Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry was one of those special nights when the Opry can surprise you. For those who did not listen, Vince Gill honored the Oak Ridge Boys, and specifically Joe Bonsall, by singing "Elviria." In fact, Vince sang the song on each of the shows he was on last weekend. What made the night special was the introduction of Joe's wife, Mary and his family. To top off the night, Duane Allen and Richard Sterban joined Vince in "Elviria." It was special listening to the show on the radio and one of those nights in which I would have loved to have attended. Vince is just so special in the way he honors those who have passed away, whether they were Opry members or not. I can't begin to count the number of times Vince has sung "Go Rest High" on the Opry, with a dedication.
I don't know who you would consider the "face" of the Opry. Definitely Bill Anderson and Jeannie Seely would be toward the top of the list. The other name I would add would be Vince Gill.
Speaking of Vince, he is back at the Opry again this weekend and is on the schedule for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. He will be joined on both nights by Opry member Mark Wills. Joining those two on Friday night will be Ricky Skaggs, Jeannie Seely and Charlie McCoy, while on Saturday Bill Anderson, Connie Smith and Don Schlitz are listed.
There are some interesting names that will be guesting this weekend. On Friday, Mickey Guyton is on the schedule, along with former American Idol star Gabby Barrett, comedian Killer Beaz, and a duo whose name does come up at times in regard to being future Opry members: The Bellamy Brothers.
On Saturday, Merle Haggard's son Marty Haggard is set to appear, along with Dalton Dover, comedian Jon Crist, and making his Opry debut, Swamp Dogg.
Friday July 19
7:00: Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Mickey Guyton, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie McCoy
Intermission
8:15: Killer Beaz, Gabby Barrett, The Bellamy Brothers, Vince Gill
Saturday July 20
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Dalton Dover, Connie Smith, Swamp Dogg, Marty Haggard
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Jon Crist, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill
I have heard that Mary Lou Turner might be doing a duet with Bill Anderson on Saturday.
Swamp Dogg, born Jerry Williams, Jr., first encountered bluegrass music on the radio growing up in Portsmouth, VA, in the 1940s. Though he would go on to spend much of the ’50’s and ’60s immersed in the world of soul, funk, and R&B—both as an artist and as a A&R man/producer working with the likes of Patti LaBelle, The Commodores, and The Drifters—roots music would remain an important fixture in his life. “I loved George Jones, Flatt & Scruggs, all of it,” he explains. “One of my songs even went all the way to #2 on the country chart when Johnny Paycheck recorded it.”
Swamp Dogg’s remarkable new album, Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St., is no history lesson, though. Produced by Ryan Olson (Bon Iver, Poliça) and recorded with an all-star band including Noam Pikelny, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas, Chris Scruggs, Billy Contreras, and Kenny Vaughan, the collection is a riotous blend of past and present, mixing the sacred and the profane in typical Swamp Dogg fashion as it blurs the lines between folk, roots, country, blues, and soul. The tracklist is an eclectic one—brand new originals and vintage Swamp Dogg classics sit side by side with reimaginings of ’70s R&B hits and timeless ’50s pop tunes—but the performances here are thoroughly cohesive, filtering everything through a progressive Appalachian lens that nods to tradition without ever being bound by it. Special guests like Margo Price, Vernon Reid, Jenny Lewis, Justin Vernon, and The Cactus Blossoms all add to the excitement, but it’s ultimately the 81-year-old Swamp Dogg’s delivery—sly and playful and full of genuine joy and ache—that steals the show. The result is a record that’s as reverent as it is raunchy, a collection that challenges conventional notions of genre and race while at the same time celebrating the music that helped make Swamp Dogg the beloved iconoclast he’s known as today.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I am excited to hear Swamp Dogg on the Opry this weekend.
Continuing the look back at the 1st year of the new Grand Ole Opry House, here is the lineup from Saturday July 20, 1974. What is interesting on this particular night, it was the first night that Barbara Lea appeared on the Opry, replacing Dolly Parton as Porter Wagoner's duet partner.
