THE WHITES TO CELEBRATE 30th ANNIVERSARY AS GRAND OLE OPRY MEMBERS MARCH 4th
The Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® will honor country and bluegrass family band, The Whites, on their 30th anniversary as Opry members during the Tuesday Night Opry March 4, 2014.
The multiple Grammy®, CMA and Dove Award winners were inducted into the Opry on March 2, 1984. Their milestone anniversary will be celebrated during their performance. Scheduled to appear that night include fellow Opry members Ricky Skaggs, Bill Anderson, Montgomery Gentry, Terri Clark and John Conlee along with guest artists Greg Bates and Charlie Worsham.
“The Whites epitomize so much about what makes the Grand Ole Opry special. They’re enormously talented Grammy®-winning vocalists and musicians, and just like the Opry itself, they offer fans a mix of the many styles of music under the country umbrella—traditional country, gospel, and bluegrass, to name a few” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “Over the years, their voices have blended so well not only with each other, but with other members of the Opry family including Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Jeannie Seely. The Whites add so much on stage at the Opry each year, and they’re also a vital part of the backstage atmosphere at the Opry, helping this place feel like home. They are truly both enduring and endearing members of the Opry family.”
From The Whites’ beginnings in bluegrass, their simple, traditionally-rooted yet dynamic sound put them on Billboard’s country charts with a succession of Top 20 hits. Favorites like their first Top 10, “You Put The Blue In Me,” as well as “Hangin’ Around,” “Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling,” and “Pins And Needles,” – the latter all produced by Sharon’s husband, Ricky Skaggs (the two married in 1981) – introduced them to new audiences, culminating in the induction as members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1984.
Their unique blend of bluegrass, country, folk, gospel and Texas swing paired with their top-notch instrumental work and striking family harmony (on and off stage) has set them apart, entertaining and inspiring millions of listeners worldwide. Many music industry folks refer to The Whites as the “new first family of country music,” a tag line that harkens back to the musical purity of Mother Maybelle and the venerable Carter family. With a career spanning over 40 years in music, they enjoy performing at venues across the country each year, all while continuing to record and appear at the world famous Opry stage nearly every weekend.