#Opry Night

[heckyestaylorhicks]

From Edward James Instagram:

An @opry night at the mother church. @theryman . 🤠🙏🏻⛪️ with @mandybarnettmusic @taylorhicksofficial @grace__bowers & more!

[ancaxbre]

Illustration for 'Tales from Shakespeare

Author: Charles and Mary Lamb

Illustrator: Elena Boariu/Chinschi

1969

[randallfranks]

Praises! The Lord blessed me last night with winning Musician of the Year - Fiddle/Violin at The Josie Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. What an amazing way to celebrate my 40th Anniversary Month of my Artist Debut for the Grand Ole Opry and becoming a Blue Grass Boy - standing in the Opry Circle accepting this award. Thanks be to God, the Josie Music Awards, my parents - Pearl and Floyd, my musical fathers - Bill Monroe, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, the Georgia fiddlers who made me - Great Uncle Tom Franks, Dr. Donald Grisier, Dallas Burrell, Gordon Tanner, Cotton Carrier, and the fiddlers who helped to sharpen my skills - Chubby Wise, Paul Warren, Howdy Forrester, Kenny Baker, Benny Martin, Bobby Hicks, Tommy Jackson, Buddy Spicher, Blaine Sprouse and Jim Buchanan ! It was an honor to share the awards stage with Lifetime Achievement Award Winners John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) Neal McCoy Multi-Platinum Country Artist, Icon Award winner Tiffany, Songwriter Legend Award Randy Edelman and all the talented winners - such as Lee Newton and Webb Dalton Music and so many more. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees! It was a blessing spending some time with old and new friends like Dale Houston & Tim Atwood & Roxane Atwood. Thanks to Jeff Womack for a great award interview! New Single Out This Week Cotton-Eyed Joe with Bill Monroe www.RandallFranks.com

[johnsteelsax-blog]

Playing Sax with Ronnie Milsap and band at the Grand Ol Opry playing the song "Lost In The 50s" Good memories with good people!

[wheel-of-fish]

The Phantom of the Opera on TV (and streaming)!

I've been sitting on this list for two years in hopes of making it complete, but I realized if I wait that long I'll never post it. Let me know what I've missed!

Please note that I haven't watched all of these in their entirety and can't attest to their quality/content.

Adaptations

1983 - The Phantom of the Opera (TV movie starring Maximilian Schell, Jane Seymour)

1990 - The Phantom of the Opera (TV miniseries starring Charles Dance, Teri Polo)

Parodies

1961 - The Woody Woodpecker Show, S4. E13, "Phantom of the Horse Opera"

1962 - Beany and Cecil, S1 E12, "Phantom of the Horse Opera"

1966 - That Girl, S1 E14, "Phantom of the Horse Opera"

1968 - The Pink Panther, S1 E17, "Cherche le Phantom"

1971 - Night Gallery, S2 E4, "Phantom of What Opera?"

1974 - The Phantom of Hollywood (TV movie)

1987 - Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater, "The Phantom of the Theater"

1989 - Julie & Carol: Together Again, "Phantom of the Opry" sketch (TV special starring Carol Burnett, Julie Andrews)

1989 - Babar, S1 E13, "The Phantom"

1989 - Count Duckula, S1 E21, "Fright at the Opera"

1991 - Night Court, S9 E1 & E2, "A Guy Named Phantom" (clip)

1993 - Doug, S3 E5, "Doug's Huge Zit"

1994 - Lamb Chop in the Haunted Studio (TV movie starring Shari Lewis)

1995 - Goosebumps, S1 E7, "Phantom of the Auditorium"

1995 - Wishbone, S1 E37, "Pantin' at the Opera" (part 1 | part 2)

1998 - Anatole, S1 E9, "The Phantom of the Cheese"

1999 - The Triplets, S5 E9, "The Phantom of the Opera"

2000 - Are You Afraid of the Dark?, S7 E10, "The Tale of the Last Dance"

2000 - SpongeBob SquarePants, S2 E22, "Something Smells" (clip)

2010 - Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, S1 E7, "In Fear of the Phantom"

