Grand Ole Opry 4/11 & 4/12

When the Grand Ole Opry announced plans for Opry 100, the plans included a series of tribute shows that would honor past Opry members. Last weekend, the following was announced: 

As part of its ongoing Opry 100 celebration, the Grand Ole Opry, presented by Humana, is set to launch "Opry 100 Honors" on May 13. The special series of Opry 100 Honor shows, sponsored by Dan Post, will pay tribute to several of the icons who have helped shape the Opry's first century. The first show will honor Loretta Lynn (May 13), followed by shows paying tribute to Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash (June 18) and Charlie Daniels (July 8). Additional shows will be announced soon. 

"As we continue our Opry 100 celebration, we're excited to open the door to the Opry's next century and to laud each of the Opry's current members. It's also important to us to honor some of the iconic artists of the past who helped the Opry achieve worldwide acclaim and ensured the show's longevity. We're looking forward to this series featuring the music of artists who became household names and whose legacies the Opry will still be celebrating in another 100 years," said Dan Rogers, Opry executive producer. 

Currently the Loretta Lynn tribute on May 13 will include Opry members Crystal Gayle, Martina McBride, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, along with Emmy Russell and Twitty & Lynn. 

The tribute to Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash on June 18 currently includes Opry members Lainey Wilson, The Gatlin Brothers, along with John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Cash, Carlene Carter and The Tennessee Four. 

Finally, the Charlie Daniels tribute on July 8 includes Opry members Trace Adkins, Jamey Johnson and Chris Young, along with Gretchen Wilson. 

It would appear that the plan might be to schedule one of these tribute shows on a monthly basis, and if so, I am looking forward to seeing who else the Opry honors. 

Now looking at this week's weekend shows at the Grand Ole Opry, the Friday Night Opry has Opry members Mandy Barnett, T. Graham Brown and The Isaacs on the schedule. The Malpass Brothers, who have made the trip to Nashville this week, are also on the schedule, along with Jim Lauderdale, Abbey Cone, Payton Smith and comedian Andrew Stanley. 

On Saturday night, Opry members Bill Anderson, Rhonda Vincent, Gene Watson, Don Schlitz and Gary Mule Deer head up the schedule, along with Opry NextStage artist Dasha, Jessica Willis Fisher and Drew Baldridge. 

Friday April 11
7:00: Mandy Barnett, Payton Smith, Jim Lauderdale, The Isaacs
Intermission
8:20: Abbey Cone, Andrew Stanley, The Malpass Brothers, T. Graham Brown

Saturday April 12
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Rhonda Vincent, Drew Baldridge, Jessica Willis Fisher, Bill Anderson
Intermission
8:20: Gene Watson, Opry Square Dancers, Gary Mule Deer, Dasha, Don Schlitz

For this week's look back, it was on Saturday April 12, 1986, that the Grand Ole Opry held their annual reunion show.

From the Tennessean: 

The Grand Ole Opry welcomes back some of the great musicians from its glorious past during tomorrow night's 13th Annual Homecoming Show. Performances by Chet Atkins, Zeke Clements, Curly Fox, Pee Wee King, The Jordanaires and Clyde Moody are scheduled for both early and late Opry shows, said Opry publicist Jerry Strobel. 

"They'll be performing at different times throughout the night," Strobel said. "The idea is to bring back people who had been members of the Opry and had a dramatic impact on country music. We want to let the fans hear some of the great artists and to let the artists renew old acquaintances backstage."

The first such Homecoming Show was held in February 1973 in the Opry's former Ryman Auditorium home in downtown Nashville, Strobel said. Since the country music institution's move to Opryland, the even has been scheduled annually in early spring. 

Country Music Hall of Fame member Atkins now enjoys international renown as a guitarist and music business figure, but he was just a 22-year-old band musician from East Tennessee when he made his Opry debut with Red Foley's band in 1946. 

