Clark, Roy

ROY CLARK

  • From Meherrin, Virginia. Lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
  • As a boy, played bluegrass with his father, Hester Clark, and other members of his family in a group called the Southside Virginians.
  • Mid-1970’s, recorded two albums of bluegrass music with the Southside Virginians and other family friends.
  • By his own admission, he wasn’t an accomplished banjo player but in his words, “I love to play.” He recorded two albums of banjo duets with his longtime friend Buck Trent, “Pair of Fives” (1975) and “Banjo Bandits” (1978).
  • Won both CMA (1973) and ACM (1972-73) awards for “Entertainer of the Year.”
  • 1969-1997, co-hosted (with Buck Owens) the TV Show “Hee-Haw.” He appeared on 294 episodes of the show.
  • 1983, opened the Roy Clark Celebrity Theatre in Branson, Missouri. He was the first country music star to have a theatre there. (He sold the venue to the Hughes Brothers in 1999).
  • 1987, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
  • 2009, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  • 2018, died at the age of 85