Sunday, May 29, 2011

Have a safe Memorial Day

It's always nice to have a three day weekend.....


And don't forget to remember those who gave their lives so we can live free....
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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Yes Virginia, there will be a Lennon Sisters Christmas in Branson this year

Just as you thought last year's Lennon Sisters Christmas Show at the Welk Resort would be the last one in Branson ever, think again....

Here's an early Christmas gift for you, they signed a contract to take their show to Andy Williams' Theater from November 1st to December 10th.


And any Lennon fan would know that back in they day, they performed with Mister Moon River on stage and television.

More information can be found at Andy's website, I have a feeling this is going to be fun!
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Buddy's Boogie

Straight from the Silver Champagne Era, here's Buddy Merrill on his Fender Stratocaster playing the ever-popular "Buddy's Boogie".

 

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Sunday, May 22, 2011

First post since the Rapture

Well, the supposed Rapture came and went and nothing happened...

Better luck next time doomsday sayers! In the meantime, I invite you to highlights from this week's Welk episode, Childhood Memories from 1972.


"Kevin, I'm going to teach you how to dance like Grandpa, just pretend that I am a little old lady..."


"I SAID GIVE ME A BIG PUSH.....TO THE MOON!"


"Bueller, Bueller....."
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Thursday, May 19, 2011

I can't believe Bobby Burgess turns 70

To us Welk fans, and those growing up on the Mickey Mouse Club, he's is just eternally youthful....


Happy Birthday Bobby!
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

It comes right after you have that Prenuptial Feelin'

It's something we like to call that Honeymoon Feeling.

And this classic Roy Clark hit song is covered here by the Aldridge Sisters from this past weekend's Welk show.



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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Great Entertainers: More Highlights

Let's take a look at what happened on this week's episode....


Myron plays a medley of Van Halen songs on the PAN accordion....


"First one to lose balance has to buy lunch!"


Ken and the cast recreate their favorite scene from Saturday Night Fever....


"I got him right where I want him, he he!"
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Friday, May 13, 2011

A Toast To Our Champagne Lady

In the last few days, the newspaper and media coverage of Norma Zimmer's passing has been fast and furious.

There has been many obituaries and tributes published, but 90% of them are basically reprints from the AP wire service.

However there are exceptions of course, here below is a sweet, lovely and well written original piece by Jonathon Pinkerton which in my opinion gives the best tribute of them all....


LAWRENCE WELK'S CHAMPAGNE LADY: A TOAST TO HER CAREER courtesy of Examiner.com
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Thursday, May 12, 2011

Norma Zimmer obituares

The written tributes are coming in paper by paper.....


The first one comes from Rita Sherrow of the TULSA WORLD

Another fine tribute comes courtesy of Lynn Elber from the SACRAMENTO BEE.

Finally, here's her profile from legacy.com where you can send your condolences.
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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

This day in Welk history: May 11, 1951


The Lawrence Welk Show begins it's long run on television when it debuts on KTLA in Los Angeles.

Sixty years later, the world is a better place.

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R.I.P Norma Zimmer (1923-2011)

I found out last night over on Facebook that Champagne Lady Norma Zimmer has passed away yesterday.

She was as Lawrence Welk described, one of the most beautiful women in television, and she was both inside and out.


I will pass along more information as soon it becomes available.

She will be missed.
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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Champagne Book of the Month Club: Ralna English Family Cookbook

In this month's entry, we stay in the kitchen for another recipe of home cooking from one of the Champagne Music Makers!


First published in 2007 as one of the thank you gifts from Ralna English's pledge special "From My Heart". Ralna's Family Cookbook features down home recipes such as Beer Can Chicken, Sunday Pot Roast, Dang Good Pie, Texas Salsa and Trash (or Cereal Mix).

This book is a family affair, in the truest since since the recipes featured are submitted by Ralna herself, her sisters Sharon and Jane and original creations from her mom, dad and Aunt Pearl.

It's a wunnerful, wunnerful book, filled with vintage pictures from her family album and mouthwatering delights you can cook up for your family and friends at your next get-together.

And it's also good reading too, when you're munching on a handful of Trash!
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Sunday, May 08, 2011

I Left My Heart in..... Oakland?

First off, Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, including my own!

Watched the repeat of the 1968 California show last night, it's where the Maestro filmed his segments with a neat life-sized cut-out of the state of California.


I noticed in the point of the show where Lawrence introduced Jimmy Roberts' number, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and then went about to point his baton where the Golden Gate City is located.....

....but there's one little error here.


Somehow, San Francisco is now located in the East Bay, where Oakland is....

Me thinks the citizenry there would not be too pleased.
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Friday, May 06, 2011

Kathie Sullivan asks, "Why do I love you?"

From 1980, here's Kathie from the Love Songs episode as she sings "Why Do I Love You?"


.....with Joe Livoti leading the string section

 

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Wednesday, May 04, 2011

The Champagne Five - Tanya's covers of James Bond songs

Today, we celebrate the birthday of our favorite Italian daughter-in-law of the Maestro....Tanya Falan.


She can sing all sorts of song styles, and that includes torch songs and title songs from the movies.

And one the best, and my favorite movie songs come from those great James Bond films.


So on this occasion, we combine two of my favorites into this edition of the Champagne Five.

It's the top 007 movie songs I would loved to see and hear Tanya cover on the Welk show, or live in concert.


1. GOLDFINGER (Shirley Bassey - Goldfinger)
2. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (Nancy Sinatra - You Only Live Twice)
3. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (Shirley Bassey - Diamonds Are Forever)
4. NOBODY DOES IT BETTER (Carly Simon - The Spy Who Loved Me)
5. MOONRAKER (Shirley Bassey - Moonraker)


Happy Birthday Tanya!

Keep a song in your heart, and your martini be shaken and not stirred.
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Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Today is National Trombone Day

....also known as Bob Havens' birthday


Happy Birthday Bob!
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Monday, May 02, 2011

Today, I feel like dancing

So let's get down to the Town & Country Polka from 1960.....

....with Rocky Rockwell


....and Janet Lennon.

 

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