The Great Gershwin '72

Hello again fellow Welkies!

This past weekend, we got the second-to-last "new" episode of the season, a musical salute to the works of George Gershwin which originally aired in 1972.

And let's go to the highlights!

Clay Hart wears a cowboy hat.....

Ralna gives Guy the evil eye.....

.....and Tanya flirts with Buddy Merrill.

THE GREAT GERSHWIN - November 11, 1972

1. OF THEE I SING - Ken, Mary Lou, Bobby, Cissy, Gail, Dick, Tanya , Jimmy, Ralna & Guy
2. I GOT RHYTHM - tap danced by Arthur Duncan
3. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME - Norma Zimmer
4. RHAPSODY IN BLUE - Bob Ralston at the piano
5. NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - Ken Delo

6. THE MAN I LOVE - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
7. LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
8. DO, DO, DO - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn
9. SOMEBODY LOVES ME - the orchestra
10. BIDIN' MY TIME - Clay Hart (also on guitar)

11. I'VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU - Tanya Falan with Buddy Merrill on guitar
12. SWANEE - Jimmy Roberts with Neil Levang on banjo, Bob Ralston at piano, Richard Maloof on tuba and Jack Imel on spoons
13. SUMMERTIME - Joe Livoti on violin with Bob Ralston at the Thomas organ
14. MINE - Dick Dale with Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger

15. LADY BE GOOD - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with Neil Levang on guitar, Richard Maloof on bass and Johnny Klein on drums
16. LIZA - Myron Floren on the PAN accordion
17. LOVED WALKED IN - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at piano
18. S'WONDERFUL - Bob Havens on trombone with Bob Smale at piano and featuring Arthur, Cissy, Bobby, Mary Lou, Dick, Gail, Norma, Jimmy, Guy, Ralna, Tanya and Ken

Once again, the Music Makers hit another one out of the park with a fine hours' worth of music and entertainment.

Henry Cuesta had just joined the orchestra as the Lawrence's featured clarinet player, and even though he jokingly chided him about getting a haircut, you can tell that the Maestro really thought the world of Henry and his musical talents.

And up until Henry's passing in 2003, fans like myself shared the Maestro's sentiments.

On a lighter note, I thought Tanya's rendition of "I've Got a Crush On You" was cute. One can only imagine what thoughts ran through Buddy Merrill's head.

Oh well, until next time, remember to keep a song in your heart and while you say oysters, I say errsters!

    

The Great Gershwin '72

America On The Move

Everyone is on the move, in all walks of life.

That is what America is all about, and it's also this past weekend's Lawrence Welk episode.

And here are the highlights!

Jack Imel fights Snoopy as the Red Baron.....

Dick Dale has gone bananas.....

......and the Orange Blossom Special runs thru a suburban residence.


AMERICA ON THE MOVE - November 1, 1975

1. GOTTA TRAVEL ON - Cissy, Bobby, Mary Lou, Ken, Gail, Jimmy, Anacani, Tom
2. STRANGER ON THE SHORE - Henry Cuesta on clarinet
3. LEAVING ON A JET PLANE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
4. FLY ME TO THE MOON - Tom Netherton with Myron Floren on accordion, Neil Levang on guitar, Richard Maloof on bass and percussion work by Jack Imel and Bob Lido

  
5. WHEELS - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
6. LAZY RIVER - the orchestra
7. ON THE ATCHINSON, TOPEKA and SANTA FE - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell, Anacani and Tanya Falan
8. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM "THE BAND WAGON" - the orchestra
9. CUANTO LA GUSTA - Diane, Donna, Valerie, Jo Ann, Audrey and Michelle Semonski

10. CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO - sung and danced by Mary Lou Metzger and Jack Imel with Sandi, Gail and Ken
11. RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
12. TIJUANA TAXI - the orchestra
13. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE - Larry Hooper

14. TAKE THE A TRAIN - tap danced by Arthur Duncan with Sandi, Gail, Ralna and Norma
15. BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - Ava Barber
16. THE BANANA BOAT SONG - Dick Dale with Gail, Sandi and Mary Lou
17. CHARLIE ON THE M.T.A - Ken Delo
18. THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THOSE FLYING MACHINES - Larry, Arthur, Bobby, Anacani, Joe, Tom, Tanya, Jimmy, Gail, Guy, Ralna, Mary Lou, Cissy, Norma with Bob Havens on trombone, Jack Imel with percussion work, Richard Maloof on tuba, Russ Klein on saxophone and Charlie Parlato on trumpet

If you're one of the fellow Americans that are on the move, remember the enjoy the journey even with all the traffic and high gas prices.

The Maestro and his Musical Family have been on the move plenty of times over the years, by plane, train and car they toured the country on their concert tours to places across America where they are greeted by loyal fans.

More proof that an America that's on the move is a very good thing.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and keep your feet on the move!

America On The Move

Salute to Harry Warren '72

Happy Fourth of July Week everyone!

