Cue the violin please.....

Unable to make a decent post today, I got a really bad cold

I promise will do better tommorow, or before the year is out

Cue the violin please.....

A Silver Champagne Christmas

This one is from the 1958 Christmas Show, and the Maestro is just getting started....

Here's the boys in the band with some festive music....

Janet Lennon is getting into the act....

...and lets meet the music makers and their families!
Here's Jack Imel....

Next is Orie Amodeo....

....followed by Dick Kesner

....and finally Dee Dee Lennon with one of her brothers

To conclude, Larry Jr would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas

A Silver Champagne Christmas

Dick Kesner

Looking at some of the fine violinists in the band, long time fans would surely remember Dick Kesner and his companion, the Stradivarius violin.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa on October 26, 1912; he attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago followed by three years with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

Dick served the US Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater, where he organized his own combo of musicians to entertain the troops. After the war, he played with Freddie Martin's band and with the ABC music staff in San Francisco before he joined the Music Makers in 1953 as first violin chair.

During his time with the Welk Orchestra until 1960, he was one of the more popular members of the Maestro's television show thanks to his beautiful violin solos, played with his trademark Stradivarius. He also recorded several solo albums on the Brunswick and Coral labels.

Dick was killed in a auto accident in Texas on January 8, 1962.

Anyone who wants to learn violin, or perform on a grand scale of excellence, just watch some of the old black & white Welk shows where Dick Kesner performs in the solo spot!

Dick Kesner

Music Music Music of 1958

This week's episode on public television stations is another great Silver Champagne Special, titled "Music, Music, Music" which first aired on January 4, 1958. The Maestro is ready to open the show so here are some highlights!

Here's Dick Kesner with his Stradivarius violin playing "Brahm's Lullaby".....

Next is Big Tiny Little at the piano playing the Dill Pickle Rag.....

Check it it, Buddy Merrill is doing a tag dance with the ladies in the audience!

And finally, here's the Lennon Sisters singing the story about Fernando the Bull.

Next week's show is the Caribbean Cruise show from 1980, the next "new" show is two weeks from now.

Regardless, I'll be keeping in touch.....keep a song in your heart!

Music Music Music of 1958

Pleasant Dreams

It was a another "new" Welk episode this week on PBS, and this one is what I call a "Silver Champagne Special". From 1958, in glorious black & white, this particular episode is titled "Pleasant Dreams".

Here's Lawrence welcoming viewers to your Dodge Dancing Party with the band's opening number "Cheek to Cheek".

Next is Champagne Lady Alice Lon with "I'm A Fool To Care".

Here's the Lennon Sisters with "Til' The End Of Time".

Dick Kesner leads the orchestra on his trusty Stradivarius violin with "He'll Be There".

Rocky Rockwell is shown doing KP duty with the number, "Genuine Original First Edition Copy Of A Sad Sack".

Other fine numbers include instrumentals such as "Jingle Jangle Jingle", "The Swan" and "Manhattan", Big Tiny Little's "Spaghetti Rag" and lending his vocals for "Caldonia". There was also Larry Hooper with "Mississippi Mud", The Sparklers with "In The Evening By The Moonlight" and Dick Dale with "One Dozen Roses".

A classic show with great musicians, great singers with great numbers....it's an example of why alot of Welk fans prefer the black & white shows.

And speaking of Tiny Little, he was in the hot seat this week talking about his childhood days and bits of his long and successful career in showbiz.

He still looks mighty good these days, and continues to play up a storm!

Until next week, take care and keep a song in your heart.

Pleasant Dreams

Another one of my Welk haikus

Today, this seventeen syllable masterpiece is about music maker Dick Kesner and his trusty Stradivarius violin.

Let's listen to Dick

play the Stradivarius

Music to my ears

Another one of my Welk haikus