Roy Clark is best known for having hosted the nationally televised country variety show, Hee Haw from 1969 to 1997. Clark was an important and influential figure in Country Music, both as a performer and in helping to popularize the genre.
During the 1970s, Clark frequently guest-hosted for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show and enjoyed a 30-million viewership for Hee Haw. Clark was highly regarded and renowned as a guitarist, banjo player, and fiddler. He was skilled in the traditions of many genres, including classical guitar, Country Music, Latin Music, Bluegrass, and Pop. He had hit songs as a pop vocalist (“Yesterday, When I Was Young” and “Thank God and Greyhound”), and his instrumental skill had an enormous effect on generations of Bluegrass and Country musicians. He became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1987, and, in 2009, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 1960, Clark began touring with rockabilly star Wanda Jackson, and playing backup instrumentals on several of her recordings. Through Jackson, Clark met Jim Halsey. Clark signed with the Halsey Agency, which represented him for the remainder of his career. During this period, Jackson performed at the Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas. Within two years, Clark had become a headliner in Vegas, and made numerous appearances there in the 1960s and 1970s.
Clark’s backup work for Jackson brought him to the attention of Capitol Records. He signed with Capitol and in 1962 released his first solo album, The Lightning Fingers of Roy Clark. The album won solid critical praise, and “above-average” notice from fans. By the early 1970s, Clark was the highest-paid Country Music star in the United States.
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oy Clark (April 15, 1933 – November 15, 2018) was an American country music singer, musician, and television presenter. He is best known for having hosted Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969 to 1997. Clark was an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and in helping to popularize the genre.
Clark was born in Meherrin, Virginia, and began playing guitar at an early age. He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the early 1950s and began performing on local radio and television stations. In 1957, he signed with Capitol Records and released his debut album, The Lightning Fingers of Roy Clark. The album was a success, and Clark soon became one of the most popular country music performers in the United States.
In 1969, Clark joined the cast of Hee Haw, a country music variety show that was broadcast on CBS. Hee Haw was a huge success, and Clark became one of the most recognizable faces in country music. He remained with the show for 28 years, and he is credited with helping to popularize the genre and introduce it to a new generation of fans.
In addition to his work on Hee Haw, Clark also had a successful solo career. He released over 50 albums, and he had several hit singles, including “Yesterday When I Was Young,” “Come On In,” and “I’ll Take Care of You.” He also won numerous awards, including the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award in 1973.
Clark was a versatile musician who could play a variety of instruments, including guitar, banjo, and fiddle. He was also a talented singer and songwriter. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
Clark died on November 15, 2018, at the age of 85. He was a beloved figure in country music, and his death was a major loss to the genre.
Roy Clark was born in Meherrin, Virginia, on April 15, 1933. He was a country singer, musician, and television presenter. He is best known for having hosted Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969 to 1997. Clark was an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and in helping to popularize the genre.
Clark’s father was a tobacco farmer and his mother played piano. Clark began playing guitar and banjo at a young age and won two national banjo championships by the time he was 14. He moved to Washington, D.C., in his teens and began playing in clubs and on local television. In 1957, he signed with Capitol Records and released his first album, “The Lightning Fingers of Roy Clark.” He went on to release over 50 albums and had over 30 hit singles, including “Yesterday When I Was Young,” “Hillbilly Heaven,” and “The Tips of My Fingers.”
In addition to his musical career, Clark was also a successful television personality. He hosted Hee Haw for 28 years and also appeared on The Tonight Show, The Today Show, and The Grand Ole Opry. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
Clark died on November 15, 2018, at the age of 85. He was a beloved figure in country music and his legacy will continue to inspire musicians for generations to come.
Roy Clark died on November 15, 2018, at the age of 85. He was born on April 15, 1933.
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