# Leroy Van Dyke

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. 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, reaching number five on the pop listings. It sold more than 1.5 million copies.
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 number five in February 1962, and "Big Man in a Big House" made number 34 in May that year.
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 km$^2$) ranch in west-central Missouri near Sedalia, Missouri. 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

| Year | Album | Label |
| 1962 | Walk On By | Mercury |
| 1962 | Movin' Van Dyke | Mercury |
| 1963 | The Great Hits | Mercury |
| 1964 | Songs for Mom and Dad | Mercury |
| 1964 | At the Trade Winds | Mercury |
| 1965 | Out of Love | Wing |
| 1965 | Walk on By | Mt. Dew |
| 1965 | The Leroy Van Dyke Show | Warner Bros. |
| 1966 | Country Hits | Warner Bros. |
| 1966 | Movin | Wing |
| 1966 | Auctioneer | Dot |
| 1967 | Have a Party | Mt. Dew |
| 1967 | What Am I Bid | MGM |
| 1968 | Lonesome Is | Kapp |
| 1969 | Greatest Hits | Kapp |
| 1969 | Just a Closer Walk with Thee | Kapp |
| 1969 | 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 | Plantation |
| 1982 | Cross Section | Audiograph |
| 1983 | Audiograph Live | Audiograph |

### Singles

| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Chart Positions | Album |
| Year | Single | US Country | US | 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 |
| 1962 | "Black Cloud" | 16 | | The Great Hits |
| 1964 | "Happy to Be Unhappy" | 54 | | singles only |
| 1964 | "Night People" | 45 | | singles only |
| 1965 | "Anne of a Thousand Days" | 40 | | singles only |
| 1966 | "You Couldn't Get My Love Back (if You Tried)" | | 120 | singles only |
| 1966 | "Roses from a Stranger" | 34 | | I've Never Been Loved Before |
| 1967 | "I've Never Been Loved" | 66 | | I've Never Been Loved Before |
| 1968 | "Louisville" | 23 | | I've Never Been Loved Before |
| 1968 | "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 | | singles only |
| 1970 | "Mister Professor" | 71 | | singles only |
| 1971 | "I Get Lonely When It Rains" | 62 | | singles only |
| 1972 | "I'd Rather Be Wantin' Love" | 69 | | singles only |
| 1975 | "Unfaithful Fools" | 79 | | singles only |
| 1976 | "Who's Gonna Run the Truck Stop in Tuba City When I'm Gone?" | 75 | | singles only |
| 1977 | "Texas Tea" | 77 | | singles only |

## Awards

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