From left are Randall Franks, Garrett McReynolds, Jesse McReynolds, Wayne Crowe and Josh Crowe performing on stage at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday.
photo by LuAnn Adams
American bluegrass master Jesse McReynolds welcomed two special bluegrass guest stars to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday.
McReynolds focused the Opry spotlight on American film and TV star Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” also a world-renowned Appalachian fiddler from Ringgold. The two award-winning musicians swapped mandolin and fiddle hot licks on the 1954 Bill Monroe classic “Get Up John" raising a rousing ovation from the Opry audience.
Franks latest book is “Encouragers II : Walking with the Masters.” Within it pages, he pays tribute to 49 encouragers including Jim and Jesse, and Monroe, who first brought Franks’ and his teenage band to guest star for the Grand Ole Opry.
Franks along with Virginia Boy Garrett McReynolds joined Jesse musically in a song with The Crowe Brothers – Josh and Wayne. Jesse and the Crowe Brothers performed “Childish Love,” originally recorded by Jim and Jesse for Epic in 1969. The Crowe Brothers latest Mountain Fever recording is “Forty Years Old.”
To learn more about Grand Ole Opry star Jesse McReynolds and his latest releases from Rural Rhythm visit http://jimandjesse.com; or the Crowe Brothers at http://www.crowebrothers.com/; or Randall Franks at http://randallfranks.com/.