Sheik of Araby

[@use2slam2]

back in the mid 60's i was at at fair in Depere Wis and met JO Ann. i was 11, my i was smitten with her every week when we'd watch Larence Welk. my parents made sure to mention that when she gave me her autograph on her photo. she then bent down and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a hug- i was in 11 yr old heaven lol.

[@globalnettuber]

I used to enjoy all the ways they decorated that old piano.

[@billbelt7634]

She is flat AWESOME. I could listen to her all day long.

[@bigwillietheb]

you can't help but love her , Joann & Del Wood can go head to head & you couldn't find a winner , both are that damn good

[@Mervyn691]

Jo Ann Castle's playing beats up all the Sheks of Araby and knocks them down to the ground and under so they have to dance to her tune. Jo Ann, you're fabulous! I can keep hearing you forever. Mervyn.

[@Robert4770]

45 years later shes still bringing pleasure to millions God Bless her

[@dbd1353]

How can you say she dosen't play with feeling? Sounds great to me, and look at the smile on her face.Plus, her chops..Damn, don't get no better..Just great stuff, and thanks for showing this..

[@Robert4770]

How can you not smile watching this? Does anyone smile watching TV today?

[@Henrikitoman]

With all your respect, this is a really good playin'. I had never seen nobody better than joann playing that ragtime songs. I love you Joann!! It's a pity for me that i have discovered you so late...

[@leemclaury6251]

I saw her in person in Palm Springs . She is awesome .

[@19gregske55]

Her close-ups are flawless - she exudes showmanship and finesse. The styling that this clip shows is reminiscent of the Queen of White Soul - Dusty Springfield. I love her!

[@b3j8]

Seeing this, I can still remember watching that episode on our old Sylvania black and white tv ! For our family, Welk's show was something we all looked forward to. Jo Ann Castle was a big part of that.

[@ClaudioLucidi-k5t]

Maestra cómo llegó tú música a mí ❤😊🎥🎞️🎼🎹

[@MargueriteJoyce-vp1bs]

Memories and watched this when she returne missed her no one played as good as her❤

[@UtahMike41]

How the hell does someone play that fast and make it look so easy? I got tired just watching! Jo Anne is awesome!!

[@fordlandau]

Astonishing accurate playing and rhythm. Talent personified.

[@Mervyn691]

Her playing grabs you completely. Reviving a beautiful old number that I still sing.

[@dianamills8781]

Just something about her and her piano playing!! No one else comes close to her magnetism.

[@jfybby2]

She is the main reason I loved watching the LW show. Envy city! She is the best.

[@aslotboy]

Just incredible!! I love watching her feet move!!

[@lassebalja]

Sheik of Araby on a brick piano? Why not... I love this song.

[@davef.2329]

Goodness Gorschgurs, they sure had a hell of a lot of different pianos on that show.

[@BEW343.]

As a professional pianist myself, I must say that my favorite "idols" on the piano are: Liberace, Jerry Lee Lewis, Big Tony Little, &, Jo Ann Castle: They ALL have a REAL COMMAND of the keyboard 🎹!!!

[@enossified]

Man she absolutely burns it up! This really made my day!

[@67leighton]

not a big deal, chen73, but this is not from the Jan. 6, 1967 North Dakota Days episode, when she also played this song. This is from Sept. 30, 1967 Together episode. :)

[@notvalidcharacters]

The video technology of 1967 was just not up to the task of following her hands-- they're just a blur. And what a finish. Leaves me breathless.

[@theellisc]

Jo Ann Castle - just grinin' as she pounds out the stride and melts the keys with her right hand while she stomps out the tempo with both feet. Perhaps she should get more involved with the music. Always inspiring !

[@frederickcombs8661]

Looking back I took this for granted... but how did she do it? She maintained the melody of the original while scatting and counterbalancing the tune with interpolations and transitions. She couldn't have had this written for her, she just played it. Truly amazing AND SHE SOLD IT ALL LOOKING SO HAPPY AND PRETTY.

[@rick-pn3fq]

queen of the castle

[@serialhag76]

My face just melted...AWESOME!

[@melvinnixon2378]

That lady is just incredible on those ivories. She's the only female pianist I know that can play like that. Love it.....

[@njpete987]

Ivories???? Are you talking about her teeth or the keys on the piano? They're both pretty evident in all these videos.

[@mikefargus]

talented and FABULOUS!

[@dirtybird1972]

Wow Fantastic !! shes all that and smiles for the camera !! wow!

[@LarchSt]

Somewhere beyond awesome...., wayyyyyyyy beyond awesome

[@brustdiesel]

To make it clear, I am replying to "inkjetlabel" and the comment that Jo Ann is ham handed, mechanical, bull in a china shop. .... .. Power, grace, beauty, charm, and chutzpa is what she brings to the table; all others are but pretenders to the throne. God, imagine her and Art Tatum on the same set of ivories . . . . .

[@brockwhite730]

Despite a tragic life of addiction, I still find that no one else comes close to her when playing ragtime piano.

[@califdad4]

She was a mess , and got fired from the show for a while, but yes she sure can play

[@realkoko-loco]

Maybe splitting hairs, but what she played was honky-tonk/novelty. I consider true ragtime to be standard ragtime pieces like those composed by Joplin/Scott/Lamb, etc.

[@craig9843]

@@realkoko-locomaybe true but oh well she can play regardless and is very talented.

