Kathie Sullivan's birthday

Today is Kathie Sullivan's birthday....here's a fun haiku I've written for her.

She has a pure voice

and can sing novelty songs

Kathie has talent

Happy Birthday Kathie!

This haiku is outta gas

Here's a creative way of getting around, in lieu of $4 a gallon gas....all done in haiku of course!

Use Pedal Power

Courtesy of your two feet

The Welk stars do it!

The hazards of being an art teacher

We'll let Jo Ann Castle demonstrate in this musical number from last week's episode....

Tim Padilla's birthday

Today is the birthday of Tim Padilla, Accordion Superstar of the Live Welk Show, Welk Resort Branson and points in between!

Here's a nice birthday haiku I have prepared for him.....

Hear that polka sound?

That's Tim playing the squeezebox

Everybody dance!

Happy Birthday Tim!

And the winner is......

The voting is now closed from my latest poll....the Battle Royal of Welk's Country Gals, here are the results.

Coming in first with 68% of the vote (53 votes in all) is Ava Barber!

And right behind in second with 31% (24 votes) is Lynn Anderson!

Hope you're all having a nice Memorial Day weekend so far....be sure to pay tribute to those who gave their all fefending ou country, and that is most important.
Also, you can start voting on my newest Welk Poll to your right.....it's the American Way!

Occupations

And now this week, the music makers pay salute to the men and women and their occupations....in form of this show that first aired on March 8, 1969.

Here's the opening number, "The Trolley Song".....as the gang head off for work.

Next, we go to outer space with Sandi & Sally as astronauts as they sing, "We'll Make It To The Moon Tonight".

Here's Cissy King giving Bobby Burgess dance lessons.....

Now we find Dick Dale working on the lines first as a Wichita Lineman while Tanya plays operator next with the number "Call Me".

....and just to clarify, this version of Call Me is not and I repeat NOT the one Deborah Harry and Blondie sang that became a Top Ten hit in 1980.

Next, backstage at a cattle call.....officer Joe Feeney joins aspiring singer Natalie Nevins with "Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral" which by the way is an Irish Lullaby.

And Frank Scott does a great job with the piano work here....

Other fine numbers include "Penthouse Serenade" by Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts, Andra Willis with "Salt & Pepper", Myron Floren with the Circus Polka and Larry Hooper with "Sixteen Tons".

This week, Mary Lou has Jack Imel in the hot seat....and as always, Professor Spoons has plenty to say.

See you next week for more Welk fun on public television, and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

The Knoxville Two

The Maestro proudly presents the hottest duo in country music today....

Ava Barber and Jim Turner.....

....a pair of fine, dandy and talented Southern kids that can sing!

Time for another Haiku boys and girls....

Can you dig this one?

Bobby and Cissy

are looking very shiny

And they can dance too

Got Rose Milk?

Is your skin dry?

Your usual skin cream not doing the job?

Consider Rose Milk, as the ladies of Lawrence Welk Show show in these commercials, here's Mary Lou Metzger.....

.....followed by Anacani

....and Sandi Griffiths as they demonstrate.

And here's the hook.....

Close....but no cigar

I did catch the American Idol finale....David Cook won the competition.

But the contest we Welk fans are more concerned with is the Idol Songwriter contest, unfortunately.....Gail Farrell's song (You Can Do Anything) didn't win.

Another song, "Time Of My Life" took top honors.

Still, congratulations Gail for the honor of her song being nominated in the Top 20....may that be a springboard to even better things, we're all proud of you!

And thanks everyone for doing your part by voting and spreading the word!

Musical Family Hair

Here's a fun and nostalgic look at some of the hair stylings of Tom Netherton....

Dancing With Root Canal

Just got back from the dentist, two and half hours of root canal work will leave you in pain and then some.

Tonight is the Dancing With The Stars finale....it's Kristi, Cristian and Jason in the finals, and I am predicting that an athlete (Kristi or Jason) will emerge victorious.

Also tonight is the first of the two American Idol finales....I believe either this one or tomorrow's show will reveal who is AI's top songwriter.

I got my fingers crossed that it will be Gail, just watch and find out!

Bobby Burgess' birthday

Today is Bobby Burgess' birthday, and to celebrate this special event, here's one of my trademark haikus for everyone to enjoy!

Fellow Mouseketeers

Watch Bobby on the Welk Show

He's light on his feet

Happy Birthday Bobby!

