In 2011–2012, the Oklahoma History Center hosted an exhibit titled "Pickin' and Grinnin': Roy Clark, 'Hee Haw' & Country Humor." The country variety show "Hee Haw" aired from 1969 to the 1990s, and was hosted by Buck Owens and native Oklahoman Roy Clark. "Hee Haw" featured Oklahomans Gailard Sartain, Jana Jae, and many others who guest-starred. Jim Halsey, also from Oklahoma, was the agent for many of the show's stars. This documentary includes interviews with Roy Clark, Sam Lovullo, Jim Halsey, Gunilla Hutton, Gailard Sartain, Jana Jae, Danny Forbes, Roni Stoneman, Garth Brooks, Ben McCain, Joe Diffie, Patti Page, Vince Gill, Becky Hobbs, Jody Miller, Bill Thrash, Byron Berline, and Argus Hamilton.
VIDEO HERE (27:23 minutes)
I married into the family of Junior Samples back in the early 2000's. He's from where I am currently living. I met him once but the stories people told me about him (first hand from family members) the guy was a mess from the word go. I'm pretty sure they told me he died of alcoholism but don't know what the "official" cause of death was. But to hear the stories told. Yikes. Hate to type it out as it's permanent and don't want someone suing my ass, but lets just say he could be a little rough.
ReplyDeleteThat may explain something that happened to me years ago. I worked with really good a guy named Samples who lived up near that lake where Junior was a fishing guide at one time. One day I asked him in casual conversation if he was related to Junior and he got really pissed off at me and did not answer.
DeleteBrother Roy was a Virginian and a picker unmatched. I always wondered what Rock and Roll missed by not having him as a player.
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Roy was the best. Buck always seemed to me a little lost after Don Rich died but people should remember that The Beatles were Buck Owens fans.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn5hrIiPbDs
I once knew a guy who was in the film distribution business and he had the opportunity to sit down for dinner with Misty Rowe one time and said she was absolutely charming and worked really hard at being a comedic actress.
ReplyDeleteOh man, you brought back memories for me. Just the Saturday nights out in the country in east Tennessee with our one TV station but that station was a CBS station and it had Hee Haw, so we watched Hee Haw every Saturday evening.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a Laugh-In, Hee-Haw, Gong Show addict. He worked seven days a week and extra-long hours to keep us in horses and good schools, so we never missed ANY of those shows for any reason short of a trip to the ER.
ReplyDeleteOnce read that Buck Owens felt Hee Haw put a major damper on his career. TV must not have paid as well back then. I liked when they had the Million Dollar band on - Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer and some others. I loved Junior Samples bits call BR 5 4 9
ReplyDeleteThe guy was a genius. Just listen to him play.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xssnp7R51A
Roy Clark was perhaps the best guitar player I've ever seen in person. He had a monumental talent for that instrument. Listening to him play is one of my favorite memories.
ReplyDeleteGunilla Hutton, hubba hubba.
ReplyDeleteI saw Hee Haw when I was a kid. I was convinced that they were ridiculing country people. Still believe it
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a bug fan. It was on the TV every week in our home. There is a fine art to self deprecating humor; and, it is exercised in the south to a great degree as a form of being humble, yet proud at the same time. I always saw it in that light. But, then again, I came from a long line of smart asses and we expected worse than that on a regular, ongoing basis.
DeleteRoy Clark is a great player, Check out some Chet Atkins Malaguena
ReplyDeleteI learned too late that a lot of communities had local shows like this and still did up through at least the 90s when it didn't look to me like the players had many more miles left in them.
ReplyDeletemy dad was very happy when Hee Haw came on, because it bumped the smothers brothers and their constant anti-Vietnam crap.
ReplyDeleteNever was a tv guy. Not even as a kid. My kid used to watch this so I saw glimpses of it. I do recall watching Laugh In as a kid on rare occasion. TV just wasn't my bag and still isn't. I probably haven't had a tv in my home for near thirty years. Ha. for some reason it seemed when my kid was young every time I walked through the door after work I'd hear, Sunday, Monday Happy Days. I wanted to take that damn tv and chuck it out the window.
ReplyDeleteMe either. When I was a kid, we lived in places that had no American TV stations or had one channel (AFN), or we lived in places where there were better things to do outside.
DeleteIt wasn't a habit I picked up as a kid, and after I grew up, I was working too much to justify any free time I had sitting in front of a TV.
My dad and grandpa loved the old country/western type programs, Rawhide, Bonanza, Wagon Train, etc. When the Grand Old Opery, Hee Haw, and Johnny Cash were on you better sit down and be quiet or get out of the house. As a kid I never watched much tv and didn't like those programs anyway but as I've gotten older I can appreciate them. Also Roy Clark was one badass guitar player.
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