Lawrence Welk Leads The Tonight Show Band | Carson Tonight Show

[@okiepita50t-town28]

It’s funny, when I was a teenager growing up in the 60’s my parents would watch his show every Saturday and I dreaded having to endure an hour of this. Mind you, we didn’t have more than one tv and of course, no internet. Now , crazily, I watch the reruns on PBS every Saturday for nostalgic reasons. It brings back fond memories of good times and loved ones who are no more. Happy days.

[@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet]

I loved every minute of watching the LW show with my parents. We were able to share something together!!

[@clintondoner1133]

Same here but early 70s !!!

[@kennethohmert3128]

Same. Visting my grandparents every other weekend, us kids were stuck watching his show, but I learned to appreciate some of the music and started playing trombone in school.

[@feggyduss6463]

This is a great story. My grandparents would come in and we would watch Mr. Welk's show. Years later, my father would smoke cigarettes, drink warm beer because he was an alcholic (LOL) and watch the show on Sunday nights.

[@johnsmith6586]

Same with me. When I was a kid I thought lawrence welk was the most "unhip" show on TV and my Grandmother would torture me every week with it. After I joined the school band I began to appreciate just how good the band really was. They specialize in "light" music" but the band members could play just about any thing. My Grandmother has been dead since the 1980's and if it made her happy, then that's fine by me. Just to sit with my grandmother again and watch Lawrence Welk again would be wunnerful wunnerful.

[@yjkhjghftf]

Today (Oct.18th) is my dad's 99th birthday. When I was young I used to watch The Lawrence Welk Show with him on Sat. nights. Of course, the music and dance were "wunnerful". But I really enjoyed watching it WITH my dad. He especially enjoyed when they played Big Band and Swing. So glad I got a chance to see this today. I miss you dad.

[@jackchen7003]

My dad is also 99, going on 100, and I am fortunate to still have him around. I used to love watching Lawrence Welk with him

[@yjkhjghftf]

@@jackchen7003 Very cool! Enjoy your times together. 👍

[@pmafterdark]

As a kid I can remember being at my grandparents home and them watching his show. Mr. Welk seemed like a gracious gentlemen.

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

I used to watch with my dad when we visited a particular small town, which we did quite often. The hotel where we stayed had a large tv room next to the lobby, and a few older people who lived in that town would gather there to watch Lawrence Welk. I was the only kid, but I still enjoyed myself. Now I can say that, as a fan of the Grateful dead, I'm a dead head. As a Jimmy Buffett fan I'm a parrot head. But I'm also a life-long Welk head, and very proud to be that.

[@doriangrey9702]

Me too. Crocheting with my grandmother every day. Great times. ❤

[@mikemontgomery8407]

Ditto

[@douglasstewart518]

A time when gentleman interviewed gentleman and no one questioned it! I'm so happy I was able to experience it.

[@rphillip1086]

Yes, even if they danced together, no questions back then. Sheesh.

[@EmilyTienne]

Loved seeing the elation in Mr Welk’s face as he conducted that orchestra. And what a piece too!

[@cloudwatcher724]

and also the genuine appreciation in his manner when the song was concluded. you could tell how much he appreciated the moment. smiles, thanking everyone... where is that kind of class today???

[@EmilyTienne]

@@cloudwatcher724 I was a kid when dad forced us kids to watch him. LOL. As I grew older I came to appreciate his show and his style.

[@kimbrey65]

I remember watching Lawrence Welk when I was a kid with my parents and grandparents.

[@robbyblackwell7247]

Oh my God me too! Especially my aunt and Uncle and I believe it was Saturday or Sunday night and it was a ritual that must be endured or enjoyed ❤ lol

[@steffenritter7497]

I spent evenings watching Lawrence Welk with my parents. Quite frankly, I was in love with the Lennon Sisters! All of them, that is!

[@lorihanlon5389]

@@robbyblackwell7247 I think it was Saturday Nights? Remember Bobby & Susie? Then we watched Wild Kingdom afterwards

[@danrook5757]

Better known as the good old days

[@dianewinters8628]

Yes great memories of us all together. I was little and I remember loving the bubbles.

[@frisco21]

I was never a big Welk fan (he was more to my grandparents' taste), but I must admit, his appearance with Carson was awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[@romeman01]

I met Lawrence Welk nearly one month before this appearance at a book signing and we spoke briefly. This interview well portrays the man with whom I spoke, as does his 1967 appearance on What's My Line?, also on KZbin: a man somewhat self-conscious, a little bit socially awkward, simple and unsophisticated in his approach to life, and -- above all -- tremendously, even massively, sincere, caring, and gentle. These latter three qualities, all possessed by the same person, are rare enough in our world to be noticed and I think that's what people here are observing and responding to with enthusiasm.

