El Dobro - Posted - 10/31/2015:  09:50:24

Hey Sonny, a Happy Belated Birthday to you.

banjoman56 - Posted - 10/31/2015:  17:09:54

Happy Birthday Sonny!

TheChief - Posted - 11/29/2015:  08:36:40

Appreciate all the HAPPY BIRTHDAYS, and HAPPY THANKSGIVINGS. Now it's time for the MERRY CHRISTMAS mode to overtake us.

Definitely my favorite time of the year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

S

TheChief - Posted - 11/29/2015:  08:53:51

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

 

Appreciate all the HAPPY BIRTHDAYS, and HAPPY THANKSGIVINGS. Now it's time for the MERRY CHRISTMAS mode to overtake us.

Definitely my favorite time of the year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NASHVILLE TENNESSEE

S

---

thebanjobert - Posted - 11/29/2015:  09:29:31

Thanks, Sonny.  And Merry Christmas to you and yours from Owasso, Oklahoma!!

Terry

RatLer - Posted - 11/30/2015:  05:24:24

Merry Christmas, Sonny, from Dayton, Ohio...!!!

TheChief - Posted - 11/30/2015:  06:49:50

Dayton...my old stomping ground. Met my wife, Judy. My children, Steve and Karen were born at Good Sam Hospital!  At one time I knew most every shortcut, ally, bar, and anything else one cares to mention. I drove a Yellow cab in Dayton for a few years, back in 1961. Was still doing 16 hour shifts when Bobby and I became members of the (then) GRAND OLE OPRY. Much has changed with the opry since then. The music was magical and the OPRY then was still mythical, for the most part. TV, money, and questionable management changed all that in the 80s. I'm talking about the time of Bill Monroe, Ernest Tubb, Ray Price, Flatt and Scruggs, The Wilburn Brothers, and dozens more, the likes of whom we'll never see or hear again. I literally saw and heard the GRAND OLE OPRY when it was exactly that. Big time artists were begging for a guest appearance...

My last adventure with School occurred at Fairview High School. I'm told where it was is now an open field, soon to become a library.Attended Jefferson Township High School, learned to play the banjo in Dayton.Time do move on. Some of we old timers just don't want that to happen.  What is it Roy Acuff once said; "You can't outrun FATHER TIME AND MOTHER NATURE".

Dayton, Ohio brings back memories though, good memories.

s 

Edited by - TheChief on 11/30/2015 07:06:19

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/30/2015:  10:59:26

Sonny,

Merry Christmas from Bloomington, Indiana. Played my first Christmas CD of the year today - Willie Nelson with Pretty Paper. Will try to get up the outside lights this week.

Ken

Ebanjo - Posted - 11/30/2015:  17:01:41

Sonny,
Merry Christmas from Wilkesboro, North Carolina. I saw you the first time in person at the VFW hall in North Wilkesboro in 1964. I agree with everything you said about the Opry (which ain't too grand anymore).
Eric Ellis

CoolBlue80 - Posted - 11/30/2015:  17:02:19

Merry Christmas, Sonny, from Pottsboro, Texas. It is such a shame that memories like yours of the GRAND OLE OPRY, and many others will never be had by today's generation. I still enjoy watching the Waltons and the musical scenes that was in that series.

TheChief - Posted - 11/30/2015:  21:48:17

I loved The Grand Ole Opry as it was meant to be, as it was. And I'm not alone. The late Spider Wilson said it best.

Once Spider, Bob Moore, Jimmy Capps, and I were backstage, actually it was the side of the stage, just talking about this very thing. Spider said: "That music was like...magic!"

I felt I had died and gone to heaven the night in July, 1964 when we were introduced as the newest members of The Grand Ole Opry. What a memory. Everyone should have a memory like that at least once, you know?

s

TheChief - Posted - 11/30/2015:  21:51:24

I REALLY LIKE KNOWING WHERE YOU GUYS ARE. IT SOUNDS GOOD.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

S

CoolBlue80 - Posted - 12/01/2015:  04:45:41

I don't think I'll ever have any memories like that of the GRAND OLE OPRY, However I do have some pretty good memories of you and Little Roy Lewis back in the 70's at Hugo Ok, I wasn't but about 12 yrs. old, but they are some of my greatest memories!

TNCowboy - Posted - 12/01/2015:  05:14:43

Merry Christmas from Chestnut Mound Tennessee. Thanks for all the reminiscings Sonny. It is terribly sad to see the opry go the way of pop culture and become a mere shell of itself. Most folks don't realize what we've lost and don't see the decline (steep). But as an old preacher used to say, in times of famine, men will gladly eat trash.

Keep the good memories coming.

