On Saturday night, Grand Ole Opry member Steve Wariner will be celebrating his 30th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Steve joined the cast on May 11, 1996.
From The Tennessean, Saturday May11:
Sometimes you're got to make a record solely for the sake of music, without worrying at all about commercial success. So without hope of radio airplay, Steve Wariner has recorded his first all-instrumental album. Chances of booming sales are slim, but this is something Wariner has wanted to do for years.
"I've thought about this for a long, long time," says Wariner. "And my hat is off to Tim DuBois for letting me do it." DuBois, who heads Arista Records, gave Wariner his blessing for the No More Mr. Nice Guy album knowing that it was unlikely to sell.
Steve Wariner if fulfilling two lifelong dreams this year. The instrumental album is one. The other occurs tonight as he is inducted into the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. "It's the supreme achievement and the ultimate stamp of approval," says Wariner. "I am profoundly honored to belong. The Opry puts me in the company of the most beloved performers in the world."
Wariner's roots go back to the show's old days at the Ryman Auditorium. He made his debut on the stage as Dottie West's 17-year-old bass player in 1973. "Linebaugh's Cafeteria was still down on Broadway, the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. I did all that-played the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, ate at Linebaugh's, been in Tootsie's many times. And I am so glad I caught the tail end of that era. The very first time on the Opry, I was so scared to death. We were late and I was ridin' with Dottie in her Cadillac, flyin' downtown tryin' to get to the Opry. We were listenin' to WSM, and they were announcing her name as we were pullin' in the parkin' lot. I had no idea where to go, where to plug in. They're rushin' us through and I'm seein' Marty Robbins and Hank Snow and I'm just fascinated. Boy, what a great time."
Joining Steve Wariner on Saturday night will be his good friend Bill Anderson, along with members Dailey & Vincent and Henry Cho. Also on the schedule is someone who has not been on the Opry in a while, Michael Martin Murphy. Casey and I saw Michael in concert last year and the show was wonderful. Michael has done the Opry a few times in his career. Rounding out that schedule are Sierra Hull, Carter Faith and Scott Hasting.
While the focus will be on Saturday night, there is also a very good Friday Night Opry this weekend with members T. Graham Brown, Rhonda Vincent and Charlie McCoy. Also scheduled are two acts that have recently appeared on the Opry and both were well received: Tia Sillers and Suzanne Cox & Brandon Ratcliff. I sure didn't take long for the Opry to have both of them back. Rounding out the Friday show are Lauren Watkins, Lee Roy Parnell and CAIN.
Also as part of the Friday Night Opry, radio personality Delilah will be a guest announcer. From the WSM Facebook page:
A special guest co-host is joining us on WSM this Friday! The one and only @radiodelilah will be On Air With Eryn live at 5p CT, talking about her trailblazing radio career, her connection to country music, and spinning some of her favorite country songs as she shares her personal stories behind each one. Then later that night, she’ll step into the guest announcer role on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
While Delilah will be guest announcing on Friday night, a reminder that Saturday is WSM Night at the Opry. Many of WSM's personalities will be guest announcing during that show.