2015 - All Hail King Julien, S2 E15, "The Phantom of Club Moist"

2019 - If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, S2 E6, "If You Give a Mouse a Pumpkin"

2019 - The Tom and Jerry Show, S3 E76, "PhanTom of the Oompah"

Character appearances

1981 - The Munsters' Revenge, TV movie (clip)

1984 - Diff'rent Strokes, S6 E16, "Hooray for Hollywood - Part 1"

1997 - "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" music video (HD version)

2009 - Saturday Night Live, "Save Broadway" sketch

2010 - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, S6 E7, "Who Got Dee Pregnant?" (clip)

2010 - Ghouls, multiple episodes (clip)

2020 - Saturday Night Live, "Airport Sushi" sketch

ALW musical references

2006 - Family Guy, S4 E23, "Deep Throats" (clip)

2012 - Glee, S3 E18, "Choke" (clip)

2015 - The Late Late Show, Sept. 10: "James Corden joins the cast of The Phantom of the Opera"

2015 - The Late Late Show, Sept. 23: "Crosswalk the Musical: The Phantom of the Opera"

2016 - The Goldbergs, S4 E8, "The Greatest Musical Ever Written" (clip)

2018 - Jeopardy!, Feb. 15 show (clip)

2018 - The Late Late Show, June 18: "Crosswalk the Musical: Andrew Lloyd Webber classics"

2019 - The Umbrella Academy, S1 E1, "We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals" (audio)

2020 - Dash & Lily, S1 E4, "Cinderella"

2020 - The Crown, S4 E9, "Avalanche" (clip)

2022 - The Masked Singer, S8 E4, "Andrew Lloyd Webber Night"

Other

1991 - David Copperfield: Secret of the Phantom of the Opera (TV special)

[beatleswings]

PAUL and LINDA McCARTNEY being interviewed as they made a surprise visit to the Grand Ole Opry's night performance on June 28, 1974. Photo taken by ALAN L. MAYOR.

[thatbanditqueen]

Louisiana Saturday Night, a new fic.....

I have been working on a new WIP set at the Louisiana Hayride from 1954 - 1956, and will probably post chapter one in the next few days. It starts in October 1954, when 19 year-old Elvis had never played outside the small clubs of Memphis, except for that once. At the Opry. And that didn't go too well.

Now he faces his biggest audience ever at the Lousiana Hay Ride: over three thousand people in-person (a thousand more than the Opry!) and millions over the radio. He has only recorded two singles, never been away from home much or gone beyond second base with a girl, and doesn't know much about life as a touring musician. But he's eager to learn and grab every opportunity he can with those long, inexperienced slender fingers.

This fic will have my usual blend of poorly executed dry humor, fluff, smut and angst.

please comment or reblog if you want to be tagged - here is a preview.

Here is a snippet from Chapter 1: Hot Wax

Approximately 9:15 p.m.

Saturday, October 16, 1954

The Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana

The first time she saw Elvis up close he was hunched over the sink tapping his fingers along the porcelain rim. Rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet, he reminded Freddie of a bottle rocket about to blow. She smiled at the thought of him bursting through the ceiling like a comic book hero, his oversized sports coat trailing behind him like a long pink cape.

She wasn’t sure if he was recovering from his first set or talking himself into the second, but what she did know was that this kid was as green as they came. Horace had been reading Pappy the riot act yesterday when she walked by his office, yelling at him for booking “some hillbilly who just fell off the turnip truck, cuz Sam Philips brings you a bottle of Jack every time he comes through town.”  The audience out there had been so taken aback by his country bop they’d forgotten to clap, and she doubted Pappy would be allowed to invite him back.

As she watched the show up in the control booth, Freddie had wondered if Elvis’ performance had gone over better with the radio listeners who hadn’t had to watch his stilted, awkward movements on stage. There was a ragged emotional tenor to his voice, and now that she was standing right in front of him she had to admit he had a dark, sultry allure that was strikingly different from all these other boys doing their best Gene Autry impression.

But geez, now the poor kid began to mutter into his reflection and she hoped he wouldn’t cry. Freddie barely knew how to deal with the girls she found balling in the bathroom. 

