Some were even ancient chestnuts like the exchange between Buck and his son, Buddy Alan: But that was the whole point. You met another and Pffft! So he was surprised when his manager later called him up and told him that they were about to do the show. In 1969, Clark and Buck Owens were tapped to co-host "Hee Haw." The country music and comedy show aired in syndication for more than two decades, with Clark as host or co-host its entire run. when did buck owens leave hee haw Along with George & Tammy, Buck Owens and Glen Campbell, virtuoso picker Roy Clark was the face and sound of country music at the dawn of the '70s. On the night of November 10, 1973, Stringbean was performing on the Grand Ole Opry when two men entered their home. comment . And except for two or three occasions he never played to massive stadium-filled concerts now de rigueur for touring professionals. Where did you get your red, white and blue guitar? Why, the writers on Hee Haw just took Laugh-In skits and tailored . But whether my radio station or someone else's -- I guess I blame us all, really. Buck Owens would retire to his North Bakersfield ranch and pass away peacefully in his sleep from a heart attack. (Courtesy of Victoria Hallman), We became a part of the family, he said at the time. did roy clark and buck owens get along My girls - ages 5 and 3 - just LOVE to listen to your music. In 1962, his first album, The Lightning Fingers of Roy Clark, highlighted his prowess. Pleiku Vietnam Army Base, Progettato da did benjamin mee ever remarry | Sviluppato da, how to calculate calories per serving in a recipe, unique traits of plants, animals and humans, fine for parking in handicap spot in ohio, ranch style homes for sale in riverside, ca, risotto alla salamella mantovana cannavacciuolo. It featured some the music industries best and brightest along with the best knee slapping comedy this side of the . I must confess that I probably don't play some of these [instruments] too hot. Capitol Records wanted to make a live album of the performance, to which I said, 'OK, that's fine, we'll try that.' (Owens: "I'm a-Pickin' !" He just loved the audience and they loved him back.. Courtesy 2911 MediaFamiliar duo: The late Buck Owens (left) and Roy Clark (right) regularly performed their jokes and jamming "pickin' and grinnin'" bits on the television variety show . Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Soon he was touring with Louis Marshall Jones, who although only in his early forties was billed as "Grandpa". I always felt like I owed Johnny Cash that debt forever. Through the years, I have had many offers from big publishing companies to write a book, but I would have to write with a ghostwriter. You were gone!" The Joke Fence - A Hager I crossed a caterpillar with a Japanese beetle. His first big hit - and it was a big hit - was in 1963 when he released "Act Naturally". Immediately thereafter, I got another song from Nat Stuckey. Do you have a new album in the works? But his true forte was a strong, clear singing voice which was a classic Country tenor. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. As Disney + subscribers have been reminded, Clark performed the song during a 1978 episode of The Muppet Show . Roy Clark music, videos, stats, and photos | Last.fm Buck, how do you feel about country music today? And for those who remember back to the olden days, cable television was originally touted that it would be commercial free. Radio stations can't do it by themselves, record companies can't do it by themselves, publishers can't do it, writers can't do it, nobody can do it by themselves. I also got Don [Rich] to paint his fiddle red, white and blue; and Doyle Holly had a red, white and blue bass. Merle [Haggard] and I were supposed to team up and represent country music from the West Coast. During the encounter with the burglars, Stringbean was shot and killed and when the men came out, his wife ran from the car but was chased down and killed. The Buckaroos served as the house band, and Buck was suddenly getting national exposure on a weekly . For Roy, Hee Haw was almost an afterthought. He regrabbed the award in 1977, 1978, and 1980. Archie Campbell was a veteran comedian and singer on the Grand Ole Opry. I don't know when the new CD will be out. Giu 11, 2022 | how to calculate calories per serving in a recipe. It became a signature showpiece for Clark throughout the remainder of his life and demonstrates why he is and will long be considered one of the most gifted instrumentalists of his generation. He had "Guitars, Cadillacs," "Little Ways," which was a lot like "Under Your Spell Again," but I knew Dwight Yoakam was a great fan. Roy Clark and Buck Owens hosted