Roy Clark Guitar Wizard

[Itelkner]

Wow...and you don't usually see flamenco played with a pick on steel strings. Works beautifully.

A neighbor and musical mentor of mine once raved to me about how amazing Roy's rendition of "Flight of the Bumblebee" was. I've looked and haven't yet located a copy or footage of it. Anyone here have info on this? Thanks!

[theoriginalbillholt]

To this day it's not widely known, but for more challenging pieces like this one, Roy always used a 'guitar stunt-double'.

[blackstar6938]

I used to watch HeeHaa just to watch him play. I have always said he is underrated.

[billyfan8305]

Could this be where Larry Graham got his slap-bass idea,lol???

[acousticguitarfan]

wow!

[johnwon454]

WOW!!

I'm Impressed!!

I never knew he could play that good.

Part of it reminded me of Pete Townshend playing Pinball Wizard.

But wow, he can sure play mean guitar....!!!

[Itelkner]

@johnwon454 Yeah, I was thinking Townshend when I heard this, too.

Have you heard the whole Tommy album? There's some amazing rapid-fire acoustic playing on there in addition to Pinball. Really inventive, cool-sounding stuff that rocks.

[johnwon454]

@Itelkner I have no clear memory of what all I heard back in the day.....

I'll look it up here on youtube and try to get the flashback :)

My favorite is; Love Reign O'er Me. I can't think of anyone who cries out "Love" like that!

[MrSquidfeet]

I remember seeing this when I was a little kid. My dad wanted me to watch the episode, because I had just started playing guitar. He knew I'd be blown away. Still inspires me - flamenco at real speed - and all with a pick!

[majikmyst]

Remember watching him on Hee Haw as a kid - He also plays Banjo, Mandolin, and Fiddle.

[spewgilist]

viewers today wouldn't have the attention span to sit through this masterpiece

[counciousstream]

I saw Roy in concert back in the mid 80's at a local horse track. His band was playing on one of those trailer stages. There were maybe 100 people there and I went to the front row. This guy is an amazing performer. I knew that he was good but that show was awsome and his personal energy - even with a small crowd was incredible. That D28 he is playing is a hell of a guitar as well.

[buzztar45]

you need to watch some of his other videos dude, zak doesnt evan come close to roy clark,

[38Achilles]

I had no idea he was that good, sounds similar to Zakk playing his acoustic, although he might be a bit better at the acoustic than Zakk.

[fostek]

LIVE...Before a studio audience!!

[auntfannie1]

Love it!!♥

[newname363]

Roy Clark said "if Chet Atkins were selling guitar instruction courses through the mail then HE would be the mailman"

[ledfingers1]

Imagine this played on a Strat through a Fender reverb amp cranked up...watch out Dick Dale...

[TheRaidersrock28]

The hillbilly Segovia

[gsxrbuckeye]

Jesus, Joeseph and Mary. That kid can play some guitar.

[myg0tBUTTPLUG]

He plays a mean banjo too. Roy Clark is insane!!

[OfficialSands]

His picking is out of this world even today!

[MrTrsmusic]

insane

[johnhrey52]

Another of one those long forgotten greats of the 70's. Another "Damnit man"!!!! Roy Clark. Man I was only about 7-9 when this aired. Awsome guitarist. one of the best.

[ke1mc2]

HEY THAT IS FUCKIN' ROY CLARK!!

[infectedvector]

How is Roy so overlooked or forgotten today? He is surely one of the best, if not the best...and he played many other stringed instruments as well.

[scubafencer13]

OMG

[chiefredbottom]

Those sideburns were the shit...oh yeah, nice guitar too. Watch out Flea (2:18)!

[01barnum]

@MsPysanky .... I too remember watching this as a kid and being absolutely blown away by that solo, I havent seen it since then but it has the same effect now as it did then. Unbelievable...

[smith1499]

What kind of weenie would dislike this???????

[grade21]

Most people think of him on Hee-Haw, but Roy Clark was one of the greatest underrated guitarists in history.

[007mikeandike]

was he on hee haw?

[olpap53]

awesome



[edge9090]

Millions would have seen this when it aired and it confirms that Roy Clark is one of the best guitar players ever. His right hand speed is insane. Charro was known more as a comedienne in the 70"s but people need to check out her Flamenco guitar work. She's an amazing player also.

[krelbar]

Clark's right hand technique is astounding

[LuneyTune72]

I love that Tony Randall and Jack Klugman had a chance to take a break from acting and just ogle over an AMAZING performance.

[TheSonsofHorusx]

A WIZARD AYYY NIIICEE

[tossmeacarrot]

Roy Clark will never know how much I loved him. Still do. Always will. 

[tvraiderz]

Dayamn!

[Freedom21stCenturi]

I JUST FUCKING SHIT MY DIAPER

[warbonet65]

You know its funny, this happen way before eddie van hallen!

[bb38313]

rates with chet and jerry reed as one of the best. don't need no electronics just strings

[BTBHSOHBOY]

Can you imagine this guy's calluses? He just played Maleguena on a steel string and he isn't dripping blood.

