Added: Nov 18, 2008
From: oldcountrytunes
Duration: 2:11
THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF A BIO FOUND ON THE CMT SITE:Owens teamed with singer/multi-instrumentalist Roy Clark in 1969 to host Hee Haw, originally a show for CBS-TV. CBS dropped it in 1971, but the show continued as a syndicated effort. Besides introducing acts, telling jokes and appearing in skits, Owens and Clark had a "pickin' and grinnin'" spot in each show, and both sang and recorded in the popular Hee Haw Gospel Quartet. Owens withdrew from his Hee Haw hosting duties in 1986 and was never replaced although the show continued into 1994.With his recording career sagging, Owens was essentially reduced to being a face of Hee Haw until Dwight Yoakam came along in the mid-1980s. Like Owens, Yoakam was passionate about West Coast country music, and he was loud in his praise of the old master. In fact, Yoakam made so much noise -- including making a personal plea to his idol -- that Owens recorded (and made a music video of) "The Streets of Bakersfield" with him. It went No. 1 in 1988, the last time Owens has viewed the chart from that vantage point.Also in 1988, Owens re-signed to his old label, Capitol Records. That union resulted in two albums and five charted singles, none of which reached the Top 20. However, his "Act Naturally" duet with Ringo Starr did make it to No. 27 in 1989. It was accompanied by an amusing Old West-inspired music video in which Owens' manager, McFadden, played the sheriff and actor Vic Tayback (Mel on TV's Alice) played the bartender.In 1996, he was elected to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Earlier that same year, he opened his opulent Crystal Palace in Bakersfield. He died on March 25, 2006.
Channel: Music
Tags: buck country music owens
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