Countdown starts at ten
Raise your glasses for a toast
Same time next year kids?
Have a happy 2008! Stay safe, stay well.....and don't drink and drive
This could be the start of something big!
The numbers in thew show were diverse as Southern California itself.....such as Anacani's number "Cielito Lindo" and "Pass Me By" sung by Gail, Ron and Michael.
Here's Arthur Duncan with his snappy footwork dancing to the tune "I'm Walkin, I'm Talking & I'm Hoping" assisted by Sheila and Sherry Aldridge, Anacani & Mary Lou Metzger.
Next, we have Ralna English and Guy Hovis singing about those "Far Away Places"....here at LAX getting ready to board the next flight to one of such places!
How about a trio of accordianists! Playing for you is Joey Schmidt, Lawrence and Myron Floren with "It's A Small World".
Great....now I'm gonna have that damn song stuck in my head for the next few days.
The band featured great instrumentals such as "Say Si Si", the 1812 Overture and some champagne dancing music such as "I've Told Every Little Star".
Also, there's a dreamy version of "California Dreamin" sung by the Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins, Ken Delo and the Hotsy Totsy Boys over at Santa Ana Raceway "Runnin' Wild" and the whole cast finishing up the show with "America The Beautiful".
To put this in perspective.....a great show from top to bottom!
The Otwell boys.....Roger and David were both in the hot seat this week, talking to Mary Lou about growing up in Tulia, Texas.....how they got on the Welk show without an audition, and their music work in both Nashville and Amarillo. They also brushed up on their family lives as well.
That's all for this week.....or should I say, this year!
Until 2008, keep a song in your heart.
The big event came in March, when the Live Lawrence Welk Show came to town and I got to say "howdy" to the music makers.
It was also the year that the Aldridge Sisters appeared and performed at the Crossnore Heritage Fesitval in Avery County, NC.
Kathy and Janet Lennon's Best Pals dolls took the toy world by storm, one doll convention show at a time....
Tanya Falan appeared as a special guest of the Barrister's Charity Ball in Chicago, and the Welk stars reunited in Branson in September for several shows at the Champagne Theater.
That February, I officially turned thirty, and speaking of birthdays.....
Ralna English had her birthday cruise to Alaska in June, celebrated by her family, friends, fans and the Delos (Ken and Marilyn).
Ava Barber performed in Branson as part of the Grand Ladies of Country Music revue.
And there were many Welk concerts held in the familiar places such as Germantown, Goshen, Lancaster and Bear Creek Farms.
2007 also marked the final bow for Mahlon Clark and Charlie Parlato.
Also, the Burgess family went on their African Safari to Kenya....
Oh, and the new season of Welk shows commenced it's twenty-first season in September....it's great viewing so far.
I debuted a new blog while this one is still going strong as well as my webpage.
Here's to a great 2008, and the fun it shall bring!
I've spent Christmas with my family....and extended ones too, and got some nice gifts to use year' round.....socks, pants, shirts...the usual fare.
Right now, I'm watching one of my gifts on television....the Complete First Season of Saturday Night Live DVD Box Set, great way to pass the time for some classic comedy.
Which is perfect considering the television writers are still on strike.
There are some stuff I didn't get, but no worry....my birthday is coming up in a few months....that's what there for!
Right now, I gotta do some sit-ups.....gotta lose that extra poundage.
Gather 'round the tree
Mister Welk sings Jingle Bells
The Musical Family laughs
Let's meet all the kids
Daughters, sons, nieces and nephews
They all say hi
Here comes Jolly Saint Nick
And he's got presents in tow
Merry Christmas!
Here in the Welk Universe, the annual Christmas show was always the highest-rated episode of the year....where the music makers bring their children on the show for some holiday fun, such as singing and Santa bringing the presents.
More highlights galore! Right now, Tanya Falan tries to get her son (Lawrence the Third) in vain to sing along to "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town".
Here's Mary Lou Metzger with Gail Farrell and Dick Dale singing "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas".
Now comes the Maestro with Tim Fenney (Joe Feeney's son) for some quality time and to sing "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth".
And of course, Lawrence is by now up to his eyebrows in children.....
Other great numbers in the show include, "White Christmas", Guy & Ralna singing "Little Boy Jesus", Joe Feeney sings "Oh Holy Night" and Arthur Duncan dancing to "Ring Those Christmas Bells".
And it was also time for the television audience to meet the musical family and their own families....like Sandi Griffiths with her daughter Jenni, Ken Delo with his daughter Kimberley and of course, the Maestro with his wife Fern and his children and grand-children.
And speaking of families.....Mary Lou interviewed both Champagne Lady Norma Zimmer and her husband Randy.....whom both was later joined by their son Mark.
Here's the Maestro with Jenni Griffiths (Sandi's daughter), perhaps in training to be a future Champagne Lady?
And look kids, Santa is here!
By the way, it's Dick Dale donning the Kris Kringle cap, beard, suit....the works.
Just three days left....you might wanna finish up your shopping!
One of my personal favorite tracks listed is her rendition of "Can't Buy Me Love" which was also featured on the "Musical Tour of the USA" episode, I hate to break it to all the Beatles fans but her version is much better!
There's also her version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" as well as "Lydia Purple" and "Just A Little Lovin".
Here's a complete rundown of tracks.....
