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

Meanwhile, down on the farm

From the Down On The Farm episode which aired a few weeks back, here's Bob Lido and the Music Makers as they sing about the assortment of animals found on Old MacDonald's farm!

 

Meanwhile, down on the farm

The Panhandle Rag

For your listening pleasure, here's Buddy Merrill on his trusted Fender Stratocaster playing the Panhandle Rag with great backing as always from the orchestra!

 

The Panhandle Rag

The episode that started it all, from July 2, 1955

It's always wunnerful, wunnerful to start a whole new season of Welk shows.

Here's Mary Lou Metzger welcoming viewers for the 25th season broadcasting on public television.

But what's this? Through the magic of television, it's now black & white and Mary Lou looks like she's in Ozzie & Harriet's living room!

There's a reason for this, episode one for 2011-12 is the national debut episode of the series which originally aired July 2, 1955 on ABC.

 
As you can tell, the Musical Family were just kids back then.....

.....like Jimmy Roberts

.....Rocky Rockwell

....Buddy Merrill

...and Dick Dale just to name a few.

Little did anyone realize that Saturday night in July was the start of something special. The combination of music, singing, talent and dancing would make the Lawrence Welk Show an enduring television institution.

As I write this blog entry, four of the Music Makers appearing in this week's landmark episode are still with us. Dick Dale, Bill Page, Rocky Rockwell and Buddy Merrill.

To view the complete songlist from this week's episode, just go to THE DODGE DANCING PARTY on my webpage for that and more!

In the meantime, until next week....Goodnight Ladies, Farewell Gentleman and hope you had a happy time!

The episode that started it all, from July 2, 1955

Buddy's Boogie

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

 

Buddy's Boogie

Guitar pickin' with Neil Levang

In the solo spot.....

.....and with Buddy Merrill.

Guitar pickin' with Neil Levang

Champagne Art

Since one of my hobbies, other than blogging, is drawing....here's some sketches I made of a few Welk Stars!

Sally Flynn

 

 Buddy Merrill

Ralna English

Hope you like them!

Champagne Art

I want one of those new fangled raccoon coats

.....that Buddy Merrill is wearing

The weather is getting cooler, I just want to stay warm and trendy!

I want one of those new fangled raccoon coats

Champagne Fashions from the Islands - 1982

Lets see what the men are wearing when it comes to Hawaiian shirts....

Champagne Fashions from the Islands - 1982

Clay Hart and friends

If you're a talented country singer from Rhode Island like Clay Hart, you're gonna meet a lot of friends on the way....

Such as Gail Farrell and Sandi Griffiths

.....Buddy Merrill

....Neil Levang

.....Ralna English

 .....and Sally Flynn.

And all your friends wish you a very Happy Birthday today!

Clay Hart and friends

Buddy walks the line

We're officially in the middle of the week now....and to help you walk the straight and narrow to the weekend, here's Buddy Merrill with his version of Johnny Cash's hit song "I Walk The Line"

 

Buddy walks the line

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! 

Childhood Memories

The Art of the Tag Dance

Only a few select people can be able to pull this off...

and Lawrence Welk is such a person.

Here's a perfect example, from a 1950s episode where the Maestro handles all the ladies who want to dance with him, and Buddy Merrill later gets into the fun!

The Art of the Tag Dance

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

From 1967, here's Lynn Anderson with Buddy and Neil as she does her cover version of Nancy Sinatra's hit song "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'"

 

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

The musical family as South Park characters #2

Here's more of your favorite Music Makers as South Park characters....

Musical Supervisor and Conductor George Cates

Buddy Merrill

and Neil Levang

 

The musical family as South Park characters #2