[@karenleemallonee684]

Watched the Lawrence Welk Show every Saturday night at 7:00pm with Dad, Mom & Sister. From before Kindergarten till I was married. This clip warmed my heart!!! ❤️

[@Blueorchid1963]

Lawrence welk’s sister Appalonia is my great grandmother. My uncle looks so much like Lawrence.

[@dogman4100]

Wow. That's pretty awesome.

[@greatadventures7378]

I would watch Lawrence Welk at my grandfather’s house. It is still shown on PBS and I do my best to see it every weekend.

[@pattibrooks1907]

I remember watching Lawrence Welk as a kid teenager and adult now Im 67 years old the same age my Grand Ma was back in the 60s when I watched it with my Nana !

[@aaa7189]

Did you ever think you would be as old as your Grand Ma ? To us that was old

[@maryannstout7600]

My family watched Lawrence Welk every week when I was small. I absolutely loved it. Fast forward to the 1980’s. My husband and I watched the reruns every weekend when our kids were small. They’d take turns bathing and I would roll the girls’ hair. Also the little ones would dance around to the music. So I really loved that show.

[@gstockwell5315]

Wow, Oh, I never saw Lawrence smile like that! What a wonderful sharing between Johnny, Doc, and Lawrence!. I loved it!

[@msr1116]

They had an excellent rapport. I could see Johnny was very at ease with Mr. Welk and wonder if they became friends.

[@SteffiReitsch]

Without the benefit of a college education, Lawrence was a very astute businessman. He started his organization all from scratch, ran it like a father figure and cared deeply about his people , whom he called his "musical family." He had a keen eye for talent and hired the best of the best, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. I miss him, his show, the beautiful music, and the singers and dancers. We'll never see anything like it again. .

[@phillipecook3227]

I have never seen this man before but he comes across as a real gentleman and the joy on his face conducting another band is beautiful to see.

[@gxl5892]

Growing up the whole family sat down with mom dad and watched Lawrence Welk. And here I am 50 years later finding and watching LW again, glad I did!!!!!

[@habcast3978]

The good ol’ 70’s when America still had some semblance of innocence and goodness left. I miss those days.

[@richardblayneamerican8149]

A true gentleman, Mr. Welk. As a child of the 1960's, I remember my mom watching him every week on Saturdays just before my bedtime. I feel bad when I think of how we used to laugh at him; my siblings and I were into The Beatles and saw Welk's show as being for old fogeys. But now I know what a shrewd businessman he was, and a very decent man. And of course, fond memories of my dear departed mother.

[@carlathomas6257]

Every time I stayed at my great grammas house,we watched Jeopardy and Lawrence welk. Not sure of the order.we finished off with Jimmy Dean show,and we're tucked in bed with lights out just as our small town fire whistle blew,indicating curfew had started. What wonderful memories!! I learned all the members of the Welk troupe. I appreciated Lawrence Welk even more when I joined the school band and really then appreciated the way each instrument added to each piece to make the whole sum sound better than individual pieces.

[@Tomatohater64]

Grew up listening to his band in the 60s. This was quite the interesting chat between two incredible men.

[@arthurharrison1345]

Johnny gives a great interview. Two of the greatest entertainment gentlemen of the era!

[@fasx56]

Thank you Mr. Carson and Editors who took the time to put this history together and bring back many of the stars of the Lawrence Welk Show. Many of us older folks have fond memories of His Music and Semi-Big Band Sound coming into our living rooms.

[@markhealey3660]

I’m a metal drummer that has played in a symphony or two and auditioned for the Glenn Miller Orchestra. I love swing, it reminds me of my grandparents when I was a little kid. I will always love this music. ❤❤❤

[@deloysterns]

Both Doc and Welk bands had first class musicians

[@Sunny-il1xm]

His show is still very popular on PBS every Saturday. Reminds me of my parents and home.

[@maxshenkwrites]

Interesting to note that Welk, during this broadcast, was 70 years old, younger than many of the rockers now who are still going in their late 70s/early 80s.

[@MikeBlitzMag]

Now there is a summit meeting! Lawrence Welk and Carl "Doc" Severinsen. Both leaders featured virtuoso level players in their respective orchestras, yet never compromised heart in the process. Magnificent!

