Roy Clark and Bobby Thompson Hee Haw Pickin'

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Country music sure needs Hee Haw today. 😢

[@williamheden6794]

America needs Hee Haw today!

[@glencoe6305]

America needs Jesus Christ.

[@markkeneson6806]

I think that I understand what you meant by that, Hee Haw still on TV today with similar musical performances as when the original series was recorded. Unfortunately, I believe that if Hee Haw was on TV today, it would be ruined with the garbage that passes for Country Music today appearing on the show every week.

[@greta3315]

@@glencoe6305 🙌🏻🙏🏻💖🇺🇸

[@williamkurzenberger4607]

@@markkeneson6806 I agree. While there is some new Country music that still retains the components of the genre, a lot of it is really something else.

[@angiehollowayphotography4145]

As a young teen, I spent many a Saturday night babysitting for Bobby Thompson's kids while he and his wife, Eileen, went to HeeHaw tapings. I remember that Bobby was the quiet, humble type. The Bobby I saw was just as solemn-faced as it shows here. They would come home, and he would drive me home but he never let on that he had just come from the presence of so many greats. Obviously, he was one of them.

[@kaybar6225]

WOW, so lucky. Hee Haw was a plethora of talent. I bet, had you asked he would have taken you to the studio. Many great guitarists studied these guys, including the late great VH. I was too young to see the live shows, but i did watch the reruns. I always loved Clark and the way he could pick up any instrument it seemed and master it. And to this day I still revert back to the masters for a lesson or two....

[@steelarama]

No, that was Doug Dillard that played banjo on the Andy Griffith show. Doug and his brother Rodney of the Dillard’s, were the Darling family. Bobby Thompson was one of Nashville’s A-team session musician’s back in the day.

[@jesusinthedisco9952]

Just tell me one thing , Angie, while you were babysitting,did you find his whiskey stash ? He must have had some decent booze, that is what I guess ! 😁

[@glencoe6305]

Cool story. Love it. Thanks 🙏

[@brandonashley5872]

Not entirely related but the story is related enough that I'll share it, my stepfather's uncle is a man named Country Boy Eddie, he used to have a TV show that was on the local stations here in Alabama. It was on every morning on WBRC Fox bright and early. Sort of like Hee Haw it was a country music show, there are some old recordings of it here on KZbin posted by Gene Payne. Anyway moving on, Eddie had a young woman on his show that would sing pretty often, and when she wasn't on the show she would baby sit my stepfather and his brothers. That woman was Tammy Lynette before she was famous. After she'd been on the Country Boy Eddie show for a while he told her that she was too good for his little show and that she needed to go to Nashville, so she did. And now we know the rest.

[@Jiltedin2007]

No one in the World can pick a Banjo like Roy Clark, and I miss him everyday he has left us in This World. R.I.P.: Roy Clark, you will never be forgotten!

[@kenhamilton4554]

Bobby Thompson is my favorite banjo player. I painted a watercolor portrait of him and surprised him with it back in the spring of 2005. Had a very nice visit with him snd his wife Judy. Bobby was very sick at the time and sadly passed away a couple months later. He was an amazing player.

[@glynnbates3241]

R.I.P. Roy, what a great musician. Accompanied here by the late ,great Bobby Thompson ,one of the finest ,if not THE finest five string players of all time.

[@jesseacewest]

Roy always has that face like he is just learning the song when he plays. Lol. He is legend

[@joecoolgamin7704]

I know right 😂😂😂

[@danielbostwick5601]

Goodness!! Is there any instrument Roy Clark can't play?? Amazing talent!!!

[@suprotwin]

only the ones he never tried, bless him

[@bluecollar825]

Actually there isn't. He can play the ones he never tried, he just never got around to trying them.

[@suprotwin]

@@bluecollar825 good point

[@bluecollar825]

@@suprotwin so was yours friend. This guy really was an entertainer extraordinaire lol.✌

[@stevenstainbrook1064]

I heard someone once say, "You could put strings on a toilet seat and Roy could play it." Seems about right. He was a massive talent.

[@Toche44]

Roy Clark is simply the most underrated guitarist of all time. The fact that he was just as good at the banjo further proves it.

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Allan Holdsworth would like a word with you....

[@mosrite60]

Hee Haw: where all the guests and stars just had FUN. Not like today's egoism and self centered stars. Hee Haw yeah just alot of fun. RIP all the stars of this show. mos60

[@metalabsynth]

Man Bobby was all over the fretboard during the second half of his solo!

