My experience on the Grand Ole Opry

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 24 Jun 2000 8:37 pm

Well we did two nights with Dale Watson on the Opry and I'll have to say it was pretty anti-climatic. It was an honor to be there but it did not have the feeling I was expecting>Seems folks were just goin' through the motions. Pete Fisher did walk up to Dale and hand him a stack of e-mails with some pretty bad words towards Pete about Dale not being on the TV portion; but he didn't blame Dale at all and is acutally behind Dale and Loves his music. I was standin' just out of that meeting and just figured it was my steel playing family stickin' up for what didn't happen

Pete did invite Dale back and promised he would be on TV; but he never even knew Dale thought he was goin' to be on TV; that was from Dales bookin' agency>Buddy Lee.
Anyway; We played "Legends" the first night and went well eventhough I was still pluggin' in my Steel 8 measures into the song; but I got in when I usually do so worked out.
Second night we did "Good Luck and Good Truckin'" and then a song Dale wrote and we recorded on the Sire/Warner(but in can now) called "Small Town" and that song went over dang good and crowd dug it.
I did get to talk to Tommy White quite a bit and Tommy is such a nice guy and he was very complimentary about the Sho~Bud; and said it brought back alot of memories for him and he smiled.
Tommy has been so busy and lookin' forward to some time off his hecktic schedule, other than the opry. Folks Tommy White is a class guy and steel player and soak in as much of his playing while you can through the years.
Well that is about it and while I was getting out of there, you wouldn't believe the amount of cameras and little children groupies following around that 11 year old boy that it was very aparent he was a puppet on mommys' string>I just don't get it.
See ya down the road.
Ricky

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 24 Jun 2000 10:27 pm

Hey Ricky. Is anything ever as good as we imagine it will be? OTHER THAN THAT!!!!
Robbie

John O Keeffe · Post by **John O Keeffe** » 25 Jun 2000 6:05 am

See ya soon...you can tell me all about it..I am dissapointed over the TV slot its so unfair after all the hard work.......but I've been in similar situations....made me nearly quit the whole scene a few times...JOHN

Emmett Roch · Post by **Emmett Roch** » 25 Jun 2000 3:42 pm

They usually are out there realizing a parent's dream, and the few times I've had the choice of working for a "Star Mom" & her baby or starving, I've always been really glad when it was over...

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GFI S12U<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Emmett Roch on 25 June 2000 at 04:46 PM.]</p></FONT>

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 26 Jun 2000 11:55 am

Rick, We were all disapointed not to see Dale and yourself. I usually bombard Pete with E=mails only this time I wasn't one of them. I have been pretty satisfied with his efforts lately ,told him so and he sent me a pretty nice answer to my e-mail. I was just disapointed that the tv schedule didn't include you all. I am sure that Dale will return as there is plenty of support for that to happen. Heard you on the radio Portion and it was good and clear.

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CJC

Mac Lloyd · Post by **Mac Lloyd** » 26 Jun 2000 12:06 pm

Might have been nice rather than TV's featured performers doing two numbers to just cover one, and let us see more of the show. Maybe it's unreasonable given their production requirements, but would have been nice to have worked Dale and Ricky in.

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 26 Jun 2000 12:32 pm

Gosh, Ricky! I bet that doesn't happen much -- the artist getting misleading or incomplete information from his booking agency.

We'll look forward to that return engagement for Dale.

Regarding the 11-year-old, perhaps Waylon said it best, "I don't think Hank done it this way". Just imagine a young Merle Haggard being toted around backstage by his mother.

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HagFan

Jude James Shiels · Post by **Jude James Shiels** » 26 Jun 2000 1:14 pm

Hey John, we can just take solace in the fact Dale was on Open House with Marty Whelan when he was over here, in Ireland it don't get much bigger than that does it!!!

I thought Dale's new song Small Town was really great, he keeps on getting better and better. What an asset he would have been to the Opry's TV broadcast, I think they realised their mistake already.

John O Keeffe · Post by **John O Keeffe** » 26 Jun 2000 3:56 pm

I know Jude but I missed that one.....John

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 26 Jun 2000 5:54 pm

Good point, Road Runner. In Jr's case I'd call it more a "right of passage".

I have to say the 11-year-old sounded a bit more mature. And, hey, he picked a real country tune for his 1st one.

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HagFan

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 28 Jun 2000 4:41 pm

Hey Ricky, thanks for writing all of that, I have only heard about it through other people's comments and observations, a first hand write up was cool.
We of course don't get the Opry here, so it's effect is minimal, but of course it's an integral part of the 'Industry Machinery' and in all it's forms still has a certain amount of power it can exert.
I know that together or apart you and Dale will keep it real for us!

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 28 Jun 2000 10:12 pm

Your quite Welcome Jason. I did that because of the reason you said. I always heard second hand and withthought much details on prime events like that and always wished folks would give us the real deal and feel.
I know there are alot of folks around the world that don't get to hear or even see stuff like this first hand; and I consider it "MY" duty to give it.
Ricky

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Ricky Davis
http://hometown.aol.com/sshawaiian/RickyHomepage.html
http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html
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Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 29 Jun 2000 11:38 pm

Rick, I have never had the pleasure of meeting you but I have been hearing about you for a long time. Sorry that your 1st time at the opry wasnt what you thought it would be,But it never is for anyone. The things I remember the most about the 1st time I worked there was I was SCARED TO DEATH, and Weldon Myrick, Doug Jernigan,and Ron Elliott stood beside my guitar and stared at me. That was my hazing I guess. Also the sound on stage was so bad I couldnt hear anything but me. That is scary in itself. I was working across the street those nights so I didnt get to hear you play and for that Im sorry but Im sure you did GREAT. Next time you are in Nashville come to the Palace and see me I would love to meet you. We are across the street from the Opryland hotel. Hope to hear frm you soon. Take care. Mike Sweeney

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 29 Jun 2000 11:43 pm

Hey Mike no prob pal about comin' out; there will hopefully be another time. I would be honored to meet you and next time I am in town or you are down this way; lets get together.
Later.
Ricky