From unique story telling to musical laughs, Archie Campbell was a Hee Haw favorite.
"Pretty much everyone knew who Archie Campbell was," said Phil Campbell.
However, Archie's childhood was much simpler than the famed life he enjoyed as an adult.
"He started his life as an artist. That's what he really wanted to be."
Then, he learned music on a neighbor's guitar. Archie left his Bull's Gap home at 18 and found his voice on radio. Archie got his start at WNOX.
"At that time, all the big stars in Nashville came through the Mid Day Merry Go Round in Knoxville because it was one of the most popular shows in the country."
When Minnie Pearl's partner, Rod Blasfield, passed away, the Grand Ole Opry needed a new comedian. Archie Campbell was the obvious choice.
"That's kind of when things went crazy because my dad was living in Nashville and we're were in Knoxville."
And Phil, one of Archie's two sons, was living vicariously through his dad.
"I did my first show with him when I was in the first grade at Powell Elementary. "I really had the bug at that point, you know."
Finally, in high school, the family moved to Nashville. Phil had a backstage view of his dad at the Grand Ole Opry.
"It was really spectacular."
As an RCA comedian & artist, Archie had several top hits. And, in 1969, thanks to two Canadians, he forever stepped on the national stage.
"They had this idea for a country laugh in with country music. They didn't know a thing about Nashville or country music."
An agent sent the Hee Haw creators Archie's album.
"They said that's the guy we need. Send him out here."
Archie and a co-writer wrote the first 13 shows.
"It was the fastest rise to #1 in history."
In addition to being a main writer on the show, Archie created many Hee Haw characters: the doctor, the judge, but the barber was his favorite.
"That's the one he wanted because it was so indicative of small towns."
And his backward stories called "spoonerisms" were a hit.
Phil joined Hee Haw's comedy routine as a corn field cop and half of an odd couple.
Phil's career highlight- a live album with his father. Phil and Archie recorded it before his died.
"That was really one of the joys of my life. It was the only thing we ever got to do together and it was the last thing that he ever recorded."
These days, he keeps his dad's comedy alive. He's also continuing Archie's love of music
"I play guitar, banjo and harmonica."
It's a fitting tribute to a father, a talented artist and a beloved comedian.
Archie Campbell, born in Bulls Gap,
"East Tennessee is home. It's where we both really loved to be."
HomeGrown in Tennessee.