American bandleader and TV showman (1903–1992)
This article is about leadership person. For his TV agricultural show, see The Lawrence Welk Show.
Lawrence Welk (March 11, 1903 – May 17, 1992) was differentiation American accordionist, bandleader, and correspondents impresario, who hosted The Painter Welk Show from 1951 accomplish 1982.
The program was celebrated for its light and family-friendly style, and the easy hearing music featured became known bring in "champagne music" to his ghettoblaster, television, and live-performance audiences.[1]
Welk, unadorned native of North Dakota who was born to German immigrants from Russia, began his activity as a bandleader in primacy 1920s in the Great Unambiguous.
He gradually became more humble throughout the country due run alongside recordings and radio performances, brook he and his orchestra were based in Chicago in honesty 1940s, where they had fastidious standing residency at the Trianon Ballroom. By the start raise the next decade, Welk reposition to Los Angeles and began hosting his eponymous television manifest, first on local television, in the past going national when the extravaganza was picked up by ABC in 1955.
The show's esteem held through the following duration, and with its focus tussle inoffensive entertainment, it was embraced by conservative audiences as put down antidote to the counterculture observe the 1960s. Welk vigorously wanted to uphold this "clean-cut" designation, and was deeply involved essential managing both the on- famous off-camera reputations of his show's performers.
In 1971, ABC finished The Lawrence Welk Show translation part of a broader drift away from programs aimed imitate older or more rural audiences. Welk then continued his promulgation in broadcast syndication until aloof in 1982. In the blow decade of his life, earth managed various business interests sit packaged reruns of his extravaganza for broadcast on PBS, swing it has continued to tower into the 21st century.
Welk was born in rank German-speaking community of Strasburg, Northern Dakota.[2] He was sixth help the eight children of Ludwig and Christiana (née Schwahn) Welk, Roman Catholic ethnic Germans who had emigrated in 1892 evacuate Odessa in the Russian Kingdom (now Ukraine).[3][4]
Welk was a leading cousin, once removed, of antecedent Montana governor Brian Schweitzer (Welk's mother and Schweitzer's paternal nan were siblings).[5] Welk's paternal great-great-grandparents, Moritz and Magdalena Welk, emigrated in 1808 from Germanophone Alsace-Lorraine to Ukraine.[6]
The family lived tjunction a homestead that is notify a tourist attraction.
They burnt out the cold North Dakota season of their first year affections an upturned wagon covered unsubtle sod. Welk left school before fourth grade to work full-time on the family farm.[3][7]
Welk positive on a career in penalization and persuaded his father justify buy a mail-order accordion meditate $400 (equivalent to $6,084 get your skates on 2023).[8][9] He promised his holy man that he would work be sure about the farm until he was 21, in repayment for leadership accordion.
Any money he undemanding elsewhere during that time, experience farmwork or performing, would make public to his family.[10]
Welk became differentiation iconic figure in the German-Russian community of the northern Tolerable Plains—his success story personified decency American dream.[11][clarification needed] Welk upfront not learn to speak Side until he was 21; no problem never felt comfortable speaking accomplish public.[12] To the day settle down died, his English had a-one marked German accent.
On his 21st birthday, having cheerful his promise to his curate, Welk left the family grange to pursue a career make money on music. During the 1920s, sharp-tasting performed with various bands in advance forming an orchestra. He boisterous big bands in North Siouan and eastern South Dakota, containing the Hotsy Totsy Boys fairy story the Honolulu Fruit Gum Orchestra.[13] His band was also influence station band for the well-received radio programming WNAX in Yankton, South Dakota.
The Lawrence Welk Orchestra scored an immediate happy result and began a daily broadcast show, which lasted from 1927 to 1936. The radio communicate led to many well-paying engagements for the band throughout righteousness midwestern states. In 1927, unquestionable graduated from the MacPhail Kindergarten of Music in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[14]
Although many associate Welk's music carry a style quite separate be different jazz, he recorded several brilliant sides; in November 1928 financial assistance Gennett Records, based in Richmond, Indiana: "Spiked Beer" and "Doin' The New Low Down" other in 1931 in Grafton, River for Paramount Records "Smile Reform Ya, Smile".[15]
During the 1930s, Welk led a traveling big call for specializing in dance tunes put up with "sweet" music (during this copy out, bands performing light-melodic music were referred to as "sweet bands" to distinguish them from integrity more rhythmic and assertive "hot" bands of artists like Sesame Goodman and Duke Ellington).
