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Topic: Mel on Goo Last Nite-- |
Bill Myrick
From:
Pea Ridge, Ar. (deceased)
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 5:49 am |
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Got to watch daughter, Pam, inducted father Mel into The Opry Membership last night and really enjoyed his segment of the Opry with The Statesiders Band.
We are justly proud of our Branson people and they justified that big time at this performance. Was pleased to see our club treasurer Terry Bethel feeling well enough to play the set and did so with class and style as usual. How about our other three boys I am familiar with -- Barry Bales on Lead Guitar, Chuck Landry on drums, and brother Wade doing back up vocals and fiddle work ? We have had the pleasure of watching these men develope over the years and I feel Mel has as good or better a band now than I can remember. Way to go guys !!! -  |
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Al Udeen
From:
Hendersonville Tn
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 7:51 am
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| How right you are Bill, my longtime friend,[since 61] Terry Bethel & the band were flawless, au |
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Gary Preston
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 8:11 am
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 WOW wouldn't that be something to see and hear ! Is there any way to be able to do this ? G.P. |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 9:35 am
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Well, that was definitely a positive statement that the Grand Ole' Opry has not completely lost touch with the classic country music. We were just talking about how the bands don't dress uniform style like the old days then out came Mel and his band dressed like they were there to perform and entertain in a true class style. They looked great, played great and had the audience completely in their hands. Terry was up in the mix good and sounded great. I loved it. I think it will be replayed sometime today and around midnight for anyone who might have missed it. It was worth staying up for.
Jerry |
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Jody Sanders
From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 3:04 pm
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| Mel Tillis has always surrounded himself with great musicians. It has been said, that the way to tell if the star is a nice guy, he will have the same musicians with him each time he performs, therefore , Mel is a nice guy. A great talent, and a class act. Does anyone know exactly how many years Terry has been with Mel ? It is also nice to see a band dressed nicely. Jody. |
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KENNY KRUPNICK
From:
Columbus, Ohio
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 7:14 pm
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I was listening to Mel,and The Statesiders on WSM online live last night.   |
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 8:18 pm
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| Mel hired Terry in mid 1969 at the Flame Cafe in Minneapolis, when Leon Boulanger's band broke up. Since then I believe Terry has worked for Mel Tillis on several occasions. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 9:45 pm
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Wonder what Mr Fisher thought about having to honor old GREY HAIRED MEL?I'm sure he was really SINCERE.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 11 Jun 2007 6:09 am
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| Quote: |
| Wonder what Mr Fisher thought about having to honor old GREY HAIRED MEL?I'm sure he was really SINCERE. |
So let me see if I've got this right... When some act with distorted rock & roll guitars, torn jeans and t-shirts plays the Opry, then it's a sign that Pete Fisher personally has totally ruined the Opry forever. But when they devote the televised part of the show to inducting and honoring Mel Tillis, Pete had nothing to do with it? Just WHO do you suppose MADE the decision to do that?!?
And a few weeks ago I was fortunate to be a part of a great Opry show (the televised part) that devoted a whole hour to Porter Wagonner's 50th anniversary; Marty Stuart hosted the show, but I guarantee you Pete Fisher had a lot to do with that one too. Plenty of gray hair too for sure, between Porter and Marty (and yours truly for that matter). Porter and Dolly Parton together, Buck Trent (!), lots of Fred Newell steel, Marty and his great band, and Patty Loveless. A whole hour of fantastic old-school country music, on prime time TV. (And for what it's worth on Patty's song my steel was up in the mix, and the camera was on me for my turn around).
I've been lucky to play the Opry for over 25 years now, and while it's gone through some changes most of us here don't like, it's always been a mixture of different stuff; some more traditional than others. So these constant posts I read here along the lines that "The Opry is nothing but a bad rock and roll show with a bunch of no talent bums (and Pete Fisher is personally responsible for ruining it)" seem ludicrous to me, and have nothing to do with the reality I know. And with all due respect to Stonewall Jackson, I think the fact that Porter, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jimmy C Newman, Jean Shepherd, Jeannie Sealy, and so many more of that generation are still frequent performers casts more than a little doubt on the "age discrimination" thing.
