It’s always fun when other people suggest ideas for the blog.
In this case, my parents.
I saw them this past weekend and they kept going on about Lawrence Welk + Disney songs. The conversation was a hurricane of voices and subjects so it kind of got lost before I could ask how, why, what and just added the name into my phone to look at later.
(I just texted my dad to ask why Lawrence Welk and he said he used to watch him years back.)
Welk was a TV personality, kind of like Dick Clark, except he played the accordian (!!) and led a “big band”. One night he called their music “light and bubbly as champagne” and their style was forever labeled “champagne music”. How cute is that?
My dad recalled the few times Lawrence Welk featured some Disney music on his show. In fact, in 1973, Lawrence Welk hosted a slew of Disney music on this TV show. Thanks to the lovely invention called YouTube… you can see these really fun performances today!
Supercalifragilisticexpalidocious.
The Siamese Cat song.
Some accordian action with “It’s a Small World”.
A Snow White Medley!
This is a fun one to end on. The Mickey Mouse Mambo! (I want to learn this dance!)
One thing that stands out during these bits is the scenery! It’s so elaborate and pure Disney. So wonderful to see that kind of detail. (Also Lawrence’s accent is very cute.)
I’m actually kind of surprised by all the videos available online, so I did the next best thing if you want more: I made a YouTube playlist! Happy listening!
by Estelle Hallick
L WELK ORCHESTRA WAS ACTIVE FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I WATCHED WITH MY PARENTS EVERY SATURDAY AT 8 PM. MY FATHER MET WELK WHEN HE DID SOME GIGS IN PASSAIC NJ IN THE 40′S. MUSIC WAS MUSIC IN THOSE DAYS.
DAD
I love this post!!! As with Ken’s comment above, Lawrence Welk was a weekly fixture in my house, too. Many PBS stations air reruns each week, and I enjoy watching them with my now 90-year-old father, who adds wonderful “color commentary” about the cast history. As corny as the show can be, there’s a sincerity and energy to it that becomes clearer with age. Plus, Larry Hooper was one of the most entertaining bass singers ever — second only to Thurl Ravenscroft.
That Small World clip is one of the greatest things ever. iTunes has a lot of Welk music, but — sadly — not that particular album.