State of the Opry

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 7 Feb 2000 4:52 am

Hi John,
Its good to hear from you. I assure you I was not angry at Steve or Malcolm when I posted, but I was and still am defending one of my dear friends choices. I am really disappointed by all the insinuations towards Steve W.

I again read all of the posts. And along with yours, they imply that Steve Wariner somehow got away with something by using us. It was implied that the union rules with the Opry were somehow broken and we were harming Steve's band members income.

I have known Wariner since he was a sideman for Dottie West back in 73. Even though Steve is now a star he acts more like a sideman than any star I know and treasures his road band. He is a prince to work with. Thats his reputation.
Steve Wariner wanted to bring to the Opry one of HIS many bands of studio musicians that rarely play out live. Steve got the call to perform while we were recording. Steve said I sure wish we could do this swing song we were recording. We accepted. Thats all there is to it.
A side note to this issue. We had Leon Rhodes in our dressing room jamming. Pete Fisher was across the hall and could hear we all loved his playing. Steve admires all players and has my respect and friendship.
I'll tell Dad hello from you. He enjoyed his years at Sho-Bud, mainly for the nice folks he worked with and met along the way.
Paul[This message was edited by Franklin on 07 February 2000 at 04:57 AM.]

MALCOLM KIRBY · Post by **MALCOLM KIRBY** » 7 Feb 2000 6:41 am

Paul,
I have the utmost respect for Warnier, Mason, Yourself, and Steve Hinson. I've been a fan of Wariner since I first saw him with Bob Luman in the late 70's. What a talent.
I'm also a fan the Opry, but do not agree with some of the decisions that the "powers that be" at the Opry have made recently.
Sorry if my posts were taken the wrong way.
Malcolm

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 7 Feb 2000 8:52 am

I am sure glad to hear someone besides myself acknowledge the fact that Steve worked for Bob Luman.Dotty was not his first gig.As a matter of fact Steve played for Luman before he went to work for Dotty which would have been in the very early 70s,thats when I met him.If Steve learned anything about how to treat sidemen he learned it from Bob.He was a jewel and he lived in the same apt.complex that Gregg and I did in the late 60s.

Randy Pokeda · Post by **Randy Pokeda** » 7 Feb 2000 12:32 pm

Hey Paul: Great to see you back here. And it's great to see you not taking any crap. I hope you will stick around, as you have many supporters. It was great to see all you guys working with Steve. Hope to see more. I think the Opry rocks. Randy.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 7 Feb 2000 1:47 pm

...so now my posts are" crap"...Paul,I wouldn't do anything to hurt your feelings or make you mad for all the money in the world.You misunderstood me completely-for all I knew Steve Wariner's band didn't want to play the Opry!I was just wondering out loud...didn't mean to start a war.I didn't even see the show.Believe me-there was no"crap"directed at you,or Steve,or anyone.I too have known Steve since he was Bob Luman's bass player(and Buddy Cannon too,for that matter)and he is the nicest guy in town.I'm sorry you took it the wrong way...

Manny Shuffles · Post by **Manny Shuffles** » 9 Feb 2000 10:51 pm

amazing! someone took a shot at wariner and paul shot back and then everyone ran to their keyboards to make a retraction. Steve and paul are two of the nicest guys in the biz and 1st and foremost two of the best. So who are you or i to say who they can and cant use? and no, paul didn't take it wrong. he took it just as it was written. no one thought he was watchin though did ya?

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If you can't swing it, you might as well boil it!

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 10 Feb 2000 4:45 am

I never paid too much attention to this whole post until Paul came on,tell it like it is Paul. So many of us have taken issue on the Opry management myself very largely,My issues are with Management. I thought Steve was making a good point. Why not have the very best. Which artist on the Opry would not want "the Players" for a TV segment.Plus why can't friends get together on the Opry? It definately wasn't a showcase. A lot of us don't have all the info before we shoot our mouths off.Paul great to see you on again. Haven't seen you since a night at gabes when Nokie Edwards showed up to pick. Following night you invited us to the Hof lounge.where you were working and I believe "Thumbs" was there too, oo so long ago.

