Lawrence Welk

Biography

It could or may possibly not be true that Lawrence Welk may be the most widely used easy listening musician ever, but it’s difficult to think about anyone who’s more prominently from the genre. Welk’s long-running Television variety present was an enormous achievement in its period, and continues to be an enduring preferred in reruns. Even though Welk documented prolifically, his accurate musical legacy was constructed with the doggedly innocuous, wholesome visual of his display. He was an improbable tv celebrity — his solid German accent and on-camera tightness could have been crippling liabilities for most other hosts. However Welk was beloved regardless of — or, maybe, due to — those restrictions, due to the fact he understood his target audience and paid close focus on what it desired. Along the way, he created a well balanced of familiar performers whose regular looks were eagerly expected by his audiences. Demanding and particular, Welk place them through demanding rehearsals, and aggressively enforced the inoffensive, non-threatening tone that produced the show therefore palatable for audiences of all age groups. For those who regarded as themselves remotely hip, that firmness produced Welk’s name associated with sanitized entertainment, and a straightforward focus on for derision. He and his functions were frequently dismissed as hopelessly rectangular, by converts fluffy or sentimental, and reflecting an idealized purity that didn’t actually can be found anywhere. He also drew criticism for the intense scarcity of minority performers on the display, seemingly another sign of its kowtowing to white-bread Middle America. However that important conservatism helped supply the Lawrence Welk Display an amazingly long lasting charm; after it dropped its network slot machine, it spent greater than a 10 years in syndication with better success than ever before, and found new lease of life when its reruns became the principle source of income for many community tv stations in the united states. Welk was created on March 11, 1903, in the tiny, heavily German city of Strasburg, ND. His parents acquired fled the unrest in Alsace-Lorraine, the disputed boundary area between Germany and France, and resolved on a little plantation in the outskirts of city. Among eight kids, Welk slipped out of college within the 4th grade to focus on the plantation, and spoke next to nothing but German until his teenage years. He discovered to try out polka music on his father’s accordion, with age group 13, he started performing expertly at regional dances and interpersonal occasions. Four years later on, he persuaded his father to get him his personal accordion; in trade, he guaranteed to focus on the plantation until he was 21, also to provide all his musical income towards the family members up compared to that stage. Upon turning 21, Welk used music full-time, playing in a variety of polka and vaudeville-style rings around the region. He eventually created his personal quartet, the Lawrence Welk Novelty Orchestra, and in 1927 made a decision to mind south to New Orleans searching for work. Along the way, the group halted in Yankton, SD, and was provided a one-week offer to execute on regional radio; these were such successful that these were agreed upon to a long lasting contract. Welk’s music group remained headquartered in Yankton for another a decade, playing both locally and all around the Midwest; they experienced several name adjustments, like the Hotsy Totsy Kids, the Honolulu Fruits Gum Orchestra, and the largest Little Band in the us. In 1937, Welk transferred the group to Omaha, and it shortly grew right into a ten-piece clothing, playing swinging dance music within the so-called “sugary band” design. A 1938 gig on the William Penn Resort in Pittsburgh prompted one enthusiast to evaluate Welk’s light, bubbly music to champagne, and Welk followed the tag after that, describing his audio as “champagne music.” In 1940, on the height from the big-band period, Welk guaranteed a reserving for his group on the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago; it demonstrated such successful that Welk transferred his family members to Chicago and finished up using a ten-year residency right now there. The waning recognition of big rings subsequently pressured Welk to return on tour to create ends fulfill. In 1951, he produced an effective appearance on the late-night Television show in LA. The thought of working in tv captured his creativity, and led him to go to L.A. the next yr. The Lawrence Welk Display made its nationwide debut in 1955 like a midseason substitute on ABC. On the next couple of years, it amassed more than enough of a pursuing