Remember on this Memorial Day

Is that freedom is not free

We honor our men and women in the armed forces and their sacrifice to this great country of ours

How I Will Spend Sunday

First, I'll watch both races, the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600

....and in between go to a cookout with friends

Best of all, the weather here in Toledo is perfect!

How 'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?

Heck I don't know....maybe farmer's overalls made by Tommy Hilfiger?

...or maybe have one of the farmer's daughters sit on my lap?

Perhaps you might have a suggestion or two.

Sandi & Sally do George M. Cohan

What better way to get Memorial Day Weekend off to a rousing start than with Sandi & Sally singing a medley of George M. Cohan songs....

.....and who says bell bottoms don't belong in the Navy?
 

One Paddle, Two Paddle

This sure beats Row Row Row Your Boat.....

Caption This!

Featuring the Maestro and his grandson Kevin Welk!

Add your own funny or clever (or even both!) caption by clicking on the comments link below

Now you can wear what the Welk Stars wear!

I found about it this morning while visiting Welk Appeal.com which took me to Etsy.com

Two authentic dresses worn on the Welk show are up for sale and can be yours to wear....like this yellow frock worn by Sandi

Here's the link: VINTAGE LEMON YELLOW POLYESTER CRYSTAL PLEATED DRESS

Or if you want to go green, maybe this one worn by Ralna is your thing

VINTAGE LIME GREEN AND YELLOW POLYESTER CRYSTAL PLEATED DRESS

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Hamill Will Keep Us Together

Looks like Tanya has jumped on the bandwagon with the latest fad, the Dorothy Hamill hairdo....

....and is also a serious Captain & Tennille fan by the way she sings "Love Will Keep Us Together"

The Otwell Twins make news in Lubbock

Here's some pleasant and good news for once, courtesy of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal!

It's a nice article about the Otwell boys, their growing up in Tulia, Texas, life as members of the Musical Family and of course, their beloved Martin Guitars.

Here's the article: OTWELL TWINS ENJOY POPULARITY YEARS AFTER THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW

Childhood Memories

What adult would not want to reminisce about his or her childhood?

If it concerns playtime, Saturday Morning cartoons and summer vacations, I'm all for it.

Otherwise anything involving school....forget it.

This week's episode is all about memories from childhood so let's go to some of the highlights!

Here's the Trio trying to sing their way to have their grade changed from a "D" to an "A"

Plus we have Dick Dale and Arthur Duncan with the ups and downs of being on a see saw....

....and Arthur gets kidnapped by a vicious gang of little girls

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES - December 16, 1972

1. THOSE WERE THE DAYS - Sandi, Gail, Joe, Bobby, Cissy, Ralna, Guy, Mary Lou, Ken, Dick, Arthur, Jimmy (Roberts) with Henry Cuesta at clarinet, Bob Havens at trombone and Johnny Zell at trumpet
2. LULLABY OF LOVE - Tanya Falan with her son Kevin Welk
3. WHEN HEARTS ARE YOUNG - the orchestra
4. WHERE ARE YOU GOING MY LITTLE ONE? - Ken Delo

5. "A" YOU'RE ADORABLE - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger
6. SCHOOL DAYS - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
7. LITTLE TOY TRAINS - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
8. CHOPSTICKS - Bob Smale at the piano
9. TOO-RA-LOO-RA-LOO-RA (THAT'S AN IRISH LULLABY) - Joe Feeney with Lawrence on accordion

10. OVER THE OCEAN - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with the orchestra
11. SMALL FRY - Dick Dale
12. SLEEPING AT THE FOOT OF THE BED - Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang
13. MEDLEY: LITTLE BROWN JUG/SKIP TO MY LOU/POLLY WALLY DOODLE - Myron Floren on accordion with Neil Levang on banjo, Bob Smale at piano and Richard Maloof on the tuba

14. WON'T YOUR RIDE IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON? - danced by Arthur Duncan with vocals by Sandi, Gail, Mary Lou and Cissy
15. WATCHING SCOTTY GROW - Clay Hart
16. A TISKET, A TASKET - Bob Lido and the Hotsy Totsy Boys
17. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS - Dave Edwards on saxophone
18. THOSE WERE THE DAYS (ENCORE) - Sandi, Gail, Joe, Bobby, Cissy, Ralna, Guy, Mary Lou, Ken, Arthur, Dick, Tanya with Henry Cuesta on clarinet, Bob Havens on trombone and Johnny Zell on trumpet

Yep, this show does bring back my childhood....if you don't include memories of playing Super Mario Brothers on the Nintendo, watching Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters on Saturday mornings and dreading Meatloaf Night at dinnertime.

It's always nice to see members of the orchestra in the spotlight, Dave Edwards playing Watch What Happens on the saxophone is a real treat and seeing Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang not only play guitar but SING to Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed.

Say what you want about Lawrence Welk, but admit it....he had the finest musicians in the business, they can take any tune and make it an instrumental masterpiece and they can sing too!