Michael

TheChief - Posted - 12/01/2015:  05:54:16

Can one imagine Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff, Eddie Arnold, Flatt and Scruggs going onto the stage of the greatest show in the history of Country Music,dressed in blue jeans, with holes in the knees?

s 

gibson49classic - Posted - 12/01/2015:  05:57:43

The last time I was at the opry, Bobby and the Rocky Top X-press was there. They were dressed nicer than anyone else the whole night. Some of the new guys looked like they had slept under a bridge the night before!

Brett - Posted - 12/01/2015:  05:59:24

the first pro bluegrass band I ever saw live was Bill Monroe and it was sure impressive they came out in matching white suits with hats.  Super impressive.  Merry Christmas from downtown Hazel Green, AL. (just south of "the" red light).....

Ceres Banjo Works - Posted - 12/01/2015:  06:10:34

Merry Christmas from Riddleton, TN.

Sonny, Thanks for the memories. Your contributions to the music are immeasurable.

I was a "late comer" to the Opry, but have great memories (mostly from the dressing rooms). The first time I played the Opry was with Jim and Jesse on the last "spot" on a Friday night. That spot was recorded, (not aired) then played on Saturday between the two shows so the Opry would broadcast "seemlessly" on WSM 650 all Saturday evening. The neat thing was that after the Opry we headed down to the festival in Jekyll Island GA and upon leaving Georgia (on Saturday night) I heard myself on the Opry playing with some of my heroes. The tune was "Gosh I miss you all the time".

Sonny, I'll never forget in the dressing room one night you all rehearsed "Beneath Still Waters"... That was unlike anything I'd heard. The sheer volume and power of you, Bobby and Terry E. was incredible. I'd never heard anyone sing that "hard" before.

-Jim

TheChief - Posted - 12/01/2015:  09:40:31

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM A RAINY NASHVILLE,  TENNESSEE

"ALL THE GOOD TIMES ARE PAST AND GONE, LITTLE DARLIN' DON'T YOU WEEP NO MORE"

RatLer - Posted - 12/01/2015:  10:17:57

Dayton's not like it used to be...they've torn down (imploded) the old Rikes building and built a performing arts center in it's place. The Arcade is still there, but struggling to keep a roof on it....been sitting empty for years. 

Dan Mountjoy - Posted - 12/01/2015:  10:27:41

Merry Christmas from the bluegrass center of the world(?), Reidsville, NC!  I'm a late-comer to bluegrass, but probably my favorite video I've watched is your performance of "Ruby" at the Camp Springs festival.  Moved here from the Dayton area myself about 18 years ago, so, too late (unfortunately) to catch any of those festivals that, hard to believe for me, happened such a short drive away from my house!

bbanjoboy - Posted - 12/01/2015:  10:50:30

I was backstage at the opry once... I walked down the hall and looked into a room.. turned out to be the 'bluegrass' room.. and there all alone playing his mandolin sat Monroe next to the mirror with all those lights.... He was so into it and in his 70's.. I was mesmorized. I don't think he even knew I was watching him.. Then, as I turned around to leave, down at the other end of the hall was this guy who looked like he was a Bee Gee... Red satin jacket and he stared at me and I stared back.. I'm not sure what he thought of me, but that split second of eye contact with Keith Whitley was incredible... One night, maybe the whole thing took 5 minutes and here I am 30 years later still thinking about it.. I never got a picture that night, but I hung out with Grandpa, Roy Acuff, and got to see the bluegrass boys from backstage... I went out front for about 5 minutes and realized that the real show was behind the curtain! But hey, we've got Luke Bryan now right?????

RayD - Posted - 12/01/2015:  18:21:16

Sonny,

Merry Christmas from San Antonio! I don't have any special memories or Grand Old Opry stories, just a really nice Osborne Chief banjo.

TheChief - Posted - 12/01/2015:  21:32:39

Ray...you is my kinda guy!!!!!

s

Spike2 - Posted - 12/01/2015:  23:45:33

Merry Christmas, Sonny and all, from Bullhead City, AZ. Unlike Ray, I have a few memorable recollections, one including me sitting onstage of The Opry during a Saturday night broadcast. The Osborne Brothers performed and the whole evening was magical. I get a Cheshire Cat grin on my face thinking about it. And I own an Osborne Chief engraved by Greg Rich. 

TheChief - Posted - 12/02/2015:  08:49:23

Bullhead City huh?

Sounds a lot like Bull Creek, KY..Only bout a thousand miles apart!  Bull Creek, which is a branch of Thousand Sticks, KY. Came to a Y at my Grand daddy's store. Bull Creek one of the forks, Osborne Fork the other.

If I'm not mistaken, your banjo is made of wood from a fallen tree just to the right of the stage at Beanblossom Bluegrass Park. Am I right or what?

