Yes, there will be a new Lawrence Welk PBS special

And it will be hosted by Doc Severinsen of Johnny Carson fame.....

These are the details I got from Welknotes today.....

The name of the special is LAWRENCE WELK'S BIG BAND SPLASH and it will air on many PBS stations starting March 5th and will air throughout the month.

I'm not sure which stations, including mine, but will find out soon.

The special is a celebration of big band hits, and ol' Doc himself will host....they'll even air his performance of "Love Story" when he guested on one of the Maestro's shows back in 1972.

Band soloists include Henry Cuesta, Bob Havens, Pete Fountain, Jo Ann Castle, Johnny Zell, Kenny Trimble, Jack Imel, Bob Ralston and Johnny Klein.

Vocal solos will include Alice Lon, Mary Lou Metzger, Tanya Falan, Guy Hovis and Ralna English and the dance numbers will feature Bobby Burgess, Cissy King, Elaine Balden, Jack Imel and Arthur Duncan plus many more!

I'll keep you posted on any further details.....stay tuned.

Yes, there will be a new Lawrence Welk PBS special

Those Hazy Crazy Big Band Days

It's that time of year again when Lawrence Welk and his Musical Family salute the music from the Big Band Era!

On today's episode....

The Music Makers play an intense game of Freeze Tag

Joe Feeney goes mano y mano with The Trio.....

....and Arthur Duncan plays Follow The Leader with his friends.

BIG BAND DAYS - October 13, 1973

1. AND THE ANGELS SING - orchestra with Arthur, Gail, Ken, Mary Lou, Norma, Jimmy and Joe
2. MOONLIGHT SERENADE - the orchestra
3. IN THE MOOD - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
4. SAN ANTONIO ROSE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English with Neil Levang on guitar
5. MISSISSIPPI MUD - Larry Hooper with Anacani, Tanya, Sandi, Norma, Mary Lou, Cissy and Gail

 
6. TWILIGHT TIME - Myron Floren on accordion
7. YOUR CHEATIN' HEART - Clay Hart
8. QUIEREME MUCHO (YOURS) - Anacani
9. THE WOODCHOPPER'S BALL - the orchestra with Henry Cuesta on clarinet, Bob Havens on trombone and the trumpet section
10. THE PENNSYLVANIA POLKA - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell, Mary Lou Metzger with Myron Floren on accordion and dancing by Cissy King and Bobby Burgess

11. MY WONDERFUL ONE - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
12. THE RAINDROP SERENADE - Bob Smale and Bob Ralston at the piano
13. I'LL NEVER SMILE AGAIN - Tanya Falan with Dick Dale, Norma Zimmer, Gail Farrell and Curt Ramsey
14. SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - Sandi Griffiths on lead vocal with Mary Lou, Gail, Norma, Tanya, Anacani, Ralna and Cissy

15. WHEN DAY IS DONE - orchestra featuring Johnny Zell on trumpet
16. BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS - Joe Feeney
17. BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA - sung and danced by Arthur Duncan with Jimmy Roberts, Mary Lou Metzger, Jack Imel, Cissy King, Bobby Burgess and Anacani
18. SO RARE - Ken Delo with Dave Edwards on saxophone
19. RHAPSODY IN BLUE - orchestra with Bob Ralston at piano and vocals by Joe, Norma, Arthur, Anacani, Jimmy, Gail, Sandi, Larry, Cissy, Bobby, Mary Lou, Tanya, Guy and Ralna

I really enjoyed this episode, especially Hoopie's Mississippi Mud number with the girls. You can tell by the smile on his face that he's having the time of his life!

Also, if you noticed real close during the show....there are some peculiar features one normally doesn't see on a typical Welk episode.

Such as Henry Cuesta not wearing eyeglasses....

.....and Laroon Holt with a mustache

Everyone was impeccably dressed this week, my taste in fashion may be limited but I thought the fellas looked smart in their white suits and the girls looked stunningly sexy in their yellow dresses.

So until next week, keep a song in your heart and may the Bluebird of Happiness fly up your nose.

Those Hazy Crazy Big Band Days

Having fun saluting the Big Bands

Another repeat show.....Salute to the Big Bands from 1960

Here's Larry Hooper as Kay Kyser and Rocky Rockwell as Ish Kabibble

Larry Dean singing "Got a Date With An Angel"

Jack Imel with his own salute to Spike Jones....

....and Peggy Lennon singing "Oh Johnny" like Wee Bonnie Baker

Someone should remind Aladdin that's not how you drink a glass of water

Having fun saluting the Big Bands

Salute To The Big Bands

This week's episode is a Salute To The Big Bands from 1980, here's the gang getting the show started with "Chattanooga Choo Choo" danced by Bobby & Elaine!

And here's the Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins singing "I'll Never Smile Again",


...and here's the Kentucky Gentleman Jimmy Roberts accompained by Neil Levang on guitar!

For the complete rundown of the show, just click here at BIG BAND SALUTE 1980

Salute To The Big Bands

Big Bands 1978

This week, the folks from Welk Syndication and OETA present the first Welk show of 2007, Salute To The Big Bands which was also the first show of the 1978-79 season!

Here's Lawrence Welk introducing Johnny Zell to get things started with a trumpet salute to Harry James.

Speaking of Johnny, he is also the host of the wraparounds for the show. He talks at length about his family and his career since Welk, touring the west coast with wife Laura and their kids as a family musical act and his knowledge of computers, where he teaches cyber trumpet courtesy of his webpage, Jazell.com

Speaking of his wife, it was Tom Netherton, who is one of Johnny's best friends on the show, that introduced him to Laura. He also mentioned that when the Zells married in 1977, Tom served as best man.

The music makers are without a doubt, a true musical family in every sense of the word.

And now, back to September 16, 1978 (original airdate of this episode) where Tom was next, along with his freshly new haircut singing "I'll Never Smile Again" made popular by Frank Sinatra and the Jordanaires. Bob Ralston played one of his popular piano selections "Cumana" and Guy & Ralna came out with their ever popular selection "Tangerine".

The Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins, in the Maestro's own words, were a little too young to remember the big band days so they did sung, "Knee Deep In Loving You" which was excellent.

Lawrence also paid tribute to the great Artie Shaw by having the orchestra play "Begin The Beguine" with Henry Cuesta leading the way on clairnet. He also had George Cates lead the orchestra and singers with the Paul Whiteman arrangement "When Day Is Done".

Also among the big band numbers featured on the show was "Sentimental Journey", sung by our favorite all girl trio of Gail, Sandi and Mary Lou.....both looking might nice in their yellow outfits.

There was Anacani, bring back memories of ex-Champagne Lady Jayne Walton by singing one of her signature hits "Eres Mi Amor" with Myron Floren at the squeezebox. Bobby and Cissy danced a fine mambo done Prez Prado style and Arthur Duncan doing a tap routine to the Shiek of Araby.

It was a wunnerful show, finishing up nicely with a bang with the orchestral arrangement of "Panama" which had the music makers getting their groove on.

I agree with Johnny here, this episode does get one huge thumbs up!

Next week, it will be "Time Was" I think....should be a good one.

Big Bands 1978