There is a full schedule of shows this week, as in addition to the Tuesday and Wednesday Night Opry shows, Opry Country Classics returns on Thursday night.
Highlighting the mid-week shows are another guest appearance by Jelly Roll on Tuesday night, the long-awaited return of The Whites to the Opry on Wednesday night and the return of Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers on Thursday night.
Starting off with the Tuesday Night Opry, as mentioned, Jelly Roll is back for another guest appearance. If you remember his last appearance, he stated that until the new Tennessee Titans stadium opens, of which he stated that he will be the opening act, he will only appear in Nashville on the Grand Ole Opry. Also appearing on Tuesday Night will be comedian Leanne Morgan and Clay Walker. The only Opry member on the schedule is Dailey & Vincent.
Tuesday August 5
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Holly Williams, Jon Randall & Jessi Alexander, Dave Barnes
Intermission
8:20: Clay Walker, Leanne Morgan, Jelly Roll
Moving ahead to Wednesday night, The Whites have not appeared on the Opry since Buck passed away in January. They have been missed, and I am glad to see that they are back on the schedule for Wednesday night. Opry members Rhonda Vincent, Mandy Barnett, T. Graham Brown and Chris Janson will be joining them. There is an Opry debut on Wednesday night as Lanie Gardner will be making her first Opry appearance.
Wednesday August 6
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Vincent Mason, Mandy Barnett, T. Graham Brown
Intermission
8:20: The Whites, Aaron Weber, Lanie Gardner, Chris Janson
Finally, Opry Country Classics returns to the schedule and will continue into the fall. After Larry Gatlin fell off the schedule during the spring run of shows, some were asking if Larry would be back as the host, and I am happy to say that he is. Aubry Rodriquez, who is the daughter of country legend Johnny Rodriquez, who we lost earlier this year, will be making her Opry debut. Also appearing is comedian Gary Mule Deer. Considering that this is the "classics" show, I wonder if he will be doing some comedy that was made famous by past Opry stars Archie Campbell or Duke of Paducah, among others.
Opry Country Classics
Thursday August 7
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: The Bellamy Brothers
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Aubry Rodriquez, Gary Mule Deer, The Isaacs
I know many have messaged me that they appreciate seeing the older Opry lineups that I post. Thanks!! Here is one from Saturday August 6, 1988. That Saturday night was the last Opry appearance by Webb Pierce. Webb had been an Opry member in the 1950s, during the period when Webb was one of the biggest names in country music. Webb didn't stay long as business interests, and lack of pay from the Opry, sent him in a different direction. Although he was no longer an Opry member, Webb would come back and make occasional appearances. The last one took place 37 years ago. Here is the running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): Right or Wrong
Wilma Lee Cooper: This Old House
Charlie Walker: Just Call Me Lonesome/Take Me Back to Tulsa
6:45: Rudy's
The 4 Guys (host): Sing It High; Sing It Low
Jeannie Seely: Why Doesn't He Just Leave Me Alone
The 4 Guys: Look Out For Me, Old Muddy Water
7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): My World Ain't Turning Yet
Jean Shepard: A Stranger In My Place
Ray Pillow: So Far, Not So Good
Webb Pierce: There Stands The Glass/Memory No. 1
Jack Greene: You Are My Treasure/There Goes My Everything
7:30: Standard Candy
Tom T Hall (host): Faster Horses
Osborne Brothers: Midnight Flyer
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
The Wagoneers: I Want To Know Her Again/Every Step Of The Way
Tom T Hall: The Old Side of Town/The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye/Faded Love
Billy Walker: A Millon & One/Charlie's Shoes
Bill Carlisle: I'm Movin'
Opry Square Dance Band & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light
8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Vic Willis Trio: American Trilogy
Teddy Wilburn: Lovesick Blues
Connie Smith: Sing; Sing; Sing
Hank Snow: Among My Souvenirs
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jack Greene (host): Try A Little Kindness
David Houston: Have A Little Faith
Wilma Lee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Ray Pillow: Don't We All Have The Right
The 4 Guys: Tennessee
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Walker (host): Cherokee Maiden
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me Again
Charlie Walker: Tell Me Again/Just Call Me Lonesome/San Antonio Rose
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting In The Air
Tom T Hall: Old Dogs & Children & Watermelon Wine/I Love
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
10:30: Pet Milk
Osborne Brothers (host): Flying South
Roy Drusky: Time Has Made A Change In Me
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Glen Duncan: Katy Hill
10:45: B.C. Powder
Billy Walker (host): Down To My Last Cigarette
Jean Shepard: At The Time
Opry Square Dance Band & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Bill Cheatham
Billy Walker: Wild Texas Rose
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Justin Tubb: Looking Back To See
Webb Pierce: In The Jailhouse Now/I'm Walkin' The Dog
Hank Snow: Little Buddy
11:30: Creamette
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jan Howard: Slow Burning Memory
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Teddy Wilburn: Arkansas
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby On My Mind
Stonewall Jackson: Old Chunk of Coal/Waterloo
Webb Pierce was one of the most popular Honky-tonk stars in country music and had more singles on the Billboard charts than any other artist in the 1950s. His biggest hit "There Stands the Glass" (1953), is regarded as one of country's classic drinking songs. For Decca Records, he charted 48 singles, 39 reaching the top ten to include "In the Jailhouse Now," " More and More," "Backstreet Affair," "Why, Baby, Why," "Oh, So Many Years" and "Finally."
In 2001, a decade after Webb passed away, he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. There have been stories written over the years that there were voters who refused to vote for Webb while he was alive because of how he had alienated people in Nashville. It took the 2001 election, which was the year of the mass induction, to finally get Webb into the Hall.
Webb Pierce passed away in February 1991 after a period of declining health.
The hits keep coming. Benny Birchfield, the widower of Jean Shepard, has passed. He was a big part of the Osborne Brothers sound and was also closely associated with Roy Orbison. In addition, Tommy Nallie of the Sons of the Pioneers passed away today after recently being diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was 77 and was the younger brother of former Pioneer Luther Nallie. While they were not Opry members the Pioneers are one of Country Music’s most iconic groups and certainly the inspiration for Riders in the Sky.
ReplyDeleteSteve
Thanks Steve. My brother just told me. Last time we saw Bennie was at the Rope show in June 1019. He was always friendly and I'll always believe was as much for inviting us backstage at the Opry in 1999 as Jean was.
ReplyDeleteTough few days here.
Jim
For those who may not know, Jelly Roll has been participating in the WWE wrestling promotion and on Saturday night, he was in a match at Summerslam. He was fully involved in the match, including being slammed through a table. He took the loss but seemed to come out of it ok. Basically, he continues to expand his brand.
ReplyDeleteNo question that Jelly Roll is the biggest name in country music right now.
ReplyDeleteI personally like the guy, but I worry about his future. Hope he can survive all the fame and attention that has been brought to him. Sometimes stardom is not a blessing.