Scenes from an Italian restaurant

It's Friday gang, let's go eat out tonight! I know this little place that has the best Italian food....

"So what will it be, the three cheese lasagna or the Chicken Alfredo with pesto sauce?"

And for your dining entertainment, our own Barney Liddell and Dick Dale will play a medley of Katy Perry songs....

"I see you enjoyed the Spaghetti Bolognese, you got a little sauce on your nose."

Scenes from an Italian restaurant

Barney Liddell plays the trombone

That young man from Gary, Indiana is one Hoosier Hotshot....

 

Barney Liddell plays the trombone

Barney Liddell with the Maestro

This must be around 1948, shortly after Lawrence hired Barney into the band....

I believe the Music Makers were playing that summer at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York 

Barney Liddell with the Maestro

Salute to Jerome Kern '75

As I write, looks like the NCAA tournament's Champagne Region is taking a beating.

Kathie Sullivan's Wisconsin Badgers lost to Cornell, which leaves just Jim Turner's Tennessee Vols going to the Sweet Sixteen.

So let's take our mind off the basketball and onto this week's Welk classic, a Salute to Jerome Kern from 1975!

Highlights from this week's episode include.....

Tom Netherton audtioning to be on The Dating Game

Barney Liddell taking no prisoners with his trombone action.....

.....only to realize that Bob Havens is taking it one step further.

SALUTE TO JEROME KERN - January 11, 1975

1. WHO? - Mary Lou (Metzger), Gail (Farrell), Sandi, Anacani, Arthur, Jimmy (Roberts), Tom, Ken and Joe
2. I WON'T DANCE - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
3. YOU COULDN'T BE CUTER - orchestra with Larry Hooper at the piano 
4. OL' MAN RIVER - orchestra featuring Bob Havens on trombone, Russ Klein on saxophone and Henry Cuesta on clarinet
5. MAKE BELIEVE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English

6. THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME - Tom Netherton with Bob Smale at the piano
7. I'VE TOLD EVERY STAR - orchestra
8. A FINE ROMANCE - Tanya Falan
9. THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT - danced by Bobby & Cissy
10. CAN'T HELP SINGING - Sandi Griffiths on lead vocals with Gail, Mary Lou, Anacani and Ralna

11. LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY - orchestra
12. PURE LOVE - Clay Hart
13. MY BILL - Ralna English
14. SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES - orchestra conducted by George Cates
15. THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS - Ken Delo

16. THIS SONG IS YOU - Joe Feeney
17. YESTERDAYS - Bob Ralston at the Thomas organ
18. LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING - Ava Barber
19. GRANADA - Anacani
20. ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE - the orchestra
21. PICK YOURSELF UP - danced by Arthur Duncan with vocals by Mary Lou, Jimmy, Cissy, Bobby, Clay, Sandi, Ken and Gail

Did you know that Lawrence Welk's estate holds all the publishing rights and royalties to Jerome Kern's work? I guess the Maestro really liked Mr. Kern's music so much that he pulled a Victor Kiam.

Also, Mary Lou mentions at the start of the show that on the day they taped the show, it was her birthday so I'm guessing that tape day was November 13, 1974 and aired about two months later on January 11th of 1975.

So until next week, keep a song in your heart and if you get knocked down, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again! 

Salute to Jerome Kern '75

The Real Spirit of Christmas

This week, it was the Christmas Show from 1972 that was aired on public television stations from sea to shining sea.

From that show, let's say hello to some of the families of the Musical Family!

Robbie Smale (Bob Smale's son) tickles the ivories with the Maestro looking on....

Here's Barney Liddell (trombone) with his wife Arlene and two of his kids, son John and daughter Rachel....

Now it's Mickey McMahan's (first trumpet) turn....

.....and we also have Lawrence with his grand-daughter Christina.

Bob Davis (reeds & woodwinds) has his turn in the spotlight!

And of course, here's the Griffiths family, Sandi and Brent....

And finally, here's Henry Cuesta and Larry Hooper!

This is what Christmas and the holiday season is all about.

The Real Spirit of Christmas

Scenes from Christmas past

Right now, let me play the ghost of Christmas past and look back at a few scenes of the Musical Family celebrating the holiday season!

This is from 1973, here's trumpet player Laroon Holt introducing his family with Barney Liddell looking on.

Here's the Maestro with Jenni Griffiths (Sandi's daughter), perhaps in training to be a future Champagne Lady?

And look kids, Santa is here!

By the way, it's Dick Dale donning the Kris Kringle cap, beard, suit....the works.

Just three days left....you might wanna finish up your shopping!

Scenes from Christmas past

Barney Liddell

Here is trombonist Barney Liddell, a veteran of the Welk orchestra from 1948, playing one of his popular solos from 1973's Salute To Irving Berlin show.

The native of Gary, Indiana attended Notre Dame University, and played with several bands before joining the Maestro's band when they played several dates at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. He was there when they moved out to Southern California and made the transistion to television in the 1950s.

In addition to playing trombone, Barney also was in charge of the band's instruments and luggage on the Welk band's concert tours...he was without a doubt one of the most valuable members of the musical family, but was alos one of the most kind-hearted fellows around according to Lawrence himself. Right up until his death in 2003, he continued to perform with several big band alumni bands and with the Music Makers as well.

Barney Liddell was without a doubt, a very fine trombonist from the big band era in the style of Tommy Dorsey.

Barney Liddell