Two of our favorite cowgirls....Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn singing the "Never Ending Song Of Love" from 1972's Country & Western show.And of course....here's Henry Cuesta backing them up on clarinet, yippy yi yo....HI YO SILVER!
Thursday, June 29, 2006
The Old West never looked this good.....
Two of our favorite cowgirls....Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn singing the "Never Ending Song Of Love" from 1972's Country & Western show.And of course....here's Henry Cuesta backing them up on clarinet, yippy yi yo....HI YO SILVER!
Picture of the day (6-29-06)
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Ava Barber
Today is Ava Barber's birthday, and lets take the time to salute this talented music maker!
Born and raised in Knoxville, TN....she spent her life in country music performing around town as a kid, and it was when she was a teenager when she met and married drummer Roger Sullivan.
And it was in 1974....thanks to some wishful think with the maestro at the golf course, she with help from Roger, scored an audition and was hired onto the show....as Lawrence's "Country Gal".
She's got country music hits such as "Waiting At The End Of Your Run" and "Bucket To The South" and once co-owned with Dick Dale the Rainbow Theater in Pigeon Forge. Today, she still sings to a new generation of fans nationwide and has been a part of both Four Wunnerful Women and Live Lawrence Welk Show concert tours.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA!
Monday, June 26, 2006
For all you Anacani fans....
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Salute To Famous Musical Families
This week's show is another repeat, but a very good one! It's a salute to famous musicial families, here's the girls below singing "Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers.
A very nice way to open the show I must admit,
A very nice way to open the show I must admit,
The show has alot of memorable numbers in them, such as Guy & Ralna's "If I Were A Carpenter" made famous by Johnny & June Carter Cash, plus a nice English Quickstep by Bobby & Cissy and Tanya's rendition of "We've Only Just Begun" which was a huge hit by the Carpenters. There's also a nice instrumental version of "Unchained Melody" in which Charlotte Harris plays the Righteous Brothers hit on her cello.
For the second week in a row, we were treated to another rendition of "Something Stupid" made famous by Frank & Nancy Sinatra. Last week, the Lennon Sisters sang it...this week it's Gail and Dale.
That's Gail Farrell and Dick Dale to be exact.
And there was the Pennsylvania Polka by Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou as one of the show's highlights. This show, with wraparounds hosted by Anacani who she mentions about her own family, which are quite musicial as seen below with her mom singing "Solamente Una Vez" to wrap up the show.
Now you know where Anacani gets her musicial talents from!
Until next week's show, keep blogging and a song in your heart!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Tom Netherton
And now we bring out our Blonde Baritone Tom Netherton with a nice number for you nice folks....Bob Ralston will accompany him at the piano.A mainstay on the Welk show from 1973 to 1981, Tom is the definition of what a matinee idol is...and is known for singing not just the pop standards but also religious songs as well. You can find more about him and what he's up to by visiting his webpage.
And yes ladies....he's still single!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Picture of the day (6-21-06)
Monday, June 19, 2006
Happy Birthday Ralna
Sunday, June 18, 2006
County Fair 1967
You know it's summer when the County Fair comes to town, and that is the theme for this week's Lawrence Welk episode, a repeat with wraps hosted by costume guru Rose Weiss. Here's the Lennon Sisters above wearing a sample of Rose's work in the number. "Something Stupid".
This show first aired in September 1967, and it features the gang singing "Cotton Candy and a Toy Balloon", Lynn Anderson above with Buddy and Neil with her rendition of "These Boots Were Made For Walking" which is three hundred times BETTER than the Jessica Simpson version, and Jimmy Roberts with something for the ladies with "Martha".This is also one of Cissy King's first episodes dancing with Bobby Burgess and they dance to a rousing "Pennsylvania Polka" and speaking of accordian magic...there's Myron Floren playing the Dance of the Comedians and of course Larry Hooper does a hilarious Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas.
There's a cute number by Peggy Lennon featuring Charlie Parlato singing about Frankfurter Sandwiches (a bit risque!) and all sorts of sixties fun at the midway...like Bob Ralston here trying out to be the next World's Strongest Man?I think Bob better stick with the keyboards, like he does with a brilliant piece titled "The Merry Go-Round Broke Down".
