Back on this date (November 28th) in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry started broadcasting folk and country music from Nashville, Tennessee. In case you are interested, it wasn't the first broadcast show featuring that type of music. The National Barn Dance out of Chicago, also aired on Saturday night, had started about a year before the Grand Ole Opry. It seems to me that country western and bluegrass music, which is unique to this country, has a lot of fans, me being one of them.
I have been a fan even back in the 1950's when I was growing up. I lived in western Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh had a couple of radio stations that played country music. When I went to college, folk music was popular with me and I got to watch in person the filming of a Hootenanny show that featured folk music. My memory isn't all that good but I believe the Kingston Trio were the star performers.
Today, my favorite music is bluegrass and I listen to it every night after I get into bed. Now tell me, does any one else remember those Hootenanny shows? Does anyone like bluegrass music. Just enjoy what ever music you like and have a great evening, you hear?
I wish my hearing was good enough o enjoy music.
ReplyDeleteSorry that your hearing is not good. Do you wear hearing aids? They wanted way too much to fix mine, so I tossed them out. Now my most used word is "what?".
DeleteI do remember those Hootenanny shows. Although brought up in a small town in a rural community with lots of country music around I was a late bloomer in coming to like it. I do like the older country music and not so much the new stuff. I've never listened to a lot of Blue Grass but it's something I might like if I were to immerse myself in it.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a Sirius Radio, channel 62 has bluegrass 24 hours a day, if you want to listen to some bluegrass.
DeleteI have always loved country music from the time I was a child, and watched a show on the educational channel in the 60's I think, that featured Ralph Stanley. I've been a fan of his ever since. I grew up in Cincinnati which was great for country music fans - a lot of folks came from the mountains to work in the Ford plant and other mfg companies in that area. Plus, being a Kentuckian transplant to Ohio, I have bluegrass in my heart and soul!
ReplyDeleteYep, if you were born in Kentucky, you have to like bluegrass music.
DeleteMy "local" radio station (WOUB out of Athens, Ohio) has Bluegrass every Sunday afternoon (I think a 4 or 5 hour time slot). I tune in by way of internet when I can and listen to it on my laptop. Even the moderators (Ivan and Deanna Tribe sound like they're straight from the hills). Nothing like hearing banjos and madolins and the such to perk up life. They also play some bluegrass gospel... not bad either....
ReplyDeleteBluegrass gospel is my favorite part of bluegrass music. We love our satellite radios and they are great for traveling.
DeleteI do remember the hootenanny shows on TV and I also love Bluegrass music. I'm beginning to think I live in the wrong part of the country - need to move south.
ReplyDeleteBluegrass music is popular world wide. You don't need to be born in at Appellation mountains to appreciate and love it.
DeleteI have some memories of those shows and loved them.Don't ;listen to much music andy more, not the same with my hearing aides.
ReplyDeleteMy hearing aids helped me hear the higher notes, but once they died, I never replaced them.
DeleteOh boy! Do I ever remember the old Hootenanny shoes! Those were some fun times for music, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteGlad I jogged your good memories. I wonder how many can say that they attended a filming of that old show?
DeleteI grew up with country music in our house and still listen to it nearly everyday. I have been to the Grand Ole Opry a number of time and plan on going again. Last time, a few years go, Little Jimmy Dickens was still there. Glad I got to see him one last time.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I remember Little Jimmy Dickens. He passed away a little over a year ago. I have to say my favorite county music singer was Merle Haggard who just passed away last April.
DeleteMr. Dizzy my name is David I just started following you. I like your outlook on things. I LOVE Blue Grass and the old country gospel and all old country classic. I hope you don't mind my comments.
ReplyDeleteDon't mind at all. I love new insights along with comments from old readers.
DeleteDizzy - I, too, remember the Hootenanny show, and our church group did a few shows of that style. Also attended the Grand Ole Opry back in the original Reiman auditorium back when I was about 14, then afterward went to the record shop nearby (I think it was owned by Ernest Tubb) where some of the regular performers would do an impromptu show. Saw Minnie Pearl up close & personal.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen the stage show "On the Road With Bob"? It's the Bob Wills story, and very good - shows he was the first to introduce drums in country music in the Opry. The management made the drummer stay behind the curtain.
Wow!! I was in Nashville one time for only a few hours (a job interview back in the early 80's. No, I have not seen that stage show. BTW, I can remember that my Dad always called Minnie-Pearl his girlfriend. That was a long time ago.
Deletethat was my Dad's Saturday entertainment,,, every week we listened to it.
ReplyDeletebesides that one, we liked the Louisiana Hayride too.
DeleteThere were a lot of great radio shows on the air and that was way before TV.
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