“Um, hey there. You ok?”

Elvis jerked around and ran his hand through his sopping wet hair and straightened up, stiff like a deer caught in the headlights. 

“Most folks are nervous their first time. That’s a big crowd.”

“Don’t you worry about me, honey, I ain’t nervous.” He looked her over, a sneer forming at his mouth. “Didn’t you heard the man? I’m the hottest thing on wax. Mr. Logan just asked me to play a second set.”

“Oh - uh - well, I guess I was wrong.”

“MMhmmm. Just getting geared up to go back on stage.” He settled his hands at his waist and shot her a sulky fierce glower, then waggled his eyebrows in a challenge.

“Oh, well that's good. Maybe you can answer something for me then.”

“Anything baby.” 

He softened and bit his lip, giving her what she took to be his version of a come hither look. He looked like he was fighting back a sneeze and Freddie had to swallow her laughter. 

“Why are you in the Ladies’ Powder Room?”

Elvis paused and looked down for a beat as he shook his head and laughed.

She nodded toward the shelf of perfume bottles, powders and the basket of dainty pink sanitary napkin boxes with Kotex printed along the sides.

He let out a low whistle and rubbed his mouth.

“Man o man, I guess you got me, might be jus a lil nervous. I ‘spose I really weren’t watching were I was going, huh?”

Freddie couldn’t help the way she dumbly smiled back, noticing up close how long and thick his eyelashes were as he looked down at her through them. She suddenly had the urge to take his hand and lead him to the green room where she could make him a hot cup of tea and comfort him and give him all the advice she had from her four years of working at KWKH. But instead she took a deep breath and fidgeted with her cardigan.

“I won't tell anyone you were in here. It can be our secret."

other fic taglist - i won't tag you again on this unless you comment you want to be tagged:

@whositmcwhatsit

@from-memphis-with-love

@vintageshanny

@shakerattlescroll

@peskybedtime

@be-my-ally

@ellie-24

@missmaywemeetagain

@powerofelvis

@arrolyn1114

@lookingforrainbows

@eliseinmemphis

@kingdomforapony

@everythingelvispresley

@richardslady121

@dkayfixates

@artlover8992

@freudianslumber

@amydarcimarie

@toreigh

@18lkpeters

@yynneessmons

@ashtag6887

@waiting4brucewayne2adoptme

@returntopresley

@rjmartin11

@louisejoy86

@notstefaniepresley

@i-r-i-n-a-a

@j-v-9-2

@beeandheroddobsessions

@doll-elvis

@burningloverdoll

@ohjustpeachy1

@everythingelvispresley

@velvetelvis

@horror-movieshoes

@ooihcnoiwlerh

@moonchild-daniella

@lialocklear

@obsessionisthecure

@tacozebra051

@elvispresleywife

@bisexualwvtson

@father-of-2cats

@lillypink

@godlypresley

@crash-and-cure

@misspresley

@daffieapple

@louisejoy86

@burningloverdoll

@stargirllily19

@amydarcimarie

@elvisrealgf

@littlehoneyposts

@eapep

@stylespresleyhearted

[lia-lozano]

Lia's public 'hi, I'm a singer, this is my public but not my private life' instagram ft. red carpet pictures, nights on stage, recording sessions, memories of her induction into the Opry, a few selfies and a picture of her cat, Pudding.

Lia's, 'named after my two favourite things, rhinestones and pickles so no one will know it's me' finstagram. ft. milkshakes, beach days, smooches with @hollyparkcr, nights out with @sahrademir, the end of a hike in Mexico, Pudding being queen of the house, margs and pre-date flowers from @emilmoreno.