to become among the network’s most widely used shows, making capture phrases away from Welk’s oft-repeated “wunnerful, wunnerful” and “ah-one and-a two.” Its brand visual design was constructed around low-budget cardboard props, shiny pastel shades, and bubble-blowing devices. Welk performed the assignments of web host and bandleader, populating his play list with pleasurable agreements of well-established criteria and pop strikes. The emphasis was generally on music his market would already understand, though he and musical movie director George Cates do display comic novelty tracks as well as the polka music Welk got developed with aswell. Welk developed a solid foundation of recurring presented performers, the very best known which included accordionist/associate conductor Myron Floren, ragtime pianist Jo Ann Castle, performing group the Lennon Sisters, Dixieland clarinetist Pete Fountain, Irish-style vocalist Joe Feeney, faucet dancer Arthur Duncan (the show’s lone African-American regular), dancer and previous Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess (who experienced a succession of feminine dance companions), along with a presented feminine vocalist dubbed the Champagne Woman. Welk founded his reputation like a hard-nosed disciplinarian in early stages. He hardly ever allowed comedians to seem on the present, for concern with an off-color joke sliding through, and he refused alcoholic beverages and cigarette items as sponsors. In 1959, he terminated the very first Champagne Female, Alice Lon, for exhibiting too much knee throughout a telecast. Irate audiences wrote directly into protest the firing, and Welk attempted to employ her back again, but she’d have none from it; her substitute was Norma Zimmer, who continued to be using the show for a long time. Burgess’ feminine dance partners had been subject to exactly the same forms of whims, and Fountain — probably probably the most talented regular — apparently left what Welk experienced was an inappropriately jazzed-up Xmas song. More difficult for some modern-day audiences may be the show’s watered-down managing of ethnicity; without really offensive because of its time, a number of the cultural theme shows will be regarded disturbing by today’s criteria, and dancer Duncan’s mannerisms emerged set for criticism because the civil privileges period dawned. On the other hand, Welk have been managing a successful career being a documenting artist. He previously released information in his start, but normally he strike a whole brand-new plateau once he previously the energy of tv behind him. Between 1956 and 1963, 19 of Welk’s LPs reached the very best 20, and ten of these made the very best Ten. Welk attained his greatest reputation on record using the Dot label through the early ’60s, spearheaded with the smash instrumental strike “Calcutta,” which became his just number 1 — and, for example, TOP — one in 1961. The associated LP of the same name also reached number 1, and five even more albums — Last Time, Yellow Parrot, Moon River, Youthful Globe, and Baby Elephant Walk and Theme Through the Brothers Grimm — climbed in to the Top Ten on the next 2 yrs. Although Welk by no means equaled that operate of achievement, he continuing to graph albums frequently up through 1973. In 1971, ABC canceled The Lawrence Welk Display, sense that its market was growing as well aged to attract marketers. Welk quickly guaranteed a syndication offer that positioned his display on over 200 channels around the united states, and kept directly on generating it up through 1982. Because the ’70s wore on, lots of the aged performers retired or shifted, to be changed by similar works that essentially implemented the show’s long-established blueprint. But even when there have been fewer specific standouts, the display still stuffed an audience specific niche market that otherwise proceeded to go largely ignored. Pursuing his pension in 1982, Welk resolved in Santa Monica, CA, and shortly established a mixture resort/pension community, the Lawrence Welk Nation Club Community, in Escondido. He also obtained a massive music posting catalog, and also other property holdings. Beginning in 1987, some open public tv stations started airing reruns from the Lawrence Welk Display, towards the delight of the elderly viewing foundation. Because the ’90s wore on, general public Television found rely increasingly more around the Lawrence Welk Display like a staple moneymaker during pledge drives, therefore ensuring its continuing availability and recognition well after Welk’s moving: he passed away of pneumonia on, may 17, 1992. The music group he once led continuing to perform in the Champagne Music Theatre in Branson, MO.