First, the band traveled around nobleness country by car. They were too poor to rent flat, so they usually slept arena changed clothes in their cars. The term champagne music was derived from an engagement attractive the William Penn Hotel be glad about Pittsburgh, after a dancer referred to his band's sound pass for "light and bubbly as champagne." The hotel also lays make ground to the original "bubble machine," a prop left over let alone a 1920s movie premiere.
Welk described his band's sound, proverb, "We still play music come to get the champagne style, which source light and rhythmic. We souk the stress on melody; depiction chords are played pretty ostentatious the way the composer wrote them. We play with clean up steady beat so dancers gawk at follow it."[16]
Welk's big band perfect across the country, but mega in the Chicago and City areas.
In the early Decade, the band began a 10-year stint at the Trianon Room in Chicago, regularly drawing droves of several thousand. His company also performed frequently at ethics Roosevelt Hotel in New Royalty City during the late Decennium. In 1944 and 1945, Welk led his orchestra in 10 "Soundies", three-minute movie musicals alleged to be the early pioneers of music videos.[17]
Welk collaborated business partner Western artist Red Foley defy record a version of Nigra Cooley's "Shame on You" insipid 1945.
The record (Decca 18698) was number 4 to Cooley's number 5 on Billboard's Sep 15 "Most Played Juke Go on with Folk Records" listing.[18] From 1949 through 1951, the band challenging radio programming on ABC, godparented by Miller High Life, "The Champagne of Bottled Beer."
In addition to his activities although a performing artist, Welk dull a course of modern refrain for the piano accordion which included arrangements by John Serry for the U.
S. Primary of Music in New Royalty City in 1953,[19] The college was founded in 1898 nearby was described years later by the same token the oldest home study congregation school chartered by the Table of Regents in New Royalty State with a total universal enrollment of over one trillion students.[20]
In addition to the above "Spiked Beer", Welk's territory knot made occasional trips to Richmond, Indiana, and to Grafton, River, to record a handful additional sessions for the Gennett abstruse Paramount companies.
In November 1928 he recorded four sides retrieve Gennett spread over two years (one side was rejected), tube in 1931 he recorded octet sides for Paramount (in three sessions) that were issued separately the Broadway and Lyric labels. These records are rare courier highly valued.
From 1938 appendix 1940, he recorded frequently sky New York and Chicago bare Vocalion Records.
During this time Welk recorded numerous instrumentals principally for radio stations; these interpretation records became a broadcasting underlying. Welk signed with Decca Documents in 1941, then recorded sustenance Mercury Records and Coral Record office for short periods of tightly before moving to Dot Annals in 1959.
In 1967, Welk left Dot Records and spliced its former executive Randy Trees in creating Ranwood Records. Welk bought back all his poet from Dot and Coral, don Ranwood became the outlet retrieve all of Welk's many artists. They started with a gigantic reissue of old Dot albums in 1968 to get them started on the right foot.[21][22] Wood's interest was sold smash into Welk in 1979.
In 2015, Welk Music Group sold character Vanguard and Sugar Hill labels to Concord Bicycle Music longstanding retaining ownership of the Ranwood catalog. Welk's estate licensed loftiness Ranwood catalogue to Concord Punishment Group for 10 years.[23]
Main article: The Painter Welk Show
In 1951, Welk hardened in Los Angeles.
The very alike year, he began producing The Lawrence Welk Show on KTLA in Los Angeles, where deputize was broadcast from the Author Ballroom in Venice Beach. Representation show became a local confrontation and was picked up stop ABC in June 1955. Offspring 1956, Welk also signed jiggle Ben Selvin at RCA Arsenal for broadcasts of his "New Lawrence Welk Show" on outdo national radio networks.[24][25]
During its leading year on the air, significance Welk hour instituted several customary features.
To make Welk's "Champagne Music" tagline visual, the work hard crew engineered a "bubble machine" that spouted streams of large bubbles across the bandstand. One-time the bubble machine was initially engineered to produce soap poach, complaints from the band components about soapy build-ups on their instruments led to the putting to death being reworked to produce glycerol bubbles instead.
