Hoops Heaven

Last night, I must have aged thirty years in the last three minutes.

If you're wondering where did that quote come from, I was watching Game Two of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers and I was glad that the Celtics won.....they lead by as many as 24 in the fourth but was whittled down to two with 23 seconds left.

Just one of many things I have been doing in between mainting my website, this blog, taping Welk shows and preparing for my summer of upcoming Welk concerts.

Here's basketball's big three (Bobby Burgess, Arthur Duncan and Jack Imel) that can rival Boston's big three (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen).

These fellers can ball....and their footwork is second to none!

I know that with the show based in La La Land, many of the music makers may be partial to the Lakers....but I wonder if there are some that root for the Celtics?

On that note, Go C's!

BEAT LA!

Hoops Heaven

Salute to Perry Como

This week, it's a salute to the music of Perry Como....so from September 23, 1978; here's the musical family with a selection of songs that was made famous by "Mr. C"

The gang opens the show up with "Hot Diggity"

Next is Cissy and Bobby in the Pennsylvania State Playpen singing "Papa Loves Mambo".....

....and here's Guy & Ralna with the song "If"

Did you know that Perry Como also recorded a country music song, we'll here's Ava Barber with her own rendition of Mr. C's "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes"

...and here's Myron Floren at the PAN accordion with "Hoop Dee Doo"

Other fine selections in tonight's show include "Catch A Falling Star" by the Aldridges and Otwells, "More" by Jimmy Roberts, "Ava Maria" by Norma Zimmer and "Beautiful Girl" by Dick Dale.

And there were great instrumentals by the band that include "Till' The End Of Time", "Temptation" and "Round and Round" danced by Arthur Duncan.

So it all makes for a great show on the first Sunday of June!

And being interviewed by Mary Lou this week in the hot seat is the Aldridge Sisters; Sherry and Sheila. They talked about their family's musical family background, how they got on the Lawrence Welk Show and their teaming with the Otwell Twins plus their careers after the show ended.

Speaking of that, Sheila and Sherry are on tour with the Forever Blowing Bubbles concert series with Jim Turner, Ken Delo and Arthur Duncan....making stops in Pennsylvania and Ohio this month, plus they are appearing in Branson at the Welk Resort for the Welk Stars Reunion Show in the first week of September, so be sure to see them! You'll be in for a special treat and then some.

It's getting hot here in Toledo....so until next week, stay cool everyone.

Salute to Perry Como

Jo Ann Castle on the Jimmy Sturr Show

Here's a little treat from yesterday evening, on RFD-TV....the Jimmy Sturr Show had Jo Ann Castle on as his special guest star, it is always exciting when you see members of the Welk Musical Family appear on other shows.

Here's Jo Ann talking to Mister Zillion Grammy Winner from Florida, New York....

Here's Jo Ann playing the Beer Barrell Polka on the piano....

....and the crowd loves it! Jo Ann was truly the star of the show.

If you missed it don't worry....that same show shall air again Sunday morning at 10am Eastern (7am Pacific) on Rural America's Most Important TV Newtork.

Jo Ann Castle on the Jimmy Sturr Show

Jack Imel newspaper article

Last Tuesday, Jack Imel performed with fellow music makers Dick Dale and Anacani at Bear Creek Farms in Bryant, Indiana for us loyal and devoted Welk fans.

This concert is also Jack's last, he's annouced his retirement from the road....so his career comes full circle, making his curtain call right in the Hoosier State, where he was born, grew up and first peformed in public.

Here's a nice article from the Commerical Review, the voice of Jay County, Indiana. It's very well written and you'll enjoy it.

Jack Imel newspaper article

It's another wunnerful Welk haiku!

This one is a doozy, it all takes place in France, at least on the Welk Show set in Hollywood.....

The Lennon Sisters

here on the streets of Paris

playing some hopscotch

It's another wunnerful Welk haiku!

Photoshops....Welk Style

I tell you....photoshop technology is great, and if you're a Welk fan like I am....it gets even better.

Here's one of my creations, Rocky Rockwell is joined by Sandi and Sally for another wunnerful music number.

And the number? "I Love Girls" of course!

Photoshops....Welk Style

Sandi & Sally go on a Summer Samba

Once lyrics were added to the music, it goes by the title of "So Nice"....

...and that's what this song is, especially if it is sung by Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn. Here are the girls from 1968 with that arrangement with Bob Ralston at the Vox.

Sandi & Sally go on a Summer Samba

Larry Dean

Today is music maker Larry Dean's birthday, and as always, I wrote a haiku for this event.

Happy Birthday Larry! Hope you like your gift.....

His name is Larry

and his voice can melt butter

He's that smooth ladies

Larry Dean

Vacations and Pastimes

Summer is here, and if the price of gas is keeping you from traveling in order to have fun, let the Welk stars give you some ideas for leisure fun that will cost you little or no money at all!

You can go out for some ice cream with your friends....

....perhaps you can throw a Luau in your own backyard, finally put your collection of Hawaiian shirts to good use.....

....or you and your friends can get together for a sing-a-along hootnanny, karoake machine is optional.

Those are just a few suggestions of mine.....what are your plans?

Vacations and Pastimes

Songs From The Classics

Here's another classic Welk episode for you....this week it's Songs From The Classics from March 8, 1980.

Without further delay.....let's go the highlights!

First, here's Guy & Ralna singing the "Song of Love".

Next, we have Bobby & Elaine dance to the sounds of the Tales From the Vienna Woods......

.....not to be outdone by Myron Floren and the Dance of the Comedians on the accordion.

Here's Dick Dale singing "Till The End Of Time" with Bob Smale at piano and Ernie Ehrhardt at cello.

