Friday, July 31, 2009

A haiku with pedal power!

For for those who love a bicycle built for two....

Take your best girlie
for a bike ride right on stage
Now ain't that a gas

Dick Dale and Gail Farrell thinks so....

....and so does Mary Lou Metzger and Ken Delo!

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Champagne Five - Best covers of Top 40 songs

It's another edition of the Champagne Five coming right at you!

Today, the blogmaster picks his top five favorite Champagne Music Maker covers of Billboard's Top 40 pop songs.

And as Casey Kasem would say....on with the countdown.


At Number 5: Ralna English's 1969 cover of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" which went to #3 by Glen Campbell in 1967



No. 4 is Tanya Falan's version of "I Say A Little Prayer" which went to #2 for Dionne Warwick in 1967 and a year later, charted at #10 for Aretha Franklin



At Number 3....Sandi Griffiths' version of "And I Love You So" which peaked at #29 for Perry Como in 1973




Number two on the countdown is the Welk Orchestra's instrumental version of "Georgy Girl" a #2 pop hit for the Seekers which also garnered an Oscar nomination.



And the best Welk cover of a Top 40 pop song? No debate here that Number One is Gail Farrell and Dick Dale with their version of "One Toke Over The Line" which peaked at #10 for Brewer & Shipley in 1971.


Just remember to keep a song in your heart, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars....or in this case bubbles.

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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Christmas in July

Even though it's still summer, get your Noel on with the Music Makers from 1979!


Just a reminder....only 149 shopping days left!

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Monday, July 27, 2009

Orie, where art thou?

Orie Amodeo ladies and gentleman...


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Sunday, July 26, 2009

The Champagne Five - Clay Hart fantasy playlist of cover songs

When it comes to carrying a tune with a guitar, nobody is better than the Welk show's own Rhode Island country boy Clay Hart

As a music lover, there are plenty of songs I heard in which one thought crossed my mind....Clay would do a great job if he had a chance to perform it.

Here's my list of the Top Five popular songs that Clay Hart hasn't (to my knowledge) covered but would like to see him do so.

1. Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
2. Taxi by Harry Chapin
3. Fire and Rain by James Taylor
4. Save the People from the Godspell 1971 Off-Broadway cast album
5. Lying Eyes by the Eagles

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Saturday, July 25, 2009

Love Is Blue

Here's the Champagne Music Makers performing those beautiful sounds that is the instrumental known as "Love Is Blue"



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Friday, July 24, 2009

To The Moon!

To quote a famous bus driver and philosopher known as Ralph Kramden

Looks like Ralna enjoys the view from above....


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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Sally Flynn's Sensational Birthday Bash

Happy Birthday Sally!


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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Arthur Duncan on KABC from Los Angeles

Just click on the link below to read the article and watch the video!

Famed dancer, Arthur Duncan, shares his skills with the next generation

Shared via AddThis
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Wednesday Webpage Maintenance

So far today, I have been working on the main webpage....making some cosmetic changes and doing some much needed maintenance.

One of things I did was eliminated the WELK NEWS DESK section, face it...because of this blog and my presence on Twitter for all Welk news updates, that section just was rendered obsolete.

I also simplied the EPISODE GUIDE link on the main page, it should be easier to navigate.

And I will be adding new pictures in the coming days....stay tuned.

In the meantime, enjoy Buddy Merrill and the boys from 1955 with "Buddy's Boogie"


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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Grow Up Love

From her album "Let It Be Me", crank up your speakers and listen to Tanya as she sings "Grow Up Love"





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Monday, July 20, 2009

2009-2010 season of Welk

The 2009-2010 season of the Lawrence Welk Show on PBS is hot off the Oklahoma Network's presses!

It all starts September 5th, so far it runs through February 27th so there's more to come later in '10.

First, here's the 13 confirmed repeats from previous shows....
1. Big City USA - airs 9-26-09
2. Season Premiere '76 - airs 10-3-09
3. Farm Show - airs 10-17-09
4. Songs of Perry Como - airs 10-24-09
5. Thanksgiving Special - airs 11-21-09
6. Musical Memories - airs 11-28-09
7. French Show - airs 12-5-09
8. Winter - airs 12-12-09
9. Christmas '72 - airs 12-19-09
10. Tribute to Bing Crosby - airs 12-26-09
11. All Time Favorites - airs 1-23-10
12. Tribute to the Big Bands - airs 1-30-10
13. Fashions & Hits Through the Years - airs 2-20-10

And now what we are waiting for, the brand spanking new episodes!

1. Salute to the USA - airs 9-5-09
2. Salute to the Swing Bands - airs 9-12-09
3. Do You Remember? - airs 9-19-09
4. Highways and Byways - airs 10-10-09
5. Halloween Party - airs 10-31-09
6. Songs of the 70s - airs 11-7-09
7. Movie Songwriters - airs 11-14-09
8. Tribute to Disney - airs 1-2-10
9. County Fair - airs 1-9-10
10. Keep a Song In Your Heart - airs 1-16-10
11. Youman's Salute - airs 2-6-10
12. Love Songs - airs 2-13-10
13. Rhythm is Our Business - airs 2-27-10

From what I know, I think the interview segment is intact...don't know yet whom will be in the hot seat. But I do like the schedule setup, especially in the event of any possible pledge drives around Christmas.

Go to OETA's LAWRENCE WELK PAGE for full details

Now to get my DVR ready to roll!

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Boys, let's have some of that Champagne Sound

Jerry Burke

Pete Fountain

Norman Bailey

Bill Page

Pete Lofthouse


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Saturday, July 18, 2009

Sheila Aldridge's Super Birthday Spectacular

Happy Birthday Sheila!






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Friday, July 17, 2009

A Square Dance Haiku

Grab your partner for this one...

All the guys and gals
Two steps forward, two steps back
Let's swing doesy doe

Hear that fiddle play
These kids wanna dance all day
Just have some fun y'all


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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Buddy Merrill's Birthday Bash

Happy Birthday Buddy!


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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Just Walking In The Rain

From the magical wonderland known as You Tube, here's Tiny Little Jr, Larry Hooper and Jerry Burke at the pianos playing "Just Walking In The Rain"

I'm guessing from the streamers shown that this must be the New Year's Eve show from 1956.

By the way, nice hats fellas.


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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Members of Club 41

All these following Champagne Music Makers were born in the year 1941...

Dave Edwards


Peggy Lennon


Bobby Burgess


Guy Hovis


Can you guess which of the four was born first?

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Monday, July 13, 2009

The Lennon Sisters in Buckeye Country

My pictures from friday's concert are now online!


Just click on JB MEETS THE LENNONS for all the pictures that took place in Columbus, where Jim Tressel is king.

O-H-I-O!

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