Friday May 8
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Lauren Watkins, Rhonda Vincent, Tia Sillers
Intermission
8:20: Suzanne Cox & Brandon Ratcliff, Lee Roy Parnell, CAIN, Charlie McCoy
Saturday May 9
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Dailey & Vincent, Bill Anderson, Sierra Hull, Michael Martin Murphy
Intermission
8:20: Scotty Hasting, Opry Square Dancers, Henry Cho, Carter Faith, Steve Wariner
As mentioned, Steve Wariner joined the Opry on May 11, 1996. Here are the posted Opry lineups for that weekend:
Friday May 10
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host), Oswald & Charlie, Wilma Lee Cooper, Rhonda Vincent
8:00: Bill Anderson (host), Jan Howard, Stu Phillips, Osborne Brothers
8:30: Grandpa Jones (host), Bill Carlisle, Skeeter Davis, The Whites
9:00: Jim Ed Brown (host), Jeanne Pruett, Del Reeves
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host), Jean Shepard, Billy Walker Johnny Russell
10:00: Mike Snider (host), Charlie Walker, Mac Yasuda, Jeannie Seely
10:30: Jack Greene (host), Ray Pillow, Karen Breiner, Marty Stuart
Saturday May 11
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host), Jeanne Pruett
6:45: Mike Snider (host), Bill Carlisle
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host), Jean Shepard, Billy Walker, Skeeter Davis, Ray Pillow
7:30: Bill Anderson (host), Chet Atkins, Steve Wariner
8:00: Jimmy Dickens (host), Ray Pillow, Riders In The Sky, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host), Jeannie Seely, The Whites
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host), Jeanne Pruett, Oswald & Charlie, Steve Wariner
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host), Jan Howard
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host), Sweethearts of the Rodeo
10:30: Mike Snider (host), Charlie Walker
10:45: Bill Anderson (host), Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host), Jim Ed Brown, Billy Walker, Riders In The Sky
11:30: Johnny Russell (host), Stu Phillips, The Whites, Jean Shepard
And here now is the actual running order from that Saturday night show:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Grandpa Jones (host): Ball Headed End of the Broom
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Grandpa Jones: Kitty Klyde
6:45: Joggin' In A Jug
Mike Snider (host): Short Little Lulu/Clinch Mountain Backstip/Mississippi Sawyer
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle
Mike Snider: Battle Cry of Freedom/Get Your Hand Off My Knee & Load the Cannon
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jean Shepard: Bouquet of Roses
Billy Walker: Jesus Walks In
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Ray Pillow: Darling, Take Pity on Me
Porter Wagoner: A Satisfied Mind/Big Wind
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): But You Know I Love You
Chet Atkins: (?)/Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Steve Wariner: Why Goodbye/Heart Trouble/Midnight Fire/What I Didn't Do/Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Bill Anderson & Steve Wariner: The Tips of My Fingers
8:00: Martha White
Jimmy Dickens (host): May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Sweethearts Of The Rodeo: One More Night/Since I Found You
Riders In The Sky: Lonely River
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Jimmy Dickens: A Death in the Family
8:30: Kraft
Jim Ed Brown (host): Fools
Jeannie Seely: Here Comes My Baby
Del Reeves: Wild Blood
The Whites: Pins & Needles/Swing Down Chariot
Jim Ed Brown: The Old Lamplighter/Looking Back to See
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'all Come
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Oswald: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Steve Wariner: (?)/A Woman Loves
Steve Wariner & Rick Wayne: (?)
10:00: Massy Ferguson
Grandpa Jones (host): The New Vitamin
Jan Howard: Take Me As I Am Or Let Me Go
Grandpa Jones: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
10:15: Red Foot Bath
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Sweethearts Of The Rodeo: Mule Skinner Blues
Jimmy Dickens: We Could
10:30: Purnell's Sausage
Mike Snider (host): (?)
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Mike Snider: The Fur Coat
10:45: Fairfield
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Acorn Hill
Bill Anderson: The Corner of My Life
11:00: Coca-Cola
Jeannie Seely (host): Speaking of the Devil
Jim Ed Brown: The Family Bible
Billy Walker: When A Man Loves A Woman/Smokey Places
Riders In The Sky: Miss Molly/Always Drink Upstream From the Herd
Jeannie Seely: Here Comes My Baby
11:30: Loreal
Johnny Russell (host): Good Hearted Woman
Stu Phillips: Heart Over Mind
Jean Shepard: Farewell Party
The Whites: San Antonio Rose/Keep on the Sunny Side
Johnny Russell: Act Naturally
Looking back, I can't believe that Steve has been an Opry member for 30 years. And overall, he has been a good member making a steady stream of appearances each year. Usually around Hall of Fame election time, his name comes up in conversations, and I would think that someday he might get in.
I can also add that from personal standpoint, Steve is one of the nicest Opry members that I have met. Congratulations to Steve upon his 30th year as an Opry member.
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