Like I promised, I bring you the Salute To Harry Warren episode from 1972, which aired two weeks ago on your local public television station.

Highlights from the show include......

Ken Delo goes to Wal-Mart.....

Gail and Dale waiting for the evening train.....

....and Lulu's back in town. Happy, happy, joy, joy.


MUSIC OF HARRY WARREN - October 7, 1972

1. LULLABY OF BROADWAY - Joe, Tanya, Dick, Gail, Bobby, Cissy, Jimmy, Norma, Ken and Mary Lou
2. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A WALK? - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
3. CHEERFUL LITTLE EARFUL - the orchestra
4. I FOUND A MILLION DOLLAR BABY (IN A FIVE-AND-TEN CENT STORE) - Ken Delo
5. THE KISS POLKA - Myron Floren on accordion

6. I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - Norma Zimmer
7. 42nd STREET - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
8. SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN - Bob Ralston on piano
9. I LOVE MY BABY (MY BABY LOVES ME) - Jimmy Roberts
10. THE SHADOW WALTZ - the orchestra with Lawrence dancing with Cissy King

11. YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY - Tanya Falan
12. SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO - the orchestra
13. CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO - Clay Hart
14. THE MORE I SEE YOU - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston on piano
15. WITH PLENTY OF MONEY AND YOU - danced by Arthur Duncan

16. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW - Ralna English
17. JEEPERS CREEPERS - Bob Lido (also on violin) with Bob Smale at piano
18. REMEMBER ME? - Gail Farrell and Dick Dale
19. ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn with Guy, Arthur, Ralna, Cissy, Tanya, Clay, Norma and Jimmy
20. LULU'S BACK IN TOWN - sung and danced by Jack Imel, Bobby Burgess, Mary Lou Metzger with Joe Feeney, Ken Delo, Bob Ralston and Charlie Parlato

A terrific episode all around, very easy on the eyes and the ears too!

Plus the fact that Sandi and Sally wore mini skirts and go-go boots helped as well.

  
Sitting in the audience for tonight's show was Ralna's parents, you can tell that they were mighty proud of their daughter. Especially when she sang "You'll Never Know" in the solo spot with passion, gusto and heart.

  
And Harry Warren himself was also in the audience, he also had to be very proud of the Music Makers saluting his work.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and if you shuffle off to Buffalo, avoid the rush hour traffic on the New York Thruway.  

Salute to Harry Warren '72

My Blue Heaven

The past few weeks since my trip to Lancaster have been a whirlwind, and there has been two new episodes that have been aired during that time. So I apologize if I haven't provided listings for them.

Today, here's the first one, My Blue Heaven from 1964, which aired during the weekend of June 16 to the 17th.

Highlights from the episode include......

......Dick Dale sitting under the apple tree.

......Janet Lennon having her cake and eating it too.

.....and Arthur Duncan running up the stairs.


MY BLUE HEAVEN - June 13, 1964

1. MY BLUE HEAVEN - featuring Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren on the accordion with the orchestra
2. I WON'T DANCE/CHEEK TO CHEEK - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan
3. MORE - Dee Dee, Peggy, Kathy and Janet Lennon
4. JOSEPHINE - the orchestra
5. GALWAY BAY - Joe Feeney

  
6. HELLO DOLLY - Jo Ann Castle at the ragtime piano
7. I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO - Jimmy Roberts
8. CINDY - Dick Dale with the Lennon Sisters
9. SUNRISE SERENADE - Bob Ralston at the piano
10. DOIN' THE NEW LOW DOWN - sung and danced by Arthur Duncan

11. DOES YOUR HEART BEAT FOR ME? - orchestra featuring Pete Lofthouse on trombone
12. ONE FINE DAY - Norma Zimmer
13. TIK-A-TEE, TIK-A-TAY - Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle on accordion, with Janet Lennon on coconuts
14. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (Janet's 18th birthday) - the orchestra and the entire cast
15. OH HAPPY DAY - Larry Hooper

16. HE - The Lennon Sisters
17. DON'T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES - Jimmy Wakely with Buddy Merrill on guitar and Bobby Bruce on violin
18. FLAG OF THE FREE - recited by Aladdin
19. YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG - Janet, Dick, Kathy, Larry, Norma, Jimmy, Peggy, Arthur, Barbara and Bobby
20. THE PRESIDENT KENNEDY MARCH - the orchestra

I always enjoyed watching the old black and white episodes, gives me a chance to see some the musicians from that era in action. This week it was guys like Jimmy Wakely singing his version of "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" with Buddy Merrill at guitar and the talented Bobby Bruce at the violin.

Also, Pete Lofthouse got shine with his trombone solo. But what was more fascinating is that afterwards, a fella from the audience also did his trombone solo, without the actual instrument!

You never know where you can find talent.

Sometime this week, I should have the listings up for 1972's Salute to Harry Warren so watch out for that.

In the meantime, keep a song in your heart and stay cool from this summer heat!

My Blue Heaven