Quick Facts

• Facts
• Filmography
• Awards
• Salaries
• Quotes
• Trademarks
• Pictures



#	Fact
1	He is a first cousin, once removed, of Montana governor Brian Schweitzer. Lawrence's mother, Christiana Schwahn, was the sister of Brian's paternal grandmother, Franziska Schwahn.
2	Ex-father-in-law of Tanya Welk.
3	Co-founder (with Randall Wood, former owner of Dot Records) of Ranwood Records in 1967.
4	He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6613 Hollywood Boulevard and for Television at 1601 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
5	Dropped out of school in the fourth grade to work on the family farm. At age 21, he left home to make his way in the music business.
6	Registered his car with a vanity license plate that read "A1 AN A2".
7	His show was initially cancelled by ABC-TV in 1971, after 17 years as a Saturday night perennial on the network, because of a question of viewer demographics. Advertisers and networks were convinced that they should gear their shows to younger, urban audiences, who were thought to have the buying power, and Welk's audience was simply considered too old. In what was then considered a bold move, Welk began producing shows for first-run syndication, and by the start of the 1971 fall season he was back on the air, where he remained until he retired eleven years later. Ironically, many of the stations that carried his show were local ABC affiliates.
8	Parents, Ludwig and Christina Welk, emigrated from Alsace-Lorraine via Russia to Strasburg, North Dakota, where Lawrence was born.
9	A common misconception is that Welk did not learn English until he was 21. In fact, he began learning English as soon as he started school. The part of North Dakota where he lived had been settled largely by Germans from Russia; even his teachers spoke English as a second language.
10	In the early 1990s, the U.S. Congress refused federal funding to restore Welk's boyhood home in Strasburg, N.D., as a museum. His many still loyal fans, hearing of this, donated the money themselves, and to this day the Welk Home and Museum has been restored and maintained entirely by private funds.
11	Served as his own producer for most of his years on TV, via Teleklew Productions. The name was made up of "tele" for television and "klew" was Welk spelled backwards.
12	Founder of the still-thriving Lawrence Welk Resort and Country Club in Escondido, California.
13	A good judge of talent, Welk's discoveries included Lynn Anderson and Pete Fountain, both of whom got their starts with his band.
14	Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1989.
15	Recorded prolifically before and during his TV years, primarily for Columbia, Coral, Dot and Ranwood, scoring a #1 single and album with "Calcutta" in 1961.
16	Welk's show was originaly entitled "The Dodge Dancing Party," after his first national sponsor. His longest-lasting sponsors were two over-the-counter medicines, Geritol and Serutan ("That's 'nature's,' spelled backwards!").
17	Welk's son, Larry Welk (aka Lawrence Welk Jr), is owner/operator of the "Welk Resort" in Branson, Missouri.
18	Welk's grandson, Larry Welk (aka Lawrence Welk III), is an airborne traffic and breaking news reporter in "Sky Nine" helicopter for KCAL-TV, Ch 9, Los Angeles.



Soundtrack

Soundtrack

Title	Year	Status	Character
The Founder	2016	performer: "Calcutta" a/k/a "Tivoli Melodie"
Rules Don't Apply	2016	writer: "Bubbles in the Wine"
Atop the Fourth Wall	2014-2015	TV Series 3 episodes
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water	2015	performer: "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" / writer: "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"
Manhattan	2014	TV Series performer - 1 episode
Freaky Deaky	2012	performer: "Music To Watch Girls By" written by nm0708240
Yes Man	2008	performer: "Emperor Waltz"
Chocolat	2000	performer: "Start The Day Right"
Family Guy	2000	TV Series music - 1 episode
The Simpsons	1998	TV Series music - 1 episode
Swingers	1996	performer: "Champagne Time"
Good Morning, Vietnam	1987	performer: "Around The World", "Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight", "I'll Never Smile Again", "Kit Kat Polka" / writer: "Kit Kat Polka"
Lost in America	1985	performer: "Bubbles in the Wine" / writer: "Bubbles in the Wine"
Heaven Help Us	1985	performer: "Clarinet Polka"
The Lawrence Welk Show		TV Series performer - 2 episodes, 1972 - 1979 writer - 1 episode, 1967
Green Acres	1970	TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Champagne Music of Lawrence Welk	1939	Short writer: "Bubbles in the Wine"

Actor

Actor

Title	Year	Status	Character
Here's Lucy	1970	TV Series	Lawrence Welk
Shower of Stars	1957	TV Series
Lawrence Welk and His Champagne Music	1950	Short	Lawrence Welk - Band Leader

Producer

Producer

Title	Year	Status	Character
Lawrence Welk's 12 Days of Christmas	1983	TV Special executive producer / producer
The Lawrence Welk Show	1951	TV Series producer

Music Department

Music Department

Title	Year	Status	Character
Gleason	2002	TV Movie composer: song "Bubbles in the Wine"
The Lawrence Welk Show	1955	TV Series composer: theme music - 1955-1970