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM SU(O)NNY TENNESSEE. 

S

TheChief - Posted - 12/02/2015:  08:58:59

Greg, The Purple Cow, is it still there? Rike's used to have a display every Christmas and crowds would come stand and watch it move. As a 7 year old kid, I watched it many times. At Third and Main was the MARCH OF DIMES. Bet it's gone too. Popps Music store was two blocks from there, where my RB3 Gibson banjo was purchased new in 1937 buy Hershal Measle.. Aaron McDaris has it now. Memories.

s 

RatLer - Posted - 12/02/2015:  11:51:57

I think the Purple Cow was in the old Van Cleve Hotel, which was torn down years ago. Some of the Rikes Christmas displays are reconstucted in the Schuster Performing Art Center....which has been built on the old Rike Dept Store site...

Here is a web site with alot pictures of Dayton, especially from the 50's, you will probably recognize...      daytonhistorybooks.com 

Spike2 - Posted - 12/02/2015:  12:03:06

Bullhead City is named after a large rock that resembles a bull's head that used to be exposed before the Davis dam was built on the Colorado River here. Interesting we both have a little bull of one sort or another woven into our lives. Lol

My Chief is walnut and the neck is made from a walnut tree that grew close to the stage at Beanblossom If I recall correctly, you told me that when Frank learned of the tree being struck by lightning about a year after Bill's passing, he wanted the wood to use. As far as I know, my Chief is the only one of those engraved by Greg Rich to have this Bean walnut neck on it. You would know if that is correct. If so, I have the only Osborne Chief like it. And it rests in the red Calton case waiting patiently for a picker to bring it to life. Too bad I don't play. 

Edited by - Spike2 on 12/02/2015 12:06:50

TheChief - Posted - 12/02/2015:  15:18:39

I need to ask a favor folks.

I have a subscription to siriusxm radio for the sole purpose of hearing Bluegrass music 24/7 if I so choose. Well, I just learned that they are contemplating discontinuing that service, which saddens me because my whole career has been an uphill battle to get our music played on radio. Bill Monroe, Flatt/Scruggs, all were faced with the problem. Everyone who plays Bluegrass music, and records it, has had the same problem. It was changed, first with XM and then sirius and XM joined and gave us what we have been begging for, and it has worked. Bluegrass Music is in pretty good shape right now and that channel has been very instrumental in bringing that change. But we are in fear of losing it, so maybe you can all help.

THE NAMES ARE;

SCOTT.GREENSTEIN@SIRIUSXM.COM 

STEVE.BLATTER@SIRIUSXM.COM 

Following is the note I sent. Write something like this. we might be able to ward this off if we work together and let them know of it's importance to us, and everyone who loves Bluegrass music.

I shall forever grateful

Sonny

Jim1 - Posted - 12/02/2015:  15:32:08

I just sent mine sonny.   That IS the only reason I have Sirius radio also.   Thanks for the heads up and hopefully everyone  else will do the same.    

bbanjoboy - Posted - 12/02/2015:  15:41:00

Well, as for me, sirius and XM were an amazing experience when they first came out... BUT .. as things go, so does this.. IMHO... First, they have a SINGLE bluegrass channel.. and if you don't like what/who they are playing or what they are telling you is bluegrass.. then tough.. you're out of luck. Then they had a tendency to repeat their programming (for that is precisely what it is PROGRAMMING).. Programming you that you need to go buy this or that .... However, as much as I understand the royalty problem, Pandora plays what I want to hear when I want to hear it.. If I want o hear 'the osborne brothers' I simply type it in and they not only play the osborne brothers but they play things very similar (if that's possible) and I don't have to hear the ruckus of a 'DJ" ... just my 2 cents .. I love Pandora, and as soon as I found it I ditched Sirius and never looked back. BUT.. Something needs to be done in regards to royalties.. that's for SURE...

Aradobanjo - Posted - 12/02/2015:  16:46:11

Hello,

Bluegrass Junction is my favorite channel in my car. The other is The Message. I do not listen to any other channels. 

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/02/2015:  17:40:20

Sonny,

Here is what Bluegrass Today said about the junction leaving:

bluegrasstoday.com/siriusxm-to...hanukkah/

Also I have started this thread on the hangout (banjohangout.org/topic/311996) and posted your letter without using your name. I hope you don’t mind. If you do mind please let me know or contact a moderator and I am sure they will remove it.  If you don’t object to me using your letter and want to give a plug there, it would probably gain a lot of traction.

ken

TheChief - Posted - 12/03/2015:  08:11:44

Ken, if it will help you may use my name.

s

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/03/2015:  09:30:04

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

 

Ken, if it will help you may use my name.

s

---

Thanks Sonny, I will do that.

ken

mhammer - Posted - 12/03/2015:  12:06:06

Sonny,

I just sent the email as well - it's disheartening and unbelievable that they would choose to remove Bluegrass Junction when there are so many stations playing the same genres of music.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/04/2015:  06:06:53

Along with the letters, there is also a petition that can be signed at

change.org/p/powers-that-be-at...ius-radio

It has about 3800 signatures already.

Ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 12/04/2015 06:11:04

TheChief - Posted - 12/05/2015:  09:24:26

I sent the letter and darned if I didn't get a reply. They said the decision was made on a rotation basis and THE BLUEGRASS JUNCTION would be off from Dec.5 until Dec.15. Which is still not acceptable, but it is what it is I guess.

When all is said and done though, they'll know we are here...huh?

Now, shouldn't we all get some kind of rebate for the 10 days lost time..24/7. After all it IS a PAID SUBSCRIPTION...right? So we shouldn't pay for what we're not getting. 'Twon't be much $, but, hello, it's OUR money, right? It belongs is our pocket. It'll buy about 4 gallons of gas!!!!!!!!! Cheap? NAWWWWW!.Not me.

s 

caloscalzo - Posted - 12/05/2015:  10:25:27

I fully agree with you Sonny.  They should rebate the 10 days.  I don't listen to any other station.  At current gas prices, it might even buy 5 gallons!!!

Craig

rbfour5 - Posted - 12/05/2015:  18:00:52

Sonny,

Merry Christmas from (FOGGY) Champaign, IL!! My wife and I were fortunate to see you and Bobby in April 1983 at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall; I think it was called Bluegrass Jam, with Bill Monroe and the Johnson Mountain Boys. It was a great time, and Champaign was lucky to have you perform there. All the best to you and your family!

Dean

bbanjoboy - Posted - 12/05/2015:  19:17:05

Good luck with that.. while your at it, get my money back from direct tv for the two hours this month my tv went out and the $1000 worth of food I lost in my freezer when the electric company failed to provide service in the storm... etc etc.. I say stick with Pandora

rbfour5 - Posted - 12/05/2015:  20:48:53

I emailed SiriusXm on Wednesday to ask why would they preempt the only Bluegrass station on their network, when they have other genres with multiple channels. It just makes no sense to me. I have signed the online petition. The response I got back was typical corporate "we are not listening to your concern".....

Recently you requested personal assistance from SIRIUS XM.

Below is a summary of your request and our response.

Subject
Account #: 1-********** Name: Clifford Meece


Response To Your Inquiry (Kimberly) 12/03/2015 05:21 PM
Hello Clifford,

Bluegrass Junction will return to channel 61 on December 15. As with our other holiday channels, Radio Hanukkah is a temporary channel for the holiday season that takes the place of an existing channel for a short time (for instance, Holly took over Velvet last month). In the meantime, Bluegrass Junction remains available on smartphones and other connected devices as well as online at siriusxm.com. Thank you as always for your feedback and for being a loyal listener.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Jamieson
SiriusXM

[---001:000630:63715---]

They did not address my concerns, nor did they even acknowledge the possibility of me canceling my (3) subscriptions. I'm with Kenny- time to stream bluegrass with Pandora. (I already have my Osborne Brothers station saved in my Pandora.... :-) )

Jim1 - Posted - 12/06/2015:  05:47:57

I received that same responses as Kimberly did.  

Jim1 - Posted - 12/06/2015:  05:48:32

Oops.  Same as Dean.  

TheChief - Posted - 12/06/2015:  13:56:12

I'm cancelling tomorrow.

s

Jim1 - Posted - 12/06/2015:  14:19:51

The email said it would resume after the holidays.  Said it does it in a rotation every year for these seasonal channels so maybe they aren't doing away with the channel.     Maybe they won't interrupt the bluegrass channel next year.   Hope not any way.   

TNCowboy - Posted - 12/06/2015:  14:48:02

I think that the calls and emails do have an effect. A few years ago xm preempted the 40's channel with Christmas music and they received numerous complaints. They subsequently found an alternate channel for the holiday tradition channel and left the 40's alone. Could be that the same thing will happen here. That said, it is frustrating that they tweak a channel when they have so many blank channels to use.

Michael

rbfour5 - Posted - 12/06/2015:  15:15:06

I have cancelled all (3) of my radio subscriptions. In the email response that I got from Kimberly Jamieson from SiriusXM, she states that last month the station "Velvet" was preempted for "Holly". Well, Velvet is one of many Pop genre stations, so preempting this station still leaves several other Pop station choices for those that listen to that genre of music. To preempt the ONLY bluegrass station if even for 9 days was a POOR decision on SiriusXM's part.