Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie McCoy are announced as the 2009 inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame at a press conference hosted by the Country Music Association on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Photo by John Russell, courtesy of the Country Music Association.
Feb. 4, 2009 — Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark and harmonica player Charlie McCoy — three artist-musicians whose careers intersected significantly with television — are set to become the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Each of them was on hand Wednesday morning as Country Music Association executive director Tammy Genovese led a ceremony at the Hall in downtown Nashville to announce their arrival.
"I get to go in the Hall of Fame — I’m excited," Barbara said. "I may not speak to anybody for at least two weeks, ‘cause I feel pretty dadgum good right now. It’s a big feeling. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Introduced at Wednesday’s event by Louise Mandrell, Barbara was a staple for two years on the NBC lineup with "Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters," a variety show that made her one of country’s best-known talents. She was primarily recognized as a singer, but she actually began her career as a steel guitar player and often threaded her live shows with a segment in which she played seven different instruments — including the steel and saxophone — on a single song. Her multiple talents led her to become the first repeat winner of the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year.
Roy, after appearing early in his career on Jimmy Dean’s "Town And Country Time" TV show in Washington, D.C., came to prominence as an all-around entertainer. In addition to singing on such landmark records as "Yesterday, When I Was Young" and "Come Live With Me," he was particularly adept as a musician, which came in handy on the "pickin’ and grinnin’" segments when he co-hoste "Hee Haw" with Buck Owens beginning in 1969. The TV series ran more than two decades, and during that time, Roy likewise claimed the CMA’s Entertainer trophy.
"One of the greatest gifts that we have are our memories," he said Wednesday, following an introduction by Hall of Famer Carl Smith.
By having his plaque enshrined alongside those of Johnny Cash, George Jones and Willie Nelson in the Hall, Roy is guaranteed to remain in the memory of country fans permanently.
Charlie was a prominent figure in Nashville’s growth as a recording center, and he ultimately was a member of the Hee Haw band for a whopping 18 years. That TV role came in addition to a busy schedule as a session player, where he was employed on multiple instruments — including harmonica, bass and trumpet — while adding licks to hits by such acts as Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn and the Statler Brothers.
Born in Oak Hill, W.Va. — the same town where Hank Williams’ death was recorded — Charlie contributed to such significant hits as Bobby Bare’s "Detroit City," Roy Orbison’s "Oh, Pretty Woman," Bob Dylan’s "Lay Lady Lay" and George Jones’ "He Stopped Loving Her Today." He also played on sessions by his fellow 2009 inductees, including Roy’s "I Never Picked Cotton" and Barbara’s "Sleeping Single In A Double Bed" and "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right." For his efforts, Charlie was nominated 13 times for the CMA’s Instrumentalist of the Year honor, winning it in 1972 and ’73.
"All I ever wanted to do was play with the great people in this Hall," Charlie said, following an introduction by Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis. "And now to be joining them, this is an honor way beyond my fondest dreams. And guess what: I ain’t through playin’ yet."
The three newest inductees will officially enter the Country Music Hall of Fame during a medallion ceremony in May.
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