This show was also the debut of The Trio. When Sally Flynn left the show, Sandi Griffiths teamed up with Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger to bring a blend of three lovely voices to the show.

And as they say, the rest is history.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and if you land on your fanny hard from going down the slide, always make sure you wear protection! 

The Champagne Five - Bruce Springsteen covers by the Musical Family

What's more American than the flag, mom, apple pie and heartland rock?

Yeah, you heard me right, and that's the subject of today's Champagne Five where we combine two American Institutions, Lawrence Welk and his Music Makers....

.....and The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen

As a music fan, I have always wondered what would it be like if Lawrence Welk and his Musical Family had the chance to do their cover versions of Bruce and the E Street Band's songs?

I present to you, after much exhaustive debate, the top five covers!

5. BORN TO RUN - performed as a barbershop quartet by Bob Lido, Kenny Trimble, Charlie Parlato and Larry Hooper

4. NEBRASKA - sung and performed on guitar by Clay Hart with Bob Ralston providing the harmonica sounds

3. TUNNEL OF LOVE - Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou

2. THUNDER ROAD - sung by Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at the organ

1. HUNGRY HEART - Dick Dale with the Lennon Sisters

Regardless of which song made the list, one thing is for sure....a jam session featuring the Welk Orchestra and the E Street Band is one concert event I would pay good money for!

Caption This!

Featuring the Aldridge Sisters with Ken Delo and Michael Redman

If you have a funny or clever (or even both!) caption for this picture, just click on the comments link below and type away!

The Maple Leaf Rag by Gail Farrell

Here's Gail from 1975 channeling her inner Jo Ann Castle with the Maple Leaf Rag

Why hello Mary Lou....

I just got back from donating blood, and feeling the average side effects one goes through of parting a pint of the red stuff.

So today, I leave you with pictures of Mary Lou Metzger hosting the Welk repeats seen on your public television stations

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - It's High as an Elephant's Eye

This is why the beehive was a popular 'do back in the 1960s

I wonder if Tanya inspired Marge Simpson to have hair like that?

Those Great Entertainers

This week, the Champagne Music Makers salute the icons of entertainment that made America great!

Highlights include Mary Lou singing her love letter to the Came With The Frame family picture....

Bob Ralston combining Yoga with playing the piano....

.....and Neil Levang plays the guitar while Jack Imel just sits there.

And speaking of Mary Lou, she's also your host this week.

GREAT ENTERTAINERS - October 10, 1981

1. SWANEE - lead vocal by Ken Delo with Joe (Feeney), Ron, Tom, Sheila, Gail, Kathie, Anacani, Jimmy (Roberts), Michael, Mary Lou, Sherry and Jim
2. WHEN I'm SIXTY FOUR - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
3. MARIA - the orchestra
4. GLOW WORM - Gail Farrell, Ron Anderson and Michael Redman
5. DANCE OF THE COMEDIANS - Myron Floren on the accordion

 
6. PRECIOUS MEMORIES - Tom Netheron with Sheila, Anacani, Kathie, Sherry, Gail and Mary Lou
7. LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess and Elaine Balden
8. DEAR MR. GABLE - Mary Lou Metzger
9. RHAPSODY IN BLUE - orchestra conducted by George Cates featuring Henry Cuesta at clarinet, Bob Ralston and Bob Smale at piano with girls and men's chorus
10. SOPHISTICATED LADY - the orchestra featuring the saxophone section

11. I STILL GET THAT HONEYMOON FEELING - Sheila and Sherry Aldridge with Ken Delo and Michael Redman
12. CUANDO - Anacani
13. YOU'RE JUST IN LOVE - Dick Dale and Kathie Sullivan
14. A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO LIBERACE - Bob Ralston at the piano

15. MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY - Jim Turner and Ava Barber
16. STORMY WEATHER - Ralna English
17. I'M A YANKEE DOODLE DANDY/YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG - Sheila, Ken, Mary Lou, Anacani, Michael, Sherry, Kathie, Jimmy, Tom, Ron, Gail with dancing by Jack Imel, Arthur Duncan and Bobby Burgess

The Otwell Twins, David and Roger, did not appear in this program which meant we got to hear the Aldridge Sisters perform as a duo with "I Still Get That Honeymoon Feeling".

I must say that Sheila and Sherry did a great job with their treatment of Roy Clark's hit song.

We also heard Ralna English in the solo spot with "Stormy Weather" as a nice tribute to Lena Horne who sadly passed away this week at the age of 92. If there was anyone that would be considered as Lena's equal for talent, vocal and stage presence, Ralna would fit the bill.

  
Right now, I'm still trying to remember what the name of the Liberace tune that Bob Ralston played so for now in the song listings, I referred to it as "A Musical Tribute to Liberace" which Bob did an incredible job.

You must see it for yourself, words alone could not describe his performance.

So until next week, keep a song in your heart and if you're in a pickle, let's face the music and dance!