Lawrence Welk - Save The Last Dance For Me

Lawrence Welk
Save The Last Dance For Me


Millions of people listen to his many record albums. Thousands beg for tickets to his weekly coast-to-coast television show. On weekends, the Aragon Ballroom in Santa Monica, California is filled to capacity, and has ever since he and his Champagne Music Makers opened there in 1951.

Yet the story of Lawrence Welk is a comparatively simple one.Lawrence formed his first orchestra in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It consisted of drums and accordion. He ultimately augmented the group with a saxophone and piano and with this combination got his first appearance on radio station WNAX of Yankton, South Dakota.

By 1927, Lawrence Welk's orchestra had grown to six pieces and was known as the "Biggest Little Band In America.

Eventually, Lawrene began to experiment with new sounds in music and hit upon a grouping of instruments which created a bouncing, effervescent effect. He liked it and had the style employed in all his arrangements. Because of its lightness in quality and bubbling flow it was labeled "Champagne Music.

One of the busiest men in show business today, Lawrence finds time to read every fan letter personally. He loves to give mementos to people who come to meet him: pencils, fountain-pens, calendar cards, letter-openers, cuff-links, earrings and dozens of other items, which he buys by the thousands to distribute like Santa Claus.

"I like to see people smile and laugh," he says in explaining these gifts. "the greatest joy life can hold for any man is the pleasure of giving." And that, it seems, is Lawrence's credo.


SIDE 1

1 SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME 2:33
2 BLUE VELVET 2:32
3 GIGI 2:41
4 STARS FELL ON ALABAMA 2:50
5 THE SWEETEST SOUNDS 2:13

SIDE 2

1 YOUNG AT HEART 2:41
2 STARDUST 4:16
3 MONA LISA 2:05
4 THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC 2:21
5 THAT'S MY DESIRE 2:42