the comedy hour that proved music and laughter are the best medicine. Clark was the "Hee Haw" host or co-host for its entire 24-year run, with Buck Owens his best-known co-host. I think it absolutely has. And they [the publisher] would own the book and they would do with it and edit it and say what they wanted to say. Kornfield Jokes The Moonshiners What did Roy say when he dropped the sledge hammer on his big toe? Hee Haw With Roy Clark And Buck Owens: The Hosts, The Honeys, And The Hams Here's a quote from Roy Clark: "Buck could think it and Don could do it." Roy spent five years worth of Hee Haw around these guys and is also not known to go in for any of this Ms. Cleo stuff. What is your son Buddy doing now? So, Dwight decided he wanted us to do the song on his album. Although it only aired (on CBS) from 1969 to 1971, it remained popular in syndication until 1997. Although Roy sang well, it was as an instrumentalist that he shone. The music on Hee Haw may have been heavily weighed toward the Bakersville sound, but the humor was centered almost exclusively on the Appalachian and Ozark "hillbilly" stereotypes. I must tell you I was very apprehensive, no way to know how it was going to turn out. Cathy Baker, the bob-haired country girl who would introduce singers and gave the sign off "That's All! Roy Clark, country music legend and 'Hee Haw' star, dead at 85 He talks about his crush on Loretta Lynn, addresses his rumored shaky relationship with fellow Hee Haw star Roy Clark, gives his opinion of Garth Brooks and contemporary country, shares his plans for an autobiography and new album and recalls meeting Dwight Yoakam. Giu 11, 2022 | how to calculate calories per serving in a recipe. "Roy Clark", Encyclopedia of Country Music, Oxford University Press, 1998. People had sent me newspaper pieces from all over the world that Dwight was extolling the virtues of Buck Owens music. Radio can only play what the record companies put out. Nothing has been set in cement yet -- what the next project will be or when it will be. I've shared them with other people and they think they're really good songs. "Singer Found Gold and Inspiration in California", Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times, March 26, 2006. Buck was never really happy with the show and left in 1986. The Buckaroos served as the house band, and Buck was suddenly getting national exposure on a weekly . Buck Owens and Roy Clark Pickin' and Grinnin' No, the critics didn't like Hee Haw. Roy Clark, the legendary 'superpicker', Grammy, CMA and ACM award winner, Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member and co-host of the famed 'Hee Haw' television series, died today at the age of 85 due to complications from pneumonia at home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He hosted the show from 1969 until 1997. Or at least a "best of B.O.E.?" Roy Clark Roy co-hosted the show along with Buck Owens. I don't know if there are words to say that. These included All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and MASH. He died four weeks ago today, from complications from Alzheimers. "Rialto Chatter: Is Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical On Track For Broadway? In the very near future, you're going to be hearing lots about it. Still in his early twenties, Roy centered his activities around Washington, D. C., which had become a focus of country music east of the Appalachians. Yes, there is a very good chance of that. They said hello, got to meet him and had a couple of pictures made with him. It was (and is) one of the swankier neighborhoods. Doesnt take me long to notice a girl. He just cracked us up.". If so, what was the song title? Return to Roy Clark and Buck Owens Caricature. On December 19, 1968, he had appeared on "The Jonathan Winters Show". Like others have stated; just never heard anything bad about the man. The Academy of Country Music [invited] Dwight and I to do "Streets of Bakersfield" on its award show. Legal Statement. It'll have hundreds of pictures in it, probably. It was taped at WLAC-TV (now WTVF) and Opryland USA in Nashville. Then came 'Hee Haw.' The others were really big names that crossed into popular entertainment: Tennessee Ernie Ford, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, the Sons of the Pioneers, Brenda Lee, Dennis Weaver ("Chester" on Gunsmoke and "Sam McCloud" on McCloud), Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Miller, Kenny Rogers, Naomi Judd, Glen Campbell, Dale Robertson, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and even Roy's old employer, Jimmy Dean. Welcome to Hee Haw with special guests: Norm Crosby Janie Fricke Buck White and the Down Home Folks and starring Buck Owens and Roy Clark. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The original Buck Owens guitar which was used on the show was a custom built by Semie Moseley of Mosrite Guitars. I played the guitar and whatever else. Roy Clark backstage at Holiday Star, Chicago, Ill., Nov. 15, 1981. No, the critics didn't like Hee Haw. Though CBS canceled the show after two-and-a-half years, despite ranking in the Top 20, the series segued into syndication, where it . When it debuted in 1969 it was clearly nothing more than a "hillbilly" imitation of the popular hippie-inspired comedy show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. I still have a crush on Loretta Lynn. Don Rich and I took that and wrote some verses about it and made a nice big song about it. 1 hits on the Billboard country music chart. There must not have been enough "closet rubes" - as one critic put it - to keep the show going. "Hee Haw: The Inside Story on the Show That Won't Go Away", Jimmie Tramel, Tulsa World, August 16, 2015. Hee Haw's been reborn. One of them died in prison and the other was paroled after serving over 40 years. Clark died Thursday at 85, leaving behind a legacy of thrilling live performances. Hee-Hawthe Roy Clark and Buck Owens-hosted show that ran for 30 years could soon be coming back to the airwaves with a brand new cast and fresh episodes.But don't get your hopes up too high because it ain't a done deal just yet. "The Basics and Buck Owens", Richard Harrington, The Washington Post, August 13, 1989. I loved the song. I was wondering what you consider the biggest achievement -- or proudest moment -- of your musical career? He also was . Clark said the hourlong program of country music and corny jokes capped off his career. No, I don't think radio is. Stringbean and his wife of 28 years came to a tragic end when they were murdered by home intruders who heard that Stringbean kept large amounts of cash at his home and on his person. 10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Hee Haw' - Wide Open Country All of the choices were regulars on the show. Committee: House Education and Labor: Related Items: Data will display when it becomes available. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Roy Clark. 1 hits on the Billboard country music chart. Training is important! In 1976 along with the Oak Ridge Boys, he became the first Country and Western musician to tour the (then) Soviet Union. Buck Owens was one of the two hosts of Hee Haw. Back to School: Highlighting Best Practices for Safely Reopening when did buck owens leave hee haw richard rip'' taggart real person. Add to history Add to collection It was so poignant to see Roy doing what he loved He had a hard time getting around, but just to see him rather up in age now, playing this lovely song I just stopped and listened You know, Roy was completely untrained as a musician. 19. Finally I said, 'OK, I guess it's important to do. 20 Ouestions With Buck Owens | News | CMT The titles include Roy Clark's Greatest Hits, The Very Best of Buck Owens & Susan Raye, and Susan Raye's 16 Greatest Hits. access_time21 junio, 2022. person. 11. Could Roy Clark read music? Roy has been credited for starting what was a true revolution in entertainment. He said his steel guitar player had to have some sort of surgical procedure and so he wouldn't be there. The Country Music Hall of Fame, in tandem with Audium Entertainment, recently released Young Buck, The Complete Pre-Capitol Recordings of Buck Owens. I never regretted that, because it wasn't that I didn't believe in the song, it's just I didn't want to do a drinking song at that time. In some shows there are so many commercials and in continuous sequences that the viewers complain they can't follow they continuity of the program. I remember that they called October of 1965 and asked about us performing there in March of 1966. For all it's popularity, criticisms of Hee Haw have not abated. "They Were Pickin, We Were Grinnin for 50 Years", Ken Beck, The Wilson Post, June 10, 2019. Any suggestions? His home was near the Philbrook Museum of Art. So it's a shame that Stringbean was mostly relegated to playing the scarecrow in the cornfield or reading the weekly "letter from home"7. Did you really have a crush on Loretta Lynn in your early years in Washington? Buck's Legacy - Buck Owens Roy Clark is best known these days as the pickin' and a-grinnin' partner of Buck Owens, who together entertained families for decades on Hee Haw. Cripple Creek - Pickin' & Grinnin' (Roy Clark Style) from the Hee Haw television show Page 1 / 2 T A B 2 0 G 0 2 0 0 1 C 2 0 0 G 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 T A B 4 2 D 0 4 2 G 0 2 1. west florida high school