Retro Redux: When Lawrence Welk Became Cool
Published January 27, 2007
If you've been brave enough (or open-minded enough) to pursue reading this article in spite of your conventional mental image of Lawrence Welk, I congratulate you. I certainly have little room to criticize those who haven't because my memories of him are probably similar to theirs — that is, I considered him to be the epitome of squareness.
I came by those memories honestly. I grew up in a house in which our TV set was inevitably tuned to his show every week, and even though I usually enjoyed all kinds of music, my friends and I considered Lawrence Welk hopelessly un-cool. My parents loved him, of course, which is why our TV featured him so often.
Most of the "hip" musicians and people who followed them considered Welk's show — and by extension his music — to be hopelessly straight, sentimental, and sappy. This was about the time Stan Kenton said Welk’s music made Guy Lombardo look progressive.
Welk's show started in the mid 1950's and continued via reruns for decade after decade. In fact, you can probably still find it on TV somewhere, and although he died 15 years ago, his band has kept performing. The last I checked they're now (not surprisingly) appearing in Branson, Missouri.
During all those years I pretty much dismissed his music and didn't give it another thought. Then something happened to change my mind. I happened to hear a cut from a 1965 album that Welk made with Johnny Hodges, and I was amazed.
Hodges was one of Duke Ellington's original band members. He started with him all the way back in 1928 and was an established and respected jazzman. Welk was a perfectionist who always had good musicians in his orchestra, and some of those gained some fame on their own (for example, clarinetist Pete Fountain), but to hear him teamed up with Ellington's favorite alto saxman surprised me.
It turns out they were a natural match. Hodges was always known for his gorgeous tones and melodic play. When backed up by Welk's large professional group, complete with strings, it makes for a lush and beautiful sound.
If you listen to Ellington's "In A Sentimental Mood" (one of my all-time favorite tunes) or "I Can't Get Started,” with Hodges taking over what's normally a trumpet lead, it's good stuff - and dare I say cool, in a sort of soft way.
That's right. It took me a lot of years, but I'm willing to admit that Lawrence Welk was at least in the general vicinity of coolness.
The Big Geez is a retiree who takes time off from trimming ear hair to write about music -- sometimes doing conventional reviews, but often just sharing his opinions about how something resonates with his memories and those of his generation. You can read more of his faux pearls of wisdom at the Geezer Music Club.
- Retro Redux: When Lawrence Welk Became Cool
- Published: January 27, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Culture: Celebrity, Music: Instrumental, Music: Jazz
- Part of a feature: Retro Redux
- Writer: Big Geez
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I know exactly what you mean, Vern. When I was a kid I thought I always tried to avoid the TV show...and yet I remember a lot about it. Maybe I didn't avoid it as much as I thought.
The Lennon Sisters were hot.
Yes, indeed, The Lennon Sisters were quite the lookers.
Add me to the list who find Lawrence Welk totally cool. I grew up with him, too, though I admit my parents weren't big fans. My dad liked Joann Castle. He'd watch her and then do something else. I started watching the Welk Show on PBS a few years ago, first for nostaglia and fun and later for pure appreciation of the music, which is much better than I remembered (though there's certainly an amount of absurdity with the show, too). I'm not sure what turned me. Probably Henry Questa. The orchestra had fine fine musicians and in the earlier years rocked much more than the later. Welk was a good gig and gave them time to pursue their interests, and brought in a paycheck, too. I've fallen in love with Joe Feeney (who is the cousin of a deceased friend) and Myron just rocks. I read an obit of him which called him the Jimi Hendrix of the accordian. And that he was! Lawrence Welk is cool. He was the ultimate showman and knew what his audience liked and wanted.
The Johnny Hodges collaboration was only one of many WUNNERFUL albums that Lawrence Welk produced over the decades! Many of the orchestral albums he released through the 60's and 70's are a musical anthology of all the top hits of the day....his version of THE BEAT GOES ON rocks! He not only hired the best musicians but great arrangers! The sad thing is too many of his older albums are not available on CD. I do have the Johnny Hodges release on lp but I'm going to have to order it on CD before that is no longer available! Thanks for the great article!
Oh my gosh. The hours that I spent as a child
(I am 51 now) watching Lawrence Welk and all the
amazing musicians. My grandparents taught ballroom, my dad was a band manager in Korea and my mom had a stirring baptist church alto voice...i was hooked with no choice. I sing in a big symphonic choir in Durham NC (The Choral Society of Durham). It delights me to watch the shows when they come on PBS. I cannot think of anyone more on the show that stands out the most for me but Norma Zimmer and Joe Feeney that make
me the most nostalgic. Now I still love that show
but love rap, hardcore, bluegrass, classical. showtunes and anything done musically with heart and respect....thank god for Lawrence Welk.
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Thank you fary much... and now Bobby and Sissy will dance to the accordion sounds of Myron Florin and the clarinet of Henry LaQuesta while the lovely Anacani sings "Guantanamera!" Ah one, ah two, ah three.....
I can't believe I can remember all that.....