Country music legend Roy Clark puts it in real simple terms - he loves to come back to his adopted hometown of Linton.
To Clark, who is still recuperating from spine surgery in January, it's a delight to come back for this yearly weekend visit during the first weekend in June to be a part of the Greene County Foundation Festival - which includes the Roy Clark and Friends musical show on Saturday night and the Friends of Phil Harris Golf Tournament both Saturday and Sunday.
Clark, during a Friday afternoon interview with the Greene County Daily World from his room at the Park Inn, says this is the one stage gig a year that he and his band members always look forward too.
The Tulsa, Okla., resident called the Foundation Festival Weekend in Greene County a big family reunion and he's very pleased the community has allowed him to become a part of its extended family.
It's a time to visit with his many long-time friends in the area and more importantly it provides the community a variety show they can be proud of while raising thousands of dollars every year for college scholarships.
Clark, who has garnered nearly every award the music industry gives - including a Grammy, "Entertainer of the Year" and "Instrumentalist of the Year" - does not mince words when he talks about the genuine love and kinship he possesses for the Greene County community.
This is the one place that everyone in my group truly looks forward to coming to every year. They truly hold Linton special, Clark acknowledged. There's no other place that we play that they do that. We've all made so many friends here and that makes it special.
Clark first came to Linton to perform at the annual scholarship festival in 1981 - a guest of the late Phil Harris, a native of Linton.
Clark and Harris had become acquainted after appearing on the Kraft Music Hall and Tonight television shows. They became friends and played a lot of golf together.
At Harris' invitation, Clark came to Linton and returned again in 1996 and has been returning every year - except 2005 - since 1998 to headline the show that was founded by his long-time friend.
The 74-year-old Clark underwent double hip replacement surgeries in 2004 and could not attend the 2005 show.
The former star of the Hee-Haw television show says his latest surgery caused him to re-evaluate things in his life and his career and realize that traveling 200 days on the road performing every year was probably something he needed to cut back on.
I realized that 200 shows a year didn't make much sense. There was more to life, he said.
This year, he'll still do about 70 shows across the country, but says he's now got much more time to spend in the outdoors relaxing and enjoying two of his favorite hobbies - fishing and hunting.
I realized that if I don't do 200 days on the road it will give me some time to do all those other things, Clark added.
Linton is always on my to play list. I really feel like we are family here. I missed the one year because I was ill and boy, it was almost like I didn't sleep for six months because I felt bad. It just felt wrong that I couldn't do it (the concert). As long as I can do it, I'll be here every year and I think that will be for a very long time.
Clark said he's got a deep-rooted personal commitment to help raise the money for all the scholarships for as long as he's able - in loving memory of his good friend Phil Harris.
When Phil died everybody just took up the cross with this thing (the concert and golf tournament) and kept it going. That really what makes me feel good that I can be a part of it. This is really saying a lot about the town that all these people still want to be a part of the Phil Harris team, he stated on a very serious note.
The proceeds from the sale of tickets for the music show contribute to endowed scholarships established at all five Greene County high schools and administered by the Greene County Foundation. This year, seven students received scholarships.
Money from the golf tournament is handled by a separate committee and goes to annual scholarships for Linton-Stockton High School graduates. The fund provided scholarships to six L-S students in 2007.
The routine for this weekend is pretty much the same every year.
Last night, Clark and his friends gathered at the Greene County Shrine Club for a meal, to fellowship and do a little informal entertaining in a relaxed setting.
This morning, they all head out to the Phil Harris Golf Course to play 18-holes in the scramble celebrity event.
Tonight, they'll perform at Linton-Stockton High School gym packed with some of the top talent in the music business.
It's going to be a good show. I guarantee it, Clark said with the confidence of someone who's made a living entertaining people around the world.
Headlining the 7 p.m. Evening with Roy Clark and Friends Show tonight along with Clark and his talented band, will be well-known saxophone musician Boots Randolph, who is celebrating his 80th birthday this weekend.
Solo country music recording artist Justin David will also return as a member of Clark's band where he got his start in the music business.
Linton native and aspiring singer Holly (Dunn) Lynn, who now lives in suburban Nashville, Tenn., will be a part of this year's show cast.
Comedian Woody Woodbury returns as show master of ceremonies and veteran Grand Ole Opry performer Jan Howard also will be a part of this year show.
Other featured performers will include former Hollywood Squares game show host and singer, Peter Marshall; award-winning songwriter/singer Jerry Chesnut; Canadian native Ronnie Prophet, who is known for his one-man shows in Branson, Mo., which combine song, comedy, impersonations and his skill as a guitarist; and pianist and musical director Mike Behymer.
Sunday morning, it's back on the golf course bright and early to play in the second day of the scholarship tournament. Sunday night, most of the visitors pack up and head off to other destinations - but with them they take fond memories which keeps them coming back year after year.
Clark has always had a love for golf and the mixture of golf and music is like a sweet melody to his ears. Over the years, Clark has been a regular on the pro-celebrity golf tour - playing with the entertainment likes as the late Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.
"Phil and I were the biggest buddies in life - he's the reason I started to come to Linton," Clark said without taking a moment to think. I asked him, why Linton, Ind., and he said Because I was born there'. That's really how all of this started for me.
Tickets for this year's show are still available at $23 each for floor seats, $12 for reserve bleacher seats and $10 for general admission bleacher seats.
For ticket information, call 847-9950
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