The Lawrence Welk Show: 12 Street Rag

Lawrence and Myron from the premire show (1955)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lawrence
• Welk
• Myron
• Floren
• 12
• Street
• Rag

[RolandfionaRuby123]

i wish accordion today were on tv to bring back happy music for the kids of today 2011

[Joka7itz]

Great !!!

[theredarrow78]

Fantastic.  Have been a fan since 1955

[ltomholme]

In Escandido CA at Mr. W's Restaurant, Lawrence would often entertain with his accordion. He especially liked to accompany Joe Feeney and later Anaconi.  It was great entertainment. I'm sure his left hand was not like Myron's but he knew how to use it rhythmically. Did you know Welk could also play the banjo?

I know he was sensitive about his accordion abilities which might explain why he played so seldom on TV.

[romeman01]

Holmes, I watched the Johnson Rag and my recollection of Lawrence's left-handed technique was confirmed. He played essentially sustained notes or chords rather than hopping around. If you check TVCollector71's Muskrat Ramble or Darvishjo's Floren Welk Duet you will see LW's left hand. I think Lawrence's embarrassment, if any, came from Myron's exceptional left hand, as heard for about 30 sec. after 1:15 on Lady of Spain (1951 video). Congratulations on hearing LW live so often at the Palladium!

[romeman01]

Actually Lawrence played this still better live at Madison Square Garden (there is a clip from this recording onine at Amazon on the album "The Champagne Music Of Lawrence Welk"). He had a simple way of playing, but it had charm.

[ltomholme]

Interesting..Rockwell's recollections. I've heard this before and during those years as well. I certainly don't know much about playing the accordion - yet I do know of songs Lawrence played where he displayed his left hand technique with ease and grace - correct or incorrect. One of those titles, THE JOHNSON RAG, is on this site. Welk was self taught and was an orchestra accordionist where, as in orchestra piano, the base is used sparingly if at all.

[LarsBechstein]

The record you mentioned is called "Say It With Music - Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music - Dance Medleys Of 36 All Time Favourites". It was recorded in 1956.

My good friend Rocky Rockwell mentioned when I visited him last year, that although Lawrence could play accordion well, he gave instructions to photographers and camera-engineers that they were only allowed to show his "key-hand",not the hand on the little buttons, cause,sticking to Rocky,he was not really able to use them correctly

[graham1281]

Most enjoyable, thanks for posting

[MFlorenFan]

great video. of course it's always great to see Lawrence and Myron play together