Just heard on WSM radio from Nashville that country star and Grand Ole Opry member Mel McDaniel passed away today (may have been last night) at age 68.
I was fortunate enough to visit the Opry and see him sing "Louisiana Saturday Night" a couple of times. He had a lot of fun with that song, often changing the last line to the city or place he was performing. At the Opry he ended with "a Grand Ole Opry Saturday Night"...
I also thought it was fun how he rhymed "bow" with "floor" in the first verse:
- Well, you get down the fiddle, and you get down the bow;
- Kick off your shoes, and you throw'em on the flo'
- Dance in the kitchen 'til the mornin' light.
- Another Louisiana Saturday night!
He had other big hits, like "Big Ole Brew" and "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" and "Stand Up" and others, but that was my favorite.
He had been performing over the last decade or so in a limited fashion, ever since an injury that he incurred by falliing off the stage into the orchestra pit one night. He had to use a cane after that.
But still a wonderful performer, that understood entertainment. RIP.
Paul
I was fortunate enough to visit the Opry and see him sing "Louisiana Saturday Night" a couple of times. He had a lot of fun with that song, often changing the last line to the city or place he was performing. At the Opry he ended with "a Grand Ole Opry Saturday Night"...
I also thought it was fun how he rhymed "bow" with "floor" in the first verse:
- Well, you get down the fiddle, and you get down the bow;
- Kick off your shoes, and you throw'em on the flo'
- Dance in the kitchen 'til the mornin' light.
- Another Louisiana Saturday night!
He had other big hits, like "Big Ole Brew" and "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" and "Stand Up" and others, but that was my favorite.
He had been performing over the last decade or so in a limited fashion, ever since an injury that he incurred by falliing off the stage into the orchestra pit one night. He had to use a cane after that.
But still a wonderful performer, that understood entertainment. RIP.
Paul