Leroy Frank Van Dyke (born October 4, 1929) is an American country music and honky-tonk singer and guitarist, best known for his hits "The Auctioneer" (1956) and "Walk on By" (1961).

Biography

Van Dyke was born in Mora, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Missouri, majoring in agricultural journalism, as well as being a member of FarmHouse Fraternity. He was catapulted into country music fame in 1956 with his composition "The Auctioneer", which sold over 2.5 million records. It stayed at number one in the U.S. country chart for 19 weeks, and in all, charted for 42 weeks, reaching number five on the pop listings. It sold more than 1.5 million copies.

He was a cast member in the late 1950s on Ozark Jubilee, and was co-host, with Bill Mack, of the Southern Baptist Radio/TV Commission-produced Country Crossroads radio show for 10 years, and was joined by a third co-host Jerry Clower. It became the most widely syndicated radio show in country music history.

Van Dyke continues a performance schedule, traveling from his office/home complex on his 1,000-acre (4&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) ranch in west-central Missouri near Sedalia. He is a member of the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame, is active in many music industry organizations, and as a sideline, raises premium quality Arabian mules. All aspects of Leroy Van Dyke Enterprises are managed by his wife Gladys, a former legal secretary and court reporter. Their son Ben plays lead guitar in all Van Dyke performances. Van Dyke is also a Korean War veteran.

Discography

Albums

{| class="wikitable"

! Year

! Album

! Label

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1962

| Walk On By

| rowspan="5"| Mercury

|-

| Movin' Van Dyke

|-

| 1963

| The Great Hits

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1964

| Songs for Mom and Dad

|-

| At the Trade Winds

|-

| rowspan="3"| 1965

| Out of Love

| Wing

|-

| Walk on By

| Mt. Dew

|-

| The Leroy Van Dyke Show

| rowspan="2"| Warner Bros.

|-

| rowspan="3"| 1966

| Country Hits

|-

| Movin

| Wing

|-

| Auctioneer

| Dot

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1967

| Have a Party

| Mt. Dew

|-

| What Am I Bid

| MGM

|-

| 1968

| Lonesome Is

| rowspan="3"| Kapp

|-

| rowspan="3"| 1969

| Greatest Hits

|-

| Just a Closer Walk with Thee

|-

| I've Never Been Loved Before

| Harmony

|-

| 1972

| Greatest Hits

| Decca

|-

| 1973

| Golden Hits

| Sun

|-

| 1975

| Just for You

| Dot

|-

| 1977

| Gospel Greats

| rowspan="2"| Plantation

|-

| 1978

| Rock Relics

|-

| 1982

| Cross Section

| rowspan="2"| Audiograph

|-

| 1983

| Audiograph Live

|}

Singles

{| class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="2"| Chart Positions

! rowspan="2"| Album

|-

! width="50"|

! width="50"| <br />

|-

| 1956

| "The Auctioneer"

| align="center"| 9

| align="center"| 19

| single only

|-

| 1961

| "Walk on By"

| align="center"| 1

| align="center"| 5

| Walk On By

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1962

| "If a Woman Answers (Hang Up the Phone)"

| align="center"| 3

| align="center"| 35

| Movin' Van Dyke

|-

| "Black Cloud"

| align="center"| 16

|

| The Great Hits

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1964

| "Happy to Be Unhappy"

| align="center"| 54

|

| rowspan="4"| singles only

|-

| "Night People"

| align="center"| 45

|

|-

| 1965

| "Anne of a Thousand Days"

| align="center"| 40

|

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1966

| "You Couldn't Get My Love Back (if You Tried)"

|

| align="center"| 120

|-

| "Roses from a Stranger"

| align="center"| 34

|

| rowspan="3"| I've Never Been Loved Before

|-

| 1967

| "I've Never Been Loved"

| align="center"| 66

|

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1968

| "Louisville"

| align="center"| 23

|

|-

| "You May Be Too Much for Memphis, Baby"

| align="center"| 69

|

| Lonesome Is

|-

| 1969

| "Crack in My World"

| align="center"| 56

|

| rowspan="8"| singles only

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1970

| "An Old Love Affair, Now Showing"

| align="center"| 63

|

|-

| "Mister Professor"

| align="center"| 71

|

|-

| 1971

| "I Get Lonely When It Rains"

| align="center"| 62

|

|-

| 1972

| "I'd Rather Be Wantin' Love"

| align="center"| 69

|

|-

| 1975

| "Unfaithful Fools"

| align="center"| 79

|

|-

| 1976

| "Who's Gonna Run the Truck Stop in<br />Tuba City When I'm Gone?"

| align="center"| 75

|

|-

| 1977

| "Texas Tea"

| align="center"| 77

|

|}

Awards

In 1967, Leroy Van Dyke was awarded the Founding President's Award (formerly Connie B. Gay Award) from the Country Music Association.

References

  • [ Allmusic.com]
  • Dauphin, Chuck. Leroy Van Dyke Opens-Up on His Career, Doubters & the Road Ahead Billboard, February 16, 2015.