Grand Ole Gospel, Chocowinity, NC: Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, and Classic Country Family Entertainment

Following her high school graduation, she began singing locally at area frolics and on area television shows. It was at the country music park, Frontier Ranch, near Columbus, Ohio where Connie met Grand Ole Opry Star Bill Anderson. Anderson heard her perform and was impressed with her singing. Six months later Anderson invited her to Nashville to be a guest on the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree. Within a year following her first visit to Music City, Connie was signed to RCA Victor Records by Chet Atkins and released the first recording of her career. The song, Once A Day, topped the charts at number one where it stayed for an unprecedented eight weeks.

Smith’s recording of Once A Day became the first debut single in country music history by a female artist to reach number one, a record that Smith maintained for the next 25 years. Her self-titled LP also reached number one, and served as the first of over 50 albums Smith has recorded to date.

Along with her string of hit singles and albums, she became a solid box office contender and appeared in a series of what are now regarded as country cult classic films. Connie appeared in Las Vegas Hillbillies, Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar, Hell On Wheels, and co-starred with Marty Robbins and Doodles Weaver in The Road to Nashville.

The wake of Connie’s success carried her onto the stage of WSM’s Grand Ole Opry as a featured guest performer. Her first 22 performances resulted in 22 encores. On August 21, 1965 Connie Smith was welcomed as a member of the Grand Ole Opry family. The king of country music, Roy Acuff gave her the title of “The Sweetheart of the Grand Ole Opry.”

The Isaacs in Concert

Tickets only $20 & $23

Doors open 5:30 Concert Starts 7:00

http://theisaacs.musiccitynetworks.com/

The Isaacs, a multi-award winning family group who began singing 30 years ago, are based out of LaFollette, TN (30 min north of Knoxville). The vocalists are Lily Isaacs, Ben Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs and Rebecca Isaacs Bowman. Playing their own acoustic instruments and joined by other band members, The Isaacs have a unique style that blends tight, family harmony with contemporary acoustic instrumentation that appeals to a variety of audiences. Their musical influences immerge from all genres of music including bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, and country, contemporary acoustic and southern gospel. They perform frequently at the Grand Ole Opry, are active members on the Gaither Homecoming Videos and Concert Series and travel throughout the year performing internationally.

September 21st, 2012

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Tickets $25 & $30

Doors open 6pm Starts 7:30

http://www.rhondavincent.com/

Welcome to the Grand Ole Gospel!