[@nikachimes6675]

….I know….I know….a punk rocker like me loving Lawrence Welk…..I find both him & Carson quite charming…..💕

[@lastcrazyhorn]

I’m a big fan of prog metal, but my dad watched Lawrence Welk all the time while I was growing up.

[@nikachimes6675]

@@lastcrazyhorn …ha ha…thank you….yes…I do not know much about him but maybe it is that father thing or something when I was a kid….I will buy one of his books…😘💫

[@kelb6073]

Same! lol

[@nikachimes6675]

@@kelb6073 ha ha something soft in his ways and his shows….✨✨✨

[@dianerathgeber1526]

I’m sure you’re just a big ball of love. ❤

[@CuriousEarthMan]

Classy, from a different time. Brings tears to my eyes.

[@funghouls5498]

Our family used to watch the Lawrence Welk show when I was little. Definitely a generational audience. Around that time I discovered Johnny Carson and tried to stay up for him. Fond memories.

[@patrickmoore7506]

As much as people liked to poke fun at Lawrence Welk for his music, the reality was he knew what people liked. He was also a very astute businessman, creating Ranwood Records, running Vanguard Records, and starting the Welk Music Group. If you were in his band, you had to bring your "A-Game" every day. And in the process, made him and those associated with him very wealthy. Much respect!

[@snareplayer1]

Great band but LW couldnt conduct to ave his life! Thats why George Cates the actual music director conducted the more difficult numbers.

[@Setheskivias]

What is the meaning of (a game)?

[@patrickmoore7506]

@@Setheskivias it means that you have to perform at your absolute best. In essence, showing up, ready to play at any time.

[@tomschock6170]

It wasn't all that many years ago, relatively, when my parents and I watched the Lawrence Welk Show, even after he'd passed as his shows continue to run in syndication. Mr. Welk and his Champagne Music Maker shared a "wunnerful" time with millions of faithful fans for literally decades. He was an exceptional human being.

[@bretstanley8931]

I wish I could have found something in my life to bring as much joy as what conducting brought to Mr. Welk!

[@petepoulos]

As I got older I appreciated his show more.

[@jomon723]

Same here, back then hated it

[@landocommando8]

This is such a nice interview between two great people!

[@michaelsnyder6922]

I used to spend weekends at my grandmas house and we would work in the garden and then during dinner we’d watch Lawrence Welk and made for tv movies. Some of my favorite memories. I still like to watch old clips of his show.

[@richardcline1337]

I have collected almost every record I could find of the Lawrence Welk band. Music like his is almost a completely lost art these days. As I enter into my twilight years I am most grateful that I grew up in an era when real music was being created and not with a bunch of computers and artificial backgrounds. Lawrence Welk, Jackie Gleason, Percy Faith, Mantovani, Billy Vaughn....just to name a few. To my knowledge we have nothing like these great bands today.

[@kathleenweppler8067]

I remember snuggling up to my Mother, watching the Lawrence Welk Show. He was a good man ！

[@EmilyTienne]

Yes, he was!

[@Mike1614YT]

Look how happy Lawrence is leading the Tonight Show band. he's in his element

[@fredschroyer584]

What a charming interview and performance! Welk looks SO happy to conduct this world-class orchestra. Just charming!

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

Very cool! Lawrence (RIP) looked like he was having a great time.

[@dogman4100]

When I was six years old I would imitate Lawrence Welk for my grandmother. Always got her laughing. "Wonerful Wonerful". : )

[@HardRockMiner]

A 1,a 2, ... My mom absolutely loved Lawrence Welk. She used to watch him on TV all the time.

[@wilsonking1617]

Mine too- 7:00 Saturday night the TV was hers!

[@lenhummel5766]

This man had an amazing 40- 50 year musical career,...so loved by the generation of 1920's to the 1980's and even beyond. It was A Musical Family.🎯💎🎯

[@karenkoe7096]

I just loved his enjoyment at leading the band. That was the best part of the interview.

[@markmed9091]

Remember, we grew up with basically three channels to watch . So most times , the kids watched what the parents selected. I liked music so I didn’t really mind his show . In the ‘70’s he had a beautiful singer named María Consuelo Castillo-López y Cantor-Montoya. She was someone to look forward to!

[@meijer78]

My grandmother loved watching Lawrence Welk. I loved it when he would say a one and a two!!

[@rickmontgomery3037]

This is wonderfully entertaining and a great interview, thanks for posting!

[@jamesstuart3346]

A class act all the way

[@gregorall9779]

I was never a fan, but I respected Mr. Welk and his contribution to music.