soccer. As we celebrate the 50 th anniversary we would like to pay tribute and honors to late great Roy . I got to play before tens of thousands of people. Roy Clark $35. He first learned the banjo but also became proficient at guitar (which he could play with various techniques), fiddle, and mandolin as well. Although he ended up being viewed by much of the public as more of a caricature than a true country innovator (thanks, no doubt, to his years as one of the comedic hosts of Hee Haw), Buck Owens was at heart a top-notch honky tonker who, along with Merle Haggard and Owens' fiddle player turned guitar player Don Rich, helped establish the bright, rock-inflected Bakersfield sound in the mid-'60s. Nat Stuckey sent me a song one time called "Hungries for Your Love." They found nothing and were still in the house when Stringbean and his wife, Estelle, returned home. Roy Clark, who died Thursday at 85, may have been one of country musics most revered musicians, but he found broad fame as the co-host of Hee Haw, opposite Buck Owens. Buck Owens, Soundtrack: Ford v Ferrari. 14. Roy Clark was the popular longtime host of TV's Country Music variety show "Hee Haw." He hosted the show from 1969 until 1997. Ironically, Buck thought there weren't enough banjo players on Hee Haw and Roy - a true virtuoso on the instrument - thought there were too many. That was where Roy Clark came in. Explore Roy Clark's discography including top tracks, albums, and reviews. They had a couple thousand invitees there. He sent me "Pop a Top." Nothing specifically yet about The Hagers, The Buckaroos, Buddy Alan, Susan Raye, about those becoming available. Clark died on November 15, 2018 at the age of 85 at his home in Tulsa. Clark was the Hee Haw host or co-host for its entire 24-year run and headlined the hit TV show for nearly a quarter century. When it comes to raisin' crops, old Gordie ain't petty. Though CBS canceled the show after two-and-a-half years, despite ranking in the Top 20, the series segued into syndication, where it . It included Don Rich, Tom Brumley, Doyle Holly playing the bass, Willie Cantu playing the drums. Was that your first recording? Clark. Mistakes and All. They have to have music to play. They made their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the Roy Clark Elementary School was named in his honor in 1978. "; the pop-up comedy in the "Cornfield" and "Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me" made famous by Jones, Gordie Tapp, Clark . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Roy Clark $35. If you know me at all you know that I am a patriot. Distilling 'Hee Haw' Into 'Moonshine' At The DTC", Jerome Weeks, Art&Seek, September 3, 2015. The comic strip Andy Capp also made major changes toward this end. Guitariste et chanteur Country n Roy Linwood Clark, le 15 Avril 1933 Meherrin (Virginie). It's by invitation only. The rationale for dumping such popular shows was simplistic as are many management decisions based on hypothetical and theory driven business models. So, CBS asked if there was somebody else out there that represented the 'Bakersfield sound,' the 'Buck Owens sound,' that could [join] me. Along with fellow performers Merle Haggard and Wynn Stewart, Buck helped popularize the Bakersfield Sound, or honky-tonk infused with electric instrumentation and rock influences. Hallman, who would later star in the popular variety show "Hee Haw," which Owens had hosted for a decade with Roy Clark, revealed how her life forever changed in the new book "Hollywood Lights . The Corn Was Green: The Inside Story of Hee Haw, John Aylesworth, McFarland and Company, United States, 2010. (Country History X) Trigger History 19 Comments. If you find me somewhere by the side of the road with eight bullet holes in my head, why you probably know that somebody took exception to what I said. Another favorite of the regular skits was Archie Campbell singing "Pfft! Archie would sing a song about a love that went wrong and then when he began the chorus the guest star would turn to face the camera and both would sing: I searched the world over and thought I'd found true love. Clark, who could have executed either with equal aplomb, performs one of the musical numbers for which he would become well-known: a hypnotic and intense version of Malaguea, composed by Cuban pianist Ernesto Lecuona and first popularized on flamenco guitar by Spanish musician Carlos Montoya. There was a disc jockey up in Canada that wanted to do the same thing. Roy Clark Obituary (1933 - 2018) - Colorado Springs, CO - The Gazette Looking back on your great career, is there any one thing you regret doing or not doing? In the middle of his show, Elvis made this great introduction to Buck Owens. So throwing in a few station breaks and identification, the actual show took up about 25 minutes. There's enough blame to go around for everybody, but the record companies, they deserve most of it. The show premiered Sunday, June 15, 1969. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. I never heard anyone complain about working with Roy., He was just so lovable, said Hallman. "The Second Coming", Jude Rogers, The New Statesman, October 23, 2008. (Courtesy of Victoria Hallman), On Hee Haw, if anyone ever made any mistakes, Roy never got angry if they had to do a retake, she said. Market data provided by Factset. The late Johnny Cash appeared on "Hee Haw" as a guest no less than 48 times and each time he mysteriously grew an inch taller. Did Roy Clark play the banjo? his dark materials dust angels vengeance september brand reputation rankings for individual girl group members when did buck owens leave hee haw. I changed it to "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line." Roy sold his interest in the theater in 1991 and began cutting back on his touring. Roy Linwood Clark (April 15, 1933 - November 15, 2018) was an American singer and musician. Owens, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 76, had a. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team. The only suggestion I can tell you is do it like I did it, like Merle did it, like Hank Williams Sr. did it, like Johnny Cash did it, like Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Price did it. Dierks Bentley's 28-city musical journey will run from June through August. His performance brought in offers from other nationally broadcast shows, and in 1960 he appeared on the Tonight Show with Jack Paar. I hear old Archie got hisself a job over at the candle factory. Roy Clark Jams With Jerry Reed, Buck Owens on 'Hee Haw' - Rolling Stone Well, Tom, of course, was important. Buck was pickin' and Roy was grinnin' ;-) I'm glad a few appreciate this. Who was the most memorable person you have ever played with? For his full interview, see https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/roy-clarkAll content copyright The Television Academy Foundation Interviews. Buck Owens is a true legend in country music. Buck Owens. 636-949-7777. I Never Picked Cotton - Roy Clark, Williams, C. $0.99 on iTunes 10. Personal life Advertisement Clark married Barbara Joyce Rupard on August 31, 1957. July 4, 2022 did roy clark and buck owens get alongdid benjamin franklin help write the declaration of independencedid benjamin franklin help write the declaration of independence Roy Clark. What a life! One of the recurring jokes wasn't really scripted. However, that job didn't last long as Jimmy found Roy's tendency to show up late irksome. The men congregated in Archie Campbell's barber shop, and the Culhanes of Kornfield Kounty - Grandpa Jones, Junior Samples, Lulu Roman, and Gordie Tapp - would would sit on their sofa and converse in monotones about the troubles of the day. So, my most memorable person is Johnny Cash. Buck Owens - Wikipedia I made several different songs in those times, in what we call dubs, to present to record companies to show them what my ability was. Growing up in Arizona, Buck picked cotton and learned to play the mandolin, the guitar and horns. When it debuted in 1969 it was clearly nothing more than a "hillbilly" imitation of the popular hippie-inspired comedy show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. So the audience saw John Hartford, Hoyt Axton, Jerry Jeff Walker, Linda Ronstadt, and Burl Ives. 16. But then had I been in the same situation, would I stick with that? Instead, They Stuffed in More", Gerry Smith, The Los Angeles Times, August 3, 2019. There was also a recurring skit "The Naggers" about a country husband (played by Gordie Tapp) and his wife (played by bluegrass banjoist Roni Stoneman) who constantly nagged at each other (hence the family name). You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Hallman also described Clark as charismatic and comical, someone who was always willing to make anyone in his presence laugh. As a recording artist, Roy signed with Capitol Records where they recorded hit songs. Do I still have crush on her? "Roy Clarks Lasting Legacy in Branson", Joshua Clark, Branson News, November 16, 2018. Look at Garth Brooks having sold a hundred million records. I hope you release another duet with him. And yes, there were even the occasional "dumb blonde" jokes such as Buck delivered in one of the one-liners: One long lasting criticism of the show is that the humor is "cornball" with nothing but bad jokes. Roy Clark, the legendary . Pictures of me with people like Jackie Gleason, Dean