On Tuesday night, the Opry 100 Honors series will pay tribute to Porter Wagoner, affectionately known as "Mr. Grand Ole Opry." For several decades, following the death of Roy Acuff, Porter became the face of the Grand Ole Opry, becoming one of the most loyal and beloved members in the history of the show. It will be a special night as Grand Ole Opry members Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, The Isaacs, Mandy Barnett and Ketch Secor join in celebrating the musical life of Porter. Joining them will be Rhett Akins and making his Opry debut, Gordon Mote.
For those who are not aware, Gordon shared a close relationship with Wagoner and accompanied him on the Opry stage for several years. He will perform original music, tell personal stories, and honor Porter with a performance of one of his classic hits.
Seeing how well the first series of shows that featured Loretta Lynn, Johnny & June Carter Cash and Charlie Daniels were received, this should be another wonderful night at the Opry.
Tuesday August 12
7:00: Mandy Barnett, Chuck Mead, Ketch Secor, The Isaacs
Intermission
8:20: Rhett Akins, Connie Smith, Gordon Mote, Marty Stuart
Taking a look at the Wednesday Night Opry, he's still the Opry's newest member and Steven Curtis Chapman will be back for another Opry performance, joined by members Rhonda Vincent and The Whites. Neal McCoy, The War and Treaty, Hailey Whitters and Tucker Wetmore are also on the schedule.
Wednesday August 13
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, The Whites, Tucker Wetmore, Steven Curtis Chapman
Intermission
8:20: Hailey Whitters, Neal McCoy, The War and Treaty
Finally, Opry Country Classics is back on Thursday night. The Spotlight artist this week is Opry member Ricky Skaggs.
Opry Country Classics
Thursday August 14
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Ricky Skaggs
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Wade Hayes, Ben Haggard, Neal McCoy, Twitty & Lynn
Porter Wagoner joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in February 1957. Here is how it was reported in the Nashville Tennessean, Feb. 21, 1957:
The WSM Grand Ole Opry is bringing in nine new artists who will join the program Saturday and Saturday week, W.D. Kilpatrick, Opry director, announced yesterday. They are Porter Wagoner, sideman Dan Warren and Red Gale who will appear on Saturday night's show.
Wilma Lee, Stoney Cooper, and their 15-year-old daughter Carolee and members of the "Clinch Mountain Clan," Woody Woodheim, Johnny Clark and Jimmy Crawford, who will join the Opry March 2.
All these artists will move to Nashville immediately, Kilpatrick said. Wagoner comes to Nashville from the Ozark Jubilee program and "The Clinch Mountain Clan" comes from "The Wheeling Jamboree" on station WWVA in Wheeling, W. Va, after 12 years there.
Kilpatrick said Wagoner will under no circumstances "share or split his activities with any other operation as previously reported." A show business trade magazine had reported earlier that Wagoner would make occasional guest appearances on another country music program.
Porter Wagoner was born in West Plains, Missouri in 1927. His first band, the Blue Ridge Boys, performed on radio station KWPM-AM from a butcher shop in his native West Plains, where he cut meat. In 1951 he was hired by Si Siman as a performer on KWTO in Springfield, Missouri. This led to a contract with RCA Victor. In 1953 his song "Trademark" became a hit for Carl Smith, followed by a few hits of his own for RCA Victor. Starting in 1955, he was a featured performer on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee in Springfield. He often appeared on the show as part of the Porter Wagoner Trio with Don Warden and Speedy Haworth. Warden, on steel guitar, became Wagoner's long-time business manager. In 1957, Wagoner and Warden moved to Nashville, Tennessee, joining the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1960, he started the syndicated "Porter Wagoner Show" which aired for 21 years and was a key factor in popularizing country and gospel music across the United States. He helped launch the career of Dolly Parton by hiring her as his duet partner. They were the Country Music Association's duo of the year in 1970 and 1971, recording hit duets to include "The Last Thing on My Mind." In the 1980s, he continued to perform on the "Grand Ole Opry," toured and appeared in the movie "Honkytonk Man" with Clint Eastwood. With the new Nashville Network in the 1990s, Porter received more appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and exposure in the international television market. He has been awarded four Grammy awards, three for his work in gospel music. In later years, he remained highly successful, recording albums with a country-gospel flavor. His last album, "Gospel 2006" had the hit single, "The Dream (A True Story)." In 2002, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
When all was said and done, Porter recorded just over 50 studio albums and released 80 singles, 2 of which went to No. 1: "A Satisfied Mind" (1955), and "Misery Loves Company" (1962). He also had numerous Top 10 singles including "Company's Comin," Eat, Drink, and Be Merry," "Your Old Love Letters," "I've Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can Stand," "Sorrow On The Rocks," "Green, Green Grass of Home," "Skid Row Joe," " Cold Hard Facts of Life," and "Carroll Country Accident."
