Great Grand Ole Opry Performance

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 10 Nov 2009 12:07 am

If they move the Opry to Texas, close the doors, or never play another country song on the stage, it's all been worth it because it brought us this one performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgrC8OGBKWU

John McConnell · Post by **John McConnell** » 10 Nov 2009 8:17 am

That is what it is all about.

John McConnell
Yuba City, CA

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 10 Nov 2009 2:11 pm

The REAL DEAL, Little Jimmy is one of the few pioneers of REAL country we have left.Saw him on Marty Sturet the other night,He will be 89 next month. The man could sing a ballard with the best. One of my favorites was [A VIOLET AND A ROSE.] YOU BETCHA, DYK?BC.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 10 Nov 2009 7:09 pm

When someone asked what we mean when we say "real country", I could refer them to this youtube clip. This is what I call real country music. Nice clear professional MC work, drums not too loud or noisy, great steel, fiddle, clean tasteful guitar, background vocals, nobody playing on top of anybody, and all the class that Jimmy Dickens can bring to a country ballad.

This is the real thing. Yeah George Straight and Alan Jackson may be considered traditional country artist by today's standards, but there's a huge difference between them and a performance like this.

Of course it's only my opinion, but I can "feel" this music like a spirit that goes through me. I don't get that feeling very often, if ever, with today's version of country. It's hard to explain, but to the ones that feel it like I do, it really needs no explaination. There's just something about that Opry atmosphere that connects with some people and not others. I guess that's why we some of us are so concerned about it slipping away.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 10 Nov 2009 8:07 pm

When I heard the clip, it just knowked me down. Like you Rick, I have sent that to some people to say, This is what real country music
is.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 10 Nov 2009 9:01 pm

That's a great take on a great tune, no doubt.

These two from the Opry by Johnny Paycheck with forum member Jay Andrews on steel melt me also. Little Jimmy introduced him for Old Violin in the same jacket - possibly it's the same show, not sure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdwCoR0HeA

The second looks and sounds from the same period, but Johnny's wearing different duds and playing a different guitar -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG1OgzKgrtM

We all want younger generations to hear this kind of music, get pumped up, and carry the torch. But first, they have to feel it, and sometimes that takes some time, mileage, and heartache. It's hard to put an old head on young shoulders - give 'em some time.

In the meantime, about all we can do is try to keep some of this alive as much as we can, and hope for the best.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 10 Nov 2009 10:04 pm

Dave,GREAT music WILL stay alive a long time. Look at all the infomercials for Classic country,50's rock and do-wop,all the soft-rock of the 70's.if these were'nt selling these ads would be gone. check out the large record [CD] stores there is always Hank Sr. Patsy,etc, I was in retail for years,believe me if they were'nt selling [something else would be in that slot.] Think about it Hank still sells over 50 years after he's gone. I wonder if Garth,Big and Rich,Cowboy Troy,RF's etc. will be doing the same in 2050. The same goes for all the great big band and jazz artist of the 30's and 40's. Like my hero the great Bird Parker,he's still as fresh today as he was in the late 30's. YOU BETCHA, DYK?BC.

Rick Ulrich · Post by **Rick Ulrich** » 11 Nov 2009 1:17 am

Who was the steeler on Jimmy's Best of the Best album?

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 11 Nov 2009 4:28 am

That is exactly what County music used to be and I love it!
I saw LJD on the Marty Stuart show last week, I wish he could live another 100 years.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 11 Nov 2009 7:13 am

Tater could bring tears to a glass eye.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 11 Nov 2009 4:54 pm

Great clip of Tater w/ Pee Wee Rogers on steel. There's a lesson in Pee Wee's steel playing. Pee Wee moved to Nashville in the late '70's and has never been out of work to this day.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 11 Nov 2009 5:16 pm

Pee Wee is one of the best players I've ever heard. It's no surprise that he stays busy.

I met him once. 1994, I was in New York with Bill Monroe and Jimmy was on the show. They were traveling in a van and pulling a small trailer behind it. I remember the guitar player was a parachute jumper, and we talked a little about airplanes.....except I won't jump out of a good flying airplane.

I also remember that Jimmy told our banjo player that if he would leave his picks on dash of his car, he could park in the handicap space and nobody would say anything. Funny guy!