Next week is another repeat...Salute To Famous Musical Families hosted by Anacani.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Picture of the day (6-14-06)
Monday, June 12, 2006
Champagne Music Parisian style
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Vacation Show
This week's episode is a repeat, for those who wanna get away from it all....here's A Vacation Show from 1980. Kathie Sullivan is the host for the wraparounds. Here's the gang above hanging out at the ice cream parlor singing, "Let's Get Away From It All".
Speaking of Kathie, here's her from 1980 singing, "Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair" and during her wrap segments, she talked about her family plus her role as Jane Long in her one-woman show about the history of Dallas, where she now makes her home. Back to the show itself, there were plenty of great numbers such as the "Come To The Mardi Gras" dance by Bobby & Elaine, "Leavin' On A Jet Plane" by Guy & Ralna, Joe Feeney rendition of "Around The World In 80 Days" with help at the organ by Bob Ralston and a nice orchestral version of "Tuxedo Junction".
Here's a nice quintet for you, Dick Dale, Gail Farrell, Ava Barber, Charlie Parlato and Kenny Trimble singing, "Things" which is easy for the ears and easy on the eyes if I must say so myself. Other numbers that were featured included "In Acapulco" by Anacani, the Hawaiian Wedding Song by Tom Netherton and "Louisiana Hayride" by the chorus to close put the show.
It was a very good show, and it makes me eager to get away from it all!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Johnny Zell
Here's one of the most talented and most popular musicians to have ever played the trumpet on the Welk show, Johnny Zell.Born in Fort Benning, GA....Johnnny and his family grew up in Southern California where at age 15 tried to score an audition with the music makers at the Hollywood Palladium, but the maestro thought he was too young and suggested he get some experience.
Five and a half years later, fresh out of the Army (with the NORAD band), he got his chance to play with the Music Makers which lasted from 1968 to 1982 and became immensly popular with his workmanship with the trumpet.
A devout Christian, Johnny, the father of four, and his wife Laura lives in Oregon where he continues to perform his horn and teach trumpet lessons in cyberspace courtesy of his webpage.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Picture of the day (6-6-06)
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Easy Listening
Howdy to all fans of Lawrence Welk, this week we had Easy Listening shown on many PBS stations...featuring Mary Lou Metzger's interview with Sally & Clay Hart. The actual episode itself was first shown on December 6, 1980. The maestro paid tribute to the easy listening songs that were commonplace on the AOR, Lite FM radio and it all started off with a nice orchestral piece appropriately titled "Sweet and Lovely" plus Bobby & Elaine showed us how to do the English Quickstep.
This particular show marked the return of Welk music makers Sally Flynn and Clay Hart, now happily married and making a go of it as a singing duo. Ironically, they were married on December 6, 1974 so when this show first aired, they celebrated six years of marriage. Here they are singing their favorites, "United We Stand". 
There were many great numbers in the show, such as Ava Barber's "Stand By Your Man", "Let Me Be There" by the trio of Gail, Ron and Michael, Jim Turner with the Harry Nilsson hit, "Everybody's Talkin" and pictured above is Johnny Zell and his trumpet with "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" with a little help from the always pretty Welk ladies.There was alos the "Jolly Polka" by the nimbe fingers of Myron Floren on his squeezbox, "Una Paloma Blanca" by Anacani just to name a few capped off by the gang to close the show with "What The World Needs (Is Love, Sweet Love)"....which truly makes it an easy listening and watching episode.
Now we come to Mary Lou's interview with Clay and Sally, among the topics discussed was how each one of them got on the Welk show plus a hilarious tale of how it was Sally that called the Maestro "Lawrence" instead of "Mister Welk". They also discussed about their tote bag business (It's Keep Sack if you didn't know) and their professional and working friendship with comic legend Red Skelton, whom they opened for many years back and taught them valuable lessons in showbiz.
Judging from my personal experiences, they are both wunnerful folks and great to be friends with. I advise you to take it upon yourself to see them in concert live whenever they come to your area, and have a chance to say "howdy" to them after the show...you won't be disappointed.
Oh yeah....and if you're curious, they didn't bring their poodle Sadie with them on camera.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Dave Edwards
Here's a picture of music maker Dave Edwards playing a nice solo of "Misty".Dave, who played for the Welk orchestra from 1968 to 1979, was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on January 11, 1941 and attended Auburn University along with a stint in NORAD with their famous orchestra before joining Mr. Welk.
Sadly, he died much too young in 2000 at the age of 59...when he was around, he was one of the finest saxophone players in the business and we are all glad that tapes of the Welk show preserve memories for all of us to enjoy.