Director

Director

Title	Year	Status	Character
Lawrence Welk's 12 Days of Christmas	1983	TV Special

Writer

Writer

Title	Year	Status	Character
Lawrence Welk's 12 Days of Christmas	1983	TV Special written by

Self

Self

Title	Year	Status	Character
KTLA at 40: A Celebration of Los Angeles Television	1986	TV Movie	Himself
Lawrence Welk's 12 Days of Christmas	1983	TV Special	Host / Musician
Hour Magazine	1982	TV Series	Himself
The Lawrence Welk Show	1955-1982	TV Series	Himself - Host / Himself / Host / ...
The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards	1981	TV Special	Himself - Honoree
The Alan Hamel Show	1979	TV Series	Himself
The Mike Douglas Show	1971-1979	TV Series	Himself - Bandleader / Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson	1964-1979	TV Series	Himself / Himself - Guest
Mickey's 50	1978	Documentary	Himself
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	1978	TV Series	Himself
ABC's Silver Anniversary Celebration	1978	TV Special	Himself
Good Morning America	1977	TV Series	Himself
The Merv Griffin Show	1976	TV Series	Himself
The Good Old Days of Radio	1976	TV Movie documentary	Himself
Dinah!	1974-1976	TV Series	Himself
The 24th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards	1972	TV Special	Himself - Presenter
The Dick Cavett Show	1968-1972	TV Series	Himself
The David Frost Show	1970-1971	TV Series	Himself
Jack Benny's Birthday Special	1969	TV Special	Himself
The Joey Bishop Show	1967-1969	TV Series	Himself
The Hollywood Palace	1968	TV Series	Himself
What's My Line?	1967	TV Series	Himself - Mystery Guest
The Andy Williams Show	1962-1964	TV Series	Himself / Football coach
The Jack Benny Program	1962	TV Series	Himself
The Jack Paar Tonight Show	1962	TV Series	Himself
The Tonight Show	1962	TV Series	Himself - Music Bandleader
Here's Hollywood	1961	TV Series	Himself
Disneyland '59	1959	TV Movie documentary	Himself
The Plymouth Show	1958	TV Series	Himself
The Christophers	1957	TV Series	Himself
This Is Your Life	1957	TV Series	Himself - Guest of Honor
Person to Person	1956	TV Series documentary	Himself
The Modernaires with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra	1952	Short	Himself
The Lawrence Welk Show	1951	TV Series	Himself - Host
The Champagne Music of Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra	1949	Short	Himself
Champagne Music	1946	Short	Himself - Orchestra Leader
The Champagne Music of Lawrence Welk	1939	Short	Himself - Orchestra Leader

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

Title	Year	Status	Character
My Music: Starlight Ballroom	2015	TV Movie	Himself
Baseball, Dennis & The French	2011	Documentary
My Music: The Big Band Years	2009	TV Movie	Himself
Lawrence Welk's TV Treasures	2007	TV Movie documentary	Himself
Lawrence Welk: Milestones & Memories - A Musical Family Reunion	2001	TV Movie	Himself '
Television: The First Fifty Years	1999	Video documentary	Himself
Things That Aren't Here Anymore	1995	TV Movie documentary	Himself
EBN: Commercial Entertainment Product	1992	Video short	Himself (uncredited)
All You Need Is Love	1977	TV Series documentary	Himself
The Lawrence Welk Show	1968-1971	TV Series	Himself - Host
Jazz Ball	1956	TV Movie documentary	Himself

Won awards

Won awards

Year	Award	Ceremony	Nomination	Movie	Award shared with
1960	Star on the Walk of Fame	Walk of Fame	Television	On 8 February 1960. At 1601 Vine Street.
1960	Star on the Walk of Fame	Walk of Fame	Recording	On 8 February 1960. At 6613 Hollywood Blvd.



Looks like we don't have salary information. Sorry!



#	Quote
1	We cater to the people who want a melody as it was originally written. Our audiences want songs that tell a story. We don't want any song with questionable moral standards.



#	Trademark
1	"An-a one, an-a two."
2	Theme song: "Champagne Time" (1970 - 1982)
3	Theme song: "Bubbles in the Wine" (1955 - 1970)



Source: Celebrity Pictures & Images