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

Bandstand of the Week

From 1964, the band is dressed up like the streets of Paris...

Vive La France!

Bandstand of the Week

Andrapalooza!

For today is Andra Willis' birthday in which we all celebrate....

Happy Birthday Andra!

Andrapalooza!

Natalie Nevins sings Maria

First off, there's another new obit about Natalie from the Philadlephia Inquirer and this one offers more details about her life

NATALIE NEVINS, 85, A WELK SINGER

To continue our salute to this talented songbird, here's a number that best demonstrates her pitch-perfect singing voice. It's the song "Maria" from the show "The Sound of Music" sung on the Welk Show in 1967.

Natalie Nevins sings Maria

R.I.P Natalie Nevins

It's with deep hearts and great sadness to inform all you Welk fans that Music Maker Natalie Nevins has passed away last Monday...

From 1965 to 1969, Natalie's was a very popular member of the Musical Family, both with her colleagues as well as television and concert audiences. She also was a natural when it came to playing reed instruments like the flute and the piccolo, but it was her pure and elegant singing....whether as a soloist or in duets with Jimmy Roberts or Joe Feeney that we remember her the most.

Our prayers go out to her family at this time.

Here are her written obituaries, both from the Philadelphia area where she was born and raised and lived in until recently.

PHILLY BURBS.COM: NATALIE NEVINS

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: NATALIE NEVINS

R.I.P Natalie Nevins

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Grand Finale

Well this is it, after six months here's the twenty-sixth and final installment....

We hope you enjoy this salute to a very talented and lovely lady and her different hairstyles!

The Hair of the Week segment shall continue with a different Welk star, just keep dropping in to find out who will it be.

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Grand Finale

Postcards from Southern California

The Musical Family are having a great time! Wish you were here....

Here at Grauman's Chinese Theater, Arthur is dancing for the tourists....

Ava Barber and Jim Turner are having fun at Knott's Berry Farm

....and let's hit the beach with Bobby and Elaine

Here's Kathie Sullivan and Dick Dale taking in a Dodgers game at Chavez Ravine, where they'll see Jonathon Broxton blow another save in the ninth....

After all that, lets watch the ponies over at Santa Anita....

...and what better way to finish the day with a nice round of golf at the Maestro's Escondido resort!

Postcards from Southern California

There's no skirting around with Smart Skirts

It's always an exciting day here in the Champagne Cyber Universe when one of our Music Makers makes his or her presence felt on the web!

Hollywood's newest entertainment mogul, Tanya has Smart Skirts Entertainment where they develop television shows for cable TV and beyond.

You can check out their webpage at SMART SKIRTS ENTERTAINMENT.COM

It's beautifully constructed and very informative, we at Welk Musical Family wish her and everyone at Smart Skirts the very best! 

There's no skirting around with Smart Skirts

Caption This!

Starring Jack Imel and Norma Zimmer....

Click on comments link below and fire away with your funniest, most clever caption!

Caption This!

Bandstand of the Week

From 1964, still in the black & white era....

 

Bandstand of the Week

Lawrence Welk's Champagne Music Makers Personal Data Guide

From the treasure chest of Welk collectibles comes one of the most popular items ever produced.

Ever wanted to know more about your favorite members of the Musical Family? Well in 1970 came Lawrence Welk's Champagne Music Makers Personal Data Guide.

Or as we like to call it, Welk's Fun Facts Slide

You can move the slide to any of your favorite Music Maker's name and read personal facts about them.

For instance, silde to Bob Ralston's name and you discover that his hobbies include motor cycling. Or slide over to Ralna English and learn that her favorite color is yellow.

Ever wanted to know what Dick Dale's favorite food is? It happens to be Beef Stroganoff. And Mary Lou Metzger's favorite type of music is musical comedy.

All this is possible with the fun facts slide, but it makes you wonder that if some of the facts are still accurate after forty years.

Still, it's a fun collectible regardless!

Lawrence Welk's Champagne Music Makers Personal Data Guide

Lawrence and Fern

Nice to see these youngsters enjoying the nice weather....

Lawrence and Fern

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Don't Get Short With Her

Another one of her short 'dos....all I have to say is WTF?

 

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Don't Get Short With Her

The Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins....Unplugged

From 1979, here's Sheila, Sherry, Roger and David singing "In California"

I hope MTV or CMT is watching this....

The Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins....Unplugged

Can't Help Singing

Think your friends sing too much? Well, they can't help it.

This week's episode is Can't Help Singing, and here are some of the highlights!

Hal Roach hires the Lennon Sisters as his new Little Rascals....

Jack Imel sweeps Norma Zimmer off her feet....

.....and Charlie Parlato orders a pizza.

CAN'T HELP SINGING - November 12, 1966

1. LOOKING FOR LOVE (LOOKING FOR HAPPINESS) - Dee Dee, Janet, Norma, Barbara, Kathy, Jack, Jimmy, Arthur, Bobby and Larry
2. POOR BUTTERFLY - Bob Ralston at the piano
3. CUDDLE UP A LITTLE CLOSER - Natalie Nevins and Jimmy Roberts
4. SPANISH SAMBA - Myron Floren on the PAN accordion
5. JUST A LITTLE STREET WHERE OLD FRIENDS MEET - Kathy, Janet & Dee Dee Lennon with Barbara Boylan

   
6. WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME - the orchestra
7. I'M IN HIS CARE - The Blenders featuring Bob Duncan, Greg Dixon, Steve Smith and Paul Sjoland
8. INTERMEZZO - Joe Livoti on the violin and the string section
9. WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL - Bob Lido with Neil Levang on guitar
10. ROMANY LIFE - danced by Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan and sung by the Blenders

  
11. CAN'T HELP SINGING - Norma Zimmer
12. I KNOW WHEN I'M HAPPY - sung and danced by Arthur Duncan
13. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM MARTHA - the orchestra
14. JUST LUCKY I GUESS - Bob Lido
15. SOFTLY, AS I LEAVE YOU - Joe Feeney with Frank Scott at the harpsichord

  
16. LULU'S BACK IN TOWN - Jo Ann Castle with Larry, Charlie, Bob (Lido), Jack, Aladdin, Bobby and Jimmy
17. BILL BAILEY - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with sound effects by Jack Imel
18. MY TRULY TRULY FAIR - Dick Dale with vocals by Greg, Bob (Duncan), Steve, Paul, Barbara, Janet, Kathy and Dee Dee
19. WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN - the orchestra featuring Dick Cathcart on trumpet, Bob Havens on trombone and Johnny Klein on the drums
20. SOMEBODY ELSE IS TAKEN MY PLACE - Jimmy Roberts

  
You'll noticed in tonight's show that Barbara Boylan is filling in for Peggy Lennon as one of the Lennon Sisters. I'm guessing she could have been on maternity leave, but I doubt it as at the time of taping, her most recent child, Chris, was born February 27th and her next arrival, Joseph, would be born June 29, 1967.

It was nice seeing Bob Lido featured in plenty of numbers, his versatility as a musician and performer was really on display. 

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and if you still can't help singing.....Lulu will take care of that when she's back in town.

Can't Help Singing