Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music
VAN DYKE,s Leroy
VAN DYKE, Leroy (b 4 Oct. '29, Spring Fork, Sedalia MO) Country singer with 19 chart hits '57-77, famous for two of them in particular. Intended to work in agriculture; became farming journalist and an auctioneer; enlisted in US Army '51 and served in Korea, returned to journalism, entered talent contest '56 singing his own song "Auctioneer' and was signed to Dot Records; the rush-released record was a pop and country hit early '57 but the success was not repeated. Joined Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee TV show; moved to Nashville '61 and signed to Mercury; charted almost immediately with "Walk On By', no. 1 country for 19 weeks, crossed over to pop and also charted in UK; he joined the Grand Ole Opry. As he moved through WB, Kapp, Decca and ABC-Dot he slowly slipped down the charts, but remained an Opry member and toured regularly. Albums incl. The Original Auctioneer '88 on Bear Family, Walk On By on Mercury Nashville.