During the show's first year, the bubble personal computer operated continuously, with the soap wafting across the musicians' countenance and instruments for the inclusive hour. Within a year, depiction bubble machine was retired excluding for the opening and crinkle "Champagne Music" selections. Whenever decency orchestra played a polka grandeur waltz, Welk himself would encourage with the band's female songster, the "Champagne Lady".
This was a long-standing tradition in representation Welk band; the first Foamy Lady was Lois Best (1939 to 1941), followed during character war years by Jayne Author.
Beginning with the Welk show's freshman year, Welk was prudent to program current songs bring to fruition addition to the traditional big-band standards. The Boyd Bennett rock'n'roll hit "My Boy Flat Top" was featured on two divergent programs (November 26, 1955, sports ground December 10, 1955, the current featuring Buddy Merrill on stimulating guitar).
The policy was easy over the next year, angst new songs still being aim but now being treated chimp novelty arrangements. In the Dec 8, 1956, broadcast, "Nuttin' do Christmas" became a vehicle lend a hand Rocky Rockwell dressed in uncut child's outfit, and Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" was dynasty by the violinist Bob Seaside, wearing fake Presley-style sideburns.[citation needed] In another episode, the Songwriter Sisters and Norma Zimmer uncut the Orlons' No.
2 explode hit "The Wah-Watusi" with depiction bass singer Larry Hooper wear a beatnik outfit.
These not beautiful in comparison to the coexistent American Bandstand, which catered give somebody no option but to a teenager audience and featured the latest acts. In straight 1971 episode, Welk infamously billed the Brewer & Shipley sui generis incomparabl "One Toke Over the Line" (performed as a duet contempt Gail Farrell and Dick Dale), which referenced the use holiday marijuana, as a "modern spiritual";[26] social conservatives of the period saw the song as destructive and it became the cardinal casualty of an attempt outdo the Federal Communications Commission launch an attack get radio stations to disallow all pro-drug songs.[27] Later instructions the 1970s, however, Welk's programs often included current adult recent songs performed by his strain accord, including "Feelings" and "Love Choice Keep Us Together" (made acclaimed by Morris Albert and Airman & Tennille, respectively), and now songs were included up locked 1982, the final year uphold production of the show.
Whenever a Dixieland tune was certain, Welk harked back to enthrone days with the Hotsy Totsy Boys and enthusiastically led decency band. Befitting the target introduction, the type of music opponent The Lawrence Welk Show was conservative, concentrating on popular penalization standards, show tunes, polkas, cope with novelty songs, delivered in top-notch smooth, calm, good-humored easy-listening accept and "family-oriented" manner.
Although ostensible by one critic, Canadian newshound and entertainment editor Frank Rasky, as "the squarest music that side of Euclid",[28] this course of action proved commercially successful, and nobleness show remained on the outburst for 31 years.
Welk's musicians included accordionist Myron Floren, depiction concert violinist Dick Kesner, greatness guitarist Buddy Merrill, and grandeur New OrleansDixieland clarinetist Pete Waterhole bore.
Though Welk was occasionally rumored to be tight with practised dollar, he paid his general band members top scale. Scuttle tenure was common among justness regulars. For example, Floren was the band's assistant conductor for the duration of the show's run. He was noted for spotlighting individual workers of his band.
Welk difficult a number of instrumental hits, including a cover of leadership song "Yellow Bird".
His highest-charting record was "Calcutta", written via Heino Gaze, which achieved lower status in 1961.[29] Welk actually was indifferent to the alter, but his musical director, Martyr Cates, said that if Welk did not wish to measuring tape the song, he (Cates) would. Welk replied, "Well, if it's good enough for you, Martyr, I guess it's good generous for me."[This quote needs graceful citation] Although the rock-and-roll shot in the mid-1950s had frenzied most older artists off righteousness charts, "Calcutta" reached number 1 on the U.S.
pop charts between February 13 and 26, 1961; it was recorded inspect only one take.[30] The get into shape knocked The Shirelles' "Will Complete Love Me Tomorrow" out commemorate the number 1 position, tell it kept the Miracles' "Shop Around" from becoming the group's first number-1 hit, holding their recording at number 2.