1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host): Ernie Ashworth
6:45: Wilburn Brothers (host): Charlie Walker, Del Wood
7:00: Roy Acuff (host): Connie Smith, Justin Tubb, Brother Oswald
7:30: Roy Drusky (host): Marion Worth, Jim Stafford, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Barbara Lea, Johnny Russell
8:30: Billy Grammer (host): Jeanne Pruett, Billy Grammer, Jr., Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Wilburn Brothers (host): Willis Brothers, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Ernie Ashworth
10:00: Roy Drusky (host): Connie Smith
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Brother Oswald, Howdy Forrester, Jimmy Riddle
10:30: Billy Grammer (host): Del Wood,
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host): Barbara Lea, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Justin Tubb (host): Marion Worth, Jim Stafford, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host): Jeanne Pruett, Johnny Russell
(Charlie Walker was scheduled for both shows but only appeared on the first show).
Barbara Lea, not to be confused with the other Barbara Lea who as a noted jazz singer, was part of Porter's show until 1976, when she was replaced by Linda Carol Moore. After leaving Porter's show, she largely faded into history.
Speaking of Dolly Parton, after she left Porter's show and went out on her own, she rarely appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. Her career took her into other directions. One of those rare Opry appearances took place on July 20, 2002. Here is the running order from that show 22 years ago:
1st show
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): Mountain Dew
Jimmy C Newman: Cajun's Dream
Robinella & The CCstringband: Mornin' Dove
Jack Greene: Walking On New Grass/Statue Of A Fool
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way
7:00: Opry/Standard Candy
Joe Nichols: The Impossible/Footlights
Mike Snider: Three Forks Of Sandy/Dunbar
Kevin Welch: Too Old To Die Young/Killing Myself
Stevens Sisters: Those Words We Said
Elizabeth Cook: Dolly, Did You Go Through This
Dolly Parton: Halos & Horns/Coat Of Many Colors/Daggers Through The Heart
Opry Staff Band: Dolly's Done Been Here & Gone
Mike Snider: Clinch Mountain Backstep
8:00: Martha White
Jean Shepard (host): Second Fiddle
Bill Carlisle: Gone Home
Mandy Barnett: Up A Lazy River/Ever True, Ever More
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Blackberry Blossom
Jean Shepard: Amazing Grace
8:30: Physicians Mutual
George Hamilton IV (host): Truck Driving Man
Jan Howard: Lonely Street
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
Mark Wills: Jacob's Ladder/Loving Every Minute
George Hamilton IV: We Will Meet Again
2nd show
9:30: Dream Works
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Jack Greene: Satisfaction
Jim Ed Brown: Morning
Mandy Barnett: A Legend In My Time/I'm Gonna Give Myself A Party
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge To Burn
10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Shoney's
Jimmy C Newman (host): Pistol Packin' Mama
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Robinella & The CCstringband: What A Feeling
Joe Nichols: The Impossible/Footlights
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
10:30: Honest Abe Log Cabins/Joggin' In A Jug
Mike Snider (host): ?/Up Around The Bend
Del Reeves: I Would Like To See You Again
Kevin Welch: Too Old To Die Young/Killing Myself
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Rachel
Mike Snider: Tom & Jerry
11:00: Coca Cola
Jean Shepard (host): Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Stevens Sisters: Tuesday's Gone/In My Time Of Dying
Brad Paisley: I Wish You'd Stay/I'm Gonna Miss Her
Jean Shepard: Tennessee Waltz
11:30: Country Music Alliance
George Hamilton IV (host): Early Morning Rain
Elizabeth Cook: Dolly, Did You Go Through This/Cryin' My Heart Out Over You
Mark Wills: Jacob's Ladder/Don't Laugh At Me
George Hamilton IV: Has Anyone Here Seen Hank
Dolly Parton only appeared on the first show during the 7:00 hour which was televised, while Brad Paisley made a surprise appearance on the late show.