[@curtisowens6413]

He did that fiddle break he was everywhere!

[@DevilDogDen1775]

I remember me and the family watching Hee Haw religiously every Sunday night " back in the day "... Really great memories....

[@FernandoGarcia-bd1zv]

I'm of Mexican decent. But I grew up in North crackalackin! This is a staple of my country roots! I miss this show so much. I love country from bluegrass to 90s blue collar country I love it all. Roy Clark always brings a smile to my heart

[@mikemcconeghy4658]

Love that little guitar lick at the tail end. Just reminding us how everybody on that show had talent, not just the folks in the spotlight.

[@dianesauble2597]

I laughed out loud at that. Perfect.

[@fiddlejohn9305]

Does anyone know the name of the guitarist?

[@soonerlegendspodcast]

Jackie Phelps was the feller on the guitar

[@MikeCormack-q9i]

Phelps was actually a well known guitarist and very talented!

[@joelkeeley793]

Bobby Thompson nailed it with some chromatic styles!

[@asdf9890]

Loved watching this stuff with my grandparents early 80s, some things transcend generations.

[@TheRonnie63]

Roy Clark is the Master

[@ronmitchell859]

Bobby Thompson, who never got the credit because they were too intent on giving it to Roy Clark, basically double him in mastery on banjo.

[@cw330]

no, @TheRonnie63, you are sadly mistaken. Roy Clark (no disrespect) played in the presence of a master.

[@kenshinflyer]

Like how many times I have viewed this awesome performance... It's so catchy and uplifting!

[@dippydija6275]

Bobby Thompson is a very underestimated banjo player

[@curtisowens6413]

Eli g indeed, he was!

[@dannyc1174]

Bobby Thompson - one of the greatest banjo pickers ever and a super studio musician, whether on banjo or rhythm guitar. But what about that tag ending by another great, Jackie Phelps - a tremendous 2-finger guitar and banjo picker who also cut many great sides on rhythm guitar player as one of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys. Also a wicked "Travis-style" guitar picker.

[@dannyc1174]

@Susan C Yeah, I know - one photo of him smiling is a promo shot with Jim & Jesse when Bobby was with them (along with Vassar Clements) - back when J & J were cutting for Starday.

[@dannyc1174]

@Susan C You are right about all this, Susan. Roy was an excellent multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and entertainer. And he sure did smile, was comedic and had fun but he always looked tense to me when he played. In any event, yes, Bobby was really a studio man and also cut a lot of sessions on rhythm guitar. As for Jackie Phelps - absolutely - smile & play and very talented. Check him out on an old Bill Monroe clip from the 1954 Gannaway film sessions at Bradley's doing "Roanoke" - Jackie, who generally played rhythm guitar (old-style, using thumb and index finger picks) for Bill, plays banjo on this and does "Scruggs-style" with two fingers - awesome.

[@hadji828]

And let's not forget about Jackie Phelps' partnership with Jimmie Riddle, who had been a member of Roy Acuff's Smokey Mountain Boys band; Riddle and Phelps made some fine music together (usually with Jackie on guitar and Jimmie on harmonica) but became especially well-known as the two guys on Hee Haw that did the "Hambone and Eefing" (a.k.a. "The Hambone Brothers").

[@Nepbor]

I'm peruvian, from Southamerica but I like the blue grass and all reffer to this music gender since I learn the music from Waylon Jennings and for this singer I was know another singers who songs be the best for me. One great greetings for all the singers of blue grass that not be alive now, but in your songs and videos be always present in my memories (august 29, 2024) 🇺🇸 🇵🇪😉👍🏻

[@sportdr]

Bobby Thompson , the best banjo picker ever. A good ole SC boy

[@kellyhenderson9972]

Aww Roy. You’re the reason I love bluegrass music.

[@40ounce58]

We all are gonna miss you Roy. Thank you for the memories. R.I.P

[@mikefriedman593]

Bobby Thompson is really one of the best banjo players every to strap on a banjo and there isn't a stringed instrument that Roy Clark couldn't play.

[@greta3315]

HeeHaw, the best display of talent in our beloved USA, ever!

[@Jiltedin2007]

I can’t believe it has been 50 years now since Hee Haw. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!

[@johnmagill3072]

Do I ever miss that show

[@jimedward8908]

Huge skills and a humble attitude. Why cant more show business people of today be like these people on hee haw and like Bobby Thompson in particular? He let his skills do the talking. The cast seemed to have a fun time without a bragging type of attitude. This was awesome television and I sure miss it!

