Oklahoma musicians share memories of “Hee Haw” at opening of Oklahoma History Center exhibit “Pickin’ and Grinnin’”
From left, renowned Oklahoma fiddler Byron Berline, former "Hee Haw" co-host and longtime Tulsan Roy Clark and "Hee Haw" regular Jana Jae perform at the opening of the new Oklahoma History Center exhibit "Pickin' and Grinnin': Roy Clark, 'Hee Haw' & Country Humor" on Monday, May 2, 2011. Clark borrowed Jae's signature blue violin for the performance. Oklahoma History Center photo.
From Tuesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. This story goes with an interview of Roy Clark about his “Hee Haw” memories; to read that story, click here.
Oklahoma musicians remember “Hee Haw”
Jody Miller, Byron Berline recall performing on the long-running show, the subject of a new exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center.
The long-running country variety show “Hee Haw” may have been filmed in Nashville, Tenn., but in many ways, the heart and soul of the series has always belonged to Oklahoma.
Co-host Roy Clark, the genial multi-instrumentalist who has lived in Tulsa for 40 years, was “the heart and soul of ‘Hee Haw,’” but the show’s Oklahoma ties certainly don’t end there, said Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director Bob Blackburn.
“The Oklahoma connection is there from day one,” Blackburn said. “It’s really as much of an Oklahoma story as much as it is a Nashville story.”
“Hee Haw” creators Frank Peppiatt and John Aylesworth and producer Sam Lovullo found a perfect co-host and straight man for Clark in Buck Owens, whose nationally syndicated program was shot at Oklahoma City’s WKY-TV. The singer/guitarist continued “pickin’” on “Hee Haw” until 1986, while Clark kept up the “grinnin’” until the show ended in 1993.
From 1981 to ‘93, the show was kept on the air by broadcasting companies associated with The Oklahoma Publishing Co., which publishes The Oklahoman.
In addition, more than 40 performers with Oklahoma connections appeared on the show, many of them clients of legendary Tulsa-based agent Jim Halsey. Comedic actor Gailard Sartain and fiddler Jana Jae, who both have Tulsa ties, became “Hee Haw” regulars. Oklahoma-born baseball greats Mickey Mantle and Johnny Bench were among the famous folks who popped out of the cornfield to tell appropriately corny jokes, while evangelist Oral Roberts did a scene in Archie Campbell’s barbershop.
And a veritable constellation of the state’s music stars played the show, including Roger Miller, Patti Page, Sheb Wooley, Wanda Jackson, Jean Shepard, Mel McDaniel, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn and Garth Brooks.
“When people talk about country music … they come back to ‘Hee Haw,’ and it’s got all kind of roots in Oklahoma,” said Larry O’Dell, director of collections at the Oklahoma History Center.
The Oklahoma History Center is saluting the show and showcasing its state ties in the new exhibit “Pickin’ and Grinnin’: Roy Clark, ‘Hee Haw’ & Country Humor.” Grammy-winning singer Jody
Jody Miller
Miller, who grew up and now lives in Blanchard, said “Hee Haw’s” humor may have been homespun, but it was a sophisticated operation.
“‘Hee Haw’ was a classy show. It was well-done, it was watched by millions, and you could always be sure that you’d look good, sound good. And like I say, millions of people got to see you,” Miller said at an invitation-only event to celebrate the opening of the exhibit.
Miller, who released her debut album on Capitol Records in 1964, won a Grammy in 1966 for her hit “Queen of the House” and retired from the music business in 1981, performed on “Hee Haw” at least six times and “I was thrilled every time.” The only thing more fun than playing “Hee Haw” is being a grandma, she said.
Renowned Oklahoma fiddler Byron Berline, who performed with Clark and Jae at the opening event, said he played “Hee Haw” in 1969 with Doug Dillard & the Expedition. The band got the gig on short notice and was supposed to do two songs, but the producers deemed the lyrics to the old bluegrass song “Rollin’ in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” too risqué and refused to let the group play it.
“Buck Owens recorded it the next year … and made a hit on it. It was the No. 1 song on the country charts, the same song. So he got to do it a lot on ‘Hee Haw,’” Berline said with a laugh. “Isn’t that funny how time changes? They were so worried about that (lyric) ‘walking the streets with another man.’”
Berline, who owns the Double Stop Fiddle Shop in Guthrie, didn’t realize when he played one of the earliest episodes that the series would be on the air for 25 years.
Steve Ripley
“Nobody knew it then … but it just got to be this household word,” said Berline, who also played with the show’s all-star Million Dollar Band in 1982 with Clark, Roy Acuff, Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs and more. “‘When you say ‘Hee Haw,’ they correlate it with the show all over the world.”
For Oklahoma songwriter/musician/producer Steve Ripley, “Hee Haw” was before the time of his platinum-selling group The Tractors. But the Pawnee resident has worked with many of the show’s regulars, including Clark, and counts himself a fan of the series.
“I love ‘Hee Haw.’ The writing of cornball humor was intentional, and it was done well. And all the music was fantastic,” he said.
On exhibit
“Pickin’ and Grinnin’: Roy Clark, ‘Hee Haw’ & Country Humor”
Where: Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive.
Information: 522-5248 or www.okhistorycenter.org.
-BAM
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I enjoyed watching Hee Haw when it was broadcasted from 1969
till 1993, and i’m stilling watching it on RFD Cabel Network. I enjoy it as much today as I did originally. I hope it never leaves the air-waves!!