One of the strangest facts about the Grand Old Opry is that one of it's major stars was the black harmonca wizzard DeFord Bailey. Radio is blind, and only a few people in the audience knew about the colour Bailey, whereas his fellow Opry stars didn't care. As the Opry staff went on regular tours throughout the South Bailey was exposed to the deep racial resentments of the audience. The story goes that more than once he had to sleep on the tourbus, as white hotel owners refused to give him a bed. It was Uncle Dave Macon who more than once convinced the landlords that he was his personal servant. Bailey was also working as a harmonica player on tour with the Delmore Brthers who were often infuriated when Bailey faced Souther racism again. They would take huge detours to get into restaurants where he was allowed to dine along with them. When the Opry decided to go nationwide he was sacked, not for reasons of racism but in an ugly copyright struggle, because he refused to learn new material as the audiences loved his old stuff. But in a world of crooners there was no way for the rough originals.