Hee Haw Legend Roy Clark turns 80 today and still pickin' and a grinnin'

[simmytbone]

Hey guys,

Blowing out 80 candles today is none other than....

Hee Haw Legend Roy Linwood Clark

Born in Meherrin, VA, Roy Clark is a Country Music Singer/Musician/Performer and a Television Host/Spokesperson.

He is best known for hosting the Country Version of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In called Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969–1992. Roy Clark has been an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and helping to popularize the genre. Most of all, he is an entertainer, with an amiable personality and a telegenic presence.

During the 1970s, Clark frequently guest-hosted for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show and enjoyed a 30-million viewership for Hee Haw. Clark is highly regarded and renowned as a guitarist and banjo player, and is also skilled in classical guitar and several other instruments. Although he has had hit songs as a pop vocalist (e.g., “Yesterday, When I Was Young” and “Thank God And Greyhound”), his instrumental skill has had an enormous effect on generations of bluegrass and country musicians. He is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, since 1987 and The Country Music Hall of Fame.

During his time on Hee-Haw and even after the show, he has appeared as himself in numerous television programs:

Five episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies as "Cousin Roy" (1969)
Swing Out, Sweet Land (1970)
The Odd Couple (1975) (episode "The Roy Clark Show" as Willie Boggs)
The Bell Telephone Jubilee (1976)
The Captain & Tennille Special (1976)
Fair Weather Friends (1977)
Hanna-Barbera's All-Star Comedy Ice Revue (1977)
The Muppet Show (1978)
EPCOT Center opening celebration (1982)
Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Celebration (1985)
6th Annual National Songwriter Awards (1986)
The Grand Ole Opry 65th Anniversary (1991)
Gordy (1995)
The Grand Ole Opry 70th Anniversary (1996)
A Bing Crosby Christmas (1998)

He also appeared on The Original Hollywood Squares w/the original master Peter Marshall

He even appeared in movies such as the following:

Matilda (1978)
Country Comes Home (1982)
Uphill All the Way (1986)
Freeway (1988)
Gordy (1995)

During the 1980's while still on Hee-Haw, he also became a spokesperson for Hunt's Tomato Ketchup

He's a 7x GMA Winner, a 2x ACM Winner and a Grammy Winner

1970 - CMA - Comedian Of The Year
1972 & 1973 - ACM - Entertainer Of The Year
1973 - CMA - Entertainer of the Year
1975 & 1976 - CMA - Instrumental Group Of The Year (with Buck Trent)
1977, 1978, & 1980 - CMA - Instrumentalist Of The Year
1982 - Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for his recording of Alabama Jubilee

He also got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Today, Roy is still goin' strong and he still performs and does charity work for the kids

When talking about Hee-Haw's success, he said "We weren't out to be #1, we want people to say, 'Hey Look, There's Roy, Hey Look, There's Buck, etc."

Reruns of Hee-Haw can now bee seen on RFD-TV and it has been seen on TNN-The Nashville Network (now known as SPIKE TV)

For more information on Roy Clark, visit his official website:

http://royclark.com

So Happy Birthday Roy, God Bless, and keep, Keep on grinnin'

and now, here are some Video Clips of the Hee-Haw Legend

Check'em out:

Roy Clark on The Odd Couple
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilm2qeJndWo

Roy Clark on The Muppet Show

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfqe-3jxItk

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkOjRvT2tLE

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSE1js0HaoI

Roy Clark & Buck Owens Pickin' and Grinnin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD09hBDdw7k

Another Pickin' & Grinnin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBX4MXR7FOo

Roy Clark & Buck Trent Pickin' and Grinnin' on Country Family Reunion on RFD-TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NnZP82TBbM

Roy Clark as a spokesperson for Wyler's Lemonade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_4GQpM6BR4

Roy Clark as a spokesperson for Hunt's Tomato Ketchup

1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdsGRmv-8TQ

1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQo0VyJVKa4

1986
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB_FFQmnJN0

Roy Clark on Hee-Haw Singing w/the late Jerry Reed on "Head Over Heels In Love With You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzOWRKFrwfM

[robyrob]

i remember seeing him on Hee Haw and the Muppet Show