[@mosrite60]

Hee Haw each week no one ever knew who be on the show. Also which pickers would steal the show. Bobby Thompson great 5-string banjo picker. Roy always had the highlights. mos60

[@leeroyholloway4277]

Jackie Phelps sneaking in there to tag the ending.... poetry.

[@ellez2115]

Love Roy Clark.

[@johnmcclintock5868]

+LINDA ZAYACHUK .....YEA...me too.....what a picker.......

[@johnmcclintock5868]

+john mcclintock .....and that other fella too......the "BANJER" is pure Americana !!

[@davidmontgomery3763]

Roy Clark ,THE GOAT , Enough said !!!!

[@BobbyBruffett]

Awesome vibes, thanks Missouri 😂😂😂😂😂

[@ImminghamIronhead]

And three cheers for the old guy on guitar right at the end! Can't let these banjo's have it all their own way :-)

[@ellyswift9576]

That show had it all, especially Roy

[@christygoodman3196]

man I love this old show

[@deepwater2652]

Those boys could sure pick!

[@steby123]

Country music and country humor= two very different standards !!!!!!!

[@gragolawncarepatrick7058]

God Bless America 🇺🇸

[@spwb2k]

I'm a child of 1980's FM rock radio and the "get up and jump around" aspect of this music always had/still has the same (almost) effect on me as The Who, UFO, Pretenders and/or Iron Maiden.

[@BobbyBruffett]

Go Brain 🧠 Wise 🦉,go Branson Missouri heck yesssss 😂😂😂😂😂

[@peterdollard853]

Poor Bobby Thompson he was the best studio banjo player in Nashville

[@Beethovenfan12]

As a kid, I had no idea the talent I was forced to watch (I'd rather watch Bewitched or Gilligan's Island!). The Hee Haw crew and guests were all exceptionally talented musicians.

[@ronmitchell859]

Bobby Thompson (right) played the Hee Haw theme, not Roy Clark, for reason that Thompson was one of the best ever. He never got the credit he deserved. In the day though, if you wanted a studio banjo player, you wanted Bobby. To THIS day there's never been enough written on Bobby Thompson (banjo) and one is hard pressed to find all the music he did. I'm afraid he'll basically end up lost to history though except for extremely rare clips like this.

[@jimedward8908]

OMG! I knew I heard that exact Bobby Thomspson sound in some of the banjo licks in the music accompanyment for the show. I have all the hee haw shows on DVD and you can hear Thompsons signature banjo sound in the theme song and other little licks during the funny skits through many seasons it seems!

[@cadenbariekman5656]

You sir are absolutely right!! Maybe thimpsoje could have perfrormed In Mainstream media he certainly had the skill and I miss so much 😊

[@rebelwithacause1739]

The happy memories of a childhood when weekends meant the program of the week would be on....

[@mrlafayette1964]

Saturday evening at 7:00!

[@rebelwithacause1739]

😆

[@robertgarza2865]

ROY: Top this, Bobby! BOBBY: Hold my beer.

[@adhonoremtroll7198]

Roy is the GOAT

[@Roger-l2f4b]

Bobby Thompson did the banjo playing on the theme music for Hee Haw. He was a tremendous player.

[@evelyncalhoun8764]

Lovely song 🎵❤💕I grew 🎶🎵❤♥up on as a child ❤♥

[@chadmcginney1600]

Y’all bring back some awesome memories of watching this show with my kin during the 70s!!! 🇺🇸

[@jeffj9322]

Remembering Roy Clark born on April 15, 1933. He was an American singer, musician, and television presenter. He is best known for having hosted Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969 to 1997. He had hit songs as a pop vocalist (e.g., "Yesterday, When I Was Young" and "Thank God and Greyhound"), and his instrumental skill had an enormous effect on generations of bluegrass and country musicians. - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Clark

[@MikeCormack-q9i]

It seems like the biggest round of applause came from that mean guitar lick at the end!!!

[@GlenAllison]

The late great Bobby Thompson ...!!!!!

[@Praetor_Fenix420]

These guys are cooler that the breeze.

[@tylerbrandon460]

Wow talk about timing and being in synch, spot on!

[@Nappy17691821]

Best pickin I heard

[@christopherreed2694]

Roy's tearing that banjo up

[@cirulis37]

this is sweet.

[@tosht2515]

Good lord, this was fantastic.

