The Lawrence Welk Show: Rock & Roll Ruby

[hoops6706]

It was such a contrast in the last 60s and early 70s. I remember my grandparents only watched Lawerence Welk. When I visited them on weekends and stayed over night I'd have to watch it..but then that is how I got interested in jazz guitar. I remember the show being a bit corny compared to the cool shows like Laugh In but the musical talent (if you could get past the costumes and 70s fashions) was amazing. I

[tglatner1]

This guy is pretty good, you can hear the words very clear...good one to listen to if you want to learn all the words to this song.....

[CommanderRZ]

Out of Control............!

[enkamaster]

Pretty Risque for the LWS-But Ya gotta Pass The Torch!

[flyingmerkel6]

Lawrence Welk is a more complex musical character than he gets credit for. Regardless of what you think about his music, he was an excellent bandleader.

[dancebandleader]

Most of the younger generation at that time dismissed Welk totally. Too bad

it was their loss. The old shows hold up because of the emphasis on mostly

timeless "standards" Read Tony Bennett's book for a true picture of what happened in the late 60's. in the mid-60's Percy Faith said that they had to go through over 100 current tunes before they found 12 that were even recordable. That

was a MUSICIAN talking not a fast buck producer. I never heard

"barbaric" used then

[rockabillycat1954]

this is the closest thing to rock and roll ever heard on the lawrence welk show.

[dancebandleader]

@rockabillycat1954 not true. Countless examples of

pop tunes are heard. But probably more on recordings

later, Not all examples of Welk playing this genre are on

youtube.

[rockabillycat1954]

@dancebandleader i've seen the show on pbs too and this is the closest i've seen them come. the welk show certainly isn't known for its rock and roll.

[dancebandleader]

@rockabillycat1954 Sorry,but I saw the shows when they were new even

back to the years when they were still live, before using tape in the fall of

1965. There were more examples of it in the shows that PBS is NOT running,

for instance in the shows of the 1968-72 period.  Welk,in oneof his books

referred to the heavier inclusion of pop tunes during this period as the biggest

mistake he ever made. The rock explosion was basically retrogression not

progress. Welk was right

,

[rockabillycat1954]

@dancebandleader i've always enjoyed welk, especially with jo anne castle playing some mean honky tonk/ragtime/boogie piano... always entertaining. i don't feel rock was a step backward musically, it was a new mix of country and rhythm n' blues and later on with classical influences with the prog rock movement. his mistake was watering down pop songs that the younger generation found hokey and the older still too barbaric (popular term for black influenced music at the time).

[dancebandleader]

@rockabillycat1954 Sorry, but I stand by my comments. It seems to be that

only rockers seem to have this hipper than thou attitude. Since when are alternative

versions of pop tunes are unacceptable? Now we hear this kind of thing denigrated

as 'elevator music" or "schmaltz" Conductor Percy Faith recorded several

albums of pop tunes is that "watered down" also? Music without vocals should

not be summarily dismissed. It's the 2nd rate qual;ity of most rock tunes thats

lousy.

[rockabillycat1954]

@dancebandleader this is where we differ, your opinion is yours and there's no reason for me to try to change it. the same goes for you changing my opinion. music should be enjoyed, not studied like equations for a satellite. i love orchestra music, when it's good and played with feeling... not just for background. i don't claim to be hipper than you, i know what i like and how i feel about music and i'm not going to make any apologies for it.

[iloveclassics50]

good footage, but that guy lacks some serious soul.

[rockola48juke]

Yeah ,I bet you can play circles around that cat!

[iloveclassics50]

lol, so could you ,im sure!

[promagnum]

Written by Johnny Cash

[teetosh]

Did Fender give him their guitars because he was national TV.

What a smooth player with a great TV smile!

[mashugac]

Nice!

[olderandlovingit]

My cousin Buddy.

[doubletrouble467]

@olderandlovingit Buddy Merrill is your Cousin

[olderandlovingit]

@doubletrouble467 His father is my dads brother.

[doubletrouble467]

@olderandlovingit  lucky

[mcrenshaw]

WOW!!