Memories of Nat King Cole

This week's Welk episode is best described as Unforgetable.

In case you guessed it by now, it's a salute to the iconic singer Nat King Cole!

Highlights from this episode include....

.....Tanya singing whenever there's a full moon

.....pondering of if there's musical discounts from Geico

.....and Dick Dale gets romantic with Gail Farrell.

MEMORIES OF NAT KING COLE - October 6, 1973

1. L-O-V-E - Ralna, Mary Lou, Gail, Sandi, Anacani, Tanya, Guy, Ken, Arthur, Larry, Joe and Jimmy
2. NATURE BOY - danced by Cissy King and Bobby Burgess
3. AUTUMN LEAVES - Norma Zimmer
4. DANCE, BALLERINA, DANCE - the orchestra
5. ANSWER ME MY LOVE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English

  
6. WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK - Myron Floren on accordion with Bobby and Cissy dancing
7. PAPER MOON - Tanya Falan
8. MONA LISA - Ken Delo with Bob Smale at the piano
9. ROUTE 66 - Dick Dale, Kenny Trimble and Charlie Parlato with dancing by Bobby Burgess, Arthur Duncan and Jack Imel
10. VAYA CON DIOS - Anacani

11. SMILE - Jimmy Roberts
12. PRETEND - the orchestra
13. RAMBLIN' ROSE - Clay Hart and his guitar
14. WALKIN' MY BABY BACK HOME - Dick Dale and Gail Farrell
15. STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT - Arthur Duncan tap dancing

16. TOO YOUNG - Sandi Griffiths with Tanya, Anacani, Ralna, Norma, Mary Lou and Gail
17. SWEET LORRAINE - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with Bob Havens on trombone and the rhythm section
18. NON DIMENTICAR - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at the Thomas Organ
19. LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER - Larry Hooper with Mary Lou, Arthur, Norma, Jimmy, Sandi, Tanya, Dick, Anacani, Guy, Ralna, Bobby, Cissy, Ken and Gail

A fine and fitting tribute to one of the world's best singers, who we lost way too soon....

One thing is for sure, and we can all take comfort in this. Like Lawrence Welk, the legacy of Nat King Cole lives on with his recordings and tapes of his television appearances, ensuring that younger generations can enjoy what music is really all about.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and always remember to straighten up and fly right! 

Memories of Nat King Cole

200 Years of American Music - Part One

It's the mother of all Bicentennial Parties on the Welk Show!

Throughout the year of 1976, America celebrated her 200th birthday with songs, parties and fireworks whether it was on television or with friends, family and perfect strangers.

And the gang on the Lawrence Welk Show took part in the star spangled, red and white blue celebrations.

Highlights from the show include.....

.....festivities from the Donner Party square dance

Cissy and Bobby jumping for joy....

.....and all is quiet on Western Front.


200 YEARS OF AMERICAN MUSIC - January 17, 1976

1. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY - the orchestra
2. HAIL COLUMBIA! - Gail, Ken, Tanya, Tom, Mary Lou, Bobby, Cissy, Jimmy and Anacani
3. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - Guy Hovis & Ralna English
4. DIXIE - the orchestra
5. AFTER YOU'VE GONE - Tanya Falan with Arthur Duncan tap dancing

6. SKIP TO MY LOU - Myron Floren on accordion with Anacani, Cissy, Mary Lou, Bobby, Ken and Jack dancing
7. OH SHENANDOAH - Dick Dale and Ava Barber
8. THERE WILL BE A HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT - Bobby Burgess and Cissy King dancing
9. MEDLEY OF STEPHEN FOSTER SONGS
   a) OH SUSANNA - Joe, Gail, Larry, Anacani, Ken, Mary Lou, Guy, Ralna, Tom and Ava
   b) OLD FOLKS AT HOME - The Semonski Sisters
   c) BEAUTIFUL DREAMER - Charlotte Harris at the cello
   d) CAMPTOWN RACES - the orchestra
   e) OH SUSANNA REPRISE - Joe, Gail, Larry, Anacani, Ken, Mary Lou, Guy, Ralna, Tom and Ava
10. WILL YOU REMEMBER (SWEETHEART)? - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts

11. THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER - the orchestra
12. THERE'S A LONG LONG TRAIL - Tom Netherton with Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger
13. YO TE AMO, YO TE ADORO - Anacani
14. MEDLEY OF GEORGE M. COHAN SONGS
     a) YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG - Arthur, Gail, Jimmy, Tanya, Tom, Mary Lou, Cissy, Bobby,
         Ralna, Guy, Norma, Ken
     b) MARY'S A GRAND OLD NAME - Joe Feeney
     c) YANKEE DOODLE DANDY - Ken Delo with Jimmy, Bobby, Tom, Guy and Arthur
     d) GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY - Arthur, Gail, Jimmy, Tanya, Tom, Mary Lou, Cissy,
         Bobby, Ralna, Guy, Norma, Ken
15. THE ST. LOUIS BLUES - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with Bob Smale on piano
16. THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC - Cissy, Gail, Ava, Norma, Mary Lou, Tanya, Ralna, Anacani, Joe, Bobby, Ken, Larry, Tom, Guy, Jimmy, Arthur

I would say that the Musical Family captured the spirit of the Bicentennial very well.

Also, as the Maestro mentioned at the beginning of the show, a double album of songs aptly titled Lawrence Welk Singers & Orchestra Presents 200 Years of American Music can be heard in the comforts of your own home. Just go to ebay, Amazon or your local vintage record store to bring home your little piece of patriotic music.

