VIDEO: Remembering Mac Wiseman, RIP

As I've said before, it takes awhile for news to get to this corner of the forest. Some news I wish would never arrive, such as the death of old friends or people who I surely would have been friends with, if I'd ever met them. One of the latter was Malcolm Bell "Mac" Wiseman, who passed away on February 24th, at the ripe old age of 93.

Mac Wiseman was a justly famous bluegrass singer, from Virginia. His musical career began as upright bass player in the Cumberland Mountain Folks, the band of country singer Molly O'Day. When Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs left Bill Monroe's band, Mac became the guitarist for their new band, the Foggy Mountain Boys. Later on, he played with Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys.

In 1951, his first solo single, "`Tis Sweet to Be Remembered", was released. According to Rolling Stone this song "catapulted him to solo stardom." It was the theme of his late-night radio program on WWVA "Clear Channel 1170 in Wheeling, West Virginia", back in the 60s. (The show was often hosted by yer coffee-drinkin' buddy Lee Moore.) Agent 6, who knew me when, may remember that I liked to climb into my car late at night and head for the hills north of our town, where the radio reception was better, just to listen to all the wonderful music on Mac's show.

There are many recordings of "`Tis Sweet to Be Remembered" on YouTube. My favourite is this one, recorded in front of a live audience, probably in the late 90s. Mac passed away on February 24th, 2019. I remember you, Mac. RIP.



UPDATED 1/4/19: Since posting this, Walt's attention has been drawn to an interview Mac Wiseman did with Hee Haw's Archie Campbell on Yesteryear in Nashville, a show that aired on TNN, in 1983. Click here to see and hear it.

VIDEO: Remembering the cast of "Hee Haw"

As I've told you before, word travels slowly from the headwaters all the way down to this corner of the wood. I just learned today of the passing, on November 15th, of Roy Clark, one of the stars of Hee Haw. What? You don't remember Hee Haw? Where were you in the 70s and 80s, on another planet?

OK, well... Hee Haw was an American television variety show (created by a couple of Canucks - Frank Peppiatt and John Aylesworth) featuring country music and humour from "Kornfield Kounty", not far from Walt's hometown. It aired on CBS from 1969 to 1971, in syndication from 1971 to 1993, and on TNN from 1996 to 1997. And it's still available on RFD-TV.

The show, centered on country music and rural culture, was hosted by country music artists Buck Owens and Roy Clark for most of its run. Other big names -- some already famous from the Grand Old Opry and other popular radio and TV shows -- who appeared regularly included Grandpa Jones, String Bean, Archie Campbell, Gordie Tapp, Minnie Pearl and the legendary Roy Acuff.

Like Roy Clark, all of those listed have rung down the final curtain. Passed on. Gone to Hillbilly Heaven. A chap by the name of Robert Marshall has put together a video tribute to them, and others who are no longer with us. Here it is.



Sadly omitted from the video is one of my favourites, Don Harron (aka Charlie Farquharson). He passed away on 17 January 2015. Country music fans who read WWW may use the Comments section to remind us of others. I miss them all.