Country radio barn dance veteran Clements began his career in the 1920s at the National Barn Dance in Chicago and also starred at the Hollywood Barn Dance and at Midwest radio stations KHJ and WHO before coming to the Opry in the 1940s. Singer-Songwriter Clement, who supplied the voice of the dwarf "Bashful" in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was also the duet partner of honky-tonk singing cowgirl Texas Ruby

Famous trick fiddler Fox is another former duet partner of Texas Ruby, known as the "Sophie Tucker of the Hillbillies." After Ruby's death in the 1960s, Fox continued to delight audiences with his comic mule imitations and fancy fiddle techniques. 

Legendary vocal group The Jordanaires became Grand Ole Opry members in 1949 but made the move that took them from regional fame to international acclaim in 1956, when they made the first of a long series of records backing pop music immortal Elvis Presley.

Singer-accordionist King made his place in country music history secure when he and duet partner Redd Stewart sat down one night in 1946 and wrote Tennessee Waltz, one of the all-time hits of the genre. 

Guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Moody won fame both as a pioneering member of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass boys and as a bandleader in his own right.  

Now, here is the running order from that night 39 years ago: 

1st show

6:30: Bonanza
Jimmy Dickens (host): I'm Little But I'm Loud

Zeke Clements: Tennessee Skies/Just A Little Lovin'

Jimmy Dickens: My Eyes Are Jealous/Out Behind The Barn

6:45: Rudy's

Stonewall Jackson (host): Muddy Water

Jan Howard: Rockin' With You

Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk Of Coal

7:00: Shoney's
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball

Chet Atkins: San Antonio Stroll/Under The Double Eagle

Pee Wee King: Tennessee Waltz

Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted

Roy Acuff: Jesus Will Outshine Them All

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Uncle Pen

Jean Shepard: I'll Sail My Ship Alone

Clyde Moody: I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome

Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away

Crook Brothers & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin

Bill Monroe: My Little Georgia Rose/Wheel Hoss

8:00: Martha White
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends

Connie Smith: That's The Way Love Goes

Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

Roy Drusky: Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy/Have I Stayed Away Too Long

8:30: Music Valley Drive

Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On

Del Reeves: A Dozen Pair Of Boots

Jordanaires: It's Gonna Rain

The Whites: Hangin' Around/Jole Blon
Hank Snow: Wheels/Snow In Hawaii

2nd show

9:30: Dollar General

Bill Monroe (host): John Henry

The 4 Guys: Wings Of A Dove

Lorrie Morgan: Stand By Your Man

Charlie Louvin: Nobody's Darling But Mine

Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets

Bill Monroe: Cryin' Holy Unto The Lord

Blake Williams: Shuckin' The Corn

10:00: Little Debbie

Jimmy Dickens (host): Geraldine

Jeannie Seely: Tell Me Again

Ray Pillow: Congratulations

Jimmy Dickens: She Always Got What She Wanted

10:15: Sunbeam

Roy Acuff (host): Meeting In The Air

Chet Atkins: Kentucky/Wheels

Wilma Lee Cooper: Wildwood Flower

Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light

10:30: Heinz

Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends/Rindercella

Pee Wee King: Deck Of Cards/Tennessee Waltz

10:45: Heil-Quaker

Jack Greene (host): Try A Little Kindness

Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle

Crook Brothers & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sail Away Ladies

Jack Greene: She Don't Cry

11:00: Coca Cola

Hank Snow (host): Golden Rocket

Justin Tubb: Thanks Troubadour, Thanks

Clyde Moody: Shenandoah Valley Waltz

The Whites: Hometown Gossip/Angel Band

Hank Snow: Trouble In Mind

11:30: Quincey's

Del Reeves (host): Two Dollars In The Jukebox/A Dime At A Time/Looking At The World Through A Windshield

Roy Drusky: Tennessee Border/What About You

Del Reeves: Got A Little Bit Of Heaven On Earth/Good Hearted Woman

(Curly Fox was scheduled for both shows but cancelled).

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.