Until next time, keep a song in your heart and God Bless America!

200 Years of American Music - Part One

A vote for SOPA and PIPA is a vote for censorship

The internet is one of the last bastions where creativity and originality exists in this world.

But if Congress has their way, SOPA the Stop Online Piracy Act and PIPA the Protect IP Act would put a stop to it, under the guise of combating online piracy.

I'm all for stopping piracy and protecting intellectual property, but this pile-of-crap legislation reeks more about heavy-handed censorship and big government intrusion. If this legislation is successful, webmasters and bloggers like myself would be silenced.

And that alone would cast a cloudy and uncertain future for Welk Musical Family.com

Contact your Senators and Representative and tell them NO to internet censorship and YES to creative freedom! 

A vote for SOPA and PIPA is a vote for censorship

Mary Lou Metzger on Dale Radio

The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 19th is THE place to be....

Mary Lou Metzger will be on Dale Radio.

And there will be live music by the UCLA Jazz Ensemble, plus much much more!

If you're not anywhere near Los Angeles, don't worry.....Dale Radio is a popular radio podcast. All you need is be near a computer and it's like you're there.

And if you are going to attend in person, attendance is free.

You can't beat that!

Mary Lou Metzger on Dale Radio

New Years Eve '70

Happy New Year everyone!

A new calendar year brings forth new promises, new hopes and memories which is what the Musical Family demonstrates in this week's episode.

And here are some of the highlights!

Ken Delo is a sucker for a pretty face like Mary Lou....

Richard Maloof receives some shocking news.....

.....and the NCAA investigates more allegations against Ohio State.

NEW YEARS EVE - December 26, 1970

1. THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING BIG - Gail, Cissy, Mary Lou, Bobby, Joe, Arthur, Norma, Ralna, Sandi, Sally, Guy and Jimmy
2. MAY YOU ALWAYS - Tanya Falan
3. OH HOW MY HEART BEATS - Myron Floren on accordion with Richard Maloof on tuba and assisted by Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger on coconuts
4. ROSES AND LOLLIPOPS - Ken Delo

5. THE EARLY DAYS OF THE DANCE/LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
6. THIS GUY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
7. GAMES PEOPLE PLAY - Clay Hart with Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang on guitar and Richard Maloof on bass
8. I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT - Norma Zimmer
9. SWING OUT - Johnny Zell on trumpet, Peanuts Hucko on clarinet and Bob Havens on trombone

10. THE MUSIC GOES ROUND AND ROUND - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn with Richard Maloof on tuba
11. YOUR EYES HAVE TOLD ME SO - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston on piano
12. CUMANA - Bob Ralston on piano
13. BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY - Sandi, Dick, Sally, Bobby, Ken, Tanya, Joe, Myron, Charlotte Harris, Curt Ramsey, Ralna, Guy, Gail, Cissy, Mary Lou and Arthur
14. EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES - danced by Arthur Duncan

15. BEAUTIFUL OHIO - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
16. DOWN BY THE OHIO - Bob Lido and the Hotsy Totsy Boys featuring Jack Imel on drums, Charlie Parlato on trumpet, Russ Klein on piccolo sax, Bob Havens on trombone, Bob Ralston on piano and Richard Maloof on bass
17. MOONLIGHT AND ROSES - the orchestra
18. LETS START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT - Gail Farrell and Dick Dale with Cissy, Bobby, Arthur, Norma, Jimmy, Sally, Myron, Sandi, Tanya, Joe, Ralna, Guy, Charlotte, Mary Lou and Ken along with Johnny Zell on trumpet, Peanuts Hucko on clarinet and Bob Havens on trombone

 
During the show, I noticed the recurring theme other than New Year's Eve was the Tournament of Roses parade and the Rose Bowl. 

Here's the Maestro talking with the reigning queen of the Rose Parade.

And during the parade number, we see that half the Music Makers waving Ohio State pennants and the other half Stanford pennants.

These were the two schools that were scheduled to play in that year's Rose Bowl.

And if you're a sports fan, Stanford won that game 27-17. The game's Most Valuable Player? It was quarterback Jim Plunkett who would go on to win two Super Bowls in a sixteen year career in the pros.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and remember where the music comes out after it goes round and round.

New Years Eve '70

Ringing the old year out....bringing the new year in

And now, here's the ladies with a very special message....

 

Ringing the old year out....bringing the new year in

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!

   

Christmas '66

Merry Christmas everybody!

Santa has brought goodies for all the good little boys and girls!

 

Merry Christmas everybody!

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!

A Welk Christmas from 1981

Same Song, Separate Voices; made for television version

I finally got to watch the Lennon Sisters pledge special last Sunday, let me just say I was not disappointed at one bit.

As you well know, the title of the special comes from the Lennon's best selling autobiography of the same name. It's a retrospective of their career in showbiz starting from their Christmas Eve debut on the Welk show to today.

And along the way, they made plenty of fans and friends, some whom are interviewed on this special.

Famous folk like Kathie Lee Gifford.....

.....and Andy Williams to name a few.

But the stars of the show are the Lennon Sisters themselves.

This special covers all the goods, not just from the time as members of the Musical Family, but when they worked with other showbiz heavyweights like Perry Como, Johnny Carson, Jimmy Durante and of course, Moon River Boy himself......

....plus all the trials, tribulations, tragedy and the joy of discovering Branson are covered too. If your public television station is carrying the special during it's pledge drive, make a date to watch it, or tape it, or do both.

It's just like reading the book, only it has moving pictures!

Same Song, Separate Voices; made for television version