And to get back to the ORIGINAL topic;
Congratulations Mel!
Last edited by Pete Finney on 11 Jun 2007 7:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2007 7:09 am
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Thank You Pete!
Congrat's to Mel also!  |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2007 3:08 pm
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Pete, If Mr. Fisher never made the statement,I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY GREY HAIR ON THE OPRY OR IN THE AUDIENCE. If this is untrue then I am wrong and and offer my deepest APOLOGY! But IF he did make this statement and means it,I think to to stand on stage with a big smile on his face and give an award to a GREY HAIRED icon like Mel is not to sincere.As far as you are concerned I have the utmost respect for you,Years ago the band I was in opened for Patty in a small Ga. town,My wife and I were backstage in the corner between sets,you came over and introduced yourself,we sit and had about a thirty minute conversation,you were a complete gentleman,About a year later we saw you on tv,my wife remembered and commented,theres that nice man we met in Buena Vista.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2007 3:39 pm
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I think we all need to appreciate music. The Opry is a great place to do that new & old!
I'm so happy for Mel! |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 11 Jun 2007 4:13 pm
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Charles,
I believe Pete Fisher has publicly denied ever saying ANYTHING about "getting rid of gray hair" on the OPRY, though that "quote" still continues to be spread around (Stonewall Jackson's lawyers have their own motives of course).
I believe Pete for several reasons:
1)The evidence suggests he doesn't believe that, given all the "old timers" who still perform there regularly.
2)I've known Pete since long before he got the Opry gig; I believe he has as much respect for the musical traditions it represents as anyone and that he's merely doing his best to keep it alive in a constantly changing musical (and business) climate. Of course he has corporate people that he answers to, and of course he features a lot of current acts that are "hot" that maybe most of us steel players and traditional country fans don't care for. But he's also showcased people like "The Derailers" and Elizabeth Cook in spite of their relative lack of airplay because HE believes that younger acts doing traditional style country is important to the future of the Opry (and he personally likes their music, I know that for a fact)
3) He's way too smart a guy to say something like that to a journalist even if he DID believe it; it'd just be bad business... |
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 12 Jun 2007 3:17 pm
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I don't think the Opry really has it out for the "grey hair crowd". It's just every now and then they do things that make folks wounder about their judgment. Then that happens with almost any business.
The fact that Pam has been an Opry member for 7 years now, while Mel has only been in for a week, just seems to add more fuel to the age thing.
In 2000 when Pam was inducted as an Opry member she had six albums out, 13 top ten songs, one #1 record, and it had only been 9 years since her first major record came out.
While Mel has had over 60 albums, written 1000 songs, written 600 hit songs recorded by other artist, 36 top ten singles himself , nine #1 hits,
55 years in the business, and 51 years since his first hit song “I’m Tired”.
They just now make him a member?? He must have been way to busy for the Opry these past 50 some years to become a member. |
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Ronnie Miller
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2007 5:02 pm
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Alvin,
The reason a lot of the artist never joined the Opry is because of the Friday and Saturday commitment back then, that now has been some what relaxed.
Although Charley Pride had the offer to be an Opry member for 25 yrs, he did not become a member until 1993. I am pretty sure that was also the case for Mel.
It's pretty hard to pay your band and make expences
etc. playing the Opry, especially if you are not a TN based act.....
I think P. Finney is pretty much right on.
cya........Ronnie |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 13 Jun 2007 10:31 pm
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I was amazed to find that Mel wasn't already a member, but I also imagine that the reason was that advanced by Ronnie. I find it incomprehensible to think that Mel wouldn't have been welcome as an opry member in his heyday in the 60s and 70s.
I think we should get off this "conspiracy theory" about the current opry mgt trying to kill traditional country music. Any time I've ever been there - for pushing 35 years now - it has been replete with it.
I dunno how long ago this was, but I don't think it's that long ago, and is one of the finest examples of "real" country music I've ever heard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bgMU8TOTMs
I also agree that it would be very dumb for any high-profile business manager to make an obviously age-discriminatory statement like has been alleged. I suppose that doesn't guarantee it's not true, but I think we should insist on accuracy before making an atribution like this. Just where does this quote come from, anyway? I really think we should be careful here. |
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