And he also looked great too with those glasses, a great role model for all Welk fans that wear specs!
Picture of the day (6-1-06)
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Salute To The Armed Forces
The episode we got for this Memorial Day weekend was a repeat but a goodie...Salute to the Armed Forces hosted by Jack Imel. However, as the picture above indicates...it's also a combination of a farm-Emmy awards-military show which makes for some surreal but fun viewing. The opening number by the gang is "How You're Gonna Keep' em Down On The Farm".
Here's Myron Floren doing his popular "Alley Cat" accordian number with a few of his hip cats. The show also had a dance number arrangement by Richard Maltby and great individual numbers such as Tanya's "Kiss Me Goodbye", pictured below in the Emmy Award salute portion of the show. 
And now we come to the Armed Forces salute portion of the show, here's Jack and his Navy buddies singing "He's Every Inch A Sailor" plus other military favorites such as "This Is The Army Mr. Jones" and "You're A Grand Ol' Flag". 
And now here's the cast in the closing number in full military uniform singing the songs of all branches of the military...the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard....a great salute to all our men and women serving to defend our country.
When this episode first aired in May 1968, I couldn't help to think that this particular program came at a time when the US was fighting over in Vietnam and the many anti-war protests. I take the position that Lawrence Welk felt about this show and two years later with "Thank You America" that it doesn't matter if you're a hawk or a dove, here is a great way to express thanks and gratitude for this great country and the oppurtunities it provides...and a deep heart full of thanks to all our military personnel serving our country's honor.Stay safe everyone....next week's show should be a great one! It's a new one called "Easy Listening".
Friday, May 26, 2006
Would you trust this man?
Memorial Day Greetings
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Norman Bailey & Charlie Parlato
As Lawrence Welk would say...."A Couple Of Old Timers".Here's two of the band's talented trumpet players Norman Bailey (the one wearing the glasses) and Charlie Parlato (the short one). Norm has been with the music makers from 1952 to 1973 by way of Worcester, MA (same hometown of sax player Russ Klein) and has the distinction of steering a young Johnny Zell towards the trumpet when he gave the young Johnny one of his horns...of course the rest is history.
Charlie, in addition to be a excellent trumpist, is also a terrific musical comic and vocalist. He's from Fredonia, NY and his own family is quite musical, his grandaughter Gretchen is an accomplished jazz vocalist in her own right....you can learn more about Gretchen by clicking on to her official webpage.
American Idol
This may go a bit off-topic somewhat...but I did watch the finale of American Idol, I'm glad (inspite of some nay-sayers) that Taylor Hicks won.
I know for the big-wig music gurus, and these "so called" music experts and consultants say that he isn't the quote "marketable pop star" end quote....but he does have two things going for him...talent and personality, I would even bectha that Mr. Welk would love to have join his Musical Family in a heartbeat.
He may also be 29 years old....but he also has the youthful vigor and energy that would have been a huge asset to the maestro's show.
Let's hear it for both Soul Power and Champagne Power!
I know for the big-wig music gurus, and these "so called" music experts and consultants say that he isn't the quote "marketable pop star" end quote....but he does have two things going for him...talent and personality, I would even bectha that Mr. Welk would love to have join his Musical Family in a heartbeat.
He may also be 29 years old....but he also has the youthful vigor and energy that would have been a huge asset to the maestro's show.
Let's hear it for both Soul Power and Champagne Power!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Picture of the day (5-24-06)
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Salute To The Big Bands 1980
Yesterday, I got to see "Salute To The Big Bands" from 1980 and here's my two cents worth....a pretty fine and well-done show.The maestro kicked things off with "Chattanooga Choo Choo" featuring the band and the singers as shown in the picture above....plus there were fine musical performances by the music makers such as Johnny Zell, Skeets Herfurt and not one but TWO clarinet solos by Henry Cuesta, and like I always said....the boys in the band (other than Lawrence) were the real stars of the show, they give the Champagne Music that extra pop.
There were also some good numbers by Guy & Ralna with "Green Eyes", Ava Barber teaming up with Myron Floren for the polka induced "Just Because", and the Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins with the Frank Sinatra standard, "I'll Never Smile Again".
