OPRY RECAP: BROADCAST No. 1,095
Cowboy Copas Takes the Helm, Jimmy C. Newman Guests, Hank Garland Picks "Caravan," and Archie Campbell Brings Bull's Gap Humor to the Ryman
AT A GLANCE
Broadcast: Grand Ole Opry — 1,095th Consecutive Performance
Host / Star: Cowboy Copas
Announcer: Grant Turner
Featured Guest: Jimmy C. Newman
Sponsors: Prince Albert Tobacco, Camel Cigarettes
Network: WSM / NBC / Armed Forces Radio Service
THE SCENE
1. Opening Salvo: Cowboy Copas & Down in Nashville, Tennessee
Announcer Grant Turner opens the 1,095th consecutive broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry live from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Host Cowboy Copas kicks off the evening with a fast-paced, high-stepping performance of “Down in Nashville, Tennessee.” After the tune, Turner welcomes Copas back to the mother church and runs down the evening’s stacked roster, featuring Archie Campbell, Hank Garland, Del Wood, The Jordanaires, Tommy Jackson, Ralph Sloan & The Tennessee Travelers, and special guest Jimmy C. Newman.
2. Vocal Harmony: The Jordanaires — “Oh Lonesome Me”
While Jimmy C. Newman tunes up backstage, Grant Turner introduces The Jordanaires. The legendary vocal group delivers their rendition of the Don Gibson classic “Oh Lonesome Me,” complete with lively vocal percussion and smooth four-part harmony.
3. Special Guest Spotlight: Jimmy C. Newman — “Wanting You”
Copas and Grant Turner welcome “that smile and handsome, sweet-singing boy from down Louisiana way,” Jimmy C. Newman. fresh off the road. Newman steps up to the WSM microphone to deliver a heartfelt performance of his ballad “Wanting You.”
4. Commercial Break: Prince Albert Tobacco
Copas and Grant Turner plug show sponsor Prince Albert Smoking Tobacco, highlighting its mild, crimp-cut tobacco that burns steady in both pipes and roll-your-own cigarettes. “The proof is in the puffin’!”
5. Square Dance & Fiddle: Tommy Jackson & The Tennessee Travelers — “Snowflake Breakdown”
It’s square dance time at the Ryman! Tommy Jackson leads The Tennessee Travelers (along with caller Ralph Sloan) through a fiery performance of the fiddle instrumental “Snowflake Breakdown.”
6. Sacred Sacred Hymn: Cowboy Copas — “Don’t Shake Hands with the Devil”
Transitioning to the traditional Opry hymn segment, Cowboy Copas calls on the audience to clap along as he leads a gospel warning song, “Don’t Shake Hands with the Devil,” backed by the rhythm section and vocal harmonies.
7. Instrumental Genius: Hank Garland — “Caravan”
Grant Turner introduces Opry session legend and virtuoso guitarist Hank Garland. Garland showcases his blistering fingerpicking style with an arrangement of Duke Ellington’s jazz standard “Caravan.”
8. Ryman Comedy: Archie Campbell Live from Bull’s Gap
The Opry’s favorite funny man, Archie Campbell, takes the stage to trade banter with Cowboy Copas. Campbell delivers a string of tall tales and one-liners:
Marital Troubles: Explaining that his wife is leaving him over “knee trouble”—because she caught a blonde sitting on his knee.
Family Longevity: Claiming his grandfather lived to 106 before being shot by a jealous husband.
The Bull’s Gap Swimming Hole: Recounting the time revenue officers busted a mountain still and dumped 2,000 gallons of 100-proof moonshine into Sailor’s Hole, leading to locals “wading up to their noses” all summer long.
Cousin Mary McNasty’s Shower: Giving his 39-year-old cousin a bridal shower using steel wool and soap.
“Dr.” Campbell’s Diagnoses: Sharing his medical technique of looking under patients’ beds to diagnose them—detecting peanut hulls, orange peels, and a locomotive engineer.
9. Commercial Spot: Faron Young Sings Prince Albert
A short musical commercial features Faron Young singing the Prince Albert jingle: “The proof is in the puffin’, in the puffin’, in the puffin’... PA has the flavor most favored in the USA!”
10. Guest Return: Jimmy C. Newman — “Now That You’ve Gone”
Jimmy C. Newman returns to the stage for his second feature of the night, singing the lonesome, melancholy country track “Now That You’ve Gone.”
11. Ragtime Piano: Del Wood — “Raggin’ the Keys”
Grant Turner introduces Grand Ole Opry star Del Wood, who pounds out a high-energy ragtime piano solo on “Raggin’ the Keys.”
12. The Headliner: Cowboy Copas — “Alabama”
Cowboy Copas closes out the main musical program with his chart-topping #1 hit, “Alabama,” accompanied by driving banjo and acoustic picking.
13. Sign-off & Preview
Cowboy Copas and Grant Turner sign off, teasing next week’s broadcast featuring host Porter Wagoner alongside special guest Buck Owens. The broadcast concludes with a Camel Cigarettes commercial spot (“Have a real cigarette, have a Camel”) and the WSM / Armed Forces Radio Service network ID.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
My name is Zachariah Malachi. I’m a full-time, self-employed honky tonk musician in Nashville, Tennessee. This Substack Publication was created for the purpose of sharpening my mind on more Nashville and Country Music history to share with the honky tonk patrons downtown during my shows - but I wanted more folks to benefit from the research so - it’s my gift to the country music fans of the world AND the people who WANT to be. Subscribe and come along for the ride.