Champagne Book of the Month Club: You're Never Too Young

It's time for us Welk fans to spring into March with this month's edition of the Book of the Month Club!

And today, we'll profile You're Never Too Young

This installment of the famed Welk-McGeehan collaboration was first published in 1981. In it, the Maestro shares his personal secrets for finding the fountain of youth, and they are quite attainable.

Here's one of them.....dancing! Which does not come of as a surprise.

Also in this book, he talks about how he became an actor, in part of appearing in a documentary movie of his life made for his Welk Escondido Resort's newest addition, a theater and a museum.

Of course, he gives an update on his Musical Family, most notably how the Mixed Trio of Gail Farrell, Ron Anderson and Michael Redman became a reality.

There's also a story of the Champagne Music Makers taking on Las Vegas when they were booked at the MGM Grand Hotel and with that the success and pitfalls from that experience.

Towards the end of the book, Lawrence explains about the importance of friendships in life and examines his friends alphabetically from A-Z.

Personally, I think this book is delightful and inspiring. His life lessons featured can apply to anyone and it really brings new meaning to the phrase "Keep a song in your heart"

I recommend You're Never Too Young with my rating of Five Champagne Glasses. 

Champagne Book of the Month Club: You're Never Too Young

Champagne Book of the Month Club: This I Believe

And for the month of February, I bring you This I Believe.....

The latest in the line of Welk-McGeehan books was first published in 1979. Here, the Maestro shares his beliefs about God, country, family and work into a philosophy for successful living.

And it contain more inside fun inside information on his show and his Musical Family. One is where he takes you through a typical tape day, how an episode is produced and made. It was also around that time the Aldridge Sisters and the Otwell Twins joined the show, so their story of how they joined is chronicled.

And there's also a story where he plays golf in a charity tournament with players from the then-Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, it's one story you don't want to miss out!

And the rest of the book is wunnerful, wunnerful too....I highly recommend it.

Champagne Book of the Month Club: This I Believe

Champagne Book of the Month Club: My America, Your America

December's edition of the Champagne Book of the Month brings you My America, Your America; the third in the collaboration of Lawrence Welk and Bernice McGeehan

First published in 1976, the Maestro talks about how he and members of his Musical Family overcame disadvantages and adversity to reach the level of success in the world of entertainment.

It emphasizes all the traditional, old fashioned values of hard work, commitment, and personal involvement that reflected in the building of America, which at the time of it's publication was celebrating her bicentennial. He mentions this plenty of times throughout.

Lawrence talks about his latest discovery, the Semonski Sisters and chronicles the journey of how his organization trained six young girls from having no professional experience to television stars.

He also shares stories from the band's three week appearance at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, how he developed Sandi Griffiths into a solo singer and when Larry Hooper fell ill, who had to be off the show for a few years and his recovery and triumphant return.

It's a very heartwarming and inspirational book, one that stands the test of time. And maybe, just maybe, it will give guidance to anyone living through these current tough times. 

Champagne Book of the Month Club: My America, Your America

Champagne Book of the Month Club: Ah-One, Ah-Two! Life with My Musical Family

Right now, as I prepare to head for Branson tomorrow, it's that time again for another installment of the Champagne Book of the Month Club.

Today, we will profile Ah-One, Ah-Two! Life with My Musical Family.

Originally published in 1974 by Prentice-Hall, it's a follow up to Wunnerful, Wunnerful! that talks about the Maestro's triumphant return to television after being canceled by the ABC Network. He teams up again with Bernice McGeehan to give the reader all the drama that went on, and how they were able to get the show on syndication.

The book also talks about life on the road, when the Musical Family go on their summer concert tour across the USA, including their successful show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

One of the most intriguing aspects in the book was when Lawrence and the Music Makers went through a period of apathy and low morale shortly after going into syndication and how it came to a head at a meeting of the production staff.

Dramatic stuff indeed, but there are some lighter moments too...

There's the origins of "The Wig Bit" which was popular on the live shows, the time he flirted with rock 'n' roll and went "hippie", how he trains his Musical Family and celebrating his seventieth birthday.

It's a terrific book, filled with heart warming stories and then some! And perfect reading if one has down time on vacation.

Like I'll be doing in Branson.

Champagne Book of the Month Club: Ah-One, Ah-Two! Life with My Musical Family

Same Song - Separate Voices

It's book report time here at Welk Musical Family and today I will give my synopsis on the Lennon Sisters autobiography Same Song - Separate Voices

 
First published in 1985 by Roundtable Publishing, with an updated version coming a decade later, Same Song - Separate Voices is unique because it was a quartet-authored autobiography. 

Dee Dee, Peggy, Kathy and Janet in their words chronicle their lives growing up in Southern California, their singing careers, life with Lawrence Welk and afterwords. They also give a detailed whos who from the Lennon Family tree.

 
All the stories the girls tell are very touching, sentimental, funny and sad all at the same time. We get to know about Nana, the sisters grandma as well as their dad William Lennon who himself was a terrific Irish tenor. I liked their tales from the road such as when Dad Lennon made sure the girls had a real meal instead of drive-in fast food grub when it came to dinner, plus the stories of how each of the girls met their husbands.

Also worth reading is the account of their father's tragic death, murdered by a deranged fan, and how the girls and the whole family coped with this unfathomable tragedy.

That and also their showbiz career post-Welk, which they sang with Andy Williams and later at the Champagne Theater in Branson, in which the latter can be found in the updated 1995 version.

If you can get your hands on a copy, you'll enjoy this book, and get to know America's Singing Sweethearts in a whole new light!

Same Song - Separate Voices

The Ugly Little Christmas Tree by Ken Delo

Remember back in the day when Ken Delo wrote a children's book titled "The Ugly Little Christmas Tree?"

Great news for all, the book is now published nationwide courtesy of Tate Publishing!

And now you can own a copy to share with your family, the Christmas season is near by the way.

Just go to TATE PUBLISHING to order your copy.

Or you can just head on over to Ken Delo.com

The Ugly Little Christmas Tree by Ken Delo