If You Wanna Get to Heaven, You’ve Got To Raise A Little He_ _. Founding member of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Supe Granda would like to buy an “L” to complete that puzzle and finish the name of his most famous song. If it sounds like ‘Wheel of Fortune’ it is.
These days even though he is busier than ever performing music and still touring with the Daredevils, Granda’ most cherished time is with his grandchildren and it is largely due to them that he got the chance to appear on Wheel of Fortune.
“During the pandemic, we would call the grandkids up and play ‘Wheel of Fortune’ together– on the phone,” said Granda this week. “They would say ‘Grandpa! You should go on Wheel of Fortune!”
One day his wife Julie came in and gave him the information on how to apply and he went ahead and applied.
According to Wheel of Fortune’s website, 10,000 people audition each year for the chance to appear on the show. That didn’t stop Granda as the odds of becoming a rock star are likely to be on a par with winning the lottery (according to EOnMusic.com) and since the Lindbergh High School grad achieved becoming a rock star why not beat the odds again?
About three weeks after he signed up online, the show contacted him for a live Zoom audition. They didn’t know he was a celebrity, he was just trying out to be on the show like anyone else. After the first tryout more time went by and then he got another call for a second tryout. A few more weeks went by before he got the email: if he could get to the Sony Studios in Culver City, California by a certain date to tape the show he was in.
“I talked to Julie, and we decided that due to the pandemic we hadn’t been any place for two years, ‘let’s go!'”
The two flew out and had the experience of a lifetime and viewers will have to tune in on Dec. 24th to find out how it went.
Wheel of Fortune is a TV version of the game ‘Hangman. It is the most successful syndicated program in the history of television and has earned seven Emmy® Awards including the 2011 Emmy® for Outstanding Game Show.
Supe Granda has already filmed the show but he can’t say anything about it. He is sworn to secrecy and only recently was given the go-ahead from the show to start telling people about it. His episode will be Dec. 24th at 6:30 central time on KSDK Channel Five in St. Louis.
Hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White since its debut in 1983, the show has given more than $250 million in cash and prizes to its contestants. The show has more than 26 million viewers per week. Granda said he was not nervous when he taped the show, having performed in front of large crowds throughout his history.
“They asked us for three ‘talking points,'” Granda said, “First on the list is being a grandpa, second being in the band and third I enjoy playing Santa Claus.”
In the last few years as his beard has gotten longer and whiter, Granda has been in popular demand as a Santa in Nashville. He is even writing a book about the experience of being a professional Santa Claus, that hopes to be out next year.
Pat Sajak spent a good amount of time chatting with Granda on the air and to his delight, off the air he told him he knew the Daredevils saying, “THE Ozark Mountain Daredevils? Jackie Blue?”
Granda has been affiliated with the Daredevils since the band burst on the scene in 1973 with “If You Wanna Get to Heaven.” That song and the album that ensued– recorded in England– established the Daredevils as one of the most iconic bands of the 1970s musical era. “Jackie Blue,” “was released in 1974 and along with “Chicken Train,” “Standing On The Rock,” and countless others are still fan favorites across all media.
