Showing posts with label Bernice McGeehan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bernice McGeehan. Show all posts

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Champagne Book of the Month Club: You're Never Too Young

It's time for us Welk fans to spring into March with this month's edition of the Book of the Month Club!

And today, we'll profile You're Never Too Young


This installment of the famed Welk-McGeehan collaboration was first published in 1981. In it, the Maestro shares his personal secrets for finding the fountain of youth, and they are quite attainable.

Here's one of them.....dancing! Which does not come of as a surprise.

Also in this book, he talks about how he became an actor, in part of appearing in a documentary movie of his life made for his Welk Escondido Resort's newest addition, a theater and a museum.

Of course, he gives an update on his Musical Family, most notably how the Mixed Trio of Gail Farrell, Ron Anderson and Michael Redman became a reality.

There's also a story of the Champagne Music Makers taking on Las Vegas when they were booked at the MGM Grand Hotel and with that the success and pitfalls from that experience.

Towards the end of the book, Lawrence explains about the importance of friendships in life and examines his friends alphabetically from A-Z.

Personally, I think this book is delightful and inspiring. His life lessons featured can apply to anyone and it really brings new meaning to the phrase "Keep a song in your heart"

I recommend You're Never Too Young with my rating of Five Champagne Glasses. 
Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Champagne Book of the Month Club: This I Believe

And for the month of February, I bring you This I Believe.....


The latest in the line of Welk-McGeehan books was first published in 1979. Here, the Maestro shares his beliefs about God, country, family and work into a philosophy for successful living.

And it contain more inside fun inside information on his show and his Musical Family. One is where he takes you through a typical tape day, how an episode is produced and made. It was also around that time the Aldridge Sisters and the Otwell Twins joined the show, so their story of how they joined is chronicled.

And there's also a story where he plays golf in a charity tournament with players from the then-Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, it's one story you don't want to miss out!

And the rest of the book is wunnerful, wunnerful too....I highly recommend it.
Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Champagne Book of the Month Club: Lawrence Welk's Musical Family Album

For the very first book of the month entry of 2011, I bring you a photo album....

Lawrence Welk's Musical Family Album that is.


First published in 1977, the collaboration of Welk-McGeehan strikes again with what the title suggests, a family photo album that features the Maestro and his Music Makers.

It's a collection of pictures from the show, and behind the scenes fun and then some!

Here's some examples....


Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou riding on an elephant.....


The Musical Family feasting on turkey after taping a Thanksgiving themed show....


Like any family album, it includes wedding photos from the Musical Family weddings such as this one from Tanya and Larry Welk's wedding day....


...and there's pictures of the families of the Musical Family, like Bob Ralston and his loved ones.

I highly recommend this book, it has everything a Welk fan would ask for.
Share/Save/Bookmark

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Champagne Book of the Month Club: My America, Your America

December's edition of the Champagne Book of the Month brings you My America, Your America; the third in the collaboration of Lawrence Welk and Bernice McGeehan


First published in 1976, the Maestro talks about how he and members of his Musical Family overcame disadvantages and adversity to reach the level of success in the world of entertainment.

It emphasizes all the traditional, old fashioned values of hard work, commitment, and personal involvement that reflected in the building of America, which at the time of it's publication was celebrating her bicentennial. He mentions this plenty of times throughout.

Lawrence talks about his latest discovery, the Semonski Sisters and chronicles the journey of how his organization trained six young girls from having no professional experience to television stars.

He also shares stories from the band's three week appearance at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, how he developed Sandi Griffiths into a solo singer and when Larry Hooper fell ill, who had to be off the show for a few years and his recovery and triumphant return.

It's a very heartwarming and inspirational book, one that stands the test of time. And maybe, just maybe, it will give guidance to anyone living through these current tough times. 
Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Champagne Book of the Month Club: Ah-One, Ah-Two! Life with My Musical Family

Right now, as I prepare to head for Branson tomorrow, it's that time again for another installment of the Champagne Book of the Month Club.

Today, we will profile Ah-One, Ah-Two! Life with My Musical Family.


Originally published in 1974 by Prentice-Hall, it's a follow up to Wunnerful, Wunnerful! that talks about the Maestro's triumphant return to television after being canceled by the ABC Network. He teams up again with Bernice McGeehan to give the reader all the drama that went on, and how they were able to get the show on syndication.

The book also talks about life on the road, when the Musical Family go on their summer concert tour across the USA, including their successful show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

One of the most intriguing aspects in the book was when Lawrence and the Music Makers went through a period of apathy and low morale shortly after going into syndication and how it came to a head at a meeting of the production staff.

Dramatic stuff indeed, but there are some lighter moments too...

There's the origins of "The Wig Bit" which was popular on the live shows, the time he flirted with rock 'n' roll and went "hippie", how he trains his Musical Family and celebrating his seventieth birthday.


It's a terrific book, filled with heart warming stories and then some! And perfect reading if one has down time on vacation.

Like I'll be doing in Branson.
Share/Save/Bookmark