Country star Roy Clark, the guitar virtuoso and singer who headlined the cornpone TV show 害羞草研究所淗ee Haw害羞草研究所� for nearly a quarter century and was known for such hits as 害羞草研究所淵esterday When I was Young害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淗oneymoon Feeling,害羞草研究所� has died. He was 85.

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

Clark was 害羞草研究所淗ee Haw害羞草研究所� host or co-host for its entire 24-year run, with Buck Owens his best known co-host. The country music and comedy show害羞草研究所檚 last episode aired in 1993, though reruns continued for a few years thereafter.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚Hee Haw害羞草研究所� won害羞草研究所檛 go away. It brings a smile to too many faces,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所淭he Tips of My Fingers害羞草研究所� (1963), 害羞草研究所淵esterday When I Was Young害羞草研究所� (1969), 害羞草研究所淐ome Live With Me害羞草研究所� (1973) and 害羞草研究所淗oneymoon Feeling害羞草研究所� (1974). He was also known for his instrumental versions of 害羞草研究所淢alaguena,害羞草研究所� on 12-string guitar, and 害羞草研究所淕host Riders in the Sky.害羞草研究所�

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009, and emotionally told the crowd how moving it was 害羞草研究所渏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.害羞草研究所�

In his 1994 autobiography, 害羞草研究所淢y Life in Spite of Myself,害羞草研究所� he said 害羞草研究所淵esterday, When I Was Young害羞草研究所� had 害羞草研究所渙pened a lot of people害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�

Clark was guest host on 害羞草研究所淭he Tonight Show害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所淵esterday When I Was Young害羞草研究所� and for years made Clark promise to sing it at his memorial 害羞草研究所� 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 father害羞草研究所檚 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 Dean害羞草研究所檚 TV show 害羞草研究所淭own and Country Time害羞草研究所� and took over the show when Dean left.

In 1997 he released 害羞草研究所淩oy Clark害羞草研究所檚 Christmas Memories.害羞草研究所�

Clark told The Associated Press in 2004 that 害羞草研究所淗ee Haw害羞草研究所� was like a family reunion.

害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭his was the icing on the cake. This put my face and name together.害羞草研究所�

The Associated Press

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