[smoothfenpro]

the drummer in my band, his dad, is roy clarks bass player. Tony Walter is his name. I just got to see roy a few weeks ago at the Andy Williams theater in branson. He put on a good show. he is getting up in years and has had some major surgery lately but still came out and threw down!

\m/

[TheWizardKs]

I was lucky enough to see Roy at a concert and he was so good I remember it even now, 38 years later.

[dtennow]

I cannot believe how fast his hand is moving

[bgandjsco1]

What year is this 1970?Eric clapton jeff beck and jimmy page were amatures next to this guy.

[MissileMist]

I never forgot this, its still amazing, thank you.

[righturnonly]

looked forward to seeing him on the tele. Loved his playing. He could be playing something That required precision and ability to execute at lightining speed. Then give a silly look. Always making it look easy. Always having fun and enjoying himself.

[ThyHandyman]

Roy Clark is a true master of the guitar, He doesn't just play the guitar, he becomes the guitar. I miss true talent like his.

[oberfour1]

I remember my Grandpa saying "the bugger could play anything with strings streached over it".

[dahughes44]

wow.....he did it with a pick....one pick , one hand , one great guitarist.No need for finger picks on the tips of the fingers....Roy Clark can / did play every string with the greatest of ease.....and not just the guitar....banjo pickin' , guitar pickin', fiddle , ....if it had strings...Roy could play it and play it very well....better than almost anybody.

[paul198094]

wow



[martinaxman]

HOLY CRAP!!! LOL!!! THis guy is AMAZING! And YES I saw this too!! Always loved Roy Clark. What can you say but "AHHH BACH!! Lol.

[nybanjo3]

Wow - last time I saw this I was a kid. Col then and now that I am geazer

[Ampifier1994]

Mountain dooo!

[seaside882000]

his picking hand is like a machine. That is hard to do!!  crazy good guitar player.

[karaterocks99]

This blew me away the first time that I saw it...AWESOME !!!

[MrGent35]

Prettty awesome

[semiful]

That's pure genuis. He made that guitar come to life. That wasn't Felix and Oscar watching him either. That was Tony Randall and Jack Klugman out of their roles for a minute capitivated by his performance as if they were in the audience . Look at their faces .

[gigisdad]

His strumming hand is so fast the video can't handle it and it 's looks like it's still.

[gmioco]

even more respect!!! Damn!

[rerite2]

I miss the 1970's.

[msinthrop]

@rerite2 Ditto

[supfanatic]

awesome clip, love roy!

[shelliebellie3672]

i did not know what became of wolverine-looks like he put on some weight. roy will forever be sexy. i love roy. i watched hee haw when i was younger. long live roy...all the roys. tony and jack shook his hand to see if his hand was real. thank you very much for the video.

[fishinwflies]

@Vengeance31 I don't know about that. He was considered one of the top 4 or 5 guitar players on the planet back when this was done. Not exactly underrated.

[puda9999]

In a shirt & tie no less! Been watchin Roy from wayz back since the 70's & he is a killer on banjo also! Check Hee Haw!

[TheSharkman2k]

Wow, haven't seen this in years. Simply amazing.

[jeddyhi]

Guitar master supreme. Roy Clark is a fret board God!

[Bachnroller]

He would only take about 1 minute when he jerks off B-}

[jjaaccoo]

I love 2:18

[WorldsBestGuitarists]

Maybe it's just that any up-tempo cut of Malagueña is always going to be good, but Roys version of it is particularly nasty (in the 'good' way)

Like JackSecret, I too found myself coming back to this performance many years later to see if it was as good as I remembered when I first saw it as a kid, now that I'm a bit older and my comprehension of guitar playing is a good bit higher. Not only is it 'as good', but I can appreciate it much more today than I did back then. This is genuinely great.

[donottawaguitar]

awesome master

[spewgilist]

Sideburns are almost as awesome as the guitar playing

[divgtrslingr]

wowwwww

[capvid88]

The fact that he could play that fast and that accurately WITH A PICK instead of individually fingering the notes is nothing short of amazing!!! What a G-d given gift of talent this man has.

[shane1v]

Thats a long segment on a TV show

[66feebee]

absolutey fantastic!!

[66edoug]

Didn't he also play a piece by Mozart on the violin in this episode. I'm not into classical music but you have to give a lot of respect to someone who can play like that on one instrument but two is really amazing.

[JonesyTBJ]

u n r e a l

[JonesyTBJ]

u n r e a l

[tubetonemesa]

He was Red Bull befoe Red Bull was made.

[golyg]

I saw this on tv as a kid. i t inspired me to learn guitar.

I sucked then.

I suck now.

Roy doesn't suck. .....He rocks!

[rojouh60]

Damn!! Stand back Chet, Jingo, Jerry, That's Amazing!

[MachineHeadDissent]

Don't see anybody attempting this on youtube......thats because Roy is the only guitarist who can play this like this.....never forgot about seeing this on TV as a kid absolutely mindblowing.....especially the slapping at the end.....still cannot figure out how he can pick soooooo fast......truely one of the best to ever to play guitar and banjo....PEACE....

