Lawrence Welk
March 11, 1903 – May 17, 1992
Lawrence Welk was an American band leader and accordionist who rose to fame as one if television’s earliest variety show hosts. His The Lawrence Welk Show began airing in 1951 and would continue to entertain millions for the next 30 years with its squeaky clean “Champagne Music.” On his 21st birthday, Welk left the family farm in Strasburg, ND to pursue his career in music, first performing in bands and then forming his orchestra which would take him all over the region and later to major cities like Chicago and New York. In 1951, he settled in Los Angeles and debuted The Lawrence Welk Show on local channel, KTLA. It became an instant local hit and was picked up by ABC who began airing in nationally in 1955. The conservative program was well liked for its wholesome entertainment and familiarity of music – Welk insisted the entertainers perform only songs that were already hits by others. The show launched the careers of such musical greats as Myron Floren, Pete Fountain, Johnny Hodges and the Lennon Sisters. Many of the show’s original performers continue to pay tribute to Welk on various anniversary programs. Although Welk died from pneumonia in 1992 at the age of 89, his legacy lives on thanks to the hard work of devoted long-time Welk staffers like Morgana Kennedy.
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