The Steel Guitar Forum

I see in a popular magazine where Stonewall Jackson has sued the Opry for $20 million. Well, I think its about time someone did just that! MURDER on Music Row & the Opry for sure.
If this is how it has to be....then maybe the Ryman should be given back to those who created it, and let them do the "Classic" country sound there. Let the MONEY MACHINE have the newer opry building and do their thing there? Shame, shame on the country music industry!!
They told him: you are too old & too country! We do NOT want a GRAY HAIR ON THAT STAGE or in the crowd!!!
That is SICK!

Neil

Yes, indeed. Here is a link to an earlier discussion.

Click Here

I'm With You Neil Back To The Ryman. SONNY.

Stonewall may not win this suit because other older stars still sing at the Opry. If they will just tar and feather Mr. Fisher and get him out of there the Opry will be mush better off. It is a shame what country music has turned to today. It stinks IMHO.

Good for Stonewall. The Opry has become a laughing stock and a mere shell of what it once was. I think it has been poorly managed. Classic country and the surviving pioneering stars have been sadly shuffled to the background, as they have been in the country music world in general. Even if Stonewall loses this case hopefully it will be a wake up call to the Opry and the country music world in general.

The Grand Ole Opry still has a great steel player in the staff band though. That is a tradition that has gone on for a long time and hasn't missed a beat. That part is as good as ever!!!!!
Jerry

Jerry Roller wrote:The Grand Ole Opry still has a great steel player in the staff band though. That is a tradition that has gone on for a long time and hasn't missed a beat. That part is as good as ever!!!!!

That is true for sure. It's just a shame the steeler doesn't get to play on the televised slot very often. No wonder Tommy looks P/O'd about half the time. It's hardly worth his time to go to the Opry.

There's plenty of older folks on the Opry, they just aren't on the televised portion. Television is a visual medium, and in order for a variety or music program to be highly successful, the stars have to have visual (sex) appeal.

Didja ever notice that even on an "old folks" music show...like Lawrence Welk, there weren't many grey-hairs in the band?

While the "media" and Television is so concerned about who is on camera,...why do they not show the EMPTY SEATS ???...just a thought. Thanks, Ron

Ron,that is A perfect statement. Do you think that the price of the tickets could have something to do with those empty seats,also ? The last time we were at the opry,all we heard was A bunch of screaming and yelling. I've played for much better entertainers in the night clubs. It didn't surprise me at all when the lady bursted her guitar on the stage at the award show. This is about what we paid $32.50 for on our last visit. JW Day

J.W., I think you answered your own question. I played the Opry for 25 years and enjoyed it so very much. I played the last of the Ryman and the first of the new Opry House,....I think that must have been the beginning of the political turnpoint. I played the new Opry from 74 til 89. I think when it took on the music Butcher(today's Mgr)....he began to "Burn Rome" Have a good one, stay in touch. Thanks, Ron

Grey is not the color Pete Fisher needs to worry about. He better start thinking of the color green. Pete Fisher will have to find many new ways to fill the seats if Gas prices keep going up. Wonder if management above him will think his hair is too grey when that happens? One way to beat Pete Fishers grey hair rule is to all shave their heads and elimate his chances.Of course little Jimmy Dickens will have to glue his hat on.

NO way is Stonewall gonna win that lawsuit. Porter, Jimmy Dickens, and too many other "grey-hairs" are still around. Look at the crowd at the Opry---We all remember Stonewall, but how many people in the audience think of Alabama as over the hill? Face it, we're NOBODY'S target audience anymore. And fewer people every day, who remember Stonewall Jackson.

For the record, here's last night's early show line up.

6:30-7:00
Jimmy Dickens
Steve Wariner
Jean Shepard

7:00-8:00
Vince Gill
The Wreckers
The Whites
Oak Ridge Boys

8:00-8:30
Porter Wagoner
Connie Smith
Mike Snider
Marty Stuart
Opry Square Dancers

8:30-9:00
Bill Anderson
Jimmy C. Newman
Raul Malo

Where else can you get this value? Even, take out the artists that are not to your taste and I challenge you to find another 2 hour show where you can see this many traditional mega-stars like Porter, Connie, and Miss Jean in a package.

For my age group, I'm glad they were able to include a few "young" artists like Marty Stuart and Vince Gill and some of my childhood heros like Connie Smith and those from earlier years that can still sing like Jean Shepard and Dickens.

If the Opry business is to survive, it must evolve. Who of the old guard would you let go instead of Stonewall? Unfortulately, his draw is not as large as any of the ones who were on last night's show.

It's business, always has been. The Fruit Jar Drinker and The Possum Hunters were displaced by hot new acts too.