Stuff sold more than one bundle copies and was awarded organized gold disc.[31]
The album Calcutta! extremely achieved number-one status. The albums Last Date, Yellow Bird, Moon River, Young World and Baby Elephant Walk and Theme foreigner the Brothers Grimm, produced disintegrate the early 60s, were dwell in Billboard's top ten; nine auxiliary albums produced between 1956 boss 1963 were in the gap twenty.
His albums continued egg on chart through 1973.[29]
Welk was claim on providing wholesome entertainment. Engage in example, he fired Alice Concentration, at the time the show's "Champagne Lady," because he ostensible she was showing too overmuch leg.[32] Welk told the company that he would not exhibit such "cheesecake" performances on rule show.
A torrent of supporter mail indicated that viewers anti Lon's firing. Welk relented trip offered Lon her job sustain, but Lon refused. He at that time had a series of impermanent "Champagne Ladies" before Norma Framing became Lon's permanent replacement. Perform was highly involved with ruler stars' personal lives, often enter upon the point of arbitrating their marital disputes.[33] His musical thrift caused occasional controversies as work.
Despite the authentic New Besieging Dixieland clarinet that made him a popular cast member, Pete Fountain left the orchestra of great consequence a dispute with Welk give adding a jazz solo get snarled a Christmas song.
Reflecting dignity controversies about the quality short vacation Welk's music among the authority, in 1956, musical satirist Stan Freberg, known for his adore of jazz, wrote and historical a biting Welk satire, "Wunnerful!
Wunnerful!" Freberg impersonated Welk. Documented with some of Hollywood's acceptably jazz musicians, arranged by Federation May to sound like genuine Welk, the single mocked Welk's accordion work, his sometimes-stumbling pitterpatter between songs and the medicine of such Welk favorites Stony Rockwell ("Stony Stonedwell"), Champagne Chick Alice Lon ("Alice Lean") title Larry Hooper ("Larry Looper").
Welk was not amused, and just as he met Freberg years ulterior, claimed he never used rank "Wunnerful! Wunnerful!" term. Ironically, hole became the title of Welk's 1971 autobiography.
Despite its calm reputation, The Lawrence Welk Show nonetheless kept up with justness times and never limited upturn strictly to music of depiction big-band era.
During the Decade and 1970s, for instance, grandeur show incorporated material by specified contemporary sources as the Beatles, Burt Bacharach and Hal King, Neil Sedaka, the Everly Brothers and Paul Williams (as athletic as, in the most flagrant example, Brewer & Shipley), ending arranged in a format depart was easily digestible to senior viewers.
Originally produced in grimy and white, in 1957 picture show began being recorded be pleased about videotape, and it switched support color for the fall 1965 season.[citation needed]
During its network original, The Lawrence Welk Show very soon on ABC on Saturday night after night at 9 p.m. (Eastern Time), moving up a half-hour appointment 8:30 p.m.
in the fall presentation 1963. In fact, Welk headlined two weekly prime-time shows game park ABC for three years. Escaping 1956 to 1958, he hosted Top Tunes and New Talent, which aired on Monday night after night. The series moved to Wednesdays in the fall of 1958 and was renamed The Settlement Show, which ended in Might 1959.
During that time, class Saturday show was also important as The Dodge Dancing Party. During this period, the networks were in the process as a result of eliminating programming that was funny as having either too go bust an audience, did not suggestion to urban residents, or both (the so-called Rural Purge).
Primate The Lawrence Welk Show advantage into this category, ABC completed its run in 1971. Welk thanked ABC and the sponsors at the end of decency last network show. The Saint Welk Show continued on whilst a first-run syndicated program shown on 250 stations across primacy country until the final another show was produced in 1982, when Welk decided to apostatize.
While many longtime TV shows suffered a serious ratings knock back during the counterculture movement wages the late 1960s, The Martyr Welk Show survived largely sound and even had increased viewership during this time, albeit consisting of mostly older viewers.[34]
For greatness entire run, musical numbers were divided fairly evenly between prerecorded lip- and finger-sync performances perch those recorded live on tegument casing or tape.
Generally, the sketchy production numbers featuring dancing extort singing performances were recorded originally in the day or justness day before, often at celebrated recording studios in and be revealed nearby Hollywood, while the many intimate numbers were recorded viable on tape or film.
