April Showers '67

Hope your spring is in bloom, and just like the flowers in the garden, the Musical Family is in bloom with this Springtime episode from '67.

And here are the highlights.....

The Lennon Sisters sing the praises of DDT.....

Barbara and Bobby play Bavarian Pattycake....

......and Larry Hooper listens to Howard Stern on the radio.

APRIL SHOWERS - April 15, 1967

1. APRIL SHOWERS - Kathy, Steve, Natalie, Jimmy, Barbara, Bobby, Dee Dee, Jack with Bob Havens on trombone, Mahlon Clark on clarinet and Dick Cathcart on trumpet
2. WISH ME A RAINBOW - the orchestra with Frank Scott on harpsichord, Bob Ralston on the calvietta and Orie Amodeo on flute
3. LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
4. STORMY WEATHER - Bob Ralston at the piano
5. CHERRY BLOSSOM LANE - Janet, Dee Dee, Kathy and Peggy Lennon

   
6. SINGING IN THE RAIN - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Arthur Duncan and Jack Imel
7. APRIL LOVE - Steve Smith
8. APRIL IN PORTUGAL - the orchestra
9. LOOK TO THE RAINBOW - Natalie Nevins
10. THE SHOE PLODDLER - danced by Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan with Myron Floren on the concertina

11. A GARDEN IN THE RAIN - Joe Feeney
12. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with Buddy Merrill at guitar and Neil Levang at banjo
13. SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW - Norma Zimmer
14. RAIN - tap danced by Arthur Duncan

15. IT'S A LOVELY DAY (TO BE CAUGHT IN THE RAIN) - Kathy Lennon and Steve Smith
16. RHYTHM IN THE RAIN - Frank Scott at the piano
17. IT AIN'T GONNA RAIN NO MORE - Larry Hooper
18. INTO EACH LIFE SOME RAIN MUST FALL - Dick Dale
19. IN THE GARDEN - Norma Zimmer with backing chorus of Charlie Parlato, Dick Cathcart, Curt Ramsey and Steve Smith

  
Each and every one of the numbers featured on the show was terrific, but there is one thing I question....

Why would Kathy Lennon and Steve Smith go cycling in the rain? Especially without wearing protective rain gear?

At least one can say these two know how to take risks in life.

Hope your spring so far has plenty of sunshine, even if you do have some rain and until next time, keep a song in your heart and don't step into any mud puddles.

April Showers '67

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

Today, UAW Local 12....Tomorrow, Broadway!

A commercial that runs two minutes and 43 seconds?

That's unheard of in today's television! But back in the late 1950s, it was the norm as seen from this Plymouth commerical featuring some of your favorite Welk Stars from the Silver Champagne Era.

And just to keep score, they are Dick Dale, Alice Lon, Larry Hooper, Big Tiny Little, Bob Lido and Rocky Rockwell.

Today, UAW Local 12....Tomorrow, Broadway!

The end of another weekend....

For you romantics out there, today is Valentines Day....

But for the rest of us in the real world, today is just Monday....

Back to work everyone!

The end of another weekend....

Oh what the hell, just strike up the band.....

It's more than just music, music, music here at the Welk studios....

"So, what kind of stuff you keep down there?"

"I got my eye on you, so no sour notes from you!"

"Pull my finger!"

Oh what the hell, just strike up the band.....

It's Saturday, time for chillin' and relaxin'

Larry Hooper has that down pat!

It's Saturday, time for chillin' and relaxin'

The Music Makers go Christmas Shopping

Hoopie wants to know how much for the doggie in the window....

....but Natalie has her eyes set on a toy dragon named Puff.

The Music Makers go Christmas Shopping

Champagne Halloween: Myron, Tanya and Hoopie

Harpo Marx, Raggedy Ann and Superman party down....

Happy Halloween!

Champagne Halloween: Myron, Tanya and Hoopie

Caption This!

Featuring Larry Hooper and his friends....

You know what to do....click on the comments link below to add your caption!

Caption This!

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

These are the people in your neighborhood....

From this week's episode titled Occupations from 1969, let's take a cue from the folks from Sesame Street and find out just who are the people in your neighborhood.

There's the coal miner....

....the dance instructor with her newest pupil

.....the pretty short order cook

....and finally the public school art teacher

These are the people in your neighborhood....

Those Hazy Crazy Big Band Days

It's that time of year again when Lawrence Welk and his Musical Family salute the music from the Big Band Era!

On today's episode....

The Music Makers play an intense game of Freeze Tag

Joe Feeney goes mano y mano with The Trio.....

....and Arthur Duncan plays Follow The Leader with his friends.

BIG BAND DAYS - October 13, 1973

1. AND THE ANGELS SING - orchestra with Arthur, Gail, Ken, Mary Lou, Norma, Jimmy and Joe
2. MOONLIGHT SERENADE - the orchestra
3. IN THE MOOD - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
4. SAN ANTONIO ROSE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English with Neil Levang on guitar
5. MISSISSIPPI MUD - Larry Hooper with Anacani, Tanya, Sandi, Norma, Mary Lou, Cissy and Gail

 
6. TWILIGHT TIME - Myron Floren on accordion
7. YOUR CHEATIN' HEART - Clay Hart
8. QUIEREME MUCHO (YOURS) - Anacani
9. THE WOODCHOPPER'S BALL - the orchestra with Henry Cuesta on clarinet, Bob Havens on trombone and the trumpet section
10. THE PENNSYLVANIA POLKA - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell, Mary Lou Metzger with Myron Floren on accordion and dancing by Cissy King and Bobby Burgess

11. MY WONDERFUL ONE - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
12. THE RAINDROP SERENADE - Bob Smale and Bob Ralston at the piano
13. I'LL NEVER SMILE AGAIN - Tanya Falan with Dick Dale, Norma Zimmer, Gail Farrell and Curt Ramsey
14. SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - Sandi Griffiths on lead vocal with Mary Lou, Gail, Norma, Tanya, Anacani, Ralna and Cissy

15. WHEN DAY IS DONE - orchestra featuring Johnny Zell on trumpet
16. BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS - Joe Feeney
17. BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA - sung and danced by Arthur Duncan with Jimmy Roberts, Mary Lou Metzger, Jack Imel, Cissy King, Bobby Burgess and Anacani
18. SO RARE - Ken Delo with Dave Edwards on saxophone
19. RHAPSODY IN BLUE - orchestra with Bob Ralston at piano and vocals by Joe, Norma, Arthur, Anacani, Jimmy, Gail, Sandi, Larry, Cissy, Bobby, Mary Lou, Tanya, Guy and Ralna

I really enjoyed this episode, especially Hoopie's Mississippi Mud number with the girls. You can tell by the smile on his face that he's having the time of his life!

Also, if you noticed real close during the show....there are some peculiar features one normally doesn't see on a typical Welk episode.

Such as Henry Cuesta not wearing eyeglasses....

.....and Laroon Holt with a mustache

Everyone was impeccably dressed this week, my taste in fashion may be limited but I thought the fellas looked smart in their white suits and the girls looked stunningly sexy in their yellow dresses.

So until next week, keep a song in your heart and may the Bluebird of Happiness fly up your nose.

Those Hazy Crazy Big Band Days