SIDE ONE
1. Just A Little Lovin' (2:15)
2. Grow Up Love (2:05)
3. It's A Sometimes World (2:09)
4. Can't Buy Me Love (1:55)
5. Hey Jude (4:25)
SIDE TWO
1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (3:40)
2. Lydia Purple (2:54)
3. Let It Be Me (3:14)
4. Baby What I Mean (2:05)
5. For As Long As I Live (2:58)
This episode, first aired on June 1969....has a lot of great numbers, such as the band's arrangement of "Chicago" plus the Maestro was on the organ along with Frank Scott and Bob Ralston for "I Love You Truly" and a great dance routine by Bobby & Cissy to the song "Galveston".
I don't know if this is his debut appearance, but here's Ken Delo with Lawrence after singing his signature hit, the Hawaiian Wedding Song.
Like the United States itself, this episode is filled with diversity....in song that is!
I liked Tanya Falan's version of the Beatles' smash "Can't Buy Me Love", plus Jo Ann Castle's "On The Beach At Waikiki" on the ragtime 88s.
And here's a real treat, Ralna English in the solo spot singing "Buy The Time I Get To Phoenix" which I really liked as well....and I betcha Glen Campbell did too.
Sandi & Sally sang "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" while Bob Lido and Larry Hooper sang about their San Fernando Valley is their home, plus Steve Smith sang about he and his girl will take Manhattan (the Bronx and Staten Island).
And what fine way to end the show than with Bob Havens on his trombone playing the "St. Louis Blues" which the musical family really dig!
Tanya was in the hot seat for one of Mary Lou's interviews, she talked about her family....which included her son Nicky's recent wedding.....her recent work noth as a designer and singer, she recently was part of the Chicago Barrister's Ball which sounds like alot of fun along with her adventures on the Welk show.
That's what I call an hour well spent! Now if I can only get a copy of the "Salute to Johnny Mercer" episode....everything will be right in this world.
The show has several memorable numbers, including great instrumentals such as "People Will Say Were In Love" and "You're Just In Love".
Here's the Lennon Sisters singing "It's A Marshmallow World"
Also, here's Lynn Anderson making eyes at bassist Richard Maloof while singing "Promises, Promises".
And speaking of instrumentals, here's one titled "The Flea" featuring Charlie Parlato, Bob Ralston, Jack Imel and Johnny Klein showing off that crazy rhythm!
Notice that Bob is playing the electronic harpischord, which Lawrence says that it was designed by George Cates.
Other fine numbers include, "I Could Have Danced All Night" by Andra Willis, "I Believe" by Norma Zimmer, "Little Bells and Big Bells" danced by Cissy and Bobby and Joe Feeney with "Padre". And of course, there's Mary Lou Metzger's interview with Dianne "Dee Dee" Lennon.
Here, Dee Dee talks about being the eldest of all eleven Lennon children and her life on the show. Also, she touches on her own family....how she met Dick Gass, her husband of 47 years and her love of sports....such as golf which she first played with her dad at age six.
It's a great show, we'll worth the wait after repeats and pledge specials!
Next week, a Welk Christmas show.....complete with interview with Norma Zimmer, so until next week....stay warm and keep a song in your heart!
This one is called THE CHAMPAGNE PHOTO BLOGGER
It's basically consists of pictures and photos of Lawrence Welk, his Musical Family and action from the show along with some behind-the-scenes action.
I know you'll like it.....it's simply wunnerful, wunnerful.
For those who like a good crossword puzzle, just click on and print out the WELK GIRLS CROSSWORD
Or if word puzzles is your thing, click and print the WELK LADIES WORD PUZZLE
I know it will be time well spent!
It's two hours full of patriotic American standards, such as "You're a Grand Old Flag", "Coming to America" and "From A Distance" just to name a few!
Here's Jo Ann Castle ticking the ivories from the show....
Afterwards, WGTE (my public broadcaster) aired My Music: 50s Pop Parade....
....and here's the real reason us Welk fans watched.....
I'm glad to say that Mary Lou got more camera time this go around....
Next week, everything should be back to normal, we're supposed to get "Winter" from 1967.....gotta get my VCR ready to go!
He's good with a song
and quick with a joke
The warm sounds of Ken Delo
Happy Birthday Ken....may your cup runneth over with cake, presents and well wishes!
Just returned from Michigan doing my annual yuletide shopping cross' the border.....went to three different malls, Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights and The Somerset Collection in Troy, and found some pretty good deals on some pretty good stuff!
I'm not saying what they are.....my family could be reading this blog and of course.....it's more fun to wait until the twenty fifth.
But for now, it's time to relax......I'll watch a classic Welk Christmas episode!
Right now, I'm working on sending Christmas cards and preparing for my annual run for the border (into Michigan) shopping.....there's gotta be a better and more precise way to know what my family wants for gifts!
Yet, even with the cold weather and with all this increased commercialization, there's still a simple and pleasant joy to this Christmas season.
Now if I can only keep my weight in check from feasting on the bounty of holiday food that is to come!
Next week, the pledge fun continues when my station airs the "God Bless America" special from Branson in 2002.....that should be a trip down memory lane.
Did find out in addition to KBYU, the folks at Milwaukee Public Television are also showing the full slate of episodes this month.
And I must add that the good folks in Sudsville will be excited to say the least!
Here's a nice picture of the Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins singing "Cotton Fields" from last night's show.
Wanna see it again, thanks to YouTube....you can!
Her name is Dianne
But they call her Dee Dee
Leader of the Lennons
Nice huh? And now here is Sherry's haiku....
Let us meet Sherry
You can call her Sher
Who sings with sister Sheila
I hope you liked them, and hopefully.....so does Dee Dee and Sher
Happy Birthday ladies!