In the case of Dolly Parton, that was her first Opry appearance since October 2000, when she appeared as part of the Opry's 75th birthday celebration. Her next appearance would take place in 2005.
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.
Hi Byron, thanks as always for a great update and history lesson. I greatly look forward to your posts every week. I appreciate the hard work and all the effort that you put into this. I learn a lot, and it just makes me a appreciate the history of the Opry even more!
ReplyDeleteOne quick question I had. In reviewing the shows that you have posted for 1974, I have only identified 3 Saturdays during which Ernest Tubb appeared on the Opry (so far in the year). Knowing how committed he was to the Opry, I am surprised by these appearance numbers. Was it that he was doing Opry performances primarily on Friday nights or was he having some health problems during this year that kept him off the Opry? It's just interesting and I am curious.
Again, keep up the great work. I look forward to all your posts and I have learned a major amount about the history of the Opry.
Thanks for carrying the torch!
Chris-Byron can probably elaborate more but I suspect ET's lack of appearances was because of his grueling road schedule. If memory serves, he was known to do 300 nights a year up into the 70's until his health began to fail. Also the reason son Justin hosted the Midnite Jamboree so much while ET was still with us. He was always traveling. I remember even in 80, 81 and 82, he wasn't at the Opry much because he was on the road.
DeleteGlad to have you here and to know you are excited about the history of the Opry. Some of us who post or have posted a lot have told our stories and memories and we don't repeat them because we think everyone has heard them. Take some time and look at the archives. We've had some long discussions here!
Jim
Chirs & Jim: I did some checking on Ernest and first, he did not appear on any Friday Night Opry shows in 1974. That was really not uncommon at the time as many of the Opry's bigger names did not do the Friday night show. Hank Snow is one name that comes to mind and Porter Wagoner is another. Even Bill Anderson did very few Friday night shows.
DeleteAs to Saturday night, doing a quick review of the 1974 dates for Ernest, I came up with this Saturday dates:
January 19
March 16
June 22
August 10
October 19
October 26
November 30
December 28
That was a very quick review and each of those Saturday nights were two show nights. Thanks for the kind words.
About Friday nights ... I think Bud Wendell said that as every year began, ET's manager would call him and list the 26 Saturday nights he would be there, even after the reduction in appearance requirements. To him, the Opry was Saturday nights. Hank Snow felt similarly until he came off the road.
DeleteI love the Opry! I can’t get enough of the history and stories. Thank you to Byron and everyone who comments!
DeleteVince is so special and he brings so much. I think Bill is the face for my generation because we grew up with the backstage show every Saturday night. Dr. Sealy is great but like I’ve said before, most people don’t know who she is. They literally have no idea she had one big hit. But when you listen regularly, you appreciate her more than you can even say. Friday night is going to be great and I always look forward to Mark because I submit that he is the best vocalist in Nashville today.
ReplyDeleteFor those who did not listen last night, Mary Lou Turner did indeed sing a duet with Bill Anderson. They sang their hit "Sometimes." Bill gave a warm introduction to Mary Lou, and they chatted for a few moments. It was wonderful and their voices still sounded wonderful.
ReplyDeleteNot surprised Mary Lou still sounded good. Women country music singers don't seem to lose their ability to sing as they get older.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and I went to Nashville to see the Heart of Texas Road Show performance at the Troubadour Theater. On the way down he was looking at the Opry schedule and started talking about going. He started looking at ticket prices. I suppose they are competitive with other concert venues but they are outrageous. Roughly as I recall, $53 in the nose bleed seats, $90 in the mezzanine or lower balcony, $120 in the back on the floor and I think it was almost $300 for front couple of rows. We paid $90 each plus $9 service charge for mezzanine seats on the podium side of the stage. It hit me kind of hard when I realized it was very near where we had been as a filmily with mom and dad back in 1979!
