Lawrence Welk

Lawrence Welk (March 11, 1903 – May 17, 1992) was a musician, accordion player, band leader, and television impresario. He was born in Strasburg, North Dakota to German Catholic immigrants from Russia.

Related Topics:
March 11 - 1903 - May 17 - 1992 - Musician - Accordion - Band - Television - Strasburg, North Dakota - German - Catholic - Russia

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His music was conservative, concentrating mostly on pop song standards, polkas, and novelty songs, delivered in a smooth, calming, good-humored easy listening style. His show was warm and family-oriented. His "Champagne Music" has been considered the epitome of "square".

Related Topics:
Pop song - Polka - Novelty song - Easy listening - Champagne

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In the 1920s, Welk led big band engagements in the eastern South Dakota area. His band was the station band for popular radio station WNAX in Yankton, South Dakota.

Related Topics:
1920s - South Dakota - WNAX - Yankton, South Dakota

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During the 1930s, Welk led a travelling big band, specializing in dance tunes and 'sweet' music. The band performed in many places across the country, particularly in the Chicago, Illinois area. In the early 1940s the band travelled to California for a six-week engagement at the Avalon Ballroom. This gig turned into a 10 year stint, drawing crowds of nearly 7000 on a regular basis.

Related Topics:
1930s - Big band - Chicago, Illinois - 1940s

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In 1952, Welk settled in Los Angeles, California. That same year, he began producing The Lawrence Welk Show on KTLA in Los Angeles. The show was first aired nationally on ABC in 1955.

Related Topics:
1952 - Los Angeles, California - The Lawrence Welk Show - KTLA - ABC - 1955

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Welk's television program had a policy to only play well known songs and tunes from previous years, so that the target audience would only hear numbers that they were already familiar with. This strategy proved commercially successful.

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Much of the show's appeal was Welk himself. Although born in the United States, he spoke with a slight but notable European accent that many, especially ladies, found to be quite appealing. His TV show was recorded as if it were live and was sometimes quite free-wheeling. Welk often took ladies from the audience for a turn around the dance floor. During one show Welk brought a cameraman out to dance with one of the ladies and took over the camera himself.

Related Topics:
United States - TV show

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The reputation for "corny music" notwithstanding, his musicians were always top quality, including accordionist Myron Floren and New Orleans Dixieland clarinetist Pete Fountain. Welk was noted for spotlighting individual members of his band and show. His band was well-disciplined and had excellent arrangements in all styles. One notable showcase was his album with the noted jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges. Welk's instrumental cover of the song "Yellow Bird" was a hit.

Related Topics:
Myron Floren - New Orleans - Dixieland - Clarinetist - Pete Fountain - Jazz - Saxophonist - Johnny Hodges

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By the time The Lawrence Welk Show went off the air, it had a distinctly dated feel to it. Lawrence, who had begun in the hep days of American Bandstand and other big band television programs, never changed the format of his show. Lawrence was still maintaining the big band image that had originated before the show even went to color, and by the early 1980s, this wasn't so much a style as a hinderance. At that point some pop-culture songs (such as those of John Denver) had been featured on the show, where songs originally written for one man holding a guitar were rescored for a small chorus flanked by dozens of musicians. This was feasible, but it may be that the quality of these newer songs suffered for it.

Related Topics:
American Bandstand - Big band - John Denver

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Lawrence was married for over sixty years, until his death, to Fern Renner, who bore him three children. One of his sons ended up marrying fellow Lawrence Welk Show performer Tanya Falan.

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Welk's California automobile license plate read A1ANA2, referencing his trademark count-off before each number, "A one, and a two..." This plate is visible on the front of a Model A Ford in one of the shows from 1980.

Related Topics:
California - License plate - Model A - Ford - 1980

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His band continues to appear in a dedicated theater in Branson, Missouri even though Welk is now deceased. A resort community in Escondido, California is named after Welk.

Related Topics:
Branson, Missouri - Escondido, California

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Welk is said to have learned English only when he was already an adult because he always spoke German at home. When he was asked about his ancestry, he replied always with "Alsace-Lorraine, Germany" (although not strictly correct, many Russian German Catholics have roots in Alsace-Lorraine and identify themselves as such).

Related Topics:
Russian German - Catholics - Alsace-Lorraine

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He died from pneumonia in Santa Monica, California at the age of 89, and is buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Related Topics:
Pneumonia - Santa Monica, California - Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery - Culver City, California

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Lawrence Welk is a recipient of the state of North Dakota's Roughrider Award.

Related Topics:
North Dakota - Roughrider Award

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