Roy Clark is celebrating HEE HAW’s legacy with a 3-disc collection from one of the longest-running shows in television history includes five episodes never released to retail, featuring country superstars Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams Jr. and Loretta Lynn.
Pickin’ and grinnin’, singin’ and spinnin’ tall tales and corny jokes, the citizens of Kornfield Kounty landed on television in 1969 with the arrival of HEE HAW as a summer replacement series for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Each week, co-hosts Roy Clark and Buck Owens and the cast of comedians and musicians welcomed the biggest stars in country music to perform their songs and help deliver the legendary corny one-liners.
Though a hit, CBS dropped the show in 1971 in an attempt to “de-countrify” the network’s programming; however, it was quickly picked up and became the longest-running weekly syndicated series in television history. And, this September, Time Life invites home audiences back to rural Kornfield Kounty for some timeless, down-home entertainment with THE HEE HAW COLLECTION.
The 3-disc collection features 5 episodes never-before-available at retail. These vintage episodes from the late 60s and early 70s, rarely seen since their original broadcasts, feature all the Kornfield Kounty regulars and their hilarious comedy plus country legends like Conway Twitty performing “Hello Darlin’,” Merle Haggard singing his classic “Okie from Muskogie,” Donna Fargo performing “Funny Face,” Tammy Wynette performing her #1 hit “Ways to Love a Man,” an unforgettable duet with Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn performing “Pickin’ Wild Mountain Berries,” plus other country legends like Charlie Rich, Hank Williams Jr. and many other chart-toppers; gospel classics “I Saw the Light” and “I’ll Fly Away” with Tennessee Ernie Ford and of course, even more country classics from HEE HAW co-hosts Buck Owens and Roy Clark. The collection, certain to thrill any Kornfield Kounty denizen or classic TV aficionado, also includes bonus interviews with show regulars including Roy Clark, Lulu Roman, George Lindsey, Charlie McCoy and Jim and John Hager. Additional bonus programming includes all-time favorite comedy from the early years in “Hee Haw Laffs,” featuring “Board Fence,” “Cornfield,” “Moonshiners,” “Doctor Spot,” “Old Philosopher,” “General Store,” “Haystack,” “Schoolhouse” and other knee-slappers. Though the last “new” episode aired in 1992, HEE HAW remains one of the longest-running and best loved television variety shows of all time.
ABOUT ROY CLARK:
Roy Clark is a Virginia born, multi-award winning virtuoso, actor, vocalist, philanthropist and all ’round great human being. He has headlined some of the world’s most prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Grand Palace in Brussels and the Rossiya Theatre in Moscow.
A partial list of his many awards include:
-Entertainer of the Year, Academy of Country Music
-Comedy Act of the Year, Academy of Country Music
-Picker of the Year, Playboy Magazine’s Reader’s Poll
-Best Country Guitarist, Guitar Magazine
-Grammy Award for “Alabama Jubilee.”
Clark became a Grand Ole Opry member in 1987. He was a favorite recurring actor on the classic television sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies” which spawned several acting roles on television and the movies. Clark was the first country music artist to guest host Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show! He also hosted the incomparable “Hee Haw” show for over two decades. He and wife Barbara live in Oklahoma where he finds time to fish, fly his airplanes and ride motorcycles. More Importantly, Roy Clark is STILL wowing audiences and releasing new CD’s on his own label, Roy Clark, Ltd.
ABOUT HEE HAW:
All rights and trademarks for HEE HAW are owned by Gaylord Program Services, Inc. whose parent company, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE:RHP), is based in Nashville, Tennessee.