[ironmandeficiency]

modern lotr character headcanons

characters included: aragorn, boromir, gimli, legolas, pippin, merry, frodo, sam, arwen, eomer, eowyn

word count: 745

summary: random thoughts abt lotr characters if they lived in modern times

a/n: this is literally just silly shit, enjoy

boromir listens to old country (conway twitty, george jones, loretta lynn, etc.) and does not tolerate anyone insulting the opry legends

he also listens to divorced dad rock (hinder, nickelback, theory of a dead man, etc.) which gimli will sometimes jam to as well

gimli lovingly maintains an old-as-dirt bench seat ford truck despite there almost constantly being something wrong with it. ignores legolas’s badgering about him getting something more reliable

obviously legolas drives a hybrid and he almost acts as if this fact makes him better than gimli (not in a dickish way, though)

horse girl aragorn.

frodo is the epitome of shy emo boy with the black skinny jeans & death cab for cutie playing in his air pods

merry is the golden retriever in the “golden retriever in love with the black cat” trope 

aragorn and arwen host game nights and various other parties for their friends, but neither of them can cook so they just order delivery (or sam hijacks their kitchen for the hours before)

pippin has a large follower base on social media bc of his drinking songs and other inebriated antics that are usually recorded by whoever happens to be with him that night. usually it’s eowyn & merry, and the three of them will shake some major ass to megan thee stallion

sam goes to open mic nights at local coffee shops to people watch. he will never perform himself, but it’s nice to watch people he knows do their thing

eomer accidentally goes viral on tiktok when eowyn records him doing some dumb shit. never lives it down

the amount of joy gimli gets from going to rage rooms is almost alarming

arwen has a very thorough skin care regimen that she introduces to aragorn, and it becomes a sweet nightly routine for the two of them

eowyn & eomer don’t allow anyone to talk shit about or annoy the other bc that’s their job fuck you very much

frodo has a shitty immune system but sam’s homemade soups seem to always heal from the soul outward

sam is the little spoon favored by the resident neurodivergent

frodo is the resident neurodivergent

yes they’re dating

arwen is always the dd

when it comes to birthdays, don’t ask boromir to remember anyone but faramir’s. hell, he forgets his own birthday sometimes

legolas is the best at remembering the birthdays of his friends but forgets his own

they have to remind each other of their own birthdays when that time of year comes around

merry is always the favorite audience member at a drag show

arwen & eowyn never dress like they’re going to the same place when they hang out

gimli says southern grandpa idioms unironically — “as useless as a screen door on a submarine”, “higher than eagle titties”, “busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest”, you get the idea. merry keeps a running tab of said quotes

boromir is the “we’re not getting a dog” dad. said dog ends up being his best friend & the sole inheritor in his will, fuck them kids

aragorn & gimli have their own moonshine still they think is perfectly hidden from everyone

that does not include merry & pippin, who are booze bloodhounds and immediately knew where to find it but swore to secrecy as long as they got more than everyone else

frodo sips fruity little drinks because he can’t shoot whiskey

sam can drink in the way only a divorced middle-age man can despite not being a divorced middle-aged man

eowyn cannot drive for shit & the several dents on her car prove it. the only reason her insurance hasn’t gone up astronomically is because she just. doesn’t report any of it

said car has a fuck ton of bumper stickers with all sorts of silly things

gimli can’t ride a bike AT ALL but has a motorcycle, make it make sense

he goes on bike rides with eomer when they have the time & the weather is nice

merry & pippin are two halves of a whole idiot at every given moment

eomer LOVES 90s and 00s country music but is kinda picky about newer country (he is a massive fan of cody johnson but will throw you through a wall if you talk about morgan wallen in his presence)

arwen dances in the rain & literally never gets sick from it. merry is insanely jealous of this fact

frodo’s favorite video game is animal crossing: new horizons & has very sound opinions on what villagers are the best (fuck you, rodney)

[carrieyouwithme]

carrieunderwood: Another wonderful night at the Grand ole Opry!!! Thanks for being the of Country Music and for allowing me to be a part of the family!

📸: chrishollo

[blondebrainpowered]

After making musical connections while performing on the Cas Walker Show, Dolly Parton and her Uncle Bill Owens managed to get a guest spot on the Grand Ole Opry in 1959. Friends, Carl and Pearl Butler were instrumental in getting Jimmy C. Newman to agree to give up one of his regular Saturday night spots to Dolly. Johnny Cash introduced her saying,

"We’ve got a little girl here from up in East Tennessee. Her daddy’s listening to the radio at home and she’s gonna be in real trouble if she doesn’t sing tonight, so let’s bring her out here."

