What is it about the Opry?

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 14 Mar 2008 8:57 am

Just got a great email from a fellow steel player in which he states: "The Opry needs to realize that it ain't about being like "American Idol" or "You Can Be A Star", IT"S THE OPRY!

I loved it!

Bobbe

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 14 Mar 2008 9:03 am

Bobbe, you said a mouthful!

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 15 Mar 2008 3:10 pm

So far, there's not one word printed in this thread that I don't agree with 100%! I can't think of anything more to add, except; keep it up!!! I worked the Opry in ’71/’72 (Billy Walker) and again in ’77/’78 (Stonewall Jackson) and now, it's competely changed, but; not for the better, IMHO! I seldom even remember that it's the night for listening to the Opry and miss the evening radio shows completely! Fortunately there is a Sat. evening of Country Music available on RFD TV and always Great Country Music being played on XM~13! [Both available through my DirecTv Subscription!]

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 15 Mar 2008 4:31 pm

Bobbe, if that ain't the truth, eggs ain't poultry!

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 15 Mar 2008 5:53 pm

I just watched the TV Opry. Carrie Underwood will be the next Opry Member, May 10th. She did a great job with her new single and singing a Randy Travis hit!:)
Wonderful, great country singing. She did have a pedal steel player too!

Randy Travis preformed too! I saw & heard Steve Hinson on camera too!

Dennis Graves · Post by **Dennis Graves** » 15 Mar 2008 6:04 pm

Carrie Underwood? An Opry member?

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 15 Mar 2008 6:12 pm

She did a great job tonight.
She's country! I admit she's not good at interviews.

Dennis Graves · Post by **Dennis Graves** » 15 Mar 2008 6:49 pm

She's country? I don't think so.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 15 Mar 2008 7:12 pm

I think she's Country!

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 15 Mar 2008 7:44 pm

AS far as i'm concered,opey hasn't been the same since 1970s. i use to lay in the floor and get w.s.m. late at night. always MARTY would be on last,
and he would tear the house down.

Then the EARNEST TUBB record shop,after the oprey,
many laughs there.

Then the SHO=BUD show case, that was the good ol days.

Can't even get it no more,and sounds like just as well.
farris

Wally Taylor · Post by **Wally Taylor** » 15 Mar 2008 8:01 pm

Not to start anything, but just what is the definition of "Country" anymore? Is it simply in the ear of the beholder? And what are the parammeters for becoming an "Opry member"?
I still say it is all based now on who can sell records. Most of what I see today are "manufactured" artists assembled on an assembly line and no real individualism such as the greats like Merle, Charlie Pride, Buck Owens and the like. Where are the great singer-songwriters today? All I can think of today is George Strait, Alan Jackson and maybe Vince Gill. I think indeed murder was/is being committed down on music row.
And the beat goes on.

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 15 Mar 2008 8:28 pm

OK, I'm listing to the PENNY GILLEY show right now on R.F.D. wow, and the steel player just played the

STEEL GUITAR RAG. I KNOW STEEL PLAYER HATE IT, BUT

can you imagine such as this on Oprey?????

I like a hour or so of this old country music.

farris

Alan Miller · Post by **Alan Miller** » 16 Mar 2008 1:03 am

Here in the UK we only get a short prog of the "highlights " ( HA ! ) of the CMA awards each year ,i personally dont watch it now .
Its very sad to read that even the opry has died and I wonder how can this happen when there seems to be so much good country music still around ....and in demand.

Dennis Graves · Post by **Dennis Graves** » 16 Mar 2008 3:44 am

Theresa,

That's ok that you think she's country. Evidently and sadly, most folks think Cowboy Troy and Big & Rich are country also. They're probably next to join the Opry.

Dennis

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 16 Mar 2008 11:00 am

Dennis, if Ms. Underwood is not country, then what is she, and what constitutes the difference?

Dennis Graves · Post by **Dennis Graves** » 16 Mar 2008 11:25 am

Barry, I would say she belongs in the "pop" category. I'm not saying she can't sing. I think many of the ones on the radio now may have great voices. It's the material or songs they try to sing. Just not much to them.
I never really cared a whole lot for Martina McBride until she came out with the "Timeless" cd. The gal can definitely sing. She just needs good songs.

I don't think any of the present day women singers can start to compare with Loretta, Kitty, or Tammy, to name just a few. They just don't have the country voice or style.

I know I'm about as hardcore country as they come. Can't help it.. I just love that old stuff.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 16 Mar 2008 11:45 am

Just hang in there guys,MAYBE,JUST MAYBE,some one real will come along[like Dale Watson]and have a hit song,Then the industry will jump on it like a chicken on a june bug,It's ALL about the money,to hell with the music,Dennis you are right a lot of people think That artist like Chesney,Big and Rich,Cowboy Troy,are country artist,They think this way because the big labels have pounded it in their heads that this is true,If you want to hear Rock and roll,listen to groups that KNEW how to play it,like ACDC,MEGA DEATH,OZZIE,ETC.Look at the so-called AWARD shows,nothing but Hollyweird crap,I like the old rockers,Elton John is one of my favorites,Have played his music for years,does he belong on a country awards show,No,Would be like having Earnest,if he was still alive on a heavy metal show.DYKBC.

