Carnival show

This is it, the last episode of the 2007-08 cycle of shows, and it's a good one! Originally aired on October 3, 1981 it's titled Carnival so let's join the music makers on the Midway for some carny fun!

Here's Guy Hovis in the solo spot with "The Colors Of My Life",

Next we have Gail Farrell with her fellas (Ron Anderson & Michael Redman) trying on some new hats while singing to "Put On A Happy Face"

Clowing around on the Midway is Bobby and Elaine with Ken Delo in the number "Be A Clown"

Now we have Ava Barber, joined by Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang, as she sings "I Was Country (When Country Wasn't Cool)" a popular hit made famous by Barbara Mandrell.

Finally, we have the gang doing the Soul Train Line to the tune of "Come Follow The Band" with all the music makers in their nice marching uniforms.

The outfits, of course, were designed by Rose Weiss which by the way was Mary Lou's guest this week. She talked about being the Welk show's costume guru as well as her work on the Academy Awards, Bob Hope and other shows in between.

Well, that all she wrote for this season. Next Saturday starts the 2008-09 cycle which is all repeats, but they will still be fun to watch as always!

Now, I must continue to prepare for Branson, maybe I'll see some of you guys out there.

Big Tiny Little

Today is Big Tiny Little's birthday, and here is his special haiku I have written...

Listen to the sounds

of fingers hitting the keys

Rag Time by Tiny

Happy Birthday Tiny Little!

Three days until Branson

Right now, I'm spending my Labor Day weekend putting the final touches on some important travel stuff....I'm shipping out very early Tuesday morning before dawn.

I'll be sure to post some of my adventures while there, here's a rundown of the Welk stars performing at the Reunion Show.

Jo Ann Castle....

Arthur Duncan.....

Mary Lou Metzger......

The Aldridge Sisters......

The Otwell Twins.....

Tom Netherton......

....and Tim Padilla.

Now I gotta go back and pick out my wardrobe for the trip.

For those who are sick of haikus, here's another haiku

Admit it, you will love this one.....or my name isn't Greg Brady

Out on the islands

I hear the surf and the sounds

of Sweet Lelani

Jayne Walton's birthday

Today is Jayne Walton's birthday, she was Lawrence Welk's Champagne Lady from 1940 to 1945 and I have a haiku written for her on this special event.

At the Aragon

our Champagne Lady will sing

love is in the air

Wabash Cannonball

It's been a while since I last put a YouTube Welk clip on this blog, so what better way to get back in the saddle again with this all time favorite!

From 1966, Dick Cathcart, Frank Scott, Neil Levang and the rest of the fellas play "Wabash Cannonball"

More Hawaii memories

Since last week's show was on location in the Hawaiian islands, let's go back and relive some more memories!

I wonder if the Maestro and his Musical Family ran into another very famous family vacationing here on the islands?

Something you may or may not know, just like the Welk show, The Brady Bunch opened it's season in Hawaii at the same time (the 1972-73 season). I wonder if any of the Brady kids, when not taping, had fun spending time on the beach with the music makers?

Anyway, here's just a few things the Musical Family did on the islands....

Tanya is taking part in "Open Mic Night" at one of Honolulu's comedy clubs...

Dick Dale and Gail Farrell, going out to eat, are stunned by the restaurant's sky-high prices on the menu.

Gail and Mary Lou are playing footsie on the beach.....

Guy Hovis hits the open seas on his luxury yacht.....

And finally, the gang are ready to chow down here at a luau!

It all sounds like fun, I just hope neither one picked up this little thing.....

And don't take my word for it, just ask Bobby Brady. Greg and Peter will second that motion.

Branson's just a week away.....

Hard to believe it's this close.....

The Ozarks, fresh air, tourist traps and Welk Stars.....

I can hardly wait

Welk's Hawaiian Adventure

This week, Lawrence and his Music Makers are off to Hawaii to open their 18th season on television. First aired on September 9, 1972, it's filled with island beauty and great songs as well!

Here's the Maestro at the airport, time to board the plane bound for Hawaii!