Dolly recalls seeing the classic WSM microphone stand and being in awe standing on the Ryman Auditorium stage. Dolly said,

"As I heard the band play my introduction, I lifted my head and looked up toward the lights. I smiled at the people in the balcony and then let ‘er rip."

Dolly sang George Jones’ song, "You Gotta Be My Baby" and received three encores that night.

[broadwaybaggins]

6+32 with Scott please!

6: Break Away 32: Night

Here we go...get ready to meet Evie!

------------------------------------------------

"Blame it all on my roots, I showed up in boots And ruined your black-tie affair The last one to know, the last one to show I was the last one you thought you'd see there And I saw the surprise and the fear in his eyes When I took his glass of champagne And I toasted you, said, "Honey, we may be through But you'll never hear me complaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!"

The smell of campfire smoke hung heavy in the air over the crowded motel parking lot, and the group--a mismatched crew of stormchasers, influencers, mildly bewildered Storm Par employees, and regular tourists--were on at least their third rendition of "Friends in Low Places." At least they had stopped singing that Luke Combs song. Hot dogs and bags of marshmallows were being passed around between strangers, and now that the sun had set, there was a chill in the air that the fire was helping to keep at bay. The whole atmosphere was like an amateur concert crossed over with adult summer camp, but it was getting to be a bit much.

Evelyn McNamara--Evie, to her friends--leaned over and whispered in her friend Javi's ear. "I'm gonna get some air."

It took a few tries for him to actually hear her. He had been sulking ever since they'd arrived at the motel about an hour earlier and Kate, the other new arrival that had come in from New York around the same time that Evie had arrived from Little Rock, had disappeared into her room. Evie wasn't about to ask questions--it really wasn't her business whatever had put Javi in such a shitty mood. She and Javi were friends--he had worked alongside her brother in the military, and when Javi mentioned his passion for storms, Evie's brother had gushed about her work at the University of Arkansas, where she had gotten her meteorology Master's and was working as a research fellow, preparing to get her Ph.D. Whatever Jamie had said about her was apparently positive, because Javi had contacted her out of the blue a few days ago, inviting her out for a week of chasing in Oklahoma. The invitation couldn't have come at a better time, although Javi didn't have to know that part just yet.

The first chase of the week had been...less than successful, but no one except Javi seemed to be letting it affect their good time. He finally got what Evie was saying and nodded, the fire reflected in his dark eyes as he stared into the flames. "Okay. Cool." She pushed her folding chair back and wrapped her hoodie around herself, walking to the edge of the parking lot. It was a clear night and she tilted her head upwards, her hands stuck deep in the pockets of her hoodie as she tried to pick out the different constellations. She smelled him before she saw him. The sharp scent of spearmint suddenly cut through the tang of the campfire smoke. Evie knew before she turned to look that Javi's obnoxious Storm Par partner, Scott, with his ever-present gum would be standing there. She scowled. "You couldn't stand the hillbilly hoedown, either?" he asked, smacking his gum.

"You know, I actually came over here to be alone."

"Oh, I didn't realize you owned the parking lot now. My apologies." He didn't sound sorry in the slightest. When Evie finally turned to look at him--god, he was so damn tall, it was infuriating--all he did was smirk.

"They're not that bad," she muttered.

"Which ones? The Beverly Hillbillies with their youtube channel, those idiots from Tempest Tours who make tourists sign away any and all liability before they take them into storms they have no business chasing, or the rejects from the Grand Ole Opry?" he asked flatly.

Evie turned away, looking back up at the stars. "Some of them have pretty good voices." He snorted--actually snorted, damn him. "Yeah, okay, Arkansas. Didn't realize you were deaf."

"Don't call me that." "Would you prefer Razorback?" He smirked and smacked his lips again. Evie pondered, just for a second, about smacking him.

Okay, so he knew her school's mascot. Good for him. He'd probably fucking Googled it in the car on the way over here.

