Roy Clark Back in Branson

One of Country music’s most enduring performers will make special appearances in Branson this weekend and next week. Roy Clark, a country music pioneer and one of Branson’s first regular entertainers, will perform shows at 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. He will then perform shows on Oct. 20-21 at 8 p.m.



Clark made his fame on “Hee Haw,” which was the longest-running syndicated show in television history. He was also one of the first major entertainers to call Branson home. Although he sold his Branson theater in 1997, he still tours more than 150 dates a year. Branson fans get many opportunities to see the legend perform, but so do fans from coast to coast. Today, renowned good guy Clark remains one of the most popular of entertainers as he looks for new opportunities on stage, on record and on TV.



Here are some of the awards Clark has earned over the years: Country Music Association Comedian Of The Year (1970); Entertainer Of The Year (1973); Instrumental Group Of The Year (with Buck Trent, 1975, 1976); Instrumentalist Of The Year (1977, 1978, 1980).Academy Of Country Music Comedy Act Of The Year (1969, 1970, 1971); Entertainer Of The Year (1972, 1973); Lead Guitar Player Of The Year (1977); Pioneer Award (1997).



Information courtesy of Branson Daily News

Roy Clark Returns to Branson

Legendary entertainer Roy Clark will returns to Branson this fall for six dates at the Tri-Lakes Center in September and October.

Clark has many claims to fame from an entertainment career that spans a half-century.

The Virginia native and Tulsa, Okla., resident is probably best-known for co-hosting “Hee Haw” with Buck Owens. The country variety program, a “Laugh In” takeoff, ran for a quarter-century and was seen by 30 million viewers a week.

Clark first gained notoriety as a teen when he twice won a national banjo championship by age 17.

Before he became a professional musician, Clark considered a career in sports, first in baseball and then in boxing. In fact, Clark won 15 fights in a row before choosing music over fighting.

Clark signed with Capitol Records in 1963 and had three top 10 hits. He later switched labels several times and then landed the Hee Haw hosting gig in 1969. The show was dropped by CBS Television in 1971 but continued in syndication with enormous success for two more decades.

He was also the first country artist to serve as Johnny Carson’s guest host on “The Tonight Show.”

Clark is responsible for some of the tourism explosion in Branson, having been the first famous country star to have his own venue here.

He opened the Roy Clark Celebrity Theatre here in 1983. Many headliners who have performed in Branson made their first local appearance at Roy Clark’s venue, which is currently home to the Hughes Brothers.

He became a Grand Ole Opry member in 1987. He’s earned numerous honors from the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association, including multiple wins as Comedian, Entertainer and Instrumentalist of the Year. He was also awarded a Grammy in the early ‘80s for best country instrumental performance.

Clark’s hits include “Yesterday When I Was Young” and “Thank God and Greyhound.”

The Tri-Lakes Center is billing this fall’s performances as “Roy Clark with Justin David.”

Justin David hails from Marshfield, where he grew up as Justin Bertoldie. He has performed in Clark’s band for several years and was a “Nashville Star” top 10 finalist in 2005.

David is no stranger to Branson, having done stints on mandolin, fiddle and guitar with the Braschler Music Show and at Silver Dollar City.

Fall show dates are Sept. 26-27, Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 20-21.

Show times are 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and discounted rates are available for groups of 20 or more.

Information courtesy of Branson Daily News