Grand Ole Opry 5/31 & 6/1-Updated

It always brings a smile to my face when I see Marty Stuart listed on the Opry schedule. Marty is one of those members who I thought we would see more of after he joined the cast, but he is so busy with touring, recording and producing music, and with his museum, that we don't see him as often as many of us would like. 

Marty is on the schedule for the Friday Night Opry. Of course, when Marty is on the Opry, you know Connie can't be far away, and she will be joining him along with Bill Anderson, Riders In The Sky, Gene Watson and Mark Wills. The only non-members are comedian Brad Upton and Annie Bosko. 

Crystal Gayle is back on the Opry for a Saturday night appearance, along with Jeannie Seely and Don Schlitz. Hiss Golden Messenger and Tony Jackson are among the guest artists, along with American Idol contestant Emmy Russell and the amazing and fun group, The Cleverly's. 

Friday May 31

7:00: Mark Wills, Riders In The Sky, Annie Bosko, Gene Watson
Intermission

8:15: Bill Anderson, Brad Upton, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart

Saturday June 1

7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Tony Jackson, Hiss Golden Messenger, Don Schlitz

Intermission

8:15: Emmy Russell, Crystal Gayle, Opry Square Dancers, The Cleverlys

Hiss Golden Messenger, who are making their Opry debut, is an American folk band originating from Durham, North Carolina, formed in 2007 and led by singer and songwriter MC Taylor. The band was formed by Michael Carrington "M.C." Taylor and Scott Hirsch, following the dissolution of their previous band, the alternative country group The Court and Spark. Hiss Golden Messenger's early recordings were released through Taylor's own label, "Heaven & Earth Magic Recording Company.

The band's music contains elements from various musical genres, such as folk, country, dub, country soul, rhythm and blues, bluegrass, jazz, funk, swamp pop, gospel, blues, and rock. The band's style was also described as "alternative country" and "country rock." The band's main influences include the Beatles, The Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield. The band has been compared to Will Oldham and Bill Callahan.

Their newest record Jump For Joy, was released last August. 

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday June 1, 1974. Guesting on the show that night was Jeannie C. Riley. 

1st show

6:30: Charlie Louvin, Willis Brothers
6:45: Billy Grammer, Jeanne Pruett, Charlie Walker
7:00: Billy Walker, Connie Smith, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Lonzo & Oscar
7:30: Bill Anderson, Jim & Jesse, Del Wood, Mary Lou Turner, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers

8:00: Roy Acuff, Grandpa Jones, Jean Shepard, Justin Tubb, 
8:30: Bobby Lord, Jimmy C Newman, Jeannie C Riley, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show

9:30: Bill Anderson, Willis Brothers, Charlie Louvin, Del Wood, Mary Lou Turner

10:00: Charlie Walker, Jean Shepard, Lonzo & Oscar
10:15: Roy Acuff, Billy Grammer
10:30: Billy Walker, Grandpa Jones, Connie Smith
10:45: Bobby Lord, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Jimmy C Newman, Jeanne Pruett, Jim & Jesse, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee

11:30: Marty Robbins, Justin Tubb, Jeannie C Riley

June 1, 1957 was an important date in the history of the Grand Ole Opry as The Everly Brothers became Opry members. At the time, Don Everly said, "This is gonna be a moment that Phil and I will always remember when we get kinda old and gray." 

The Grand Ole Opry invited Don and Phil to join the cast and they made regular appearances on the show. To all in Nashville The Everly Brothers were a country music act who had been lucky enough to crack open the pop market. It was not a case of selling out. Web Pierce and Ray Price cut Bye Bye Love, and they were country all the way.

Here is the lineup from 67 years ago, the night in which the Grand Ole Opry welcomed The Everly Brothers

