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Grand Ole Opry Member
-- since 1987
When country music first crossed over onto the pop charts, it was Roy
Clark who did it. When a small town in the Ozarks became the live music capital
of the world, boasting more seats than Broadway, it was Roy Clark who
started it. When the longest-running syndicated television series in history was on the
air, it was Roy Clark who starred in it.
  Just don't expect Clark to take credit for any of it. "The biggest
attribute I have," he says, "is that I'm just Ole Roy. I remind women of their
brothers or sons, and men aren't intimidated by me. I don't play or sing that far over
their heads that they can't say, 'If I wanted to practice, I could do that, and besides,
look at him. He's no Greek god, that's for sure.'"
Throughout the '60s, Clark recorded several albums, toured constantly,
and appeared on TV variety shows from Carson to Mike Douglas to Flip Wilson. "I was
the token bumpkin. It became, 'Let's get that Clark guy. He's easy to get along
with.'" Then came "Hee Haw." A countrified "Laugh-In" with
music, shot in Nashville, "Hee Haw" premiered in 1969. Co-starring
Roy Clark and
Buck Owens, it was an immediate hit.
Though CBS cancelled the show after two-and-a-half years, despite
ranking in the Top 20, the series segued into syndication, where it remained until 1992.
"I long ago realized it was not a figure of speech when people come up to me and say
they grew up watching me since they were that big."
A consummate musician, no matter the genre, he co-starred with
Petula
Clark at Caesar's Palace, became the first country artist to headline at the Montreux
International Jazz Festival and appeared in London on "The Tom
Jones Show." Today, Clark continues to be amazed when guitarists from
England credit his BBC specials and performances on TV variety shows with the likes of the
Jackson 5 for inspiring them to play.
But the highlight of his career, he says, was a pioneering, sold-out
1976 tour of the then Soviet Union. "Even though they didn't know the words, there
were tears in their eyes when I played 'Yesterday.' Folks there said we wouldn't
realize in our lifetime the good we'd accomplished, just because of our pickin'
around."
At the end of each of Roy's concerts, he tells the audience, "We
had to come. But you had a choice. Thanks for being here." With smiles in return,
audiences continue to thank Roy Clark for being there too.
Awards include --
- TNN/Music City News Minnie Pearl Award 1999
- Academy of Country Music Pioneer Award 1996
- Grammy - Best Country Instrumental Performance 1982
- CMA Musician of the Year 1980
- Music City News Country Instrumentalist of the Year 1980
- Music City News Country Instrumentalist of the Year 1979
- CMA Musician of the Year 1978
- Music City News Country Instrumentalist of the Year 1978
- Academy of Country Music Guitar Player of the Year 1977
- CMA Musician of the Year 1977
- Music City News Country Instrumental Entertainer of the Year 1977
- Academy of Country Music Jim Reeves Memorial Award 1976
- Music City News Country Instrumental Entertainer of the Year 1976
- Music City News Country Instrumental Entertainer of the Year 1975
- Music City News Country Instrumentalist of the Year 1974
- Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year 1973
- CMA Entertainer of the Year 1973
- Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year 1972
- Music City News Country Instrumentalist of the Year 1972
- Academy of Country Music Comedy Act 1971
- Music City News Country Instrumentalist of the Year 1971
- Academy of Country Music Comedy Act 1970
- Music City News Country Instrumentalist of the Year 1970
- Academy of Country Music Comedy Act 1969
- Music City News Country Instrumentalist of the Year 1969
Hit songs include --
- Come Live With Me
- If I Had It To do All Over Again
- Somewhere Between Love And Tomorrow
- Honeymoon Feelin'
- I Never Picked Cotton
- Thank God And Greyhound
- Yesterday, When I Was Young
- The Lawrence Welk - Hee Haw Counter- Revolution Polka
- Tips of My Fingers
- The Great Divide
- Heart To Heart
- Chain Gang of Love
- Right Or Left At Oak Street
- Think Summer
- I Have A Dream, I Have A Dream
- Riders In the Sky
- Then She's A Lover
Roy Clark may be available for your next special event!
For booking information, click
HERE!
Genre: Country
Styles:
.Traditional Country.
.Country-Pop.
Years active:
..50s, ..60s, ..70s, ..80s, ..90s, ..00s
Born: ..in Virginia
..in Meherrin
Apr 15, 1933 Based: ..in Oklahoma
..in Tulsa Orchestra charts available. |
