Biography

Van Dyke was born in Mora, Missouri. He lived in Spencer, Wisconsin, but graduated from the University of Missouri majoring in agricultural journalism. He was catapulted into country music fame in 1956 with his composition "The Auctioneer", co-written with Buddy Black, which sold over 2.5 million records. He wrote the song about the life of his cousin, National Auctioneers Association Hall of Famer Ray Sims, also a Missourian. Van Dyke had the lead role of a budding country music performer in the 1967 movie What Am I Bid?, in which Sims played himself as an auctioneer.

In his 50 years-plus career, Van Dyke has recorded more than 500 songs, dozens of them making the charts. His record of "Walk On By" (1961) was named by Billboard magazine in 1994 as the biggest country single of all time, based on sales, plays and weeks in the charts. It stayed at number one in the U.S. country chart for 19 weeks, and in all, charted for 42 weeks, also reaching No. 5 on the pop listings. It sold more than 1.5 million copies.

Among the musicians with whom Van Dyke appeared was Allen "Puddler" Harris of Louisiana, later an associate of former governor Jimmie Davis.

Other Van Dyke hits were "If A Woman Answers", "Black Cloud", "Big Man In A Big House", "Anne Of A Thousand Days", "Happy To Be Unhappy", "Night People", "Be A Good Girl", "Dim Dark Corner", "Five Steps Away", "How Long Must You Keep Me A Secret", "Afraid Of A Heartache", "Big Wide Wonderful World Of Country Music", "Birmingham", "Just A State Of Mind", "Mr. Professor", "My World Is Caving In", "The Other Boys Are Talking", "Poor Guy", "Roses From A Stranger", "Texas Tea", "Who’s Gonna Run The Truck Stop In Tuba City When I’m Gone", "Wrong Side Of The Tracks", "Your Daughter Cried All Night", "Your Money" and "The Life You Offered Me".

In the UK Singles Chart Van Dyke had two hits: "Walk On By" reached No. 5 in February 1962, and "Big Man in a Big House" made No. 34 in May that year.

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

Van Dyke continues a full performance schedule, traveling from his office/home complex on his 1,000-acre (4 km²) 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.

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Label
1962	Walk On By	Mercury
	Movin' Van Dyke
1963	The Great Hits
1964	Songs for Mom and Dad
	At the Trade Winds
1965	Out of Love	Wing
	Walk On By	Mt. Dew
	The Leroy Van Dyke Show	Warner Bros.
1966	Country Hits
	Movin	Wing
	Auctioneer	Dot
1967	Have a Party	Mt. Dew
	What Am I Bid	MGM
1968	Lonesome Is	Kapp
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	Plantation
1978	Rock Relics
1982	Cross Section	Audiograph
1983	Audiograph Live

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions		Album
1956	"The Auctioneer"	9	19	single only
1961	"Walk On By"	1	5	Walk On By
1962	"If a Woman Answers (Hang Up the Phone)"	3	35	Movin' Van Dyke
	"Black Cloud"	16		The Great Hits
1964	"Happy to Be Unhappy"	54		singles only
	"Night People"	45
1965	"Anne of a Thousand Days"	40
1966	"You Couldn't Get My Love Back (If You Tried)"		120
	"Roses from a Stranger"	34		I've Never Been Loved Before
1967	"I've Never Been Loved"	66
1968	"Louisville"	23
	"You May Be Too Much for Memphis, Baby"	69		Lonesome Is
1969	"Crack in My World"	56		singles only
1970	"An Old Love Affair, Now Showing"	63
	"Mister Professor"	71
1971	"I Get Lonely When It Rains"	62
1972	"I'd Rather Be Wantin' Love"	69
1975	"Unfaithful Fools"	79
1976	"Who's Gonna Run the Truck Stop in Tuba City When I'm Gone?"	75
1977	"Texas Tea"	77

Awards

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

[ Source: Wikipedia ]