[@johncorbin9064]

Best banjo picking

[@classiclistener01]

This is awesome! I've loved this TV show since I was a child, and, with any luck, TV Land or INSP will bring it back. :)

[@zackman86]

RFD-TV has been showing them. They are on Sunday nights.

[@sherryhannah498]

classiclistener01 I don’t know if you have it but Circle TV shows Hee Haw I hope you will reply to this

[@styldsteel1]

That's some mean banger string pickin! Lol

[@rogerbell852]

thanx for making this great tune available to hear and enjoy. Great sound quality too.

[@pateagle7191]

Bobby was so tight and crisp. But also a sense of humor. Rear, on the front if has hat. He was a progressive thinker on banjo. He did the banjo work on East Bound And Down.

[@stevecole101sc]

Good lord that was beautiful

[@moboutmen]

Love Bobby's shirt.

[@patriciajrs46]

Great. Just super.

[@willoughby1888]

Hee Haw makes me so Hee Happy!

[@klumog1]

Good job!

[@24klc67]

R.I.P. Gordie Tapp.

[@earllynch2627]

Just amazing

[@m.z.ccastle7482]

Soooo Goood!

[@jesseserna8424]

Roy is a Legend 🪕..Is there a movie about Roy?🤔

[@johnrohlfs4185]

Good stuff!!!

[@ramirezrulon]

Dude on acoustic pops out like.....

[@aleksandrpuchkov4668]

Шикарно! Блеск! Благословенные времена!!!

[@davidmayo6947]

Bobby Thompson was THE man. RIP.

[@AmericanWrathchild]

Jackie getting it in at the end cuz you can't let the banjo players have all the glory 🤣

[@Sprawl1GuitarMan]

Lovely 😊

[@loriwest4777]

I wish Steve Martin could have played with the guys on Hee Haw. He's also a great picker.

[@johnrohlfs4185]

. Oh yeah, space lords,tribute,to thy late Blue Grass pickers,ie Dad Bobby Bruffett Senior USA Flags,heck heck yesss's!!!!!

[@ooh2873]

Legend has it Roy could rub a nickel and a dime together and folks would get up and dance

[@KoldenKosmer]

On my schools morning news atleast once a month. Let me tell you, the school goes nuts yelling yee-yee the whole time

[@erice9536]

Hated this corny show when I was a kid, missed the fact it was really a musical treasure!

[@joluttringer4450]

Big thanks for sharing, Curtis. Congratulations for the "new" picture quality. From France.

[@dged492]

As for the incredibly disparaging comment about "the guy in the hat," I'm assuming that the person who posted it doesn't recognize that the player is the great Bobby Thompson, one of the true innovators on five-string banjo and a giant on the instrument in the world of bluegrass. And I'm willing to bet that if you asked Roy Clark about Thompson's banjo playing, he would defer to his virtuosity.

[@curtisowens6413]

I agree

[@cw330]

Absolutely...Bobby Thompson was an innovator with his melodic style and one of the most dynamic and influential players of his time. Like the great Tony Trischka once said about Bobby, "...his playing sounds like potential energy about to explode." I used to put my cassette recorder mic up to the TV speaker during the Hew Haw theme song just to catch Bobby's amazing playing. He's always been the most influential banjo player for me. Unfortunately, Bobby has never received the recognition he rightfully deserved during his lifetime. But thanks to the web, his music does live on--even if you have to dig a little.

[@OugaBoogaShockwave]

i remember this & watching dukes of hazard. They don't make shows like they used to

[@BobWarnerBarn]

Great..... 🤗

[@JohnAugello-z8c]

Ty!

[@petrmudra8235]

Pecka Pecka

[@johnetheridge5833]

I love her has😁

[@JohnnyCarroll-wi6tx]

excelent banjo pikin

[@johnnynewell8565]

Oh yeaaaaaaaa

[@db90990]

He was an absolute genius when it came to instruments; could he play the piano too?

[@curtisowens6413]

He could play anything with strings, so probably yes

[@db90990]

@@curtisowens6413 thnx

[@oscarcavalcanti1640]

Powerflex 🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@suprotwin]

YEEEEEEEEEEE HEEEEEE!

[@moboutmen]

Roy Clark could play a sneaker.

[@rickdj]

I know the segment was designed to feature Roy Clark and Bobby Thompson, but it sucks seeing Grandpa over in the far left hand side of the screen not being able to play.

[@spitfirekid1]

Bobby was doing some sweet “chikin pickin” wasn’t he? ☺️

[@CDMJDMHHC]

that's some fine picken