[@sammcbride2149]

My favorite musician on the Lawrence Welk show was the lady piano player, Jo Ann Castle. She was gorgeous and played a really mean honky-tonk piano.

[@johnnewcomb534]

And had the biggest smile I ever saw.

[@richardcline1337]

Sadly, her career suffered tremendously when it was revealed that her husband was a pedophile. Bob Ralston was also outed as a pedophile, preferring young boys. So much talent but hidden secrets. In today's WOKE world, they'd be celebrities for their perversion and not for their talent.

[@oldermusiclover]

mine was Myron Floran thought he was good looking too

[@JeffChase]

She was an incredible accordion player too. Some say she got moved to piano because she was making Myron look bad.

[@williamkelly8026]

A great gentleman. And a devout Catholic.

[@tripjet999]

He couldn't help that.

[@sylviakent22]

I grew up watching the Lennon Sisters & learning to appreciate great music

[@planetpjr]

Buddy Merrill was the first guitarist that put the three way switch between positions on a Fender Stratocaster on the Lawrence Welk show.

[@ryanellis4474]

Perfect spot But I wish some gal had danced with Lawrence! Johnny is the greatest late night host of all time A mono culture is what created Lawrence Welk and his family of musicians I will pray for America. Please pray for me. God Bless you.

[@cdstoc]

As a teenager in the 1970's I used to watch the Welk show with my grandma every weekend. I was in the band in HS and actually enjoyed the Welk show. In college our jazz band opened our shows on one tour with Welk's theme song, "Bubbles in the Wine", a fun thing for us. Welk seems like a very gracious gentlemen here with Carson.

[@hollywoodharriet13]

Can't believe no chick was brave enough to dance with Welk. LOL. Grew up watching him and his Champagne Melody Makers.

[@badtriad9684]

Saturday evening reruns of The Lawrence Welk Show on PBS are GOLDEN!!! -Woodstock Vet

[@irish89055]

My PBS doesn't show it anymore.. they got more Woke programs to occupy 😡

[@badtriad9684]

@@irish89055 Hi Irish -sorry to hear that! Lawrence Welk was just a simpler time (the gals were pretty......, & WAS MUSIC!!!)

[@richardcline1337]

@@irish89055, PBS is all but nothing short of sheer GARBAGE now, promoting crap like same sex and that leftist line!

[@rickyrydell]

Doc: "Do you know how to beat them off?" LOL!

[@jkjives1786]

I was wondering if anyone else noticed that! 😂

[@amyschneidhorst1384]

Funny it never occurred to me that the Lawrence Well Show was filmed in Los Angeles. Mr. Welk shows how being folksy was more of his brand but he was also very business savvy.

[@frankieaddams3937]

Just so great! I miss those times....

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

My grandparents watched Lawrence Welk every week. I have to admit that even as a kid I enjoyed the orchestra, but I didn't care much for the singing and dancing bits. And that Tonight Show Orchestra was always amazing.

[@sherrysavka7735]

My mom took my grandmother to California to see the Lawrence Welk Show in 1958.

[@shuffle877]

@ Johnny Carson Thank You so much for this! It is much appreciated. Sometime, if it can be done, I would love to see the night Mr. Welk was on and he brought one of his own clarinet players, Henry Cuesta, with him to the show. I think it was a couple years after this.

[@ellenlinn7]

I used to watch Lawrence Welk every Saturday night- I especially liked Joe Feeney, a wonderful Irish Tenor- and Myron Floren, the fantastic Accordianist-

[@davef.2329]

Must have been very fulfilling to Mr. Welk to have been enjoyed by so many folks and to obviously enjoyed what he was doing, so.

[@stevenmichael3426]

I yearn for the days of old...real culture and music!

[@vilstef6988]

This was a delight! Lawrence was having a great time!

[@chrisbanda100]

Love this and the Lawrence Welk Show

[@gregjones2376]

What a happy man! I enjoyed that greatly.

[@LB-ty6ks]

That was terrific!

[@jorgecabrera3541]

I remember I was nine years old my uncle worked for wolmeco. And wtvj Chanel four and Lawrence Welk and his band came down to Miami and I asked my uncle please I want to see Lawrence Welk he was surprised and said really oh yes well we went Mr Welk and his Band blew me away i was in heaven God Bless you Mr Welk we miss you dearly ❤😊❤

[@ronflatter1235]

8:04 “Nifty Riff.” What a wonderful song.