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cjc

[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 10 February 2000 at 04:47 AM.]

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 10 Feb 2000 5:26 am

And who are you,Mr."Shuffles",to tell me or anyone else what we meant when we posted?I didn't retract anything-I just offered an explanation...Like I said,I wondered how come Steve's band didn't do the show.Many times Vince Gill has appeared on the Opry without his band-whether it was last minute and he couldn't round them up,or they would rather had ahd a Saturday night at home,or what,I don't know,but they weren't there.I was JUST WONDERING!So just let it go,will you?

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 10 Feb 2000 7:31 am

I have worked the Opry several times in the past few months and I think that it is in good hands. There were some changes made that none of us understand but then again it is none of our business. As far as the staff band is concerned it has never sounded any better than it does now. And one last comment, If they fired Tommy White today there is not one of us that would not jump at the chance to take his job and would be more than happy to help Mr. Fisher justify the change.It is no ones business who Steve Wariner or any other artist uses on the opry or anywhere else for that matter. I frankly am going to spend more time learning to play than worrying about something I cannot change and I might suggest that to others.

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I will sing to the Lord because he has been so good to me.
Johnny Cox
Zumsteel D10/11
[This message was edited by Johnny Cox on 10 February 2000 at 07:36 AM.][This message was edited by Johnny Cox on 10 February 2000 at 07:38 AM.]

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 10 Feb 2000 9:43 am

Wow...

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 10 Feb 2000 12:35 pm

Bravo Johnny...

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 10 Feb 2000 5:26 pm

I frankly am going to spend more time learning to play ...

Man, if Johnny Cox is still "learning", there's more to this instrument than I ever imagined!

Bill Sharpe · Post by **Bill Sharpe** » 10 Feb 2000 6:57 pm

Jeez, Nokie Edwards, guess I must be
approaching Smiley's age group

Nokie gave me manyhours of
listening/learning pleasure when I
was in High School and later.

Yep, we all have management to answer to,(if we want to keep working) and try to be flexible, and though I echo many of the sentiments expressed about the current "State of the Opry" and Country music in general, we do what we have to do to make a living, and retain a sense of integrity too.

I'm just glad that the Helms' Seymours' Hugheys', Petersons' Roberts', Nokie Edwards, and so many more are still around to make the experience and music as I always remembered.

Just my 2 Centavos worth

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B#

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 10 Feb 2000 7:34 pm

I think it's time to close this

Jeff Peterson · Post by **Jeff Peterson** » 10 Feb 2000 7:37 pm

Still around? How old am I? I'd better check.
As to this thread, it has been most interesting reading. It took alot to get Paul to post again. I'm late in responding as I was shooting a video on our(Clint Black's) latest release 'Been There'. It just so happens that Clint co-wrote that song with Steve Wariner.
We spent 14 hours yesterday, the 9th, in a little sound stage in Nashville, and I got to work with two of the nicest, smartest, and most even tempered and talented men around..Clint and Steve. Most of this Opry stuff is just that...stuff. Steve would no more deprive his band-or anyone else, from anything than he would his own family. It's fun for these guys(Clint/Steve) to play with different artists(Paul, Glen, John Hobbs, Brent, Stuart, etc, once in a while).
Clint had Paul play on a couple of albums and I wasn't left out. If I was making an album, I'd have Paul play...and Jerry Douglas, Eddie Bayers, and so on. I've been very priveleged to play on master sessions with alot of these guys, and I'll tell you straight....it don't get no better. These guys are so good, they are in demand....not crashing the Opry..you practically need a shoehorn to get them out of the studio because ALL the producers want them....not(and this is emphasized) just because they record 'fast'....it's because they are the best there is working right now. You want to change things? Practise and bump them out of the slot.
Until then, open your mind, develop some tolerance, adjust your seat, and believe me.....Martina McBride has one of the best voices in contemporary music today.