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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 16 November 2018
Roy Clark, country guitar virtuoso, 'Hee Haw' star, has died

By KRISTIN M. HALL Clark was born in Meherrin,
Associated Press Virginia, and received his
Country star Roy Clark, the first guitar on his 14th Christ-
guitar virtuoso and singer mas. He was playing in
who headlined the corn- his father's square dance
pone TV show "Hee Haw" band at age 15.
for nearly a quarter century In the 1950s, Clark played
and was known for such in bands in the Washing-
hits as "Yesterday When I ton, D.C., area. In 1960, he
was Young" and "Honey- got the chance to front
moon Feeling," has died. the band of country singer
He was 85. Wanda Jackson. He also
Publicist Jeremy Westby performed regularly in Las
said Clark died Thursday Vegas. He got his first re-
due to complications from cording contract, with
pneumonia at home in Tul- Capitol Records, in 1962.
sa, Okla. He appeared on Jimmy
Clark was "Hee Haw" host Dean's TV show "Town and
or co-host for its entire 24- Country Time" and took
year run, with Buck Owens over the show when Dean
his best known co-host. The left.
country music and com- In 1997 he released "Roy
edy show's last episode Clark's Christmas Memo-
aired in 1993, though reruns In this May 17, 2009, file photo, country music star Roy Clark performs after being inducted into the ries."
continued for a few years Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. Clark and Owens worked
thereafter. Associated Press together for years, but they
"'Hee Haw' won't go away. had very different feelings
It brings a smile to too many terday When I Was Young" Was Young" had "opened Young" and for years made about "Hee Haw." Owens,
faces," he said in 2004, (1969), "Come Live With Me" a lot of people's eyes not Clark promise to sing it at who left the show in 1986,
when the show was distrib- (1973) and "Honeymoon only to what I could do but his memorial — a request later referred to it as a
uted on VHS and DVD for Feeling" (1974). He was also to the whole fertile and granted after Mantle died "cartoon donkey," one he
the first time. known for his instrumental still largely untapped field in 1995. endured for "that big pay-
Clark played the guitar, versions of "Malaguena," on of country music, from the Beginning in 1983, Clark op- check." Clark told The As-
banjo, fiddle, mandolin, 12-string guitar, and "Ghost Glen Campbells and the erated the Roy Clark Ce- sociated Press in 2004 that
harmonica and other in- Riders in the Sky." Kenny Rogerses, right on lebrity Theatre in Branson, "Hee Haw" was like a fam-
struments. His skills brought He was inducted into the through to the Garth Brook- Missouri, and was one of ily reunion."We became a
him gigs as guest performer Country Music Hall of Fame ses and Vince Gills." the first country entertain- part of the family. The view-
with many top orchestras, in 2009, and emotionally Clark was guest host on ers to open a theater there. ers were sort of part owners
including the Boston Pops. told the crowd how moving "The Tonight Show" sev- Dozens followed him. of the show. They identified
In 1976 he headlined a tour it was "just to be associated eral times in the 1960s and He was a touring artist as with these clowns, and we
of the Soviet Union, break- yourself with the members 1970s when it was rare for late as the 2000s. Over the had good music."
ing boundaries that were of the Country Music Hall a country performer to years, he played at venues Clark said the hour-long
usually closed to Ameri- of Fame and imagine that land such a role. His fans around the world: Carn- program of country music
cans.And of course, he your name will be said right included not just musicians, egie Hall in New York, the and corny jokes capped
also was a member of the along with all the list." but baseball great Mickey Sporting Club in Monte off his career."This was
Grand Ole Opry. In his 1994 autobiography, Mantle. The Yankees out- Carlo, the Grand Palace the icing on the cake. This
His hits included "The Tips "My Life in Spite of Myself," fielder was moved to tears in Brussels and the Rossiya put my face and name
of My Fingers" (1963), "Yes- he said "Yesterday, When I by "Yesterday When I Was Theatre in Moscow. together."q

Baldacci introduces readers to Atlee Pine in new thriller

By JEFF AYERS trusting people, but have a loud incident, nobody in has to overcome her loner
Associated Press also given her the strength the nearby camp heard mentality and work with
"Long Road to Mercy: an to become an excellent anything. The man who others to stop a horrible
Atlee Pine Thriller"(Grand agent. She has taken the rode the mule down to the conspiracy. Hopefully she
Central Publishing), by Da- most remote assignment bottom has vanished. has the time.
vid Baldacci imaginable, running the When she starts asking Baldacci excels as a story-
David Baldacci introduc- Shattered Rock, Arizona, questioning the camp- teller when it comes to FBI
es readers to FBI Special office of the FBI. Part of its ers and the rangers in the agents with baggage. He
Agent Atlee Pine in his lat- jurisdiction involves working area, Atlee is removed also knows how to craft a
est thriller, "Long Road to with National Park rang- from any further inquiry. complex and compelling
Mercy," that hopefully is ers to protect the Grand Two potential ranger wit- case for his stellar heroes to
the start of a new series Canyon. When one of the nesses are suddenly trans- solve. Baldacci is at the top
featuring her adventures. mules used to transport ferred to another park. It of his game here. The final
Atlee Pine has a tumultu- riders down the canyon is becomes clear that if she reveal is both exciting and
ous past, but the memories found stabbed to death, continues to pursue the shocking. Readers will fall in This cover image released
of a particular day when Atlee is called in to investi- truth, her career will be love with Atlee, and hope- by Grand Central Publishing
she was 6 years old have gate. over. Her supervisors don't fully Baldacci will bring her shows "Long Road to
not only isolated her from For what should have been know Atlee Pine at all. She back soon.q Mercy," by David Baldacci.
Associated Press