And now we focus on the girls chorus as they provide vocals to "Our Love"

Other fine numbers include "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" by Gail, Sandi and Mary Lou as well as Anacani singing "Guadalajara". We also had Ken Delo with "Mack The Knife", the Aldridges and Otwells with "Hot Diggity" and great instrumentals such as the 1812 Overture, The Breeze And I and Malaguena.

And to sum up this show....I shall proclaim, "Bravo, Bravo!"

This week, Jim Turner takes his turn on Mary Lou's hot seat....he talks about being raised in a musical family of his own, plus his time on Broadway as part of the original production of "Jesus Christ Superstar"....and how he met his wife Terri.

As for next week, it's a Salute To Perry Como followed by Mary Lou's interview with the Aldridge Sisters. Can't wait for that one!

See you all next week until then....

Songs From The Classics

Kathie Sullivan's birthday

Today is Kathie Sullivan's birthday....here's a fun haiku I've written for her.

She has a pure voice

and can sing novelty songs

Kathie has talent

Happy Birthday Kathie!

Kathie Sullivan's birthday

This haiku is outta gas

Here's a creative way of getting around, in lieu of $4 a gallon gas....all done in haiku of course!

Use Pedal Power

Courtesy of your two feet

The Welk stars do it!

This haiku is outta gas

The hazards of being an art teacher

We'll let Jo Ann Castle demonstrate in this musical number from last week's episode....

The hazards of being an art teacher

Tim Padilla's birthday

Today is the birthday of Tim Padilla, Accordion Superstar of the Live Welk Show, Welk Resort Branson and points in between!

Here's a nice birthday haiku I have prepared for him.....

Hear that polka sound?

That's Tim playing the squeezebox

Everybody dance!

Happy Birthday Tim!

Tim Padilla's birthday

And the winner is......

The voting is now closed from my latest poll....the Battle Royal of Welk's Country Gals, here are the results.

Coming in first with 68% of the vote (53 votes in all) is Ava Barber!

And right behind in second with 31% (24 votes) is Lynn Anderson!

Hope you're all having a nice Memorial Day weekend so far....be sure to pay tribute to those who gave their all fefending ou country, and that is most important.
Also, you can start voting on my newest Welk Poll to your right.....it's the American Way!

And the winner is......

Occupations

And now this week, the music makers pay salute to the men and women and their occupations....in form of this show that first aired on March 8, 1969.

Here's the opening number, "The Trolley Song".....as the gang head off for work.

Next, we go to outer space with Sandi & Sally as astronauts as they sing, "We'll Make It To The Moon Tonight".

Here's Cissy King giving Bobby Burgess dance lessons.....

Now we find Dick Dale working on the lines first as a Wichita Lineman while Tanya plays operator next with the number "Call Me".

....and just to clarify, this version of Call Me is not and I repeat NOT the one Deborah Harry and Blondie sang that became a Top Ten hit in 1980.

Next, backstage at a cattle call.....officer Joe Feeney joins aspiring singer Natalie Nevins with "Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral" which by the way is an Irish Lullaby.

And Frank Scott does a great job with the piano work here....

Other fine numbers include "Penthouse Serenade" by Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts, Andra Willis with "Salt & Pepper", Myron Floren with the Circus Polka and Larry Hooper with "Sixteen Tons".

This week, Mary Lou has Jack Imel in the hot seat....and as always, Professor Spoons has plenty to say.

See you next week for more Welk fun on public television, and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Occupations

The Knoxville Two

The Maestro proudly presents the hottest duo in country music today....

Ava Barber and Jim Turner.....

....a pair of fine, dandy and talented Southern kids that can sing!

The Knoxville Two

Time for another Haiku boys and girls....

Can you dig this one?

Bobby and Cissy

are looking very shiny

And they can dance too

Time for another Haiku boys and girls....

Got Rose Milk?

Is your skin dry?

Your usual skin cream not doing the job?

Consider Rose Milk, as the ladies of Lawrence Welk Show show in these commercials, here's Mary Lou Metzger.....

.....followed by Anacani

....and Sandi Griffiths as they demonstrate.

And here's the hook.....

Got Rose Milk?

Close....but no cigar

I did catch the American Idol finale....David Cook won the competition.

But the contest we Welk fans are more concerned with is the Idol Songwriter contest, unfortunately.....Gail Farrell's song (You Can Do Anything) didn't win.

Another song, "Time Of My Life" took top honors.

Still, congratulations Gail for the honor of her song being nominated in the Top 20....may that be a springboard to even better things, we're all proud of you!

And thanks everyone for doing your part by voting and spreading the word!

Close....but no cigar

Musical Family Hair

Here's a fun and nostalgic look at some of the hair stylings of Tom Netherton....

Musical Family Hair

Dancing With Root Canal

Just got back from the dentist, two and half hours of root canal work will leave you in pain and then some.

Tonight is the Dancing With The Stars finale....it's Kristi, Cristian and Jason in the finals, and I am predicting that an athlete (Kristi or Jason) will emerge victorious.

Also tonight is the first of the two American Idol finales....I believe either this one or tomorrow's show will reveal who is AI's top songwriter.

I got my fingers crossed that it will be Gail, just watch and find out!

Dancing With Root Canal

Bobby Burgess' birthday

Today is Bobby Burgess' birthday, and to celebrate this special event, here's one of my trademark haikus for everyone to enjoy!

Fellow Mouseketeers

Watch Bobby on the Welk Show

He's light on his feet

Happy Birthday Bobby!

Also, on this day....six years ago in 2002, I attended my first Welk concert....the Four Wunnerful Women at the Valentine Theatre in Toledo.

That led me to greater things, such as launching my webpage, watching more concerts and this blog.

Here's the ladies; Gail, Ava, Ralna and Mary Lou in the lobby after the show.

Bobby Burgess' birthday