Grand Ole Opry 6/21 & 6/22

Taking a quick look back at last Saturday night, in case anyone missed the news, the Grand Ole Opry presented a surprise birthday cake to Opry member Gary Mule Deer in honor of his upcoming induction into the Comedy Hall of Fame. I checked out the Hall of Fame website and was pretty impressed with the Hall and all that they offer. Congratulations to Gary Mule Deer on his upcoming induction. 

Now looking ahead to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry, it seems like a "thin" week for Opry members. The Friday Night Opry lists Rides In The Sky, Connie Smith and Don Schlitz on the schedule, while on Saturday night Bill Anderson, Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely and Rhonda Vincent are the members who will be performing. While thin in numbers, there is a lot of talent among those scheduled. 

Filling out the Friday schedule is Jon Wolfe and Michael Ray, along with a couple of Opry NextStage artists: Anne Wilson and Madeline Edwards. Finally, making his Opry debut will be Hubby Jenkins. 

There is another Opry debut on Saturday night as Country Gongbang will be appearing. Joining that group will be Americana artist Jim Lauderdale, Mae Estes and Home Free. 

Friday June 21
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Jon Wolfe, Hubby Jenkins, Anne Wilson
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Madeline Edwards, Michael Ray, Don Schlitz

Saturday June 22
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Jim Lauderdale, Country Gongbang
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Mae Estes, Opry Square Dancers, Home Free, Rhonda Vincent

Hubby Jenkins, who is making his Opry debut on Friday night, is a talented multi-instrumentalist, guitar, banjo and bones, who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American music. He was an integral part of the Grammy award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops from 2010 to 2014. Since 2015 to 2018 he was active in touring and recording member in the Rhiannon Giddens band. Since then, he has pursued a solo career with performances around the world.

Country GongBang is a South Korean bluegrass group that was selected to receive the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2023 International Band Performance Grant. This annual award is given to an especially promising act from outside the United States to help assist with travel expenses and Visa difficulties The group plays a very tasty form of contemporary bluegrass, writing and singing in both English and Korean, which has been well received internationally via YouTube and other online venues.

From 50 years ago, Saturday June 22, 1974

1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host): Willis Brothers
6:45: Charlie Walker (host): Ernie Ashworth, Mel Street
7:00: Roy Acuff (host): Bill Carlisle, Minnie Pearl, Justin Tubb
7:30: Ernest Tubb (host): The 4 Guys, Del Wood, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host): Grandpa Jones, Ray Pillow, Curly Seckler, Paul Warren, Marty Stuart
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Connie Smith, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Louie Roberts

2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host): Willis Brothers, Ernie Ashworth, Mel Street
10:00: Ernest Tubb (host): Charlie Walker, Wayne Hammond
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Justin Tubb
10:30: Lester Flatt (host): Grandpa Jones, Bill Carlisle, Marty Stuart
10:45: Ray Pillow (host): Del Wood, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Connie Smith, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: The 4 Guys (host): Sherry Bryce, Louie Roberts

(Marion Worth was scheduled for both shows but cancelled. Minnie Pearl only appeared on the early show). 

Now going back to Saturday June 22, 1968, to a show that featured Tammy Wynette, Martha Carson and Jimmy Dickens, each of whom was a future or former Grand Ole Opry member. Here is the 2nd show from that night: 

9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): I Got The Fever
The 4 Guys: Walking In The Sunshine
Johnny Darrell: With Pen In Hand
Wilma Burgess: Don't Touch Me
Bill Anderson: No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore
The 4 Guys: Why Can't We Act Like Little Children
Bill Anderson: Wild Weekend

10:00: Fender
Charlie Walker (host): Truck Driving Man
Lorrane Mann: The Dark End Of The Street
Johnny Carver: I Still Didn't Have The Sense To Go
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon

10:15: Pure
Grandpa Jones (host): Eight More Miles To Louisville
Penny DeHaven: Crazy
Jimmy Dickens: Out Behind The Barn
Grandpa Jones: Any Old Time

10:30: Buckley's
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Border
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Tammy Wynette: D-I-V-O-R-C-E
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass Of Home

10:45: Kent
Roy Drusky (host): White Lightening Express
Rhodes Sisters: I Wanna Live
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Roy Drusky: Strangers

11:00: Coca Cola
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilma Lee Cooper: Philadelphia Lawyer
Brother Oswald: We Buried Her Beneath The Willow
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Roy Acuff: You Win Again
Wilma Lee Cooper: Pirate King
Sam McGee: I Don't Love Nobody
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Tonight Carmen
Martha Carson: Let The Light Shine On Me
Pete Drake: I'm Just A Guitar (Everybody Picks On Me)
The Hardens: Good Old Boy
Don Winters: Jambalaya
Pete Sayers: Busted
Martha Carson: When Morning Comes
Marty Robbins: Begging To You/Don't Worry/Ribbon Of Darkness/They'll Never Ever Take her Love From Me/I Started Loving You Again/El Paso

Martha Carson's Opry career is interesting. Martha first came to the Opry in 1951 from Knoxville, Tennessee, where she was featured on the "Midday Merry-Go-Round." She also at the time had the huge hit "Satisfied," one of the great upbeat gospel songs of all time. From the reports and articles that I have seen, she was very popular and a huge hit at the Opry. 

After joining the Opry, she was on regularly until her first child was born in 1957 and then she took a leave of absence, which included working in New York for a year. According to Martha, "I got a leave of absence from the Opry. I didn't quit and I wasn't fired. When I came back to Nashville, Opry manager Ott Devine said there were no openings. Then, I never did go back. I never even got to be a guest."

She went on with her memory of working the Opry: "It was like a singer's or an entertainer's dream heaven. That was really what it was. Although the old Ryman was hot and uncomfortable, it has such a friendliness to it. Everybody loved everybody. It seemed that had time for one another. It was just an experience like you'd never find anywhere else."

Just my opinion, but what a poor decision by Ott Devine. One of those that is hard to understand. While Martha said in that interview that she never even got to come back as a guest was obviously wrong as for the remainder of her life, she would appear occasionally on the Opry, and also on the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree. I think that the closest voice on the Opry today that you could compare to Martha Carson is Connie Smith, who will occasionally do "Satisfied" on the Opry. 

A bit of trivia for you: The female voice you hear on Bill Carlisle's early recording of "Too Old To Cut The Mustard" is Martha Carson. 

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. If anything, Saturday night looks very interesting. As always, stay safe and take care.