Martin, some Presidents, various different people Liberace, people that you wouldn't think I had ever done anything with. how did the greeks defeat the persians. Buck Owens and Roy Clark and HEE HAW - CooperToons Buck, you've always been my favorite country artist. Facebook. Roy Clark and I never had a cross word, not one cross word. Roy Clark, who died Thursday at 85, may have been one of country music's most revered musicians, but he found broad fame as the co-host of Hee Haw, opposite Buck Owens. Arkansas Secretary Of State, 0. chicken farmers of ontario staff. We're back again with somethin' new. We are going to keep the record open for one week. Born at 5:00am-CDT Buck has three sons named Buddy, Michael and Johnny. In Roy's book, he says that he thought that I was a little bit of a prima donna and that upset him. He was the lead singer for Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, which had 21 No. ET on Thursday (July 05, 2018), our beloved singer Roy Clark passed away. Elkins said that she too had no idea anything was wrong with Clark. Roy Clark's decade-defying success could be summed up in one word sincerity. flag football tournaments 2022 June 7, 2022 dashfire mole bitters recipes . Hee Haw was a long-running television variety show hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark and featuring country music and humor with rural "Kornfield Kounty" as a backdrop. Shown between Owens and Clark is actor Ernest Borgnine, a guest . They were terribly, terribly important. It's all on the drawing board. He was born to entertain.". They had a big box, a special place. I really do regret that I missed it. Thank God and Greyhound - Roy Clark, Kingston, Larry Roy Clark was the popular longtime host of TV's Country Music variety show "Hee Haw." An old friend comes to the Crystal Palace | News | bakersfield.com In 1969, CBS-TV launched a country program where Roy became a co-host with Buck Owens. It can't be done all at once. In fact it was because Roy had been a regular on television that Hee Haw's creators picked him as one of the hosts. Here's What Happened to the 'Hee Haw' Cast after the Iconic - AmoMama I don't know if you're speaking from a religious viewpoint or some other way, but I can tell you this. But the career of Vern Gosdin also may contain one of the most sinister secrets in . The country music and comedy show's last episode aired in 1993, though reruns continued . Usually a particularly horrible joke would be punctuated with exaggerated laughter by the teller. How did you and Dwight Yoakam get together for "Streets of Bakersfield"? By 1966 I had designed the entire guitar and put it on the market for people if they wanted one. It became, 'Let's get that Clark guy. ANY chance of that happening [please!]? 'Yesterday When I Was Young': Roy Clark's 1969 Crossover Hit Is this true? buck owens hee haw guitar? - Acoustic Guitars - Harmony Central After his performance, two television producers John Aylesworth and Frank Peppiatt approached him. But one thing for sure, it's going to be, so keep your eyes open and watch www.buckowens.com, and maybe that will be happening in the very near future. Hee Haw is ghastly." Who did pickin and grinnin? - Heimduo Yet many Christians watched it regularly because Roy Clark, Buck Owens, and others, sang a Gospel song towards the end of each show. I read somewhere a while back that you might write an autobiography. He is best known for having hosted Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969 to 1997. 5. The country variety. I didn't know if I would like New Yorkers or if they would like me (although I had appeared at the old Madison Square Garden). With his band, the Buckaroos, he played a souped-up honky-tonk style that drew upon the sounds of Webb Pierce and Lefty Frizzell, while forging ahead to embrace the energy of 1960s . So do we. "I'm just stunned," admitted Hallman while fighting back tears in an exclusive interview with Fox. I don't have any one song that personally inspired me more than the other. Like many dynamic duos of entertainment, Buck and Roy were not close friends. Buck Owens: Don't Judge a Man's Music By His Overalls - chimesfreedom Buck Owens - Wikiwand Country star Roy Clark, the guitar virtuoso and singer who headlined the cornpone TV show "Hee Haw" for nearly a quarter-century, died today at age 85. Gordie was usually sitting at the kitchen table while Roni in hair curlers was doing the ironing. If that's the kind of new music they're making, we don't have a choice. "I couldn't justify turning down that big paycheck for just a few weeks work twice a year," he said. Although Garth Brooks is country -- he's as country as cornbread -- was he a great singer?