Happy New Year!

How to have a great New Year's party....

1. Invite all of your friends

2. Stock up on food and punch

3. Provide plenty of great music

4. Don't forget to have fun!

From all of us at Welk Musical Family....HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What's the worse that can happen?

How bad is going 0-16?

These guys.....

...can easily beat these guys.

...and living in this area for most of my life, plenty of folks will agree!

It never rains in Southern California

Until this thing called Global Warming came along.....

Anyway, some highlights from the last show of 2008, a Tribute to Southern California!

The Aldridges and Otwells taking a train and "California Dreamin".....

Ron, Gail and Michael are swinging into high......

Kathie Sullivan and Dick Dale are making their case for the Dodgers to re-sign Manny Ramirez.....

Mary Lou Metzger and Jack Imel are playing some golf down Escondido way.....

....and Ken Delo with the Hotsy Totsy Boys are playing the ponies!

Twas the Day After Christmas

...and there was ice a plenty on the roads here in Toledo.

So you better watch out! It's mighty slippery out there....

Christmas Poll Results

Concerning what was your favorite part of the Welk Christmas Shows....here's the results.

Out of 30 total ballots, we have a tie at the top!

Between meeting the families of the Music Makers.....

....and those Christmas musical numbers, each with 33% of the vote (10 votes a piece).

Third place is the musical family kids performing at 23% (seven votes)....

Rounding out the rest is Lawrence singing "Jingle Bells" with two votes (6%)...

....and Santa Claus passing out the gifts with just one vote (3%).

And on that note, Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Twas the Day Before Christmas

From all of us at Welk Musical Family.....

Here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a very blessed New Year!

Bob Davis

Mainstay of the Maestro's reed section from 1965 to 1982....

Wanna book him and his band for a wedding, birthday or just any ol' party? Just drop on by his webpage and find out!

Loch Lomond

And now, here's a favorite of Scottish tennis legend Angus Podgorny...

It's time for a trip to the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond with Jack Imel, Bobby Burgess, Mary Lou Metzger & Cissy King!

The question is, will they take the high road or the low road?

The Real Spirit of Christmas

This week, it was the Christmas Show from 1972 that was aired on public television stations from sea to shining sea.

From that show, let's say hello to some of the families of the Musical Family!

Robbie Smale (Bob Smale's son) tickles the ivories with the Maestro looking on....

Here's Barney Liddell (trombone) with his wife Arlene and two of his kids, son John and daughter Rachel....

Now it's Mickey McMahan's (first trumpet) turn....

.....and we also have Lawrence with his grand-daughter Christina.

Bob Davis (reeds & woodwinds) has his turn in the spotlight!

And of course, here's the Griffiths family, Sandi and Brent....

And finally, here's Henry Cuesta and Larry Hooper!

This is what Christmas and the holiday season is all about.

A Saturday Haiku

This one is from the Silver Champagne Era.....

Here at Aladdin's

We have food and a live show

Sit back and enjoy

Something for the ladies, it's Maurice Pearson!

The Joy of Christmas

Me thinks Larry Hooper got some neat gifts from Santa....

It could be one of those "Batteries Not Included" toys....

The battleship is nice, but I guess Hoopie would prefer his model trains anyday!

The Andy Warhol Effect

Reason #48,756 why Photoshop is the best thing since the internet and sliced bread.

On that note, I created this Andy Warhol-inspired piece of art using Lawrence Welk.

Art world, here I come......not

Wednesday Morning Inspiration

Advice we can all live by....

Buddy Hayes

And now, a champagne tribute to the clown prince of the bass and tuba!

"My name is Buddy Hayes, and I play bass in the band,

When everyone else sits, I gotta stand."

Here's Buddy from 1956, playing "When Yuba Plays The Tuba Down In Cuba".

Ah, the Joy of Winter

Just a few highlights from this week's show, first taped in December of '67.

The ice looks pretty slick out there.....

....but not too slick for some ice skating by Cissy & Bobby!

After all that, let's get cozy by a warm fire.....

...and if that doesn't warm you up, maybe some of Jo Ann Castle's hot licks on the piano will!

The blogmaster's fantasy Welk episode: number 007

Remember the video I made of the spy-inspired fantasy Welk show closing credits? That also got me thinking....of a fantasy Lawrence Welk Show episode that would have been great.

This one would be a Salute to the Music of James Bond and Secret Agent movies and shows.

Here's how the rundown of such an episode.....shaken and not stirred!

1. The James Bond 007 Theme - the orchestra

2. Thunderball - Jimmy Roberts

3. Goldfinger - Sandi Griffiths & Sally Flynn

4. Peter Gunn - orchestra featuring nice saxophone work by Russ Klein and trombone work by Bob Havens

5. Theme from The Avengers - dance routine by Jack Imel and Mary Lou Metzger

6. You Only Live Twice - Tanya Falan

7. The Man From U.N.C.L.E theme - the orchestra

8. Theme from Get Smart! - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King

9. We Have All The Time In The World - Dick Dale

10. Diamonds Are Forever - Ralna English

11. Mission Impossible - the orchestra

12. Under The Mango Tree & Jump Up (from Dr. No) - The Curt Ramsey Quintet

13. Kingston Calypso (from Dr. No) - danced by Bobby Burgess, Jack Imel and Arthur Duncan

14. From Russia With Love - Joe Feeney

15. Casino Royale - the orchestra

16. Secret Agent Man - Ken Delo

17. Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - Mary Lou Metzger

18. The Saint - orchestra