Story Notes and Extras
The Happy Song Symphony - Opry Style
written by Sean Hunter
Charlie McCoy – Harmonica and Chest Bones (hockey goalie’s chest protector)
Billy Linneman – Dog House Bass
Joe Edwards – Fiddle and Guitar
Sean Hunter - Narration
Recorded Watershed Studios – Nashville, TN
Jim Dineen – engineer
Learning With Art
Draw a picture of an animal that goes oink, oink
of an animal that goes bow wow
an animal that goes meow
an animal that goes hee ha
an animal that goes honk honk
an animal that goes moo moo
Draw a picture of you singing
Draw a picture of a singer wearing a cowboy hat
Draw a picture of a singer wearing cowboy boots
Talk and Discover
How many animals walked onto the Opry stage?
Who was your favorite singer in “The Happy Song Symphony – Opry Style?”
Who do you think taught the animals to sing?
Where do you think that they practiced?
Who do you think wrote the song?
What famous country song would you like to hear someone sing at the Opry?
What would you wear to the Opry?
Who would you like to meet if you went to the Opry?
Who would you ask to go to the Opry with you?
What do you think made the Opry so famous?
What song would you sing if you were on the Opry stage?
Having Fun
● visit your library and listen to some country and western music
● ask the librarian to recommend some books to read about country singers
● learn about the instruments that are played in country and bluegrass bands
● write a song that you would like to sing
A Brief History of the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry began in Nashville, TN in 1925 and is one of the most famous
shows in the world. Some of the greatest performers have appeared on the Opry,
and each week the Opry is broadcast live on its’ original radio station, WSM –
650 AM.
The success and popularity of the Opry has inspired many TV shows. Many movies
have been made about many of the stars that have appeared on the Opry. The music
of the Opry has brought joy and happiness to people everywhere, of all ages, and
many of the stars and their music will remain timeless and never be forgotten.
Styles of Music Played on the Opry
Country
Bluegrass
Gospel
Western Swing
Famous “Opry” Singers
Eddy Arnold
Johnny Cash
Patsy Cline
Skeeter Davis
Buck Owens
Tammy Wynette (First Lady of Country Music)
Kitty Wells (Queen of Country Music)
Dottie West
Hank Williams
Faron Young
Famous Songs Sung on the Opry
“Elvira”
“Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning”
“Angels Among Us”
“Crazy”
“Your Cheatin’ Heart”
Legends That Have Been On The Opry
Elvis Presley
Dottie Rambo (undisputed Queen of Gospel Music)
Minnie Pearl
Uncle Dave Macon
Opry Stars That You’ll Often Hear On The Radio
Alabama
Glen Campbell
Rosanne Cash
Charlie Daniels
Vince Gill
Tom T. Hall
Emmylou Harris
George Jones
Alison Krauss
Brenda Lee
Loretta Lynn
Martine McBride
Ronnie Milsap
Lorrie Morgan
Willie Nelson
Dolly Parton
Charlie Pride
Marty Robbins
Kenny Rogers
Connie Smith
George Strait
Marty Stuart
The Oak Ridge Boys
Randy Travis
Josh Turner
Websites to Enjoy
Ryman Auditorium - www.ryman.com
Country Music Hall of Fame - www.countrymusichalloffame.com
Opry broadcast - www.wsmonline.com
Midnight Jamboree - www.etrecordshop.com
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame - www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com
Other Ideas That Are Fun
● look up - Grammy Awards
● Dove Awards
● read some of the biographies of country music singers and songwriters
● look up where some of the country music singers and songwriters were born