Fun Memories of growing old ... and growing in appreciation of the Lawrence Welk Show ... as well as intergenerational growth in music as the international languague of unity!
Pic: Public Domain
You know you're getting older when, like me – a 65-er, you start regularly watching the syndicated “Lawrence Welk Show” like I find myself doing whenever I can locally on LPB, Channel 27 on Saturdays at 6 P!
When I was a teenager in New Orleans, I dreaded listening to the Welk show when I walked by the den of our uptown home on Broadway and Spruce Streets as Dad and Mom would be glued to watching and enjoying that show like I now do.
I guess watching it helps to foster memories of my great late parents, who embodied what Tom Brokaw coined as the “Greatest Generation!”
It was fun back as a teen seeing all those bubbles in the background of the Welk Show and how his performances had been called “Champagne music.”
But as I watch the show faithfully now, I'm amazed how they had featured not only country and big band music but also some very jazzed up music regularly like you can hear at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter!
Pete Fountain, a favorite of us 'Yats as a clarinet player, was a regular player in Welk's Orchestra in the early years of the show, and Henry Cuesta certainly was another virtuoso who followed Pete!
In my high school days, I did enjoy watching Carol Burnett in her fun comedy skits and now realize how neat the Lawrence Welk's skits were also.
As a baby boomer who grew up loving music by The Beatles and other such groups, I now see how Welk sometimes incorporated some 60's & 70's tunes in performances and sing-a-longs that I now can truly appreciate.
Also, I find myself getting mesmerized by the incredible tap dancing that was done by Arthur Duncan on the show, as well as his great singing and acting parts in many skits.
Welk also broke some race barriers that were still prevalent in the 60s, as he included some wonderful musicians and actors of color on the show.
As a teenager, sometimes I would definitedly be drawn to the television briefly while my parents watched the LW show - especially when the beautiful Mexican singer, Anacani, would be performing!
So, as I end this piece, how can I not but sing some of that wonderful closing song to the show that followed Lawrence's stated wish that all of us can strive for - that we always “keep a song in your heart:”
“... Good night, sleep tight and pleasant dreams to you
Here's a wish and a prayer that every dream comes true
And now 'til we meet again
Adios, au revoir, auf wiedersehen
Good Night!”
Thanks for reminding me that I grew up in central Wisconsin with Larry Welk just a few miles down the road in Milwaukee. Something that was rather unique even in those days with only his show, The Grand Old Oprey and Dick Clark's American Bandstand airing from venues outside of NYC and LA.
I don't remember the accordion player's name, but but he was a virtuoso and I was not. I have little desire to go back to those old shows, but listen to old song, hopefully some by the original artists every night before going to sleep. Sometimes it's something from The Lawrence Welk Show.
Pic: Public Domain
