I absolutely loved every minute of this tribute to Lawrence Welk. I have been watching his show for my entire life. . Thank you in heaven Mr. Welk for your historic musical contribution to millions and millions of viewers. We will always keep a song in our hearts.
Maybe the best documentary yet on Mr. Welk. He had some moves, didn’t he? I can’t help but smile bigly when JoAnn Castle plays! Wow and wow! They’re all accomplished musicians; those who aren’t can sing beautifully, and dance, too. Loved this, thank you❤️😊
Growing up in the 60’s, (which I personally think was the best of the Welk years) it was an every Saturday night at 7:30, sitting with mom and watching the Lawrence Welk show.... Much better times is seems.
As long as i can remember,i have been hooked on the Lawrence Weelk show,truly the best in entertainment,we watch him every Sat.,especially like Anacani aand her Spanish songs!
A very moving tribute. He is still carried on many PBS Stations and, of course, on RU-vid. Of all the Big Bands he has enjoyed an enduring perdurability that so many of the other lost for one reason or another. Though, oddly & surprisingly, Glenn Miller, playing himself, and his band are available on RU-vid via the two movies he made: "Orchestra Wives" & "Sun Valley" where Glenn Miller and his band are recorded.
No need to miss...there are many Lawrence Welk shows here on RU-vid that can keep you entertained for hours. No need to wait for Saturday night anymore!
George Cates was the genius behind the Calcutta arrangement. It was 1 of the very best renditions of any song ever. It was fantabulous. Such great music in general by that wunnerful Musical Family, some of who were luminaries in their own right: Myren Floren, Buddy Merrill, Henry Cuesta, Pete Fountain, the Lennon Sisters.
Remembering when "Lawrence Welk: Television's Music Man" first ever aired as part of PBS' Festival '87 Pledge Campaign for PBS stations nationwide including KPBS in San Diego, Circa Wednesday March 18th, 1987!! TV Worth Watching and TV Worth Watching and TV Worth Paying For!!
I grew up watching L Welk ... But then I learned that he fired Alice Lon for showing knees, and fired Cissy and Natalie Nevins .... seems he was a Perfectionist ... and a purest and a demander ....
This format, this style, this genre of music was supposed to die with the Big Band era amid the two front attacks of rock and jazz in the 1950's and early 60's. It had no business making it near a television set let alone building a sustained audience on Saturday nights as a full hour form of entertainment through the 80's. What was even more astonishing is the contempt it showed for the kind of gimmicks that virtually all shows used to gain a bigger slice, a broader demographic or revitalize their brands. Lawerence Welk seemingly did not know when or what 'Sweeps Week' was, let alone plan anything to attract a bigger audience and ensure a happy and generous set of sponsors . This show should not have lasted 6 months.
Mr. Welk certainly knew his audience. I think Brian you forget that there were millions of people alive at the time that remember that music and had been ignored by the TV programmers. An hour a week of nostalgia was served up. They needed no bigger audience as the sponsors were aiming at the senior audience and sold a lot of Geritol, Serutan and Rose Milk. I think what is even more fascinating is that the Welk show made it as a huge show in Branson until just a few years ago.
Actually, jazz, especially swing, was a big part of this music, n Welk himself was a big fan of Dixyland, as I am. And it had every business on TV n was really popular in the '50s n '60s.
"Dodge Had A Good Time, Too" ....Larry Hooper. Those were the great days of television. I rarely watch anything on television today because it's just too filthy, profane filled and at times down right vulgar and sleazy. Lawrence Welk's show was clean, and honest. Just great music and entertaining.
