Grand Ole Opry 7/17 & 7/18

I will be headed to Nashville this weekend for a very special and historical night at the Grand Ole Opry. On Saturday night, Bill Anderson will be celebrating his 65th anniversary as a member of the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Nobody in the history of the show has been a member of the Opry as long as Bill. Bill joined the Opry on July 15, 1961, and as I always note, once he joined, he never left. 

Here is how the Tennessean reported it that morning: 

Ott Devine, manager of WSM's Grand Ole Opry, signs writer-singer Bill Anderson to a regular role in the Opry cast. Anderson, who records for Decca, thus becomes the 48th country music artist to attain star status on the Saturday night sessions. Former resident of Commerce, Ga., Anderson is now making his home in Nashville. He has penned such hits as "City Lights," "That's What It's Like To Be Lonesome," "Face To The Wall," etc. and his latest platter is "Po' Folks." He is married to the former Betty Rhodes, and they have 3-months-old daughter Terri Lee. Anderson appears tonight on the 8 and 11:30 Opry programs. 

In another interview, Bill wrote how the Opry invitation came about: 

"I think what probably led to me getting on the Opry was a show I did in Panama City, Florida, in late spring of '61. Opry manager Ott Devine was down in Panama City on a fishing trip and I was booked at the auditorium there as part of a package show. Ott came over to see the show. At the time, I had the record 'Po' Folks' out and it was getting pretty hot across the country. I did it on that show in Panama City and got about two or three encores--just really stopped the show with it. Ott came backstage and seemed quite impressed. I had been a guest on the Opry a few times--the first time when I had my first record for Decca in '58. 'That's What It's Like to be Lonesome'--but I hadn't really been on that much. Ott said when he got back to Nashville he was going to call me. So I was sitting home watching the All-Star baseball game on TV and about one o'clock in the afternoon my phone rang and I thought, 'Golly, I can't believe somebody is calling me and interrupting the ball game.' But it was Ott Devine and he said, 'How would you like to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry?' Needless to say, I forgot the ball game."

Bill later said: 

"I was totally in awe of the Opry. It was just so hard for me to believe that I was there with all those people I had listened to and idolized all down through the years. And it took me a long time to be comfortable. Because, if anything, I was a super fan. It was very, very hard for me to relax. And not just with the stars, but with the outstanding sidemen and musicians. It was very difficult for me to go up to them and ask them to play with me on the Opry. That was the days before I had a band. To me, the Grand Ole Opry has always been the pinnacle. I mean, it's like a kid growing up who wants to be a baseball player--in my era he wanted to play in Yankee Stadium, because that was the tops. Or if a guy wanted to be in the movies, he wanted to be in Hollywood. And for somebody who wanted to be in country music, the pinnacle, the top, the ultimate was the Grand Ole Opry. And even though its role has changed somewhat in the modern concept of country music, to me it's still the pinnacle."

I know that Bill doesn't get the recognition some of the other Country Music Hall of Fame members receive. But when you consider everything, Bill has done in his career: singer, songwriter, television host, author, Grand Ole Opry member, Songwriter's Hall of Fame member and Country Music Hall of Fame member, along with his 65+ year career in country music, he is one of the all-time greats. 

In looking at the lineup for Saturday night, Bill will be joined by fellow Grand Ole Opry members Crystal Gayle, Lorrie Morgan, The Isaacs and Rhonda Vincent. While it is nice that those Opry members will be there, I honestly was looking for more. There are several Opry members that have connections to Bill and in taking a quick look at schedules, some of those are free on Saturday. I do know that Bill did invite several of those to appear with him on Saturday and while they may not appear on stage, hopefully a few will be there to honor Bill with a backstage visit. 

In addition to those members, John Berry, Steve Dorff and Matthew Shafer are also on the schedule. If the name Matthew Shafer doesn't ring a bell, his stage name should: Uncle Kracker. And yes, he does have a connection to Bill. 

While Saturday will be the big night, let's not forget that there is a Friday Night Opry on the schedule that includes Opry members Connie Smith, John Conlee and Riders In The Sky. Joining that group are very frequent Opry guest Charles Esten, John Carter & Ana Cristina Cash (who seem to have found a new home at the Opry), The Band Loula, JigJam, from Ireland, and recent American Idol winner Hannah Harper, who will be making a return appearance on the Opry. 

Friday July 17
7:00: Riders In The Sky, John Conlee, John Carter & Ana Cristina Cash, Charles Esten
Intermission
8:20: Connie Smith, The Band Loula, Hannah Harper, JigJam

Saturday July 18
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Rhonda Vincent, John Berry, Steve Dorff, Lorrie Morgan
Intermission
8:20: Bill Anderson, Uncle Kracker, Crystal Gayle, The Isaacs

(While she is not on the lineup for Saturday, I do know that Bill invited Mary Lou Turner to appear with him)

So the thought comes to mind with Bill Anderson marking 65 years as an Opry member, is there anyone else who could reach that mark? With a little luck, there are a few. Connie Smith would reach that mark in 2030 and she would be 89. Very possible in her case. Dolly Parton would reach it in 2032 at the age of 86. Lorrie Morgan would be 90 and Lauren Alaina 93 when their turn comes. Just a few that stand out. Either way, outside of Connie, I would think everyone else is a long shot. 

Finally, before leaving Bill, here is the lineup that was posted from Saturday July 15, 1961, the night Bill Anderson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

7:30: Ray Price, Cowboy Copas, Bill Monroe, Stringbean, Tommy Jackson, Jan Howard
8:00: Flatt & Scruggs, Dick Flood, Bill Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Crook Brothers, Cousin Jake
8:30: Porter Wagoner, Bobby Lord, Archie Campbell, Jordanaires, Margie Bowes, Bob Luman
9:00: Roy Drusky, Glaser Brothers, Stonewall Jackson, Skeeter Davis, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Cousin Jody
9:30: George Hamilton IV, Bill Monroe, Johnny Forbes, Lonzo & Oscar, Mary Bee
10:00: Flatt & Scruggs, Jan Howard, Jordanaires
10:15: Bobby Lord, Loretta Lynn, Stringbean
10:30: Roy Drusky, Margie Bowes, Stonewall Jackson
10:45: Glaser Brothers, Cousin Jody, Crook Brothers
11:00: Porter Wagoner, Bob Luman, George Hamilton IV, Lonzo & Oscar, Sam & Kirk McGee, Jordanaires, Fruit Jar Drinkers
11:30: Bill Monroe, Bill Anderson, Skeeter Davis, Dick Flood, Johnny Forbes

What is interesting is that Bill wrote in his autobiography that it was Billy Grammer who introduced him that night and he sang "Po' Folks." And while Billy is not listed on the lineup that I have, I trust Bill's memory. 

Congratulations to Bill Anderson and Happy 65th!!