The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE—Ray Tucker and Friends will share the Masonic Amphitheatre’s stage with other local performers during the “Hootenanny,” The Historic Masonic Theatre’s last event of its “Summer Concert Series” on Friday, Aug. 27, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Tucker, the first director of The Virginia Opry who is a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and pastor emeritus of the Epworth United Methodist Church in Selma, recruited nine performers who debuted with him on October 17, 1992, to establish The Virginia Opry. Ray Tucker and Friends continues to perform as one of The Virginia Opry’s nine bands.
On March 31, 2020, Governor Ralph S. Northam signed “Senate Bill 283” that Senator R. Creigh Deeds filed on January 8, 2020, a bill to designate The Virginia Opry as the Virginia’s official Opry. The bill passed the Virginia Senate 40-0 and the Virginia House of Delegates by a 93-6 vote.
The late Jessie Franklin Morris, a vocalist who played piano and mandolin and sometimes demonstrated his ability to flatfoot on stage, was one of the original ten performers with The Virginia Opry. Tucker, a life-long friend of Morris who passed away on March 23, at 88, and Appalfolks of America Asssociation (AAA), the founding organization of The Virginia Opry, have dedicated the “Hootenanny” to the memory of Morris who played in two other country music groups with Tucker, Ray Tucker and the Morris Brothers and Ray Tucker and the Country Boys.
The Announcers, the southern gospel music group that is closing in on 50 years of performing in the Alleghany Highlands, will perform as a guest group at the “Hootenanny” as well. The Announcers opened the Historic Stonewall Theatre for AAA in May of 1992 and has been a frequent performer in the theatre over the years.
Dr. David Crandall, another close friend of Morris who often performed with him at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts, will perform at the “Hootenanny” that is free to the public as a courtesy of AAA and The Virginia Opry working in conjunction with The Historic Masonic Theatre’s new director, Justin Reiter.
The public is invited to come join in the fun, and anyone who plays a musical instrument and wishes to participate is welcome to participate.