ReplyDeleteI didn't have to attend to feel this but two of the the least glamourous or promoted recent member inductee, Mark Wills and Don Schlitz. However, they are so solid and worthy of being members and do a wonderful job. I think Mark is a good choice to open the show because he is new enough to be recognized yet has a respect and ties to the generation that came before him. Don is really good with the audience and funny.
To me, its enjoyable anytime Connie Smith appears on the Opry and Saturday was no different. The only unfortunate thing this weekend was that she only got to do two songs instead of three.
Swamp Dogg was enjoyable and maybe more so being there in person. He was very respectful of where he was and and acknowledged his long interest in the Opry and the music. I still say I don't mind artist outside of country appearing, it is still the fact that it is so many so often.
With all the non members that appear, it was really nice to have been there when Marty Haggard appeared. It might have been cool to see Connie sing "That's the Way Love Go's" with him. Merle was a big fan of Connie's and I seem to recall the last time Merle appeared at the Opry there was some exchange of compliments and friendship between the two. Marty did a nice job. I was surprise how frail and thin he was.
Vince was his usual fantastic self and a joy to see. He is so laid back on stage and it fells like he is playing for a couple hundred instead of about four thousand. The house was about 85% full in my estimation.
Continued in next post.
We would not have gone to the Opry if Bill Anderson had not been there. My brother said it might be the only way to see him perform again since he has not traveled since COVID. It was nice when we did learn at the Heart of Texas show that Mary Lou was for sure going to the Opry to appear with Bill. She performed at the HOT show and is recording a new gospel album.
ReplyDeleteIf you were not listening, Bill did "Songwriter" to open then did "Proof" (that you snore) which is a recitation he said he had not done on the Opry in long time and very few times at that. He did it without any notes which still amazes me. It amazes me because he does so many of those recitations and rarely forgets anything. Bill was dressed in black with a little white or silver stitching. He introduced Mary Lou and she was wearing a black outfit with a lot of silver stitching/beads on it along with silver boots she wore on the outside of her slacks. They looked like they were appearing on the Bill Anderson show together in coordinated outfits. They did a great job recreating the song from 1976. After the song, Mary Lou took a bow and started to walk off. Bill took her hand and asked her to stay with him for a minute. Bill talked about the live album MCA released in England in 1975 but never released in the U.S. of the Bill Anderson Show and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Opry. They talked about what she sang on the show and she had to think then started singing "At my door the leaves are falling" and Bill said "I Still Miss Someone". (She also performed "Tomorrow") They did not do a duet on that show as Bill told that it was on that trip he got the idea and wrote "Sometimes". To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Opry, Universal is remastering and releasing this show. I expect for us Opry fans it will be a must have. We have had a copy of the LP in our collection since 2002 and Bill autographed it then and said it was never released here. He was surprised to see it and so was his bass player James Freeze. Our copy was found in Bloomington, Indiana. I went on line and eventually found one for James to add to his collection! It is kind of an odd cover being in all red front and back with only black print and red and black photos! The front cover reads: Special Grand Ole Opry 50th Anniversary BBC Broadcast, BILL ANDERSON LIVE FROM LONDON with Mary Lou Turner, Jimmy Gateley and the Po' Boys.
I'm partial to Bill and you all know that. So often, Roy Acuff, Porter Wagoner and Jimmy Dickens are talked about as being ambassadors and spokesman for the Opry and these days I think maybe Vince is considered in that role. Love them all and they are all deserving. Bill Anderson needs to be considered in that group. Mr. Acuff stands alone as the long time face of the Opry. Porter had his TV show, suites and Dolly to be known by and Jimmy was so special in so many ways but lets face it, his size is what got him the most broad attention along with a few of his novelty tunes. Vince is kind of like Mr. Acuff, his popularity and broad appeal across genre's put him in a good position to promote the Opry. Bill Anderson should be in that group. He has done so many things in his lifetime on TV, radio an even his restaurant business deal that allowed him to promote the Opry. All these gimmicks today the Opry uses to get the word out Bill was doing similar things on any road he took in his career. Where his name went so did the Opry. Yes, Porter did "Backstage" when it was on TNN but when it was a network and syndicated show originally, Bill was the host. He's had radio shows where he was able to promote the Opry and he is as Eddie Stubbs used to say, a student of the music. He know the history well. This little known album is just another of those things connected to Bill that helped promote the Opry.
