had a record-breaking number of artist debuts, with more diverse representation than ever before." Rogers joined the Opry as an intern in 1998 and rose to his most recent role in 2019.
Congratulations to Dan, who I feel has been doing a very good job managing the Grand Ole Opry.
Congratulations to Dan Rogers. This is only my opinion because you all know I have absolutely no inside info or contacts and most of my thoughts are really based on my emotions. I bet Rogers has had a hard time maintaining as much of a country flavor the show was built on as he has. The complement that "the Opry had a record-breaking number of artists debut, with more diverse representation than ever before" subtly tells you the mission from the top of the ladder. I'm not trying to be negative and some here might say I don't have to try but I wonder how a show like last weekend really comes to be. If I had any issues it was just because of my taste. Given the day and time I think it was pretty impressive. With that statement about Rogers accomplishments I think it is clear the direction they are trying to head. I just wonder if certain people behind the scenes have to push to celebrate or recognize some of these historic milestones.
ReplyDeleteI'm really not meaning to be negative. I'm just curious about what kind of balancing act this must be. And, I think it is a credit to Rogers that we have not seen the Opry become even more diverse and less country than it has. I'll acknowledge right now that with bluegrass and acts like the Malpass Brothers and others including some of the longest serving members, the traditional music of the Opry is still there but you can see it slowly becoming less of the shows content. I still think adding T to the membership helps slow that changing tide and I thank Rogers for that too.
Jim
Okay, I should say that there really isn't any question about celebrating such things as the 50th at the house but I guess more of my question is the content of such celebrations. What kind of debates go on about their content is really my curiosity.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Jim
I'm with Jim. I think 'Opry Dan is between a rock and a hard place. His heart is in the right place, but the corporate suits obviously think the way to get more interest in the 'Opry is to "broaden the scope."
ReplyDeleteI hear it all the time on WSM's daytime shows. Big push for Post Malone as an example. "Malone's music is hip hop, pop-rap, pop, trap, rap rock, and cloud rap." I don't seem to see the world "country" in that long list.
I find it interesting in the press release that “a record-breaking number of artist debuts” is apparently intended to be a positive thing. Has the unprecedented amount of debut artists (361 to be exact from 2019-2023) improved the quality of the show? With professionalism on the Opry at an (at least) 80-year low (musical content aside… I refer to the lack of an artists’ ability to host a segment, lack of an artists’ ability to talk to an audience in a professional manner, lack of an artists’ ability to appropriately connect with a radio audience, etc.), have the 361 untested acts done a better job at this than the acts who had prior Opry experience, or than the acts that have achieved Opry membership through (in most cases) long-tested Opry experience? My questions might sound rhetorical, but maybe there actually are 361 acts who are better at putting on an Opry show than the ones who were already doing it.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I agree--it's nice to have artists debut but EVERY week, on average? Not when there are members who COULD or SHOULD be there. That said, I'll note that there are people who could host segments, but they aren't doing segments now. And THAT is unfortunate, though it's interesting that that is closer to the original show. Vito started the idea of breaking up the show that way, right?
DeleteYes, as I understand it, Vito gets credit for dividing the show into segments; however, for quite a long time, even after the show arrived at its famous format, “non-performers” (Hay, announcers David Stone, Louis Buck, for example) still “hosted” most programs. This continued to some extent all the way into the early 80s, when announcers such as Tony Lyons would “host” Marty Robbins’ Opry segments. So my issue with the format change isn’t necessarily that I want to hear more talking coming from performing hosts. It comes from a strong opinion that the Opry’s classic format creates a faster-paced, more varied, more “professional” show.
DeleteWhether it be the number of Opry members who most certainly are capable of hosting, Mike Terry, or other Opry announcers, the chance of professionalism is increased infinitely by having capable people “running” the show, than to turn the stage over for 15 minutes at a time to 361 random artists, many of whom have probably never even performed on live radio, much less on anything as high profile as the Grand Ole Opry.
On average, you get awkward banter and/or dead air time (most artists without radio experience have no idea what an eternity 10 seconds of dead air time is to a radio listener). At worst, you get something like the recent Elle King incident, who, while not a debut artist, would have never been left onstage unattended for 15 minutes for good or bad under the old format.
It probably sounds like I’m holding the Opry to a pretty tough professional standard, but shouldn’t we? There’s a reason why this blog even exists, and there ARE tangible things that built THIS show into something exceptional compared to whatever country concert might come through your area.
Robert, I agree 100%. Lately I often say that I'm getting old and cranky but that really has nothing to do with my thoughts. I've been the same since grade school. I hung out with my grandfather until he passed when I was 8 because dad worked second shift. Maybe that is why I aged early. Yes, I think different now than then, mostly stronger convictions to the things I felt, learned or believed then. Sorry for the autobiography but there is a point. If you believe in something or someone and you love it or them you don't want to change it. I don't think it is wrong to hold the Opry to a tough professional standard. That is how it got where it is. Yes, with time all things evolve some but to be remade is a sign to me you really didn't believe in or like what you started with. These days it is just not in vogue to hold on to anything from our past or we are criticized for it by many. If you want to play you need to forget the old and get with the times. I go back to my comment about Dan Rogers who I think has a good since of Opry history and tradition and cares about it. Trying to maintain any of that tradition has to be becoming difficult. As the world changes around the Opry it is hard to expect it to be an island of refuge in a storm. In this new world it is about clicks and instant gratification. Just how many of these debut acts will the audience ever hear again or remember. Naturally, all the big names from other genres will be remembered, first time on the Opry but the crowd already knew them better than most of the Opry members they see. I think the Opry has just about made the transition to a homogenized entertainment show that is holding on to traditions as long as the brand still has some value. Each week I think the value of that brand decreases as it's identity decreases.
DeleteI know it sounds like I enjoy talking this way but I really don't. I'm just voicing what I think I see and I could no doubt be wrong and I hope I am. But I don't see a Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs or Keith Whitley on the horizon to swing us back. Society and technology are changing so fast these days I just think we are too far down this road.
One last thought. We have talked before about the changes in country music and the Opry through the years. True, there has been constant change. But I think from the time the string band changed to a band with a lead vocalist up until the past 20 years or so, the basic foundation of the genre stayed the same. It thrived without converting to total pop, rock or southern rock. Garth made a fortune and whether you like him or not the foundation of most of his hit music was not that much different to 50 years before. It is rare to find that in most of todays country. It truly is the times we live in.
Been a few weeks since I talked so much. It's Robert's fault. :)
Jim