Once Porter joined the Grand Ole Opry he never left. He was an Opry member for just over 50 years before passing away in 2007.
I do not have the Opry lineup from the night he joined the cast. However, I do have the lineup from Saturday April 6, 1957, just 6 weeks after Porter joined. Here is the lineup from that night:
7:30: Nabisco
Roy Acuff: It's Hard To Love
Justin Tubb: Pepper Hot Baby
Oswald: Southern Moon
Roy Acuff: How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
Howdy Forrester: Forked Deer
7:45: American Ace
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Faron Young: I'm Gonna Live Some Before I Die
Maybelle Carter: I Never Love But One
Benny Martin: Story Of My Life
Faron Young: Schrine Of St. Cecelia
Fiddle Tune: Bill Cheatham
8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs: Shuck A Little Corn
Porter Wagoner: I Should Be With You
George Jones: Don't Stop The Music
June Carter & Smokey: Comedy
Flatt & Scruggs: Is There Room For Me
Jean Shepard: I'd Rather Die Young
Carlisles: Rough Stuff
Possum Hunters: Fire In The Mountain
Porter Wagoner: I'm Day Dreaming Tonight
Flatt & Scruggs: Down The Road
8:30: Prince Albert
Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues
Ray Price: Crazy Arms
Rod Brasfield: Comedy
Ray Price: I've Got A New Heartache
Fiddle Tune: Sally Goodin
Marty Robbins: Knee Deep In The Blues
Chet Atkins: Back Home In Indiana
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Ray Price: Crazy Arms
Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues
Hal Cook: Presentation
Ray Price: Crazy Arms
Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues
Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy
9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Ernest Tubb: TBA
Johnny & Jack: Oh Baby Mine
Stringbean: Herro Mr. Banjo
Wilburn Brothers: I'm Setting You Free
Kitty Wells: Searching
Ernest Tubb: Don't Forbid Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Johnny & Jack: I Want To Be Loved
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Wilburn Brothers: Go Away With Me
Ernest Tubb: Daisy May
9:30: Stephens
Hank Snow: Calypso Sweetheart
Lovin Brothers: Don't Laugh
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Sunny Side Of The Mountain
Chet Atkins: Limehouse House
Wilma Lee & Stoney: Cheated Too
Hank Snow: Marriage And Divorce
Ladell Sisters: Alabama Jubilee
T. Texas Tyler: Deck Of Cards
Crook Brothers: Eighth Of January
Louvin Brothers: New Partner Waltz
Hank Snow: Put Me In My Trundle Bed
10:00: Wall-Rite
Roy Acuff: I Love Mountain Music
George Jones: Uh Uh No
Maybelle Carter: Gold Watch And Chain
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light
Fiddle Tune: Money Musk
10:15: Delited
Carlisles: Theme
Ray Price: Wasted Words
Jean Shepard: If You Can Walk Away
Carlisles: Lil Liza Jane
Ray Price: You Done Me Wrong
Fiddle Tune: Grey Eagle
10:30: Hester Battery
Marty Robbins: I Can't Quit
Flatt & Scruggs: What's Good For You Should Be Alright For Me
Justin Tubb: I'm A Big Boy Now
Marty Robbins: Same Two Lips
Fiddle Tune: Old Joe Clark
10:45: De Con
Faron Young: Sweet Dreams
Wilma Lee & Stoney: Loving You
Crook Brothers: Tennessee Wagoner
Faron Young: Until I Met You
Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy
11:00: Coca Cola
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Ernest Tubb: Will You Be Satisfied That Way
Johnny & Jack: A Pleasure Is Not A Habit In Mexico
