December 10, 1927: The first WSM Barn Dance Broadcast

December 10, 1927: George Hay introduce the WSM Barn Dance at The Grand Ole Opry for the first time on this day.

The Grand Ole Opry began just five years after commercial radio was born in the United States. In 1925, WSM was  formed. National Life hired  George D. Hay as WSM's first program director. Hay, started his career on radio at WLS, Chicago. He created a barn dance show. Hay called himself "The Solemn Old Judge" and launched what would become the WSM Barn Dance, along with championship fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson.

Hay's popular weekly broadcasts were renamed the Grand Ole Opry in 1927. When WSM radio increased the power of its transmission to 50,000 watts in 1932, the Opry, which aired every Saturday night, could be heard by most of the United States and parts of Canada.

For more great radio western music see:

All Star Western Theater Arthur Smith's Corner Store Bailes Brothers Bill Ring Show Checkerboard Fun Fest Chuck Wagon Jamboree Country Hoedown (Navy) Country Music Time (Airforce) Country Style USA Cowboy Slim Reinhart Crazy Water Crystal Program Dinner Bell Roundup Time Gene Autry Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage Hollywood Barn Dance Hollywood Rodeo Johnnie Lee Wills and his Boys The Korn Kobblers

Light Crust Doughboys Melody Ranch Melody Roundup Mothers Best Flour National Barn Dance Old Corral Pat O'Daniel and his Hillbilly Boys Pinto Pete and his Ranch Boys Plantation House Party Red Foley Renfro Valley Gatherin Roy Rogers Sage Brush Round Up Sunny Valley Ten-Two-Four Ranch Wake-up Ranch Western Rarities Western Party Western Music Sampler