Famous Icon of “Hee Haw” Died on 18th December 2016

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The comedian, musician and storywriter Gordie Tapp has died due to complications of pneumonia in Burlington, Ontario on 18^th December 2016 at the age of 94. He became famous for playing the Cousin Clem in 90 episodes of the variety show “Hee Haw” for country-western themed television. He was born in London, Ontario in 1922. Tapp launched his performing career in radio by joining the Lorne Greene School of Broadcasting in Toronto. He started his career as an announcer and then the host of Main Street Jamboree show. Tapp was hired by the nationally broadcast CBC television show “Country Hoedown” in the year 1956 and continuously worked till 1965. He became famous in the Country Hoedown show as the goofy Cousin Clem character and developed his reputation.

Tapp went to Nashville in 1969 and joined as a key player in a new variety show of CBS television, Hee Haw. The London Free Press also indicated that this variety show became famous provided more benefits to Canadian influence than realized by most of the people. Point to be noted that an American show with similar name “Hee Haw” was started by Canadian comedy writers, John Aylesworth and Frank Peppiatt. This show was produced by Yongestreet Productions. The show was hosted by country artists Roy Clark and Buck Owens. The Canadian comedy icons Tapp and late Don Harron were cast members and writers of this comedy show. He was dropped by CBS just after its first season, but Hee Haw continued for 21 years and Tapp performed in 90 episodes of this show.