My portrait of Joe Feeney

Happy Holidays to all my fellow Welkies!

In between shopping, working and doing the normal Welk-related stuff, I did get some sketching in between.

Recently, I've been doing portraits of the Musical Family. Here is one I drew today of Joe Feeney.

 

My portrait of Joe Feeney

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral and then some.....

So, how is your St. Patrick's Day so far?

It's still pledge time in Toledo, but to pass the time....as well as Irish cheer....here's a YouTube clip of Joe Feeney with Lawrence at the accordion singing one of the most popular of lullabies from the Emerald Isle.

 

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral and then some.....

Salute to New York '77

Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today.....

You must have guessed by now that this particular Lawrence Welk episode, half of you saw last Saturday while the other half saw the Saturday before that, is all about the city so nice they named it twice.

New York, New York.

Here are some of the highlights.....

Norma Zimmer paints happy little trees.....

Joe Feeney and Myron Floren guest star in a very special N.Y.P.D Blue.....

......and Mary Lou Metzger's dogs are barkin'


SALUTE TO NEW YORK - October 15, 1977

1. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Anacani, Gail, Sandi, Mary Lou, Cissy, Arthur, Jimmy, Ken and Bobby
2. TAKE THE "A" TRAIN - the orchestra
3. MANHATTAN - Tom Netherton with Bob Smale at the piano
4. AUTUMN IN NEW YORK - Norma Zimmer
5. 42nd STREET - tap danced by Arthur Duncan

  
6. CAB DRIVER - Larry Hooper with Charlie Parlato, Dick Dale and Bob Lido
7. MATCHMAKER - Donna, Audrey, Jo Anne, Valerie and Michelle Semonski
8. THE BROADWAY MELODY - danced by Cissy King and Bobby Burgess
9. GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY - Joe Feeney with Myron Floren at the accordion
10. THE WALTER WINCHELL RHUMBA - Gail Farrell, Sandi Griffiths and Mary Lou Metzger

   
11. PENTHOUSE SERENADE - Kathie Sullivan and the saxophone section
12. THE LULLABY OF BROADWAY - the orchestra
13. PUT YOUR SHOES ON LUCY - Jack Imel and Mary Lou Metzger
14. SPANISH HARLEM - Anacani

  
15. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM MY FAIR LADY: I'VE COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT/I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE/ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE - the orchestra plus a vocal by Ken Delo
16. MANHATTAN SERENADE - Bob Ralston and Bob Smale at the piano with the orchestra
17. MANHATTAN SERENADE (REPRISE) - Bob Ralston at the Thomas Organ
18. BUTTONS AND BOWS - Ava Barber
19. MEDLEY OF NEW YORK SONGS: IN OLD NEW YORK/THE BOWERY/SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK - Norma, Jimmy, Gail, Joe, Anacani, Ken, Sandi, Tom with dancers Cissy, Bobby, Arthur, Mary Lou and Jack

  
This was a fine salute to the Big Apple, and considering the year the show was taped, Gotham needed a pick-me-up for it's psyche. New York had weathered through a financial crisis (Ford to New York: Drop Dead), the Son of Sam murders, and a power blackout just to name a few.

To quote Howard Cosell from the '77 World Series, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning."

But at least for one episode, the Musical Family made New Yorkers feel good about themselves again, and the city has once again reclaimed it's spot as the best in the world.

Until next time, keep a song in your heart and keep that Empire State of Mind all over. 

Salute to New York '77

Welk fashion of the 70s

From the 1976 Salute to Johnny Mercer episode, lets see what the men are wearing.....

Tom Netherton with a combination leisure suit and turtleneck, all grey.

Larry Hooper and Jimmy Roberts going a bit more colorful, light blue and brown....

Joe Feeney feeling a bit plaid, according to his jacket.

Welk fashion of the 70s

Here's Joe Feeney with the Maestro

They are performing for the folks in the audience....

 

Here's Joe Feeney with the Maestro

Myron Floren plays that familiar song again

And Joe Feeney is happy to sing along.....

That's one way of paying for your hot hog if you don't have any money

Myron Floren plays that familiar song again

Who wants to spend Christmas in Killarney?

I'm guessing Joe Feeney, his son Chris and the Maestro would be interested....

 

Who wants to spend Christmas in Killarney?

Time to let the kids play!

What better way for the musical family children to show their musical talents than on Christmas?

First, here's Bob Ralston and his kids....

Next we have two of Myron Floren's daughters Heidi and Kristie...

....and finally two of Joe Feeney's kids as a duo!

Time to let the kids play!

South Euclid Memories

Back in the day, in 2004....the stars came to Northeast Ohio

Sally Flynn, Sheila Aldridge, Gail Farrell, Tanya Falan and Cissy King grace the stage.