"What brings you here from the bustling metropolis of Fayetteville, anyway?" He said Fayetteville the same way some would say garbage dump. "Javi never said." "I don't really think it's any of your business," Evie said quickly. "But...same as Kate, I'm just doing Javi a favor. I happened to be in between some projects, so...the timing worked out."

"Huh."

God, what was this guy's problem? Evie yanked her hands out of her pockets and turned to look at him again, meeting his deep blue-gray gaze. "What?" she demanded.

He shrugged. He actually had the nerve to shrug. "Nothing. Just feel like you're not telling me the whole truth. You and Kate both." "I don't even know Kate, so I can't speak for her. But what do you even care, anyway? We all have a job to do here, and Javi thinks I can help out. That's all."

There was a pause, and behind them, the crowd started up another round of "Friends in Low Places." The irony was almost painful.

"Stop looking at me like that," Evie demanded finally.

He smirked again. "Like what?"

"Like...you're trying to figure me out." He barked out a harsh laugh. "Believe me, I'm not. I just came over here for a little peace and quiet, just like you." He gave her a look like he was daring her to argue with him, and Evie clamped her mouth shut. "I got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away I'll be okay..."

Scott shook his head, sending another wave of spearmint-scented air in Evie's direction. "I think they're actually getting worse. It's almost impressive." "Are you actively trying to be an asshole, or does it just come naturally to you?" Evie snapped before she could stop herself. Almsot immediately, she regretted it--they had to work together, after all, and just because he was being a jackass didn't mean she had to stoop to his level--but it was too late to take it back.

He chuckled, and she could feel him watching her in the darkness.

"I guess you'll find out. If you're allowed to have secrets, I guess I am too, right?"

Oh, it was going to be a long fucking week.

[randallfranks]

This is Awards week - Randall Franks is headed to the Grand Ole Opry House for the 10th Annual The Josie Music Awards   Randall Franks is Awards Nominee for the 2024 Inspirational Vocalist of the Year and Musician of the Year Nominee - Fiddle (Second Year in A Row for Both Awards). Randall debuted as a Grand Ole Opry Guest Star 40 Years Ago This Week (https://randallfranks.com/grand-ole-opry-40th-anniversary/) Thank you to the The Josie Music Awards! Congratulations to the other nominees. http://www.RandallFranks.com Randall's Latest #7 AirPlay Direct Americana Album  The American's Creed Available to Radio: http://AirPlayDirect.com/RandallFranksTheAmericansCreed Get it Amazon: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0D2WGJ1Y5... Itunes: https://music.apple.com/.../the-americans-creed/1743671704 Get his earlier album Brand New to Itunes: Randall Franks - Golden River Fiddlin' http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1735466544?ls=1&app=itunes Randall is an Independent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, which is administrated by The Josie Music Awards.

[the-tortured-artists-department]

TS Outfit Madness: Round 1, Matchup 31

HAPPY DUBLIN NIGHT 2. THREE POLLS TODAY BECAUSE I MESSED UP! Be sure to follow tsoutfitmadness for all upcoming polls! I really appreciate all reblogs! It helps get a bigger sample size for each poll & always keeps things more exciting 🫶🏼

For the duration of this tournament, I will be running a contest where you simply need to fill out this Google Form after you vote.

[womantoday]

Ruby Falls {January 16, 1946 - June 15, 1986}

Ruby Falls has been the most successful black woman country performer to date, with her mellifluous voice taking her to the Billboard country singles chart nine times between 1974 and 1979. Her biggest hits were “You’ve Got To Mend This Heartache,” which peaked at number 40 in 1977 and “I’m Getting’ Into Your Love,” which peaked at number 56 in 1979. Falls was also nominated as country music’s Most Promising Female Vocalist in 1975 by country industry trade media. She recorded on the 50 States Records label and also found success in her stage shows. In the late 1970’s, she was touring through the Atlas Artists Bureau with Grand Ole Opry star Justin Tubb. She also performed with such country greats as Faron Young, Jeanne Pruett, Del Reeves, Narvel Felts, and Dave & Sugar. She additionally got significant Nashville area and national promotion on such television programs as the Ralph Emery Show, Nashville Today, Good Ol’ Nashville Music and Music Hall America.