[@Camop-iz9kt]

I worked for OETA in OKC in the late 90s, and was on the crew for two Lawrence Welk pledge specials. It was a ton of work, but meeting some of the surviving cast members was fun. Norma Zimmer was a real sweetheart.

[@kirok3184]

Things like this always bring back good memories. We were kids. Didn't look to the future or live in the past. We were like nature's wildlife; lived in the moment. Then, we hit puberty. Hormones started to rage. It was game over. We all long for those days of sweet innocence. Sometimes I wish I never hit 13-14 years old. I'm beginning to tear up just typing this. 😢

[@ElChupacabra77B]

How impressive!!! He made the Tonight Show Band sound like his own!!!

[@rayinpau.s.a.6351]

Absolutely Love this Song . Lawrence was a very strict Man , But had a heart of Gold ! And Lawrence mentioned Pittsburgh . Well the Bubble machine was made by a Maintenance Man for the William Penn Hotel . True Fact !

[@teb3317]

Danced for my parents every Saturday night as a child! He had a wonderful and entertaining show!

[@PrincessLydia]

My introduction to Lawrence Welk was on a Saturday night when I was 5 years old, and I told my parents that I wanted to watch TV before they turned on PBS and saw that "The Lawrence Welk Show" was on. Let's just say that I was so hooked that I wanted to watch it the next week, and by the time I was 5 & a half, I knew everyone's names in both the band and singers!

[@it1988a]

He had a 1975 Dodge Monaco with a vanity plate---A1ANA2. True story.

[@bodysuitguy]

I worked for his hotel group at head office in San Marcos California. There was a picture of it on the wall in one of the corridors.

[@Widda68]

😢 5:21 I agree that Lawrence comes across as the three-dimensional human being and not nearly as a caricature. His opening comments to Johnny about being more ad-lib was quite interesting I thought.

[@kathleenjohnson1885]

What a beautiful suit he’s wearing!

[@bodysuitguy]

Classy yet snazzy

[@demef758]

Just about all of the comments express the same sentiment: this brings back very fond memories of Saturday night at home with Mom and Dad happily listening to the music, and we kids were groaning the entire time. Here we are 50 years later, and we would all give an arm or a leg just to be able to live one of those Saturday nights again just so that we could express our deep love and appreciation for our fabulous parents. Thank you, Lawrence, you were in deed Wunerful, Wonerful!

[@gregoryagogo]

LW is so happy conducting the band!

[@AugustHawk]

I watched Lawrence Welk as a kid and really enjoyed watching the athletic dancing on the show. The Exposure to different types of music gave me a deep appreciation of music today and I have an Eclectic Taste Of Music now which I can attribute to The Lawrence Welk show.

[@Stevie-hn7mp]

I never watched Lawrence but he seemed funny and gracious. Rip all are gone now .

[@PedalSteel-by2hx]

Classy gentleman.

[@doriangrey9702]

Lawrence welk show was awesome. The wholesome show was amazing. The fact the station canceled it for monetary reasons is stupid.

[@kingdoc3262]

Childhood memories from my elder foster parents ❤

[@pinotnoir6974]

When I was a kid, as crazy as it may sound, Saturday evening was always a battle watching either Lawrence Welk or Crusher and Dick The Bruiser. I kid you not. Grandpa and mom wanted to watch champagne drinking Welk. Grandma and dad insisted on watching cigar smoking beer drinking “Dirty bums”. Some of the greatest memories.

[@Camop-iz9kt]

Lawrence was one of the richest men in entertainment, mainly due to real estate investments, and music publishing and recording.

[@madbrowniac7871]

Was always very impressed with his barrelhouse style Piano Player Miss JoAnn Castle.🤔😉🎤💃🎹📺B.W.

[@Smile69Canada-MamaBear104.]

I was #blessed to watch this on PBS when I was a small child. #grace #unity

[@jomon723]

As a kid back then I hated this show, but now nice to see and how clean it was

[@tomlichnofsky.7048]

I Remember The Bubbles on His Shows lol 😊😄 A one And A Two And A Threes. 🍁♈🍁

[@StevenTorrey]

Still enjoy his shows.

[@wythetrumpet6419]

Great Video! Ah yes back in the time when late night TV was fun to watch! 🎺😁👍

[@BETTERWORLDSGT]

I remember Lawrence Welk as well as Johnny Carson!

[@rphillip1086]

If you want to see the closest thing to pure happiness, watch Lawrence Welk conduct the Tonight Show Band.

[@petercunnius4028]

Classic! So awesome!

[@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet]

He was a genius!! His longevity is proof!!