Stonewall Jackson VS. The Opry: Whose Side Are You On?

Historically, the Opry has weeded out artists whose popularity had slipped or projected too rural an image. During the 1960s the Crook Brothers and The Fruit Jar Drinkers were forced to form one group in order to maintain any play slots on the Opry. Old timers like Stonewall Jackson and Jimmy Dickens spent their peak years operating under the 26 appearence rule. It’s been gone for a long time, but not THAT long. It never affected Vince Gill but the generation before him felt its affect

So the general consensus is that Stonewall Jackson isn’t be discriminated against by the Opry, but that his performance has suffered over the years and he isn’t selling enough tickets?

If so, after reading all the articles I have on the suit, I tend to agree.

Last summer I had a most pleasurable conversation with 79-year-old Charlie Louvin who just released a new CD featuring one song with Elvis Costello. Charlie also did a number of shows with Elvis Presley in the 1950’s. While backstage in southern Wisconsin as he smoked a few cigarettes and signed my guitar and autographs for folks who ambled by, he kept telling me stories about the days traveling and singing with his brother, Ira. I was very interested in his stories and he seemed to get quite nostalgic as he spoke. Many a week would end for the famous brothers as they made a mad dash from far-flung places to get back to “The Mother Church of Country Music”, the Ryman Auditorium, and their set for the Opry stage. To be a member of the Opry one had to perform 26 times a year, and was paid $15.00, a far cry from what could be made on the road. Charlie estimated that an act lost on average over $50,000 per year, but he was proud to be a part of the Opry and never complained.

But now Louvin and others are losing their health insurance due to limited performances, as salaries from those performances are the basis for coverage from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. There is something so very wrong with this action by Gaylord Entertainment and what it says about one of our most remarkable slices of Americana, The Grand Ole Opry.

This is not just another musical venue. This is about as real and authentic a slice of history as one can get about what early radio, and early country music were all about. As such, the closer one can get to the past and experience the living stars of yesterday, the more accurate is the understanding of the time when the likes of Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff were taking the stage. None of those singers and musicians knew what the future held, but were sure they wanted to be there when that big red curtain went up. For 82 years that tradition has endured and it is mighty sad to think that some still want to be there to perform, but have been rejected due to the age factor.

To remove some of the living past at the Opry in order to bring on the latest singer with tight jeans and a cowboy hat is just real sad. I admit to being a bit of a purist on the issue, but there is a huge gulf between the likes of Little Jimmy Dickens and the latest singer today with a massive PR effort. It comes down to showmanship and on-stage talent. Having said that the old-timers are still the best.

There remains an old adage in country music: “remember to go home with the one who brung you”. It seems that Mr. Fisher is unmindful of that fundamental bit of philosophy. It is too bad and in the end the Opry will suffer from that omission.

As a long time country music fan I am saddened by the failure of the Opry to sustain its support of the many senior performers of classic country music.

Maybe Stonewall’s time has passed in terms of being current with todays tastes but he has been a solid
artist for many years and a pure country performer. If
indeed Fisher did make that remark of not wanting any grey hairs on the opry stage then he has turned his back on the traditionalists who help build the country industry there is today.

Like most everyone else, I don’t know all the facts of this issue, but I can tell you a few things. I have been a country music fan (and I mean a serious fan) all of my life, starting back in the mid 50s, and I remember all of Stonewall’s big hits, and his not so big (but still good) ones. He is as real as it gets, and is what it is (or used to be) all about, before the bean-counting suits took over. The Pete Fishers of the world have ruined it all - tore down Opryland Park, pretty much killed everything else in Nashville, except for the Opry, and they are working hard to kill it too. I am not opposed to change, when it is change for the better, but the Fishers of the world have only changed country music to match what Rock was (and may still be)-six months at the top and then forgotten. One question for you Mr. Fisher, and for all of Gaylord - if you hate the music as much as it appears (you tore down the park, you have closed down most of the rest of the Nashville entertainment scene exept for the 20s and 30s crowds, you even tried to get WSM out of the country music business), why in the *&^$# did you get into this business. Please do us all a favor and get out of it!!!

This year alone we lost Del Reeves, Porter Wagoner, Hank Thompson and others. It breaks my heart to read stories like this. These great people made what the Opry is today. One of my fondest wishes was to go to the Opry, but I’ve changed my mind. I know I’m not the only one who thinks like that. The best are gone already. Mr Jackson, I hope you win the lawsuit.

Good for Stonewall, I have watched for many years the Opry on Television and Have attended several live performances at the Ryman and the new Opry house. I will never forget the first time I attended and saw the great Roy Acuff on stage. What a thrill!! A big part of the thrill of the Opry is the opportunity to see history every performance a mix of new and old country. I agree the performers now seem to be so unprofessional. What ever happened to dressing, looking and acting like a professional. They did do something right recently when they inducted Mel Tillis into the Opry family. There is a class act!!!! His band dressed, played and conducted themselves like true performing professionals not like a bunch of street panhandlers around the corner on broadway. Let the Opry show some class and keep history alive!!!

County music has probably been the only American music form that values its history. But now it sounds like the the suits have thrown that value to the wind. How soon before the fans will follow? Has it happened already.

Wo Was Stonewall Jackson Steel Guitar player during the 60’s