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| WSM Radio listeners celebrating 89 years! {Photo by WSM Staff} |
One thing I always hate hearing someone say is, “they
never play country music on the radio.”
Open your ears and you will find country music on the radio. In fact, one of those stations just
celebrated its 89th birthday and I joined in on the celebration.
WSM 650 AM out of Nashville, Tennessee has been going
strong for 89 years this week. It is
also the home of the legendary Grand Ole Opry program. You can hear the station live on the radio
(even up here in Kentucky with a little bit of static), online at www.wsmonline.com, and via the Tune-In app
or the WSM app on your smart phone. Talk
about technology over the years. My
grandparents would have to listen to just the radio and now I can listen to the
station anywhere and everywhere I go for the most part!
Thursday morning, I as well as about 20 other folks
gathered at the Grand Ole Opry House. My
buddy Amy that I’ve known for several years joined me. She now lives in Nashville, so it was a treat
to get to spend some time with her.
We were treated to some delicious donuts, drinks, and
fellowship in the Green Room of the Opry.
On hand were Bill Cody and Charlie Mattos doing their morning segment
show, Coffee, Country, and Cody. We all
sat around and watched as they did their show.
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| Chuck Mead and Bill Cody {Photo by Jessica Blankenship} |
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| WSM Listeners at the 89th Birthday Party {Photo by WSM Staff} |
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| Charlie Mattos and Bill Cody live from the Green Room of the Grand Ole Opry {Photo by Jessica Blankenship} |
Special guests that morning were Chuck Mead, Joe Mullins
and the Radio Ramblers, and Wendy Newcomer.
I was cracking up with Chuck Mead’s sayings, tapping my toes along with
Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, and swaying to the soulful sounds of Wendy
Newcomer.
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| Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers {Photo by Jessica Blankenship} |
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| Wendy Newcomer {Photo by Jessica Blankenship} |
We were lead on a private tour of the Grand Ole
Opry, minus the videos and such. We went
into the Friends and Neighbors Room, one that I haven’t seen the inside
of. The young gentleman provided some
information on particular photos of folks not music related but are friends of
the Opry. It was very interested who has
visited there over the years. From
Presidents to Rock Stars to Actors to….Lassie the dog.
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| Friends and Neighbors Room at the Grand Ole Opry {Photo by Jessica Blankenship} |
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| Haunting eeriness of an empty hallway of the Grand Ole Opry House. {Photo by Jessica Blankenship} |
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| Where the Grand Ole Opry stars get their mail {Photo by Jessica Blankenship} |
After the broadcast, I spoke with Bill
Cody. He is a fellow Kentucky native,
having lived in Boyle, Lincoln, and Marion Counties. It was a treat getting to speak to him in
person and talk about Kentucky music as well.
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| Yours truly with Gnomecephus the Gnome and Bill Cody |
If you are at the Grand Ole Opry House this
fall, be sure to check out the Opry Pumpkin Patch. I’m partial to Little Jimmy Dickens pumpkin
of course!
Many thanks to WSM for the wonderful
hospitality. It is much appreciated and
I had a wonderful time!
