Most Saturday mornings, I turn on the stereo when I wake up to listen to Wayne Glenn’s “Old Record Collector” program on KTXR 101.3. This morning, Mr. Glenn introduced an old favorite of mine and when the first notes began playing, I stopped my housework to sit down and listen to Roy Clark singing “If I Had to Do it All Over Again.” I have long enjoyed hearing this song. I think it is such a joyous celebration of love and life. Hearing it makes me happy and hopeful for that same type of relationship someday. Sitting this morning and listening, it also made me think back….
One year ago last month, I made the familiar drive southeast to Nashville to attend a memorial celebration for Lonnie Melvin “Mel” Tillis. Two smaller, private funerals had already been held in his honor. This service was to be a day for family, friends, and fans to come together and celebrate his remarkable life and career. The program that morning was lovely, with many of Mel’s contemporaries and colleagues on hand to pay tribute. Some performed and some paid honor simply by their attendance. Held at the “Mother Church of Country Music”, the Ryman Auditorium, on a bright but chilly Wednesday morning in downtown Nashville, the service was well-attended. If you have ever been to the Ryman (built as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892), you know that the original entrances face 5th Avenue. When the rear addition was added to the building during a renovation several years ago, the main entrance was moved to the 4th avenue side – entering toward what used to be the back of the old building. An additional small entrance opens into the tiny parking lot on the north side of the building. Security guards were at each entrance and the area inside the doors was roped off to help direct attendees. Family and friends were given armbands which allowed them to enter from the north side entrance and sit on the main floor. Fans and admirers entered through the 4th street (main) entrance and were directed to the balcony seating in what used to be named the “Confederate Gallery”.
After the service, most everyone lingered to visit and reminisce a bit longer. Knowing I needed to started on my drive back to Branson, I left sooner than I would have preferred. Before leaving the Ryman, I joined many others waiting in line for a necessary stop at the restrooms just off the lobby. As I returned to the crowded lobby and headed back toward the north exit, I smiled to see I was standing behind Roy Clark and members of his family. At the age of 84, he walked with the help of two canes and a person on each side of him holding onto his arms for support – but his eyes and his smile were as bright as ever. He had a little hat on his head, cocked to one side, and he was smiling at the people in the lobby who waved and were taking his picture as he walked back toward the corded off exit. As guests approached the roped area, the guards would ask to see our armbands and then allow us back behind the cords. When Mr. Clark started through, I was surprised to hear a young security guard ask to see his armband before allowing him to reenter. Polite but mildly taken aback, he showed the armband and started on through. The young guard then asked to see the armbands of the two people who were helping to support him as he walked. “They’re with me”, Mr. Clark stated. I thought about how those three words from Mr. Clark would have opened many doors for others back in the day. The young guard, however, said that he would still need to see the armbands. One lady told him she had discarded it while in the restroom – thinking she no longer needed it since they were leaving and not reentering the auditorium. The young guard started to (very politely) tell her that she would not be able to reenter the roped area and go out the entrance near where they were parked. Another guard walked over about that time and told him to let them go through. It was all very polite and was resolved quickly with no problems. The young guard smiled, opened the roped barrier, and let them pass – it was really no big deal….
….but it made me thoughtful for my drive home. I wondered how many times Roy Clark had played the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman during his successful decades-long career. According to his obituary in Variety, a long-popular entertainment trade magazine, Mr. Clark played backup for an impressive list of popular singers when he was first getting started in the entertainment industry – Hank Williams Sr., Red Foley, Grandpa Jones, Ernest Tubb, Jimmy Dean, and even Elvis Presley. When Roy Clark was able to break out on his own – his accomplishments were incredible. A legendary musician, comedian, and actor, he performed on many popular shows of the day including “American Bandstand”, “The Beverly Hillbillies”, “The Flip Wilson Show”, “The Jackie Gleason Show”, and “The Muppet Show”. He gave an amazing guitar performance of “Malagueña” on an episode of “The Odd Couple” in 1975 that is remembered to this day.
He also served as guest host numerous times for Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show”, starred in a movie called “Uphill All the Way” (with Mel Tillis), and of course – served as co-host on 294 episodes of the highly popular weekly show “Hee Haw”. He won numerous CMA awards and even a Grammy. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He came to Branson in the mid-1980’s and opened the Roy Clark Celebrity Theater – which completely changed the course of Branson, MO. In other words, HE WAS A BIG DEAL! However, there he stood in the Ryman Auditorium – a venue where he had undoubtedly appeared so many times with so many of his famous friends through the years – and the young guard working there obviously had absolutely no idea at all who he was. I wondered how that felt.
A little over nine months later, Roy Clark passed away at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 85.
Fame and power are sometimes very fleeting. Sadly, some of the notoriety and influence Mr. Clark once had was perhaps partly gone on that January morning last year. And, in fact, many people who read this blog may or may not remember Roy Clark and/or all of his accomplishments.
Nevertheless, this morning, Wayne Glenn played one of Roy Clark’s hits over the air….and I feel confident that many others, just like me, smiled and enjoyed hearing Mr. Clark’s song. What an absolutely lovely lasting legacy – to bring a smile, to lift others up, to make them hopeful or happy. Thank you, Mr. Clark.
To hear Roy Clark sing “If I Had To Do It All Over Again”, click here: https://open.spotify.com/track/7FNbGMIzuziW72TtinDdfs
Resources:
https://variety.com/2018/music/news/roy-clark-legendary-country-guitarist-and-hee-haw-star-dies-at-85-1203029645/
https://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/how-i-got-here-from-the-tonight-show-to-hee/article_14dd3f5a-89ed-5716-98eb-b0ded58c3655.html
My husband and I was just talking about Roy Clark this weekend and what an amazing musician he was as well as a singer. Thank you for your blogs 🙂 I love them!