Getting things started is Clay Hart, with Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn, singing "Pearly Shell".

Here's Tanya getting the tourists involved by dancing to the Hookliau!

Now we meet Charlie Parlato as the Cocked Eyed Mayor of Kuanakakai along with Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger.

And now here's Ken Delo, complete with hula girls as he sings "Lovely Hula Hands".

Other fine numbers include "Tiny Bubbles" sung by Dick Dale and Gail Farrell, a medley of songs from "South Pacific" performed by the orchestra. Guy & Ralna sings the "Hawaiian Wedding Song", along with "Beyond The Reef" by Norma Zimmer.

We also have the "Hawaiian War Chant" performed by Sandi & Sally and Bobby Burgess and Cissy King dance to "Paradise".

It was a great show, has me dreaming of those Hawaiian Islands!

Mary Lou's guest in the hot seat this week is Charlotte Harris, the Welk orchestra's very popular cello player. She talks about how she started playing the cello and her travels as a musician, as well as her family and her recent projects which includes teaching music to a new generation of music makers.

Time to say aloha y'all! Next week is the "Carnival" show, the grand finale for the 2007-08 season....after that is *sigh* a whole season of reruns.

Decision '08: results from my latest poll

The polls have closed and America has spoken!

Of all the lovely singers that have paired up with Dick Dale, out of 84 total ballots, the winner with 41% percent of the vote (35 votes) is.....

Gail Farrell!

Coming in at second with 30% percent (26 votes) are the Lennon Sisters....

Taking third place with 19% of the vote (16 votes) is Alice Lon....

The rest of the tally has Andra Willis fourth with 4% (4 votes) followed by Kathie Sullivan at 3% (3 votes).

Thanks for voting....Don't forget to vote in my newest poll!

Up, up and away

Having fun flying in a balloon, Joe Feeney takes a pit stop,

"Hey pal, which way is it to the White Cliffs of Dover?".....

It's Haiku Time boys and girls!

And this one is a masterpiece....at least I think so.

Bob and Charlie say,

"Yes, we got no bananas!"

Tanya proves them wrong

Article on Guy Hovis

Found this nice newspaper article on Guy Hovis from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal this morning, it mentions that he'll be singing live this Sunday the 24th in Tupelo.

Read the article by clicking here at Hovis' Homecoming at Daily Journal

I got it....I got it!

If you been watching the Philadelphia Phillies-San Diego Padres game on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, or the highlights on Sportscenter, you may have seen the Padres' Brian Giles crash into right field going after a fly ball.

And it was also great camera time for Welk Resorts as well!

Fly ball to right....Giles is making a run for it....

It's going foul, and right into the Welk Resorts sign!

Afterwards, he and teammate Scott Hairston think about possibly seeing the Welk Stars Reunion show up in Branson.

A Pretty Girl

This week's Lawrence Welk Show is a classic black & white from May 27, 1961 titled "A Pretty Girl"....here are some of the highlights.

Jo Ann Castle and Myron Floren playing the "Hot Foot Polka"

Frank Scott at the harpischord playing "Love Those Eyes" with vocal assistance from Norma Zimmer

Special Guest Star Pat Boone singing "Moody River" deep in the Amazon rain forest.

And here's the Lennon Sisters getting a "Music Lesson" from Aladdin with help from the boys in the band

Only two shows left in the 2007-08 season! Next week, we're going to Hawaii so until then, take care.

On the road again....

"Pop in the Molly Hatchet into the tape deck and crank 'er up, and let's roll!"

A Peanuts Hucko haiku

Today, I bring forth a 5-7-5 in honor of this talented jazz saxophonist and reeds player

They call him Peanuts

And swings on that clarinet

Just like Glenn Miller

They have Dave Edwards' eyes

Or to be specific, the same kind of eyeglasses frames our talented reeds player and first saxophone player wears.

Here's a few of the famous people that wear Dave's glasses.....

MSNBC personality Keith Olbermann....

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.....

....actress Jennifer Garner