BluegrassJournal.com’s Bob Dieterlen caught up with Bobby Osborne at the Franklin, KY Music Festival September 7th.

Bobby was gracious enough to sit down and talk about his music - past, present and future…along with a glimpse back into the genre’s glory days when radio stations used bands live over the air and he also shared a great story about the Osborne Brothers playing for First Lady Pat Nixon’s birthday celebration as the White House.

If you missed the rest of this interview you can find part 1 of this interview here and part 2 is available here.

Bob Dieterlen – When was the first time You and Sonny played the Opry together?

Bobby Osborne – The first time as a guest was about 1960. It took us… we finally got aquainted with Teddy Doyle of the Wilburn Brothers. We signed with their publishing company and their agency. We had recorded for MGM through Acuff-Rose and we were kinda not doin’ much. Just a goin’ along a straight line and then we got with the Wilburn Brothers.

They got us a new contract with Decca Records and it really all started there. They helped us pick material out to record and they had a big publishing company with all kinds of songs. At that time they handled Loretta Lynn and they took us on and we recorded brand new songs. They helped us an awful lot. The Wilburn Brothers really helped get our career in gear.

Bob Dieterlen – You still do any Opry shows?

Bobby Osborne – Yeah, I’m still a member of the Opry. I think I’m on my 43rd year I believe. Let’s see… 64 to 04 was 40. I’ve already been there 43, I’m starting my 44th year.

Bob Dieterlen – Is it a little different now than it used to be?

Bobby Osborne – Yeah – It’s different now than it was back then. The people like Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Monroe, Hank Snow and a lot of the old members back then that had the number one hits. Webb Pierce…A lot of them, they’re all gone now. New people have come along.

I’m thankful to still able to be a part of The Grand Ole Opry. The Opry has meant so much to me down through the years. The first thing I ever heard of country music on was the Opry. I always wanted to be there and finally I got there.

Bob Dieterlen –How many tour dates do you do a year?

Bobby Osborne – Since Sonny left, I’m not doin’ to many. I might have done thirty of them last year and about 40 some this year. Next year’s looking real well. I’m kinda just tryin’ to build back up.

There’s no use in me to keep goin’ on and trying to keep the Osborne Brothers name going when there’s just one brother. I’m just tryin’ to get Bobby Osborne as a solo artist going. I’ve done pretty good at it. I’ve got a good talent agency and I think next year we’ll be doin’ better. I’m gonna stay in this business as long as it will keep me… as long as I can sing. I’ll put it that way. I’m tryin to start… really a new career for Bobby Osborne.

Bob Dieterlen – The band that you’ve got right now, is that something you’ve put together or is that the same band the Osborne Brothers used?

Bobby Osborne – Same band that me and Sonny had. They stayed with me. I asked them, when Sonny quit, retired, however you want to put it…I asked ‘em, everyone, I’m gonna go on, Sonny’s gonna quit, do you want to stay with me or go find something else. They all said “we’re gonna stay with you.” So there still with me.

Bob Dieterlen – Are there any new albums in the future?

Bobby Osborne – Glen Duncan is a great fiddle player and harmony singer and he’s my producer and I wouldn’t do one with out him. We’ve got all the tracks down for a brand new CD. It’s gonna be comin’ out. Got the songs picked out and Rhonda [Vincent} did the “Go Rest High…” with me on this last one here. We traded out and we’re gonna do another one. I’ve got another song picked out for her and she’s gonna have me….We were talkin’ a while ago… we’re gonna try to write one for her.

Bob Dieterlen - If you had to pick something, and I know you’re going back years, what stands out the most? What’s your biggest achievement, you’re crowning point in your career if you will?

Bobby Osborne – I think the turning point and the crowning point would be The Grand Ole Opry because we worked so long to get there after listening to it for years and years. Going from radio station to radio station, doing programs and little shows in the area… I think, to start with, the Grand Ole Opry was the turning point or the crowning point in our career.

Since that, I’ve done some great things, I got to play for a president at the White House.

Bob Dieterlen – Which President was that?

Bobby Osborne – President Nixon. I got to sing “Ruby” in the East Room. [bobby’s laughin’]

Bob Dieterlen – Did you get to stay in the White House?

Bobby Osborne – No. We didn’t get to stay there. We had another date the next day.

We worked in Fort Worth, Texas and we flew form there to the White House and did a performance for Miss. Nixon’s birthday… her birthday’s always on St. Patrick’s Day. They celebrated on the Saturday night. But, it’s always on that Monday I think.

We had the Saturday off and we flew from Fort Worth to the White House. They put us up in a motel across over there a ways you know.

Bob Dieterlen – It wasn’t Watergate was it?

Bobby Osborne – It was just before Watergate broke out. [Laughin] No. No it wasn’t that. I was thankful for that.

We did the performance at the White House for the President and Senator’s and Congressmen and their wives, and people… the one’s that were invited at Miss Nixon’s birthday party.

So the East Room was crammed full of Senator’s and Congressmen from all 50 states and the President…after it was over with… He stood in that big front room of the White House and everybody went by and shook hands with him. We talked to him a little bit.

His wife…Pat, she came over and she said “You need to get a picture of these guys.” So here we stand, with our tongues a hangin’ out, got to shake hands with the President and get a picture.

When we did the show He’d sat… he was right down… right in front of you. I mean, here I am from over and around thousand-six Kentucky and all the sudden I’m standin’ in that East Room singing to the President with him right down in front… What am I doin’ here?

Bob Dieterlen – How’d you do?

Bobby Osborne – I did fine. I didn’t get scared until after it was over with. I never had a chance to get scared.

I got to know him. He came over took a picture with us and we talked to him quite a bit. He introduced us [when we performed]. He said, “We know what good moonshine is. Now we’re gonna hear what good bluegrass is.”

When he retired for the night, they opened the complete White House main floor. They had little treats for people, you know…tooth picks run through crackers. All these people were having a big party in there for her birthday.

They opened up the upstairs [of the White House] back then… about 2 or 3 times a year and that was one of the times.

I got to go up there and look around. I got to see Lincoln’s Bedroom. It was just like it was. I got to see the actual paper that Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on. Some things like that. Got to see the Oval Office and that was just a great thrill to get a chance to do that.

Bob Dieterlen – Not bad for some Kentucky Boys.

Bobby Osborne – [laughin’ ] yeah, sure was.

Bob Dieterlen – Are you having some success with the new album.

Bobby Osborne – As far as I know. It only came out July the 10th. I’ve had some good reports on it and I’ve done lots of interviews since the album came out wanting to talk about the CD. They [Rounder Records] sent me probably 100 advance copies and I mailed all of them out to DJ’s, called them, did interviews,… I’m sure that’s helped quite a bit.

I’m hearin’ good reports from Rhonda on “Go Rest High…” This is the first time we did it live, tonight… I thought it’d be appropriate to do it. Rounder’s looking forward to the next one.

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