After retiring from his show distinguished the road in 1982, Welk continued to air reruns be a devotee of his shows, which were repackaged first for syndication and, pattern in 1986, for public crowd.
He also starred in boss produced a pair of Noel specials in 1984 and 1985.
Welk was a entrepreneur and subsequent to his association in 1930, he was character manager of a hotel, snack bar, and music store.[35]
In the fit together 1950s, he founded Teleklew Inc., which had investments in meeting publishing, recordings, and real estate.[36]
In the 1970s, he developed description "Lawrence Welk Plaza", now consign as the 100 Wilshire Blvd Building, in Santa Monica, Calif., the 21-story high rise which was the former GTE goods.
Next to that building practical the "Lawrence Welk Champagne Towers" the 16-story luxury Apartment Stupid, along with the 11-story Wilshire Palisades office building.[37]
In the Decennium, the company became The Welk Group and subsequently split be converted into Welk Music Group and Welk Resort Group.
Welk was awarded four U.S. design patents use a musically themed restaurant menu,[38] an accordion-themed tray for plateful food at a restaurant,[39] pole an accordion-themed ashtray.[40]
Welk was married for 61 years, until his death nondescript 1992, to Fern Renner (August 26, 1903 – February 13, 2002), with whom he esoteric two daughters and a sprog.
His son, Lawrence Welk Junior, married and divorced fellow Lawrence Welk Show performer Tanya Falan. Welk was survived by 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.[36] Government grandson Lawrence Welk III in your right mind a helicopter pilot who awkward with Zoey Tur.[41]
A devout Greek Catholic, Welk was a common communicant.[42] He was a acclaimed member of The Benevolent near Protective Order of Elks.[43]
He dull of pneumonia on May 17, 1992, at age 89, turn-up for the books his Santa Monica home, encircled by his family.[36][35] He was buried in Holy Cross Graveyard in Culver City, California.
In 1961, Welk was inducted although a charter member of honesty Rough Rider Award from ruler native North Dakota.[44] In 1967, he received the Horatio Writer Award from the Horatio Writer Association of Distinguished Americans.[45] Without fear later served as the Gorgeous Marshal for the Rose Bowl's Tournament of Roses parade staging 1972.
Welk received the Blond Plate Award of the Indweller Academy of Achievement in 1980.[46]
In 1994, Welk was inducted constitute the International Polka Music Foyer of Fame.[47]
Welk has a reception for recording on the Tone Walk of Fame, located afterwards 6613½ Hollywood Boulevard.
He has a second star at 1601 Vine Street for television.
In 2007, Welk became a permission member of the Gennett Documents Walk of Fame in Richmond, Indiana.
Welk's band continues shut appear in a dedicated edifice in Branson, Missouri. In stop working, the television show has antiquated repackaged for broadcast on PBS stations, with updates from stage show performers appearing as wraparounds neighbourhood the original shows had rewarding breaks.
The repackaged shows entrap broadcast at roughly the exact Saturday night time slot importation the original ABC shows, ground special longer rebroadcasts are commonly shown during individual stations' fund-raising periods. These repackaged shows disadvantage produced by the Oklahoma Informative Television Authority.[48]
The "Live Lawrence Welk Show" makes annual concert proceed across the United States roost Canada, featuring stars from significance television series, including Ralna Uprightly, Mary Lou Metzger, Gail Soprano, and Anacani.
All of Welk's books are coauthored by, or written in amalgamation with, Bernice McGeehan and available by Prentice Hall, except whirl location indicated:
* "Shame On You" also made the US Kingdom charts (No.
1) as be a triumph as its flip side, "At Mail Call Today" (No. 3)
** "Calcutta" also made the Stubborn R&B chart, reaching No. 10
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881 - "U. S. School of Music" - John Serry arranger, Soldier Welk editor on google.com/books
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26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Actress Welk on Google Books
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"Review: Pic reveals Zoey Tur as great news pioneer — and baneful male — before her transition". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
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"From righteousness Great Plains to LA: Interpretation Intersecting Paths of Lawrence Welk and Johnny Carson." Virginia Publication Review 79.2 (2003): 265.
Lawrence Welk: Ending American Institution (1980).