Here's Ken Delo with Clay Hart

Cissy has come between Sheila and Sherry Aldridge, in song that is....

Gail joins Michael Redman for a nice duet.

Joe Feeney is in the solo spotlight.

And here's the Aldridge Sisters, Tanya, Cissy and Clay.

The Champagne Music Makers, always and forever blowing bubbles.

South Euclid Memories

The new season means the latest in menswear

The first episode of the 1976 season, lets see what the men are wearing.....

....here's Tom Netherton sporting a wide collar lime green three piece

 
....Joe Feeney goes bananas with his all yellow ensamble

....and finally Ken Delo takes us to the islands with a nice Hawaiian sportcoat

The new season means the latest in menswear

Country & Western '68

Grab your partners and let's Do Si Do with this week's Lawrence Welk episode, a salute to Country & Western Music from 1968!

Here are the highlights from El Rancho Escondido....

Lynn Anderson tells Larry Hooper to pull her finger

Joe Feeney teaches the boys and girls how to properly put a Stetson on Dick Dale's head....

.....and Bob Lido is the NRA

COUNTRY & WESTERN HOEDOWN - March 9, 1968

1. SQUARE DANCE - Jimmy, Andra, Bobby, Cissy, Bob (Ralston), Lynn, Dick, Norma and musicians
2. AM I THAT EASY TO FORGET? - Frank Scott at the harpsichord, Charlotte Harris on cello, Myron Floren on the PAN accordion and the string section
3. THE WAYWARD WIND - Norma Zimmer
4. THERE AIN'T GONNA BE NO ANOTHER TIME - Lynn Anderson with musicians and chorus
5. DON'T FENCE ME IN - Bob Ralston at the piano

 
6. GOODNIGHT IRENE - Joe Feeney with the whole cast with Myron Floren at the accordion and Buddy Merrill on guitar
7. MEDLEY: I'M A LONG, TALL TEXAN/TURKEY IN THE STRAW - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
8. THE TENNESSEE WALTZ - Natalie Nevins
9. SAN ANTONIO ROSE (Rose of San Antone) - Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang on guitars
10. THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with Neil Levang on banjo

11. MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY - Jimmy Roberts
12. ANYTIME - Andra Willis
13. HERE COMES HEAVEN - Steve Smith
14. JINGLE, JANGLE, JINGLE - danced by Arthur Duncan
15. I'M WALKIN' THE FLOOR OVER YOU - Tanya Falan

16. IF I COULD SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD - Dick Dale
17. WABASH CANNONBALL - orchestra featuring Frank Scott on harpischord, Neil Levang on guitar. Dick Cathcart on trumpet and the string section
18. AUCTIONEER SONG - Larry Hooper
19. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE - Sandi Griffiths & Sally Flynn
20. JUST BECAUSE - Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle on accordion with Richard Maloof on tuba
21. RAGTIME COWBOY JOE - Bob Lido

This is the last episode of the 2009-10 Welk PBS season, and it's also the last "new" episode for a year....so starting next week, it's all repeats.

When this episode was first aired on ABC, Lynn Anderson was beginning her ascent to Country Superstar as Lawrence mentioned that she was the recipient of the Academy of Country & Western Music's Top Female Vocalist of 1967 with hits such as "Ride, Ride, Ride" and "Promises, Promises".

  
Tonight's show was also bittersweet and heartfelt with Natalie Nevins' recent passing, I must admit that her rendition of The Tennessee Waltz left yours truly misty-eyed and with a heavy heart.

But on a happier note, it was neat to see the girls surprise the Maestro with a birthday cake and the singing of the Happy Birthday song. These impromptu and unscripted moments make the show worth watching.

And there will be more milestones and memories to follow in the seasons to come.

  
So as we get ready for a new season of Welk....full of repeats....keep a song in your heart and if you don't explain to your kids about square dancing, who will?

Country & Western '68

Joe Feeney and the Maestro

These two are a concert all by themselves....no kiddin'

I read somewhere from one of Lawrence's books that he and Joe Feeney, and usually accompanied by Bob Ralston at the organ would do pre-shows before concerts on their live tours.

Now that's what I call giving the people their ten dollar value!

Joe Feeney and the Maestro

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - South of the Border

This particular style has a Latin flavor to it....

Clay Hart digs it....

...and Joe Feeney looks forward to Margaritas and steak burritos at Chipotle with her

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - South of the Border

The Musical Family as South Park characters

About two years ago, I made a blog entry that featured the Lennon Sisters if drawn as South Park characters.

I figured that since that went over so well....I would share some more, using some of the Champagne Music Makers.

Here's Ken Delo

Joe Feeney

Tom Netherton

...and Ralna English

The Musical Family as South Park characters