A look inside Hollywood and the movies : ‘HILLBILLIES’ HEAVEN : The Ballad of Jerry Scoggins

You know the tune--you’ve known it for 30 years. But you don’t know it like Jerry Scoggins knows it. His no-nonsense baritone is linked forever to “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” in the minds of the millions who grew up with “The Beverly Hillbillies” TV show. When the producers of the recently released feature film decided to use the original theme song from the ‘60s series, they wanted the original singer as well.

Coincidentally, the 82-year-old Scoggins, now retired to Westlake Village, saw the pre-production stories in Daily Variety and called 20th Century Fox, the studio making the movie. “They put me through to (music supervisor) Steve Smith. I told him who I was, and he said ‘Criminy, I’m glad you called. I didn’t know if you were still around.’ ”

The movie’s director, Penelope Spheeris, said she “wanted to keep as much familiarity on the movie as I could and that was a key part--people’s familiarity with his voice.” However, the director did change a lyric, elevating Jed from millionaire to billionaire.

Scoggins estimates he’s sung “Ballad of Jed Clampett” over 1,000 times since the day he recorded it with bluegrass greats Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

For Scoggins, the song is the centerpiece of a long and varied career. “I came to California (from Dallas) in 1946 and went to work for Gene Autry, on his ‘Melody Ranch’ radio program. We went on the show, and stayed for 12 years.”

He’s never stopped performing. “I’d play now, if somebody would call me. I’m pretty damn happy out here in Westlake with my grandkids and my friends.

“That song really branded me--I have to sing it everywhere I go,” he laughs, “but I sure don’t mind.”