[dodgebee440]

Mountain DEEEEEEEW!!!

[gates69]

I remember seeing this years ago as well, and I always remember being blown away by it.

Awesome!

[MsPysanky]

I remember watching this episode when it aired. I was a kid, and that performance blew my socks off! Roy Clark is the master of Malaguena forever! 

[brenhig63]

Amazing

[wilmaman]

what a goofy hillbilly.a real good country picker perhaps but a lifeless left hand...come on you guys..you really think that was good???

[userx100]

@wilmaman

Can you play it better?

[wilmaman]

I wont say "better" but Yeah I can play it.. and did play it about 40 years ago..My Dad taught me that solo when I was about 13 or so.When I first heard it on the Odd Couple I thought it was great and my pro-musician Dad taught it to me,after my begging and begging. ( he hated Roy Clark)

[chickenlampbrent]

they stopped being Felix and Oscar, that was Tony and Jack there.

[scidamenge]

@chickenlampbrent True very true you can just see that in their faces.

[kdkkdkdd]

Unbelievable! I mean look at the size of those ties! That was some good flamenco too.

[bsherman2006]

Thanks for sharing. This is an incredible performance that I have never forgotten since I first saw it when it aired so many years ago.

[golyg]

only 7k views

this is mandatory viewing for any serious musician

send it to everyone you know

thats an order

[marksam2002]

The master will never be touched !!

[DoctorJK3]

Spanish guitar is so cool . . . firely, emotional, romantic.

[RoofFiddler]

Man, he tore this up so, so hard. That part where he was doing that slappy bassline thing was just tremeandous.

A++++ stuff...

[Wise2you]

Yeah, the same as everybody else pretty much. Been wondering if I'd ever see this again. Thank you SO much for posting. Dave

[EmGio7]

duuuuude thank you so much...i've also been lookin for this for years now...your the man bro

[golyg]

I've been searching for this for years

thanks boysofb2

[FAIRWARNING44]

Before there was Eddy Van Halen, there was Roy Clarke. What a great talent.

[BillNeilan]

I've been waiting to see this again for years. I attribute this episode to my getting interested in guitar as a kid in the 70's. I caught the epsiode on TV in the last several years and they cut his part out at the end!!

[richardguitar1]

@BillNeilan this episode also got me into guitar. I first saw this in 1977, in my bedroom from a very cold Quincy, Ma. The highlight of my day was watching repeats of the odd couple on wsbk tv38.

[marksam2002]

This is amazing - does anyone out there have the full episode ... and if so PLEASE POST IT !! Do you know what the hardest job is in Roy Clarck's touring band ... his guitar strings !!!!!!

[zzzepptri]

In-freaking-credible talent. I had the pleasure of seeing him live a few years ago. A gentleman, to boot.

[ke4juh]

Yes, I remember and would like to see the violin piece from the same show.

[VictimOfPain]

WOW, been looking for this for years...

[hat2393]

This is great! I remember seeing this years ago and telling everyone how fast his hands moved.

[1915fas]

Every once in a while I tell people about this! Watching this scene again, I was beginning to doubt my memory of the violin piece. I'd love to see that again as well.

[dale1966gto]

one of the finest all round musicians ever. i think one could confidently say he mastered the three main stringed instruments..i.e. the guitar, the violin and the banjo..a uniquely american instrument born in the smoky mountains.

[voodoob4u]

wow if my right hand was that fast i wouldn't need to be married anymore

[wizzolf]

i loved/love this show, and when i got the final dvd of it and saw this episode, i shat a brick of gold, and immediately remembered homie from heehaw and this INSANE guitar segment. i could watch it a godzillion times.

[jacksecret]

I been waiting to see this again for years as well. Over the years I got to thinking it probably wasn't as good as I thought it was as a teen due to me seeing him a few years back and it not being anything close to this (but he's quite old now). Well this IS as good as I originally thought! Amazing what Roy could do back in the day. The strumming in particular is awesome.

[KLUNKET]

@jacksecret - Roy isn't slowed down due to his age. In the 1990's he was still doing this in his shows and he was in his 60's then. Roy is suffering with SEVERE arthritis. It is actually making his joints stiff. He has already had more than one back surgery, neck surgery, a recent double hip replacement and still continues to be in some pretty constant pain. Even though his condition makes his hands hurt, and makes them stiff, he still picks that guitar pretty amazingly.

[geoson4582]

Oh my god i love youtube!!! I have been wanting to see/hear this again for YEARS!! Brilliant!! Thanks so much for posting. Do you have the other things he played on the show? I seem to remember him playing violin/fiddle for Felix's maestro.

[scd574]

Roy Clarks One Of My Biggest Inspirations As A Guitarist. I Hope Someday To Be Good As Him.I Have Watched Him Many Times And He Always Amazes Me.This Is Talent,Skill,And A True Musican!!!!

[blackmourning11]

FUCKING BRILLIANT