Opry Live, what a waste of time

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 21 Jan 2002 4:33 pm

Jack,
you can read my rather long-winded sentiments concerning the Opry in your posting on "Pete Fisher Strikes Again"

For many of us, playing the Opry is something we charish and appreciate. It is unfortunate that the TV prtion is "not" an example of the whole show, rather an example of the stand that those who are in charge prefer.

Thank God for the older acts who have been the mainstay of the Opry, if it weren't for them it would be rather "bleek" around there and a whole lot more commercials would be there on the CMT one hour version to make up for all the "new acts" who don't attend. Like it or not, it does take all of us to make a show. The older acts have devoted their lives to seeing that there was an Opry, it is just too bad the newer acts don't feel like that, too!

Just my humble opinion from "the inside."

Dave ( I get to see "Tommy White" play from up real close! wheeewwww!!!

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 21 Jan 2002 4:42 pm

Jack,
By not watching Saturday night you missed out on hearing "Chad" working for Andy Griggs. My point being don't be so critical. You may have missed good steel playing. Theresa

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 22 Jan 2002 2:25 am

Geeze..I think everyone is basically stating the same thing here..The Opry in-itself is still a good show. The TV portion is getting worse. Yes you can hang out for the "Full Hour" like Larry King would say and maybe see a good close-up of a quality Steel player. But thats not the issue raised here. Lets just all remember that while they are conducting some interview or doing some narration or one of those Opry Flashbacks, Connie Smith may be performing right at that moment with Johnny Cox ripping a solo , or maybe we would miss Tommy White ! Certainly the actual Live Show is most likely a quality show, but those that are producing the TV portion have a priority of deciding which acts to delete in favor of the Blonde gals camera time, or if Garth or Allen, and I'm ok with that,well not Garth, are scheduled to play 3 or 4 songs they need to make sure the air time is available for the 3 or 4 songs . So say goodbye Connie ... No one is against seeing a steel player or the acts on the Opry..When it was on TNN, the 30 minute show was music, the show ahead of it Opry Backstage was the interview stuff..
TP

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 22 January 2002 at 02:38 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 22 Jan 2002 3:20 am

I think it gets down to who the audience is for the TV show. Most guys could care less about the talk and want "action". The gals like all the gossip, etc and will accept that with the sound "clips".

Same way with the syndicated radio shows. They play the top "10" or "20" (or whatever the amount) each week but also have a singer or band on and do a lot of chatting (and promoting) with the band. I personally think the chatting part is a waste of time.

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 22 Jan 2002 7:25 am

I was really knocked out by Chad Udeen's playing-taste and tone. Was anyone else curious about the steel he played? It has a Sho Bud label but looked like a formica Emmons. If Chad's on here maybe he can tell us about the guitar.

I'm just glad we have some live TV. At least its not like when I was a kid and we had only the radio and had to endure Glen Campbell, Mac Davis, etc. etc. in order to get to hear a song by Merle, Charlie, Joe Stampley, Dottie West, etc.

I also remember, as an 11 year old, listening to the Opry while riding with my dad to play the dance on Saturday night and asking him, as we listened to the Opry, why all we seemed to hear was The Fruit Jar Drinkers and Bill Carlisle when hit making members like Jack Green and Loretta Lynn were hardly ever on. It was because they were big stars and had plenty of well paying road gigs.

I really think we look at the past through rose colored glasses. Just my opinion.

Bill C.

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"Gimme a steel guitar, 2 or 3 fiddles and a Texas rhythn section that can swing"..W. Nelson

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 22 Jan 2002 8:09 am

That steel seemed to have Mullen fret boards on it. Sho-Bud label. Looked like an Emmons body. Oh God!!! Its one of those steel guitar mutants!!!

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 22 Jan 2002 8:37 am

Say what you want to about the TV show, All I really know is that now when we work the one hour show I now get paid twice as much as I did when it was 30 minutes! In TV money that ain't half bad.

Dave

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 22 Jan 2002 9:08 am

Just curious Dave, can I assume that you get paid more for appearing during the televised segment? Do you get double pay whether your portion gets on TV or not? If not, maybe it's the amount of pay going out that determines who gets seen or not.

Billy Johnson · Post by **Billy Johnson** » 22 Jan 2002 10:02 am

I always heard you get paid by the amount of strings you have on your instrument. I hear the Piano players rake it in.

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 22 Jan 2002 10:39 pm

James,
yup! Kind of like being a cop!

Dave

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 23 Jan 2002 7:54 am

Forget the Grand Ole Opry. True, read, watch reruns or listen to CD's. If you are able go out and support your local country bands--ask your clubs to hire local bands. Many of them sound better than what is on the Opry. After too many years, I am once again in a band and enjoying every minute of it playing weekend gigs. If you are really bored, come hear us

! My main point is that there is more to country music than the Grand Ole Opry show. Joe

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 23 Jan 2002 12:41 pm

Of course, on the other hand the "subject" of this topic was concerning the OPRY, not local bands. Was it not?

I doubt you'll find a steel player in any "local" band anywhere any better than TOMMY WHITE on the Grand Ol' Opry!

