Salute to Fred Astaire

Time to put on your top hat and tails along with your dancing shoes because this week, the Champagne Music makers pay tribute to Fred Astaire!

Here's some of the highlights from the show.....

Gail and Ava team up while wearing dresses combining Ol' Bavaria and Big City Sophistication....

Jack Imel plays with his marimbas....

......and George Cates plays with his baton.

SALUTE TO FRED ASTAIRE - September 27, 1980

1. IT'S S'WONDERFUL - Sheila, Sherry, Anacani, Gail, Kathie, Ava, Curt (Ramsey), Jimmy (Roberts), Ken, Jim, David, Roger, Joe
2. THE CARIOCA - danced by Bobby Burgess and Elaine Balden
3. A FINE ROMANCE - Guy Hovis
4. FLYING DOWN TO RIO - Anacani
5. I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO CHANGE MY PLAN - the orchestra

6. SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES - Tom Netherton with Bob Ralston at piano
7. I LOVE A PIANO - Ava Barber and Gail Farrell also on piano
8. LIMEHOUSE BLUES - Jack Imel and his marimbas
9. THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT - Jim Turner and his guitar
10. SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE - the orchestra

11. DANCING IN THE DARK - the orchestra conducted by George Cates
12. HOW ARE THINGS IN GLOCCA MORRA? - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston on Hammond Organ
13. BLUE SKIES - Bob Havens on trombone and Arthur Duncan dancing
14. THREE LITTLE WORDS - Sheila and Sherry Aldridge with David and Roger Otwell

15. I GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM - the orchestra
16. YOU AND THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC - Kathie Sullivan with Myron Floren on accordion
17. CHEEK TO CHEEK - Ken Delo
18. I LOVE LOUISA - Myron Floren on accordion with Ava, Kathie, Gail, Sherry, Anacani, Sheila, Joe, Roger, David, Jim, Guy and Jimmy along with Bobby and Elaine dancing

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Both Ralna English and Mary Lou Metzger do not appear in this episode.

I knew that around the time of taping (mid-1980) that Ralna's absence was attributed to personal issues going through, but I was surprised that Mary Lou also didn't appear. This is one of the very rare occasions during her tenure that happened.

Still, this week's episode was a fun, pleasant and fitting salute to one of Hollywood's greatest song-and-dance men like Fred Astaire. They just don't have talent and class today like they did back then.

Until next time, keep a song in your heart and may the days of your lives be s'wonderful!

Salute to Fred Astaire

All The Things You Are

From 1978, here's George Cates doing what he does best, conducting the singers and the band with this particular Jerome Kern number.

All The Things You Are

Scenes from the County Fair

Like the song suggests, "It's fun going to the county fair!"

So let's go there and check out the fun!

Guy & Ralna eating some cotton candy, little did they know it's made from real cotton....

Bobby Burgess pretends that his watermelon is a bowling ball.....

The Maestro tries out his joy buzzer on George Cates....

.....and Ken Delo is getting ready for his closeup.

Scenes from the County Fair

The Nutcracker Suite

From 1981, here's George Cates conducting the orchestra with this timely number....

The Nutcracker Suite

We Can Make Music - 1973 edition

It's a repeat this week, the 1973-74 season opener known as both Tahoe '73 - That Big Band Sound 

But around here in these parts, we know it as We Can Make Music '73

Here's some of the highlights from this week's show....

A supersized Jimmy Roberts awaits the King of the Monsters in a scene from Godzilla Conquers The Golden Gate

"Only he can lead us to honey roasted peanuts!"

  
"George, that joy buzzer gag is getting pretty old."

" I think Rose put too much starch in the pants again."
 

We Can Make Music - 1973 edition

The musical family as South Park characters #2

Here's more of your favorite Music Makers as South Park characters....

Musical Supervisor and Conductor George Cates

Buddy Merrill

and Neil Levang

 

The musical family as South Park characters #2

Bob, George and Toni

These following pictures are from last week's Welk episode, Salute to Mancini and Mercer from 1973.

Announcer Bob Warren dancing out in the audience

And later on, Conductor and Musical Supervisor George Cates is also cutting a rug....

And all day long, I have been scratching my head with the question, who is the pretty lady Bob and George danced with?

After a lengthy search, I found out that the lady is Toni Holt....a popular television co-host, reporter, columnist and socialite in Southern California.

She's has a very interesting career, you can learn more at her official webpage.

Bob, George and Toni

Separated at Birth?

Musical Supervisor George Cates

Doc Brown from Back To The Future

GREAT SCOTT!

My computer needs more jigawatts.....

Separated at Birth?

Here's yet another Welk haiku

And for this week, it's a George Cates haiku....

FOR OUR NEXT NUMBER

HERE'S GEORGE CONDUCTING THE BAND

TAKE IT AWAY BOYS

Here's yet another Welk haiku

George Cates

And now, let's meet Lawrence Welk's talented musical supervisor George Cates!

Born and raised in New York City, George first joined the Champagne Music Makers in 1951 as his musical supervisor after working with the comedy team of Olsen and Johnson in the musical revue Hellzapoppin and working as both an arranger and saxophone player for several bands.

Before 1973, he was seldom seen on camera...working behind the scenes on the band's musicial numbers and recordings as well. That all changed that same year when the Maestro encouraged George to conduct the orchestra on camera, where viewers got to know him....and love him for his personality and wunnerful musical arrangements.

Did you know that the show's theme song "Champagne Time" was written and arranged by George?

He passed on in May 2002, at the ripe old age of 90....but his life was filled with so much music and happiness!

George Cates

Calcutta

Calcutta, as Welk fans know, became the Welk Orchestra's first very big hit single which reached Number One on the music charts in 1961. It has a really great beat that everyone can dance to!

From 1964, here's the Maestro, with a rare early appearance by George Cates, in the recording studio ready to record the song.

Calcutta