Showbiz Analysis: Grand Ole Opry’s Pete Fisher on Country Music and the Importance of Music Education and History
As the Grand Ole Opry moves closer to a century of showcasing the power of country music (The first radio broadcast was in 1925.), the simplicity and values of the iconic and longest running live radio show appear to remain the same. In a world that seems to be driven by fads and reality TV, that’s pretty unique. I caught up with Pete Fisher, general manager and Grand Ole Opry VP, for my podcast Whine At 9, to find out more about the legendary institution and its role in preserving and highlighting the power and history of country music.
Listen to Nancy’s conversation with Pete Fisher on iTunes and follow the podcast on Facebook.
Pete Fisher’s mellow voice threw me off initially. For some crazy reason, I thought a guy who has spent nearly two decades making magic happen on and off stage at the Opry would be kind of boisterous. Could that be Fisher’s secret to keeping things calm at the Opry? “Well, I’d like to think so,” he says chuckling. “Maybe you should ask that question to the people who have to work with me.”
Perhaps one of the biggest misperceptions people have about the Grand Ole Opry, is that it is a place. In fact, it is a show. And it takes a team to run that show. “We have an awesome team of people here at the Opry…ranging from…your typical audio and lighting and video production people, to marketing folks, financial folks, you know, people who run the venue—the operations folks—It’s just a remarkable team and I’ve been really blessed to be associated here with the Opry for 17 years now,” says Fisher.
Showbiz Analysis: Grand Ole Opry’s Pete Fisher on Country Music and the Importance of Music Education and History
As the Grand Ole Opry moves closer to a century of showcasing the power of country music (The first radio broadcast was in 1925.), the simplicity and values of the iconic and longest running live radio show appear to remain the same. In a world that seems to be driven by fads and reality TV, that’s pretty unique. I caught up with Pete Fisher, general manager and Grand Ole Opry VP, for my podcast Whine At 9, to find out more about the legendary institution and its role in preserving and highlighting the power and history of country music.
Listen to Nancy’s conversation with Pete Fisher on iTunes and follow the podcast on Facebook.
Pete Fisher’s mellow voice threw me off initially. For some crazy reason, I thought a guy who has spent nearly two decades making magic happen on and off stage at the Opry would be kind of boisterous. Could that be Fisher’s secret to keeping things calm at the Opry? “Well, I’d like to think so,” he says chuckling. “Maybe you should ask that question to the people who have to work with me.”
Perhaps one of the biggest misperceptions people have about the Grand Ole Opry, is that it is a place. In fact, it is a show. And it takes a team to run that show. “We have an awesome team of people here at the Opry…ranging from…your typical audio and lighting and video production people, to marketing folks, financial folks, you know, people who run the venue—the operations folks—It’s just a remarkable team and I’ve been really blessed to be associated here with the Opry for 17 years now,” says Fisher.