Wilburn Brothers: Go Away With Me
June Carter & Smokey: Comedy
Ernest Tubb: God's Eyes
Kitty Wells: A Change Of Heart
Stonewall Jackson: Stop Your Naggin Hoss
Stringbean: Pretty Little Pink
Gully Jumper: New Five Cents
Johnny & Jack: All The Time
Ernest Tubb: Kansas City Kitty
11:30: Jamison Mattress
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Hank Snow: Calypso Min From Juares
Louvin Brothers: You're Running Wild
T. Texas Tyler: Remember Me
Hank Snow: Rumba Boogie
11:45: Sustaining
Fiddle Tune: Back Up And Push
Porter Wagoner: I Guess I'm Crazy
Hawkshaw Hawkins: If It Ain't On The Menu
Sam and Kirk: The Wagon Is New
Benny Martin: Look What You Have Done To Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Ida Red
Porter Wagoner: Uncle Pen
All I can say is what a show that night.
It is safe to say that Porter Wagoner is well deserving as being one of the Opry Honors honorees.
Great shows this week and great to see The Wagonmaster being remembered.
ReplyDeleteOn Monday nights 8-10( August & September) Kyle Cantrell is back on the WSM airwaves with David Reed. It's a show remembering the great shows, jingles,etc from WSM vaults. At 10:00 night the first Opry show broadcasted on NBC in 1939 will air. Hope everyone will be able to tune in
The WS M remembers programming that was mentioned above is unbelievable and you guys really need to do yourselves the favor of listening. They go back to the 30s and 40s and 50s and I’m sure as the series continues through September they will go into the 70s 80s and 90s. Gordon Mote is the Floyd Cramer of this generation essentially playing on every number one Record in the last 30 years. He is also one of my closest friends in the music industry. Just one of the best people in the business. He is more in demand as a studio musician than almost anyone in Nashville, but if I send him a message, I have never gone more than an hour without a response. I texted him this morning and said I was looking forward to hearing him this evening and he immediately thanked me. It’s going to be a great show. He also does the greatest Porter impression you will ever hear in your entire life.
ReplyDeleteThe Grand Ole Opry continued with its “Opry 100 Honors” series last night by honoring legendary Opry member Porter Wagoner. The special series of Opry 100 Honors shows, sponsored by Dan Post, pay tribute to the icons who have helped shape the Opry’s first century. “Opry 100 Honors Porter Wagoner” included performances by Opry members Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, The Isaacs, Mandy Barnett, and Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor, plus Rhett Akins, Chuck Mead, Gordon Mote, and more.
ReplyDeleteDuring the show, Marty Stuart took the opportunity to unveil his specially-designed Opry 100 themed mic stand that was designed in the same iconic style worn by not only him but his longtime friend Porter Wagoner, whose style he emulated. Both wore the retro-styled stage wear designed by master designer Manuel Cuevas. This custom mic stand was inspired by Marty’s legendary style, reflecting his iconic wardrobe - specifically the look he wore on the night of his Opry induction, November 28, 1992. The mic stand will be used for special performances throughout the Opry’s centennial celebration. The stand was commissioned exclusively to celebrate Marty Stuart for the Opry’s 100th year.