7:30: Nabisco

Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special

Ladell Sisters: Gonna Find Me A Blue Bird

Oswald: The Girls Don't Pay Me No Mind

Roy Acuff: Drifting Too Far From The Shore

7:45: American Ace

Jordanaires: Theme

Faron Young (host): I'm Gonna Live Some Before I Die

Odie & Jody: Unpucker

Porter Wagoner: Good Morning Neighbor

Faron Young: Shrine Of St. Cecilia

Fiddle Tune: Old Joe Clark

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): No Doubt About It

Jim Reeves: Four Walls

Everly Brothers: Bye Bye Love

June & Smokey: Comedy

Flatt & Scruggs: Six White Horses

Justin Tubb: Pepper Hot Baby

Jim Reeves: According To My Heart

Possum Hunters: Billy In The Low Ground

Everly Brothers: I Wonder If I Care As Much

Flatt & Scruggs: Earl's Breakdown

8:30: Prince Albert

Ray Price (host): Crazy Arms

Rod Brasfield: Comedy

Merle Travis: Sixteen Tons

Fiddle Tune: Mississippi Sawyer

Ray Price: In The Garden

Chet Atkins: Country Gentleman
Minnie Pearl: Comedy

Jimmy Dean: Happy Child

Stringbean: Lonesome Road Blues

Ray Price: I've Got A New Heartache

Fiddle Tune: Katy Hill

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt

Jordanaires: Theme

Jimmy Dickens (host): Happy Heartaches

Bill Monroe: Fallen Star

Del Wood: Rockin 88

T. Texas Tyler: Oklahoma Hills

Louvin Brothers: Don't Laugh

Jimmy Dickens: I Never Had The Blues

Jordanaires: Sugaree

Bill Monroe: Cheyenne

Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hollow Poplar

Louvin Brothers: The First One To Love You

Jimmy Dickens: Big Sandy

9:30: Stephens

Lonzo & Oscar: Theme
Hank Snow (host): Music Making Mama

Porter Wagoner: Who Will It Be

Lonzo & Oscar: Charming Betsy

Ladell Sisters: Nighty Nine Ways

Hank Snow: Marriage And Divorce

Maybelle Carter: Gold Watch And Chain

Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry

Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin

Porter Wagoner: Uncle Pen

Hank Snow: Rumba Boogie

10:00: Wall-Rite

Roy Acuff (host): Streamlined Cannon Ball

Justin Tubb: You Nearly Lose Your Mind

Stringbean: Fireball Mail

Roy Acuff: If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again

Howdy Forrester: Money Musk

10:15: Delited

Ladell Sisters: Theme

Ray Price (host): Wasted Words

Odie & Jody: Georgiana Waltz

Ladell Sisters: Love Letters In The Sand

Ray Price: You Done Me Wrong

Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy

10:30: Hester Battery

Jim Reeves (host): I Know That You Know

Flatt & Scruggs: Salty Dog Blues

June Carter: Comedy

Jim Reeves: Waiting For A Train

Fiddle Tune: Turkey In The Straw

10:45: De Con
Faron Young (host): Until I Met You

Louvin Brothers: You're Running Wild

Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag

Faron Young: I'll Be Satisfied With Love

Fiddle Tune: Cacklin Hen

11:00: Coca Cola

Jordanaires: Theme

Hank Snow (host): Honey Moon On A Rocket Ship

Everly Brothers: Bye Bye Love

Del Wood: After Five

Bill Monroe: Sitting Alone In The Moonlight 

Lonzo & Oscar: Blondes Blondes Blondes

Hank Snow: Conscience I'm Guilty

Chet Atkins: Martingale

Mother Maybelle: Wildwood Flower

Gully Jumpers: Leather Britches

Everly Brothers: I Wonder If I Care As Much
Hank Snow: Rumba Boogie

11:30: Jamison

Jordanaires: Theme

Jimmy Dickens (host): Cornbread And Buttermilk

T. Texas Tyler: Old Blue

Stonewall Jackson: Stop Your Naggin Hoss

Jimmy Dickens: What About Me

Fiddle Tune: Old Joe Clark

11:45: Sustaining

Porter Wagoner (host): Uncle Pen

Sam & Kirk McGee: I Was Sort Of Wondering

Merle Travis: John Henry

Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fruit Jar Breakdown

Porter Wagoner: What Would You Do

Dee Kilpatrick was the General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry from 1956-1959. At the time, he was quoted as saying, "The Opry didn't have the appeal to the younger audience that you have to have if you're going to keep growing. All I could see were older people and little teeny kids. There weren't any teenagers."

To help solve that problem, he brought into the Opry a group of younger artists that included Stonewall Jackson, Porter Wagoner, Rusty and Doug Kershaw and Don and Phil Everly, who were from Kentucky with an impeccable country music background. Their parents, Ike and Margaret, were country-gospel artists known throughout the South and Midwest. The brothers were learning classic country songs before they were 10. After completing high school, and with their parents retiring, Don and Phil headed to Nashville. 

Wesley Rose put them in touch with songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, who had just written "Bye Bye Love." The brothers recorded it and it was a smash hit, which led to them coming to the Opry. 

But eventually the Brothers became too big for Nashville. It was evident that although their recordings maintained that basic country feel they had to make sure their recordings appealed to the pop masses. Because they were away from Nashville on personal appearances and tours abroad they were dropped from the Grand Ole Opry, and when in 1960 they signed with the newly formed Warner Brothers label they were completely cut off from Nashville and country music. The Everly Brothers would return to Nashville, but not often. In 2001, they were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Next week will be a big week at the Opry House as it will be CMA week. The Opry will be having multiple shows on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night, along with an Opry Country Classic show at the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday afternoon. Terri Clark will be celebrating her 20th year as an Opry member and believe it or not, Lorrie Morgan will be celebrating her 40th year of membership. And don't forget, a new member will be added to the Opry's cast as Lainey Wilson will be inducted on Friday night. 

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. Take care and stay safe.