When Falls died in Nashville at the young age of 40 of a brain hemorrhage in June 1986, she was touted by the media along with Linda Martell for becoming one of the first black women to find significant success in country music. In a brief retrospective nine years after her death, Nashville’s major daily newspaper, The Tennessean, proclaimed, “Along with other successful black artists of the period, such as Charley Pride and Stoney Edwards, she helped illuminate the black community’s long history of artistic contributions to the country.” Tubb told the media after her death that “She was the one of the best friends I ever had. Ruby Falls made everybody feel good that she was around.”

Born as Bertha Frances Bearden (married: Dorsey) in January 1946, on a farm near Jackson, Tennessee, Falls spent her early years primarily picking cotton, tomatoes and strawberries. She dreaded her days in the field at the hand of a strict grandmother, who was her guardian. For refuge, she listened to the radio a lot at night, particularly to country music heard frequently on station KLAC out of Gallatin, Tennessee. The sounds she heard prompted her to dream of a singing career. She began that career singing in churches, in schools on talent shows and at local social events as a teenager.

After high school she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, took voice, dance and charm lessons, and turned professional in early 1960’s by becoming lead singer with the group Harvey Scales and the Seven Sounds. The group travelled all over the country and performed country, pop, and rock in such places as Las Vegas and New York supper clubs. Then she joined a rock and jazz band whose club dates were typically closer to home. Then she decided to concentrate on the music she enjoyed most and moved to Nashville. There she was discovered by Johnny Howard, who signed her to 50 States in 1974.

She took the name Ruby Falls from one of Tennessee’s natural treasures- a cavern that is 1,100 feet below the surface of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, is the deepest cavern in the United States and boasts the highest underground waterfall open to the public. “It’s like a dream come true,” she says in a publicity brief, about her success as Ruby Falls. “I get to thinking about everything good that’s happened to me since I moved to Nashville and sometimes I get so excited I feel I sing in my sleep every night.” Of her move to Nashville to concentrate on both singing and writing country, she adds, “It made sense. There’s a lot of country girl left in me and I guess it shows in my music like it does in my talking…I love music and I love people, so my main goal is making music that people will love. I want to do my very best all the time so people will love me.”

After pounding the Nashville pavement and landing a recording contract, Falls found that having records out in the public and getting touring dates was not enough to bring her what she wanted. She wanted more. She wanted to catapult her career to the next level. A grand opportunity to just that came to her in 1976 when she won a slot to perform before thousands of country radio on-air personalities and executives from around the country. Gathered in Nashville for their annual industry convention known as the Country Radio Seminar, these are the people who somehow had to become attracted to Falls and be part of an overall effort to promote her and her music if she were to become a true star. But the opportunity didn’t open the doors she had expected, and by the time of her death she was disgruntled at not having done better in her career and had taken a traditional job at a computer firm.

Falls did not blame people’s reaction to her race for her not reaching the heights she had dreamed of, and she had earlier vowed to keep trying to reach her career goals in every way she could think of. “Everybody’s been real nice to me,” she said in a September 1977 Essence magazine article. “I’ve never had negative incidents on the road. If I did, I wouldn’t pay them any mind…I want to be a star. No one ever told me that it was gonna be easy. I’m gonna hang on in there for as long as it takes to make it.”

articles: Hillbilly Music Jet Billboard The Black Women Of Country Music That Nashville Sound

Youtube: Sweet Country Music {1975} He Loves Me All To Pieces {1975} Let's Spend Summer In The Country {1975} Show Me Where {1976} Somewhere There’s A Rainbow Over Texas {1976} Beware Of The Woman (Before She Gets To Your Man) {1976} You’ve Got To Mend This Heartache {1977} Do The Buck Dance {1977} Three Nights A Week {1978} If That’s Not Loving You (You Can’t Say I Didn’t Try) {1978} I’m Gettin’ Into Your Love {1979}

Stella Parton Remembers Singer Ruby Falls {2022}

Country Music Time #767: interview {1982}

[glitterlikegold]

laurenalaina: What a way to kick off CMA Fest week in Nashville! The @ opry was pure magic last night ✨