A Face in the Crowd-Andy Griffith-June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012

For three generations of Americans and crossing over all segments of American geographic culture, Andy Griffith was a recognizable star in every media art form. Actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer, he was famed in the theater, movies, television, radio and recorded music.

Griffith gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film, "A Face in the Crowd," before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead characters in the situation comedy, "The Andy Griffith Show," and in the legal drama, "Matlock." Griffith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 9, 2005.

Whether your Andy Griffith was the country monologist, movie actor, Sheriff of Maybury or the Georgian lawyer, we have lost a true, though much satirized, American artist.

I ridiculed his bumpkin ways in my teen years, but upon seeing his absolutely brilliant turn in "Face in the Crowd" and seeing the good spirit that permeated the re-runs of "The Andy Griffith Show," I came to admire his honesty in every performance. The actor, Andy Griffith, never strayed far from the man, Andrew Samuel Griffith. Today, that kind of honesty in art is hard to come by.

I'd say rest in peace, Andy, but it always seemed you were. So, how about, "Ya'll come back, ya hear?"