Jeannie Seely and I agree on this: Just let us die off as we will,..don't kill us. We're dying as fast as we can. I'm not speaking about a law suit, just wondering...why pick one to run off. You mention that some are still there....why not Stonewall,..what has he done to be dismissed? This is not to get everybody's pants in a wad, just thinking about the situation in general. I worked that Grand Ole Opry for 25 years, and I have a right to be concerned...I was just wondering how management finds it fair to "pick on one artist"...I don't care if you remember Stonewall or not. Thanks for letting me horn in. I'm another steel player you probably don't remember either. Ron

NPR RADIO

Age Discrimination at the Opry?

by Audie Cornish

Weekend Edition Saturday, April 14, 2007 · The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville is
coming under
fire from a performer who alleges it discriminates against elderly acts.

You can hear the whole interview and story at:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=9585263

The TV portion of the NOT SO GRAND OPRY is absurd,Beautiful young ladies that could'nt sing on key if their life depended on it,The guys in their dirty tank tops,unshaven,looking like rejects from an outlaw biker gang,two or three distorted Les Pauls[which I love in Rock and roll]Trying to play 70's rock.The opry was built on REAL country music,not a rock show that MR. fISHER Is hell bent on turning it into.The Stones would be better than the garbage Mr Fisher is booking now,but that would'nt work for they are old and GREY to.

To bad Stonewall sued.

I wonder if Babe Ruth could have sued the Yankees for having him retire so young? personally Stonewall was an Opry fixture.I don't think Fisher is right getting rid of anybody who is a loyal member unless he violated the rules. Knowing Stonewall I'll bet he did not want to ki$$ A$$. When the ones who now make up 95% of the shows on Fri and saturday can no longer work the Opry will definatly change and then the Gaylords can see what Fisher is truly made of.Right now it's the old time members who still carry the Opry work load. I don't see any newbies (Garth I'm so proud to be here Brooks) dedicating themselves as the past members have done, for the number of years they have done it. The Opry is Country music history anything else changes what it was intended for. As for Stonewall,I heard him on the Midwest jamboree a while back,he had a hard time breathing yet alone singing.But it should have been his decision when he is done. Nothing wrong with trying to hang on to something one loves and needs.Fisher should develop that sense. I just wonder what would happen if the cast all called in sick one weekend? Would the parking lot behind the stage be full of Busses?

Baseball or football players cannot perform at 81,but Ray Price at 81 is still lightyears ahead of ANY of this new so-called crap out there today.Wonder if Big and RICH OR Cowboy Troy will be selling out shows when they are 81?And also wonder if Mr, Fisher is going to retire when he starts to turn GREY?

"FIRE MR. FISHER" and start solving problems. What would be wrong with letting some of the older stars on the televised portion? They are what made the Opry what it has been in the past.

Charles, Ray is not an Opry member. Probably not worth his time to be a member given he is still in fine voice and can work every day of the year that he cares to. And when he is an Opry guest, you can bet he is on the televised portion. Hum, seems a lot like Garth's situation to me. With respect to Big "n" Rich, well, I am sure we can make a list of stars from the 40's, 50's and 60's, etc who are long since not heard of also.

Ron, if your last post was directed at my previous post, I am well aware of who you are and treasure the Jack and Jeannie program you signed for me when I was around 9 years old. You played a green Emmons. It was the second Nashville show I ever saw. Conway with Hughey was the first. I was then hooked on steel guitar.

I love traditional country music and have tremendous respect for the history and heritage. There is nothing I am more proud of than that I have the opportunity to back Jack, Jeannie, Ray Pillow, Melba Montgomery, Pasty Sledd, Norma Jean, Bill Carlisle, Hank Thompson, and a few others over the years.

HOWEVER, the Opry is a business. If new blood is not injected into the Opry, who will fill the seats 25 years from now when the current crop of senior citizens have passed? If you accept the fact that room must be made for new blood (and I suspect many of you don't) it becomes a question of who is the largest draw. And I imagine Fisher feels that he will maintain a higher draw of the older group by keeping Porter, Jack, or Dickens for instance than Stonewall.

Thanks for letting me participate. I mean no disrespect and am not trying to offend anyone personally. I don't usually spend this much time writing on here. This is a very interesting topic for me.

Times change,

No problem....it just saddens my heart to see my fellow musicians being "put out to pasture". Thanks all for letting me vent just a little. I can't do anything about it, except keep on playing, hope for good closure on a lingering situation. I thank GOD I am still playing 52 weeks a year somewhere. I think it's now in the hands of whatever attorneys are going do expenxive battle. Deep respect to all, Ron

Ron WHO???

Luv Ya Pal.

Bob

What Bob Knight said !!!