Dennis Graves · Post by **Dennis Graves** » 16 Mar 2008 11:58 am

I know what you mean Charles. I have a heavy background in bluegrass and I have seen many times through the years where someone tried to sing bluegrass, but just didn't sound right. They maybe had a great voice, but it just didn't fit the music.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 16 Mar 2008 2:05 pm

Just hang in there guys,MAYBE,JUST MAYBE,some one real will come along[like Dale Watson]and have a hit song,Then the industry will jump on it like a chicken on a june bug,...

Charlie, you may be right, but I think the probability is very low. The "majors" - "them" - have always been about money - I don't think that's gonna change. What makes you think that the younger mainstream audience is ready to turn to traditional country singers with tasteful and traditional instrumental backup? I see no indication of that. Why try to talk people who are into American Idol that what they really want is Ray Price and Dale Watson?

Either way - why wait for "them" to do something for "us"? Why don't we make something happen for ourselves? Seriously. I don't think we really need "them". I also think the odds of the mainstream jumpin' on some traditional country music will be much larger if there's an independent movement and organization promoting and developing traditional country artists. Think of the bluegrass organizations, festivals, awards, and so on.

Or we can just sit around and wait for "them" to see the obvious error of their ways, as they drive around in their limos.

Dennis Graves · Post by **Dennis Graves** » 16 Mar 2008 2:22 pm

OK, I think we're all in agreement that something needs to be done. And the hard part is figuring out what to do.
I know many of you are better at coming up with ideas than I am, not that I wouldn't try. I would certainly do what I could to promote this music that a lot of us really enjoy playing and listening to.

On a different note. One thing that made bluegrass easier to promote is the ease of bringing an instrument and setting up a jam session. One instrument in a case and you're ready to go. Bluegrass festivals were usually full of jam sessions in the camping area, especially at night. I think that is the biggest reason they go over good. Anyone that wanted to could bring their instrument and jam...

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 16 Mar 2008 2:49 pm

DENNIS

You are right about the bluegrass music and jams.

Here in Florida,they are all over the place.
most trailer parks ect.

Problems i see, NO MONEY,i have played all over this
country for all you can drink, free meals ect.

We as musicians with all our instruments ect. don't want to play for that!!!!!!!!!!

I can go JAM with these guys all i want to.

farris

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 16 Mar 2008 3:01 pm

Yes, Dennis - the jam session/festival thing is a bit different with a pedal steel or electric guitar. It requires a bit different level of organization.

But the kind of traditional country music I'm talking about doesn't require huge PA sets, big drum kits, huge electric guitar or steel guitar amps, huge bass rigs, or anything like that. I've brought my pedal steel to many jams which were bluegrass, country, or combined them both. Instruments would be a subset of acoustic guitar, steel & maybe elecric guitar, fiddle, upright bass, singers, maybe a single snare/hi-hat, and if there's a bluegrass component, banjos and/or mandolins. In the back-room jam session, the only thing electrified is steel/electric guitar, and that is kept at acoustic instrument volume. I use a little amp with my Pod back there, and we don't need a PA - if everyone is very careful about volume, we can hear the singers just fine. Out in the larger room, on stage, there's a small PA and everyone uses relatively small amps and nobody gets loud.

I don't get time to go to as many of these as I'd like, but they're always great. Part of the problem is that they don't happen very often, and there's no larger organization that promotes this kind of music.

That's why I started this thread - http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=129994 - to start talking about what it would take to start organizing traditional country music at a grass-roots level, much the same way bluegrass organizations have been doing it for decades.

I think this needs to start grass-roots, but with an eye to developing a larger organization. That has worked real well for bluegrass. In fact, I think it was critical for bluegrass to clearly establish its identity, develop a strong and organized core of enthusiasts, and promote itself to new generations.

Farris - we can't force anybody else to buy into our music. But if we can organize and develop an audience, starting with organized jam sessions and local/regional shows, maybe gradually things can get better. I think it's better to do that than to sit around and wait for somebody else to "rescue" traditional country music from the big, bad music biz.

Hey - I don't see them complaining in Texas. They just get out there and do their thing, and it seems to work.

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 16 Mar 2008 3:16 pm

Then the SHO=BUD show case, that was the good ol days.<<

Hey Farris, now you talking about a good show.

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 16 Mar 2008 3:22 pm

Hey Barry, If Ms Underwood carries a steel, she is AOK in my book...She is "new country".

Dennis Saydak · Post by **Dennis Saydak** » 16 Mar 2008 3:48 pm

IMHO, traditional country music and the Grand Old Opry used to have the power to bring tears to my eyes one minute, then lift me up and make me beam the next. Nowadays, I can hardly understand the words of some of the songs/noise that is portrayed as country.

That's my story & I'm sticking to it. Fire away!

The Steel Guitar Forum

What is it about the Opry?

What is "country music"?

Then the SHO=BUD show case,

Ms Underwood is a steel friend

G.O.O.