Also, on this day....six years ago in 2002, I attended my first Welk concert....the Four Wunnerful Women at the Valentine Theatre in Toledo.

That led me to greater things, such as launching my webpage, watching more concerts and this blog.

Here's the ladies; Gail, Ava, Ralna and Mary Lou in the lobby after the show.

Big Band Sounds.......more like We Can Make Music '73

This week takes us to the episode first aired September 8, 1973; OETA says "Big Band Sounds" but I call it "We Can Make Music".

I also have a feeling this show also aired as part of the "Memories With Lawrence Welk" syndication package from the 1980s as you can see the Maestro at the golf course.

The show opens with the gang singing, "We Can Make Music"....it's so good they play it again!

Turns out during the "Memories With..." era, repeating numbers to fill out air time was a common practice.....but let's move on, shall we?

The trio is featured here singing "Yellow Bird" one of the songs from a medley skit of Welk favorites such as "Moon River", "Winchester Cathedral", "Baby Elephant Walk " and "Calcutta".

Also, here's Johnny Zell swinging out on the trumpet to the theme from "Love Story".

Other great numbers include Tanya's "We Only Just Begun", Anacani with "Spanish Eyes", Henry Cuesta playing "Stardust" on the clarinet and Clay Hart with "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree".

As for the finale....Ralna English sings her signature song, "How Great Thou Art."

In the interview portion of the show, Mary Lou has Bill Trash on the hot seat.

Oh, if you're wondering who Billy is....he's works at OETA, directing the Welk shows and also serves as producer of their PBS specials as well. He also enjoyed a long career in Oklahoma television and brought the world Mary Hart, now the populat co-host of Entertainment Tonight who has her legs insured by Lloyd's Of London.

That's it for this week....keep a song in your heart!

Do you....haiku?

Here's one of my world famous Welk haikus....this one is about Jerry Burke

Go play us a song

Jerry always adds sparkle

to the Novachord

Natalie Nevins' Birthday

Today is Natalie Nevins' birthday, and I have written a haiku to celebrate this event!

Our Irish lassie

has a talent for singing

and playing the flute

Happy Birthday Natalie!

Welk Stars with mustaches

This concept of Photoshopping is fun....especially on a rainy day.

Here's a picture of Guy Hovis.....

This is what he looks like if he had facial hair.....


He has a James Brolin look to him....the ladies should dig it.

Dr. Arthur Duncan

That has a nice ring to it, but as one would say, "When did he became a doctor?"

Last Saturday, Oklahoma City University presented Arthur with an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts in American Dance in tribute to his contributions to tap dance.

Congratulations Arthur, or should I say Dr. Duncan on receiving that wonderful honor, one that is well deserved!

Also, check out his fan club online here at Arthur Duncan Fan Clubs International!

Easy Listening

This week's episode is a repeat, it's Easy Listening from December 6, 1980 a timeless favorite of all the fans and music makers alike.

Here are some highlights from the show, the mixed trio of Gail, Ron and Michael with "Let Me Be There".

Arthur Duncan dancing to the tune of Mr. Bojangles

The Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins with "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)"

Bobby and Elaine with the Jolly Polka, with Myron Floren on the accordion....

....and here's Guy Hovis in the solo spot with "For The Good Times" with Neil Levang on guitar.

Also, Clay Hart and Sally Flynn make their return to the show...as a married couple. When the show first aired, they were married six years...great way to celebrate one's wedding anniversary.

Next week is a new one, "Big Band Sounds" and that should be a good one.

Until next week, keep a song in your heart and Happy Mother's Day!

It's delightful to be married?

But there are some that think otherwise....

In honor of Mother's Day tommorrow, here are some scenes of married life....or as I call it "Love, Lawrence Welk Style".

" I knew I should have set the iron on silk and not cotton!"

"You missed a spot...."

Uh oh....the sink is being invaded by Mr. Welk!

"Hi honey, glad you can drop in!"

Get ready for another Welk haiku

And this one is a doozy....it could be my best one yet!

Here's the Welk stars with

It's a small world after all

that's stuck in my head

Alice in Dairyland in the Land of Welk

Sorry folks, this Alice does not involve Alice Lon....

From the 1973 Thanksgiving show, here are some pictures of Welk show announcer Bob Warren dancing with the reigning Alice in Dairyland from Wisconsin to some lactose-tolerant champagne music.

From the internet research I did, Alice in Dairyland represents the Badger State's dairy industry.
Not cheesy at all indeed...