Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Mon., Dec. 17)

Karl Davis of the popular WLS Radio duo Karl & Harty was born in Mt Vernon, Ky., in 1905.

Spade Cooley was born in Grand, Okla., in 1910.

Frankie Miller was born in Victoria, Texas, in 1932.

Singer-songwriter Nat Stuckey was born in Cass County, Texas, in 1934.

Opry member Tom T. Hall was born in Amarillo, Texas, in 1937.

Pee Wee King recorded "Southland Polka" and "Steel Guitar Rag" at his first RCA session in 1946.

"There's No Wings On My Angel" charted for Eddy Arnold in 1949.

Opry member Sharon White of The Whites was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1953.

Kitty Wells recorded "Searching" for Decca Records in 1955.

Carl Perkins wrote "Blue Suede Shoes" in 1955.

Johnnie & Jack recorded "Ashes of Love" and "What About You" for RCA in 1958.

Patsy Cline recorded "She's Got You" for Decca in 1961.

Duane Propes, bass player for Little Texas, was born in Houston, Texas, in 1966.

Tracy Byrd was born in Vidor, Texas, in 1966.

Herman Harper, one-time member of the Opry's Carol Lee Singers, died in 1993.

E.E. "Sie" Siman died at age 73 in 1994.

COUNTRY MUSIC TRIVIA

Q: What Opry member toured with Lester Flatt, Johnny Cash, Doc and Merle Watson, Bob Dylan and has recorded duets with fellow Opry member Travis Tritt?

A: Marty Stuart, who returns to the Opry stage during Opry at the Ryman Dec. 28-29, along with Loretta Lynn, Emmlou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and others.

MUSIC AND MORE

NASHVILLE MOVIE

Opry members Jeannie Seely and Jan Howard will appear with Faye Dunaway in a new movie being filmed in Nashville, titled Colored Eggs. Earl and Randy Scruggs appear in a wedding scene in the movie, where they perform "Old County Road" written by Earl. Earl and Dunaway first met when Flatt & Scruggs performed the music for her 1969 movie Bonnie & Clyde.

PAISLEY'S BEDTIME STORY

Brad Paisley remembers a bedtime ritual that goes back to when he was four years old. His parents would play "Tiger By The Tail" by Buck Owens and Brad would run around in circles until he fell over and was ready to go to bed. Brad says he's been a country fan ever since.

OPRY MEMBERS' CHRISTMAS

Opry members Alan Jackson, Diamond Rio, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Steve Wariner and Alison Krauss appear on a new Christmas CD title Country Christmas 2001. Brad performs "364 Days To Go," Dolly sings a medley of "Winter Wonderland" and "Sleigh Ride," Alan's version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is included and Diamond Rio sings "What Child Is This?" Alison Krauss teams up with Gary Chapman for "Part of Heaven" and Steve Wariner performs "Silent Night." Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Lonestar and LeAnn Rimes also appear on the compilation CD.

TRAVIS TRITT NEWS

Opry member Travis Tritt will host "CMT's Best of the Opry" on Dec. 22 beginning at 7 p.m. CST. Fans can also catch Travis on "Dateline NBC" on Sunday, Jan. 6, beginning at 6 p.m. CST and on Jan. 9 at the American Music Awards on ABC at 7 p.m. CST.

Tritt recently celebrated his platinum album, Down The Road I Go, at a party held at Nashville's Havana Lounge on Nov.14. He'll celebrate 10 years as an Opry member on Feb. 29.

For more information on Travis, visit his website at travis-tritt.com.

Coming Soon To The Opry Stage:

Dec. 21: Dale Watson, Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Phil Vassar, Ricky Skaggs, Clark Family Experience

Dec. 22: Dale Watson, Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Phil Vassar, Ricky Skaggs, Clark Family Experience, Linda Davis, Sonya Isaacs

Dec. 28: Marty Stuart, Emmylou Harris, Riders in the Sky, Hal Ketchum, BR549, Ricky Skaggs

Dec. 29: Marty Stuart, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, Riders in the Sky, Hal Ketchum, BR549, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent

Jan. 4-5: T. Bubba Bechtol, Andy Griggs, Blake Shelton

Jan. 11-12: Mark Wills, Terri Clark, Joe Diffie

Jan. 18-19: Phil Vassar, T Bubba Bechtol

Jan. 25: Rhonda Vincent

Jan. 26: Del McCoury Band, Rhonda Vincent

For Opry tickets, log on to opry.com or call (615) 889-3060 or TicketMaster at (615) 255-9600. Artists and schedule subject to change.