The Hee Haw Gospel Quartet

Hosted for most of its run by Roy Clark and Buck Owens, Hee Haw was televised from 1969-1993. Situated in fictional Kornfield Kounty, the show featured the outstanding country music artists of its era, although it was often marred -- or enhanced, depending on your point of view -- by clownish, eye-rolling humor. The performers, for example, generally wore overhauls overalls [see explanation at bottom of the post] or other caricatured outfits, and the musical numbers were often interrupted by intentionally corny one-liners. Even so, the music was memorable, and clips from Hee Haw have preserved some of the great country artists of the late mid-century.

Hee Haw never joked about sacred music, including performances that closed each show beginning in the late 1970s. The "Hee Haw Gospel Quartet" was anchored by Roy Clark, Buck Owens, Grandpa Jones, and either Kenny Price or Tennessee Ernie Ford singing the bass part, along with occasional guests. The arrangements were simple, featuring Clark on solo guitar, but the harmonies were often intricate.

A Cappella

Ray Burdett takes the bass part:

This number departs from the usual arrangement by featuring three banjos (with Stringbean substituting for Buck Owens). Aficionados will notice that the instrumentalists are playing three different styles: Scruggs picking (Roy Clark), frailing (Grandpa Jones), and clawhammer (Stringbean).

And with the great Charlie McCoy on harmonica:

Are they overalls or overhauls? My original spelling is supported by the two clips below, from Taj Mahal and the original Carter Family (A.P. Carter on the vocal), but the dominant spelling appears to be "overalls." h/t Jim Pfander.

Comments

[anymouse]

Loved Hee Haw