WELK MUSICAL FAMILY: Families of the Musical Family

Showing posts with label Families of the Musical Family. Show all posts

Thursday, July 05, 2012

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.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas '66

Hope your holidays was wunnerful, wunnerful like mine! Especially when the Welk episode du jour was the Christmas episode from 1966.

Highlights from the show include......

Bobby and Barbara get treated like a bunch of rag dolls.

Little Chris Feeney playing Stairway To Heaven on the accordion......

......and Lawrence getting all the little kids to sing.

CHRISTMAS SHOW - December 24, 1966

1. JINGLE BELLS - Dick, Bob, Myron, Peggy, Norma, Jimmy, Lawrence, Jo Ann, Joe, Natalie and Larry
2. MARCH OF THE TOY SOLDIERS - Barbara, Janet, Kathy, Dee Dee, Bob, Bobby, Jack and Arthur
3. RAGTIME COWBOY JOE - Steven Clark with his father Buddy Clark on bass
4. WHITE CHRISTMAS - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
5. DOLL DANCE - danced by Barbara Boylan and Bobby Burgess

6. STAR CAROL - Kathy, Peggy, Janet and Dee Dee Lennon
7. OVER THE RIVER - Mimi, Annie, Katie and Theresa Lennon
8. O HOLY NIGHT - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at the organ
9. JINGLE BELLS - Chris Feeney on the accordion
10. THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS - Joe Feeney's children

11. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A PAIR OF SPOONS - Jack Imel and his children with Myron Floren on accordion
12. AVE MARIA - Natalie Nevins
13. RING THOSE CHRISTMAS BELLS - danced by Arthur Duncan
14. HIGH ON THE HOUSETOP - Larry Hooper
15. FROSTY THE SNOWMAN - Jo Ann Castle on piano

16. HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING/IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR/JOY TO THE WORLD - Aladdin, Norma, Jimmy, Bobby, Barbara, Kathy, Dick Cathcart, Janet, Larry, Natalie, Bob Ralston, Bob Lido, Dee Dee, Arthur and Joe
17. YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS - recited by Aladdin Pallante
18. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE - Janet, Kathy, Dee Dee, Peggy, Mimi, Annie, Danny, Pay, Joey, Kippy and Billy Lennon
19. SILENT NIGHT - Norma Zimmer with Jo Ann, Dick, Natalie, Barbara, Steve Smith, Kathy, Greg Dixon, Janet, Bob Duncan, Peggy, Larry and Dee Dee
20. JINGLE BELLS - all the children plus Santa passes out the presents

It was nice seeing the Music Makers and their children celebrating the simple joys of Christmas, which tends to get lost in today's emphasis on the uber-hyper, in your face materialism that is so common.

1966 marked the final Welk Christmas show for Aladdin Pallante, who eventually retired from the show halfway in the new year after a heart attack. Although both Larry Hooper and Dick Dale played Santa exceptionally well, no one did it better than good ol' Aladdin.

And his spoken word recitations, such as "Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus", they were truly inspirational and well done.

Oh, and he was a terrific violinist as well.

Until next week, or in this case next year as 2011 comes to a close, keep a song in your heart and take it easy on the egg nog. A little Christmas cheer can go a long way!

Friday, December 16, 2011

A Welk Christmas from 1981

Thirty years ago, the last annual Christmas show (with the exception of specials afterward) of the series aired.

Here's a look back that should bring some holiday cheer and memories.

Keep a song in your heart, and be good little boys and girls 'cause Santa knows!

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!

Friday, February 25, 2011

It's Movie Night here at the Welk studios!

But be sure to check the picture rating first....

"No security measures is gonna keep us from being in that new Adam Sandler movie!"

"Fine time for the studio's AC to go out, it's really hot in here!"

"Dick, can it wait? I'm in the middle of filming."

"The fellas think we're watching Jackass 3D? They'll be surprised we switched the reels so we'll be really watching The King's Speech."

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.

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Classic episodes: Viva Italia '76

Today, we'll look back at one of the most interesting and fun episodes in the history of the Lawrence Welk Show.

It's Viva Italia, the Bicentennial version!

And in this show, Tanya co-hosts with the Maestro!

VIVA ITALIA - December 11, 1976

1. THAT'S AMORE - Tanya with Kathie, Larry, Anacani, Arthur, Ava, Tom, Norma, Joe, Ken & Jamie Corey
2. CIRIBIRIBIN - Johnny Zell on trumpet
3. AMORE (MY LOVE) - Tom Netherton
4. MELODY OF LOVE - Joe Livoti on violin, danced by Lawrence and Barbara Boylan
5. THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN - Norma Zimmer
6. EH CUMPARI - Tanya Falan with Charlie Parlato (on trumpet), Bob Lido (on violin), Russ Klein on saxophone and Frank Morocco on accordion

7. ISLE OF CAPRI - Ken Delo with Bob Havens on trombone, Henry Cuesta on clarinet and Johnny Zell on trumpet
8. AMINA CORE - Anacani
9. TARENTELLA - Frank Morocco on accordion, danced by Tanya and Barbara and reprised by Lawrence and Tanya's grandmother
10. BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA - Charlie Parlato on trumpet with sons Chris on drums and Dave on bass
11. SAY IT AGAIN - Ava Barber
12. COPPELIA - the orchestra

13. A GOLFING SEGMENT starring Lawrence, guest Laura and announcer Bob Warren
14. TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME TONIGHT - Kathie Sullivan
15. THEME FROM LA STRADA - orchestra featuring Johnny Zell on trumpet, Dave Edwards on saxophone and Joe Livoti on violin
16. CARNIVAL OF VENICE - danced by Arthur Duncan
17. ARRIVEDERCI ROMA - Joe Feeney with Bob Smale at piano
18. OH, HOW MY HEART BEATS TONIGHT WHILE WE'RE DANCING - The Semonski Sisters with Frank Morroco at the accordion, danced by Lawrence and Barbara
19. ADIOS, AU REVOIR, AUF WEIDERSHEN - Semonski Sisters, Norma, Joe, Tanya, Barbara, Ken, Kathie, Tom, Ava, Larry, Jamie, Anacani and Arthur

Notice that many of the regulars we're used to didn't appear on this episode?

For those keeping score, here's who were missing in action....

Guy Hovis
Ralna English
Myron Floren
Bobby Burgess
Cissy King
Gail Farrell
Sandi Griffiths
Mary Lou Metzger
Jimmy Roberts
Jack Imel

I'm guessing that they were all out on tour at the time....

Regardless, this episode featured a mix of familiar and new faces like Barbara Boylan (Bobby's first dance partner), talented accordionist Frank Morocco and family members like Tanya's grandma and Charlie Parlato's grown boys Dave and Chris, both whom are very talented musicians in their own right.

And knowing this episode would be different, the Maestro could not resist getting in a game of golf with that segment featuring his guest, a pretty lady named Laura.

This episode later resurfaced on the public television rotation twenty five years later in 2001 with Tanya hosting the wraparound segments.

And it was also Tanya playing first time host, where we Welk fans caught up with her since her days on the show.

I really enjoyed this episode, sometimes it doesn't hurt to stray from the normal routine and mix things up.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and to brush up on my Italian, Ciao!