Dave[This message was edited by Dave Robbins on 23 January 2002 at 12:48 PM.]

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 23 Jan 2002 5:46 pm

Dave--The topic is "Opry live, what a waste" was posted because people are unhappy with the OPRY. What I'm saying is that it is a big country out there (let's not forget our friends in Canada and the rest of the world). There are many places you can hear super country music--what about Branson? People around the Pittsburgh area could go to Wheeling and hear a superb show at the Wheeling Jamboree which features Charlie McVay as a staff musician--a fabulous steel player. As far as Tommy White goes, he is in a class of his own--a super talented player all around and if there was no longer an Opry, Tommy would have plenty of other places to play. As far as singers goes, I believe there are many out there that sing as well if not better than some who appear on the Opry--remember, every one of them started out in their local towns! Speaking of talented steel players--when was the last time we saw Buddy Emmons or other great players on the Opry--sure would be a lot of people tuning in if that did happen! Joe

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 23 Jan 2002 9:17 pm

Joe,
the topic is "not" about the Opry, it is about the "Opry TV show", as the first five words of Tony's original post stated. It is not about "local bands." And yes many famous players/singers started out in local clubs. But, they also had the talent to leave, where many of them wound up in Nashville.

In your words, "speaking of talented steel players--when was the last time we saw Buddy Emmons or OTHER GREAT PLAYERS on the Opry...." (emphasis added) Perhaps you don't tune in at all! There are many great players who play the Opry "TV Show". I guess you must have missed JOHNNY DUMPLIN' COX just recently with Conny Smith, or maybe BIG JIM MURPHY with Asleep At The Wheel, STU BASORE with Mandy Barnett, JOHN HUGHEY with Vince Gill, DONNA HAMMITT with Bill Anderson, DON HELMS with Jett Williams, STEVE WILKERSON with the Whites, let alone RICKY DAVIS, MIKE JOHNSON, RANDALL CURRY, just to name a few. And there are "many more!" (I have even seen Buddy and Paul there) Ever heard of 'em? Each famous in their own right. And there are just as many more! These are "Professional" players, not weekend warriors. By the way, Tommy White is there by choice!

Perhaps you feel up to the task of taking any of them on? Bring your steel and come on... as a matter of fact you can start with me and after I clean your clock the rest of them can have you!

Dave (just another "not-so-great" Opry steel player)

chad udeen · Post by **chad udeen** » 23 Jan 2002 11:50 pm

Thank you Bill,I was playing a 91 Mullen w/ 910 Bill Lawerence pick ups.The guitar is in rough shape and has many replacement parts,and years of the summer outside gigs caused the Original decal to peel.After awile with nothing on the front i put a Sho Bud decal on for kicks!CJ

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 24 Jan 2002 2:42 am

hey Dave, I don't want you to clean my clock, but how about when I come to Nashville in April I look you up and say hey ! I am coming to the Opry for the 6:30 show on Saturday April 20th. First row center section tickets..What'do ya make of that ! Maybe I'll get lucky and you will be playing and even better maybe you will be able to show me your steel and stuff !
Tony
Carter D10
Sho-Bud Professional D10
lots of wires and stuff to plug in too...[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 24 January 2002 at 02:44 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Jan 2002 3:27 am

I have to agree the post has drifted away from the original subjecte (as many posts do). What we are being "force fed" on the TV "portain" is the rub. If they would televise the hour (or even a 30 min segment) in it's entirety (except for different commercials for TV like they did on TNN)it would be great. I can always "go to the refrigerator" when someone I could care less about is on.

Remember, when they announced that "CMTV" would start airing the Opry it was going to be aimed at attracting a "younger audience".

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 24 Jan 2002 7:16 am

Dave--You won't have to bother with my posts for awhile. I have decided that I'm one of those "wanna-be" steel players so I'm going to put my time to better use by practicing my steel instead of posting on the forum. I guess I have joined many others who feel the same way. Joe

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 24 Jan 2002 8:28 am

Jack,
CMTV wants to attract "young audiences"? I think it's a bad thing for country music and steel guitar. Theresa

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Jan 2002 9:11 am

Theresa, the announcement that came out when they announced that the Opry was moving to CMT also stated they wanted to attract a different age group audience than they had at TNN and they would be promoting the new (younger) singers.

Most of the younger "country music fans" that I know could care less about anything except the pop/rock that we are subjected to on "country radio". It gets back to what we have went back and forth on the forum many times with. The current Nashville product is not "country" in my book. Not that it's all bad, just because it has a steel or fiddle it's not "country". No different than someone taking another brand of steel and putting a Franklin label on it. You can call it a Franklin but it's not.

But, this is still getting away from the original thread.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 24 Jan 2002 9:34 am

If you have a pig with four legs and a tail, and someone decides to call the tail a leg, how many legs does the pig have?....

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 24 Jan 2002 10:07 am

Topic: Opry Live, what a waste of time
Yes, I agree! Theresa

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 24 Jan 2002 10:17 am

ooppssss Have a nice day

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CJC

[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 24 January 2002 at 10:28 AM.]