Porter Wagoner celebrates golden anniversary at Grand Ole Opry
Sunday, May 20, 2007 – Country Music Hall of Famer Porter Wagoner celebrated his 50th anniversary as an Opry member during a sold-out performance Saturday. Fellow Opry members Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless and Marty Stuart, who is producing a new album on Wagoner titled "Wagonmaster," due in stores June 5, joined him on stage for a performance of the Parton penned hit "I Will Always Love You." When Parton ended her serenade to Wagoner, who was sitting on a stool during the song, she had to wipe away his tears and said, "You can get up now, I'm done hollering at you!"
Earlier in the evening Pete Fisher, general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, presented a circa 1881 gold pocket watch to Wagoner.
Wagoner has had 81 charting singles, including 29 Top 10 records and country classics such as "A Satisfied Mind," "Misery Loves Company," "The Hard Cold Facts of Life," "The Carroll County Accident" and "Green, Green Grass of Home." Wagoner also hosted the syndicated Porter Wagoner Show, which ran for 21 years and reached more than 100 TV markets. It was on this show that Wagoner introduced Parton. The pair went on to have 14 Top 10 duet hits and to win 3 consecutive CMA Awards as Duo of the Year.
More news for Porter Wagoner
CD reviews for Porter Wagoner
Wagonmaster
Porter Wagoner's latest is a terrific album. It's a collection that fits seamlessly into Wagoner's long and impressive body of musical work, while at the same time representing an artistic stretch on behalf of the artist and his reverential producer, Marty Stuart.
The album is bookended with "Wagonmaster 1 & 2," a quick fiddle ditty with producer Stuart introducing the artist, "Wagonmaster's comin..." and Wagonmaster's leavin'... »»» |
18 Grand Old Gospel 2005
This is Porter Wagoner's second gospel collection in two years, perhaps a clear indication that he has found a comfortable home in the genre.
Wagoner contributes four of his own compositions to this set, including two recitations, "I Found A Man" and "The Bird That Never Flew." The other 14 offerings are a mix of standards such as "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" and "In The Sweet Bye and Bye" and newer material with an old time feel. His current singing partner, Pam Gold, joins him on "Ye Of Little Faith. »»» |
Unplugged
Porter Wagoner's second Shell Point album finds him in fine voice, with supple support from his regular band, The Wagonmasters, and a finely picked collection of tunes. The album title is one to take with a grain of salt, as Wagoner's never been hugely "plugged" in the first place. Still, the electric guitars give way to steel, dobro and acoustic picking, and the drums keep to a polite level. The result would sound as natural in 1962 as it does here in 2002.
The near-acoustic backing provides »»» |
Editorial: A fine night for Taylor Swift –
Taylor Swift's showing at the Country Music Association awards Wednesday night was no surprise. In some respects, it was invigorating to see someone who was not male and not around umpteen years like some of her male counterparts take home the biggest prize of the night, entertainer of the year. »»»
Concert Review: Radney Foster sparks a revival –
Radney Foster told fans that he came home from the University of the South one weekend early in his college career and told his parents in the wee hours of the morning that he wanted to quit college and head to Nashville to pursue a music career. His parents agreed...fortunately.
Three decades later, that resulted in Foster playing songs on this... »»»
Concert Review: Neko Case overcomes obstacles –
The opening of Neko Case's show was unusual to say the least. "I'm angry right now," said the red head. "We just had a big fight with the promoter. We're going to sing weird, but we're actually very happy to be here."
Making quite clear that she was not a happy camper, Case still channeled her musical energies... »»»
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