And then there's Mary Lou's interview with Elaine Balden...also known as Bobby Burgess' dance partner number three, that makes it three dancing partners in the last four weeks (Barbara Boylan - Southtown USA and Cissy King - Irving Berlin tribute)....and like the other interviews...this one was lively, pleasant and fun. Elaine talked mostly about how she teamed up with Bobby plus her family life...married to Welk show cameraman Jim Balden and her two daughters Alana and Skyla.Next week is a repeat....1968's Salute To The Armed Forces, but it is also one of my favorite 1960s episodes!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Andra Willis
Here's Andra Willis waiting for the evenin' train....trying to get the heck out of Flossmoor for some reason.This talented singer from Danville, Virginia was with the Music Makers for just two seasons from 1967 to 1969...and on the show has done duets with Dick Dale along with a few solo numbers.
She also has done an uncanny impersonation of Granny from "The Beverly Hillbillies" as seen below in the "Salute To The Armed Forces" episode from 1968.
I wonder if Irene Ryan was watching?
Very little is know about her....especially after leaving the Welk show, heck...I don't even know when her birthday is. Maybe some of you Welkies may know some where....or maybe some of her fellow castmates may stumble in her and have an answer.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Picture of the day (5-19-06)
Bobby Burgess
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Picture of the day (5-17-06)
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Bill Page and Orie Amodeo
Here are two of the finest musicians from the Welk orchestra circa 1964....Bill Page and Orie Amodeo from the reed section.
Bill was with the band from 1951 to 1965, he played the saxophone, clarinet and flute among his arsenal of music. He's a World War II veteran and in addition to the maestro...he's played for such diverse artists such as Barry Manilow (wonder if he played on the original sessions for "At The Copa?")
Orie of Mechanicsville, NY....was a Welk band member from 1945 to 1970, in addition to playing the sax, flute, piccolo and clarinet....he was also the band's official photographer and a mainstay of their recording sessions for labels Coral, Dot and Ranwood. He left to start his own Count Basie influenced band, The Orie J Orchestra, perhaps some of you have may have seen and heard them in person.
Orie sadly passed on in 1998, but his musical legacy is sure to live on among Welk fans!
Frank Scott
Here's a nice picture of pianist/arranger Frank Scott (1921-1995) after playing a nice instrumental of "Georgia On My Mind" from the Southern Show which aired a few weeks back.
Frank, of course, was with the Welk orchestra from 1956 to 1969 and has been very talented playing the piano, the harpischord and a terrific musical arranger. I always thought that the years he was on, especially during the 1960s, was when the music makers sounded their very best....and that's saying alot considering that all throughout the years, the Welk orchestra made such sweet music this side of heaven.
I would not be suprised if fellow pianists Jo Ann Castle, Bob Ralston, Bob Smale and Gail Farrell were inspired by Frank's artistry to shape their own keyboard talents.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Happy Birthday Natalie Nevins
Today is the fifteenth....just wanna wish Natalie Nevins a very happy birthday today!
Although she was on the show for a brief time (1965 to 1969), her talents as a vocalist plus her musical abilites with the flute and keen comedic timing made her a beloved fan favorite.
Let us all wish her well with warm greetings on her very special day!
Salute to Irving Berlin
Here's a nice shot of Mr. Welk dancing with Cissy King from last Saturday's Irving Berlin episode.
Speaking of that episode, originally aired in the spring of 1973....the Maestro and his musical family pays an hour-long tribute to the Great American Songwriter Irving Berlin, whom at that time would turn 85 on May 11th. It was a fun episode, Guy & Ralna with a nice rendition of "Easter Parade"...I assume that in '73....Easter Sunday was not too far away.
A bunch of Berlin standards were sung....the show opened with "There's No Business Like Show Business", "Say It Isn't So" sung by Tanya, "I Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" by the orchestra and "Lets Go Face The Music And Dance" danced by Cissy and Bobby just to name a few....and of course, the big finale with Norma Zimmer and the chorus singing "God Bless America".
In Mary Lou Metzger's interview segment, she talked to Cissy King and it was a lively and fun chat....very reflective of Cissy's personality. She mostly touched up on how she started dancing at age three, competing in ballroom dance competitions, how she got started on the Welk show and her activities afterwards such as being a choreographer for the Six Flags stage shows and her involvement in teaching up and comers to dance.
I was suprised that there was no mention of her involvement in the Broadway play "Always Patsy", that would have been an exciting topic to cover, but I guess they were short on time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