Continued on next post.
One thing I noticed at this time at the show is just how much they lean on videos. All told, I bet you see 45 minutes of video while in the house. Some of them corollate to a sponsor which I guess is the modern commercial there today and lessons the feeling you paid to see commercials. The half time show is all about the Opry NextStage artists. And throughout the show there are spots about Opry membership. I'm not saying it is all bad but there is a lot of it. I'd like to know the minutes of live music you actually see today compared to just ten years ago let alone 25. And that was with all those commercials. But the it was 2.5 hours way back when wasn't it? One last thing on the video. Here I go again! With all the video time about up and comers and the current stars, where is a little info about the remaining veterans. Shouldn't the audience be taught what they have and have had to offer the music. There are so many people in the audience for the first time who have no idea who many of the people they are seeing are, old or young. The group that sat beside me came in in the middle of Mark's second song and the lady asked me if he this was the opening act for the real show? The Opry name may be well known today but maybe not the Opry show so much.
ReplyDeleteI am glad we went. If we are in town again and Bill or others are on we might go but we don't build our trip around going to the Opry like we used to. We spent $25 each for the HOT show and saw t.5 hours of the kind of country we prefer. Darrell McCall is still a great singer! And, we spent some time talking to Dennis. The whole McCall family is really nice and they love real country music.
You don’t see 45 mins of video during the show. Maybe closer to that if you count before the show and during intermission, but it’s more like 5-10 mins during the actual show. I’ve been a few times over the past year. They do a nice job with all of it.
DeleteI didn't time it but there is a 15 minute intermission and video runs most if not all of that. They use video during some of the sponsor spots, not advertisement but music/Opry related and they show the pre show video. I did say while you were in the house so I was not limiting it to just when the curtain was up.
DeleteI'm not saying it is all bad and most of it is informative about artist, music and the Opry. But I saw very little related to the few 60's or 70's era artist that still appear. If it is worthwhile to give a background info about up and coming unknown artist it only seems fair to give nod to those who are in the later years and not as well recognized today. If they are worthy of being on the show they are worthy of a little time about their career or accomplishments. I'm not trying to say they should be giving an Opry history lesson but a few seconds of older video on the veteran artist still appearing seems to be appropriate. Yes, there is mention of the early years of the Opry but I'm speaking specifically about those still performing. For so many in the crowd the Opry is a new experience and I think many of them may not be in to country music that much. You don't have to be these days when you come to the Opry.
Yes, as I always do, I'm thinking of days gone by and the accomplishments of the older artist that should hold some importance to the audience if they want the full benefit and joy of seeing an Opry show.
Jim
By the way, I'm sure country rhodes tells you but the Opry show review was by Jim from Knightsville IN!
ReplyDeleteI left out some chart info I meant to post.
Bill and Mary Lou had the following chart success:
1975 Sometimes went to #1 and was Bill's last #1. 1978 was the last time Bill would be in the top ten with "I Can't Wait Any Longer" which went to #4.
1976 That's What Made Me Love You, #7
1977 Where Are You Going , Billy Boy, #18
1978 I'm Way Ahead of You, #25
Bill and Jan had the same number of chart records but a little better position.
1967 For Loving You, #1
1969 If It's All the Same to You #2
1970 Someday, We'll be Together #4
1971 Dis-Satisfied, #4
Jim