Country star Roy Clark, the guitar virtuoso and singer who headlined the cornpone TV show 91裸聊视频淗ee Haw91裸聊视频� for nearly a quarter century and was known for such hits as 91裸聊视频淵esterday When I was Young91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淗oneymoon Feeling,91裸聊视频� has died. He was 85.

Publicist Jeremy Westby said Clark died Thursday due to complications from pneumonia at home in Tulsa, Okla.

Clark was 91裸聊视频淗ee Haw91裸聊视频� host or co-host for its entire 24-year run, with Buck Owens his best known co-host. The country music and comedy show91裸聊视频檚 last episode aired in 1993, though reruns continued for a few years thereafter.

91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频楬ee Haw91裸聊视频� won91裸聊视频檛 go away. It brings a smile to too many faces,91裸聊视频� he said in 2004, when the show was distributed on VHS and DVD for the first time.

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Clark played the guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica and other instruments. His skills brought him gigs as guest performer with many top orchestras, including the Boston Pops. In 1976 he headlined a tour of the Soviet Union, breaking boundaries that were usually closed to Americans.

And of course, he also was a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

His hits included 91裸聊视频淭he Tips of My Fingers91裸聊视频� (1963), 91裸聊视频淵esterday When I Was Young91裸聊视频� (1969), 91裸聊视频淐ome Live With Me91裸聊视频� (1973) and 91裸聊视频淗oneymoon Feeling91裸聊视频� (1974). He was also known for his instrumental versions of 91裸聊视频淢alaguena,91裸聊视频� on 12-string guitar, and 91裸聊视频淕host Riders in the Sky.91裸聊视频�

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009, and emotionally told the crowd how moving it was 91裸聊视频渏ust to be associated yourself with the members of the Country Music Hall of Fame and imagine that your name will be said right along with all the list.91裸聊视频�

In his 1994 autobiography, 91裸聊视频淢y Life in Spite of Myself,91裸聊视频� he said 91裸聊视频淵esterday, When I Was Young91裸聊视频� had 91裸聊视频渙pened a lot of people91裸聊视频檚 eyes not only to what I could do but to the whole fertile and still largely untapped field of country music, from the Glen Campbells and the Kenny Rogerses, right on through to the Garth Brookses and Vince Gills.91裸聊视频�

Clark was guest host on 91裸聊视频淭he Tonight Show91裸聊视频� several times in the 1960s and 1970s when it was rare for a country performer to land such a role. His fans included not just musicians, but baseball great Mickey Mantle. The Yankees outfielder was moved to tears by 91裸聊视频淵esterday When I Was Young91裸聊视频� and for years made Clark promise to sing it at his memorial 91裸聊视频� a request granted after Mantle died in 1995.

Beginning in 1983, Clark operated the Roy Clark Celebrity Theatre in Branson, Missouri, and was one of the first country entertainers to open a theatre there. Dozens followed him.

He was a touring artist as late as the 2000s. Over the years, he played at venues around the world: Carnegie Hall in New York, the Sporting Club in Monte Carlo, the Grand Palace in Brussels and the Rossiya Theatre in Moscow.

Clark was born in Meherrin, Virginia, and received his first guitar on his 14th Christmas. He was playing in his father91裸聊视频檚 square dance band at age 15.

In the 1950s, Clark played in bands in the Washington, D.C., area. In 1960, he got the chance to front the band of country singer Wanda Jackson. He also performed regularly in Las Vegas. He got his first recording contract, with Capitol Records, in 1962.

He appeared on Jimmy Dean91裸聊视频檚 TV show 91裸聊视频淭own and Country Time91裸聊视频� and took over the show when Dean left.

In 1997 he released 91裸聊视频淩oy Clark91裸聊视频檚 Christmas Memories.91裸聊视频�

Clark told The Associated Press in 2004 that 91裸聊视频淗ee Haw91裸聊视频� was like a family reunion.

91裸聊视频淲e became a part of the family. The viewers were sort of part owners of the show. They identified with these clowns, and we had good music.91裸聊视频�

Clark said the hour-long program of country music and corny jokes capped off his career.

91裸聊视频淭his was the icing on the cake. This put my face and name together.91裸聊视频�

The Associated Press

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