[@cheric35]

@@califdad4name a mega talent whose life isn't? Judy Garland, MJ, etc,

[@califdad4]

@@cheric35 her issues included keeping a 2nd husband around that sexually abused her kids, I doubt there was anyone else on the TV show as bad as her. She got fired on the road on a Welk tour for starting a big bar fight in Detroit Michigan, and years later on the Welk show in Branson, her drunken boyfriend later husband band member got fired for drinking on the job and one of the male singers had turned him in so she accused him of " touching" her trying to get him fired and all it got her was fired. Last I heard she is living in Arkansas with her husband and must be old as dirt by now

[@user-kd1ho9bu6g]

i want this exact same piano. It would be so much fun to play!

[@jackcracker9893]

My word! this lady is one of the best pianist, I think in the entire World!

[@pianojack7956]

It didn’t matter, what song she played, she was always good at whatever she played. I’ve never seen a better more talented pianist than her.

[@mk181818]

Wonderful !!!

[@robotwolf]

I freaking LOVE Jo Ann Castle!!!!!!!!!

[@lightrays]

That is some real piano playing. I would like to have that piano too.

[@extrix3039]

wow, so talented

[@katcalmejane]

@Hobbs360 What on earth do you mean "it's obvious there are no microphones anywhere on the set"? There could be a boom mic just inches above her head and you wouldn't know. They don't usually go out of their way to make microphones obvious you know.

[@Mervyn691]

Absolutely eye-catching, this beautiful.

[@notvalidcharacters]

I've watched this a hundred times and just now realized, the bit at 1:39 is edited to repeat at 2:20. It's a very good edit but watch the movements, they're all exactly the same.

[@rokder]

its not an edit!

[@kudalaMangalooru]

Nice catch! Yes, i agree, it is very much a clever editing. The left Jo Ann's hand movement up in the air, the rhythm guitarist looking sideways are dead giveaways! Nonetheless what a performance! :)

[@67leighton]

PBS did this splicing when they started airing the show in 1987 in order to fill an hour, as there are no commercials. Usually it’s a band number they spliced, or they repeated an entire number. This time we were extra lucky! Once they stayed using guest hosts in like 1991, the splicing stopped.

[@decunamus2]

How can you not be happy with a piano made of bricks.

[@mick62mick]

I really enjoyed that. I'm worn out just watching!

[@babyboy1971]

That’s heavy!

[@schnellguy]

Wonderful,Wonderful! With a 1 and a 2!

[@Robert4770]

@enossified she was one of a kind she makes me smile no matter how many times I watch these videos over and over

[@1957thunderbird312]

@Hobbs360 shes not faking anything..watch the insides of the piano move..she actually playing

[@frostbluez]

Omg, hamming it up!

[@fanorama1]

As kids, we used to say, "Why is she kicking that piano?" lol

[@cheric35]

She's a blessing

[@esetlam]

As if I saw it for the first time but still ........Incredible.

[@VinDcator]

Amazing!

[@giusepperaganato9843]

Ottimo il ritmo..

[@fordlandau]

Brick piano to stop it exploding with her playing !!

[@katiazayats977]

Joann is wonderful !

[@Dannys998877]

LOL......What a graceful approach you take in defending Ms.Castle's musical abilities!

[@1957thunderbird312]

@Hobbs360 whos to say there wasnt a mic in the piano itself..just the volume turned down? when we did performances thats what my music teacher did

[@jjhtr]

I'm going to stay up all night learning those licks dude was playing on that telecaster. Must have been the insperation for Keef Richard

[@esetlam]

WOoooooooooooooooW INCREDIBLE.

[@merc1110]

Castle still can kick it!

[@hendersonchap6725]

She can really rock those keys!

I love her.

[@decunamus2]

If I had a piano made of bricks I'd look just as happy.

[@donddondecuuzdecruz327]

That woman is fantastic.

[@threecheerer]

for some reason, my finger joints began to hurt as i was watching this...

[@nicholasserio4031]

From looking at your description of the video, I would say no, this number is not from the Welk show of 1-7-1967, but it is Sheik Of Araby but from a different Welk show. For her piano was yellow on that 1-7-1967 show. PBS never aired the 1-7-1967 show. I have the show in black and white. I don't hear from Mr Welk "A Nice Hand from Jo Ann Castle." after the song is finished, so this tells me this show is not from 1-7-1967 but a different show where she plays "A Sheik Of Araby".

[@67leighton]

You’re right.; this isn’t from January 1967. This is the 9-30-67 episode called “Together”

[@visaman]

The film is speeded up somewhat! ;)

[@davef.2329]

Welk never seemed too amenable when speaking about Ms. Castle. We all really like her on the show.

[@mytexasdays1526]

Haha. So that's the melody. This is the only song my mother could play on the piano.

[@Moony697]

it's really a test at how much time you can hold your head up and look at the camera while playing ! ahah brilliant

[@paulcatania1315]

Oh my god.....

[@MrBobaloo22]

I WISH THEY'D TUNE THE PIANO -- I will NEVER understand why some folks feel like it's necessary for the piano to be out of tune to catch that "authentic ragtime flavor" -- drives me nuts!!! :)

[@hendersonchap6725]

Hey everybody...it's a brick piano! LoL! : )

[@fannypapillon]

Artiste!

[@baadpuddytat]

I am scared. And possibly scarred.

[@mattcol99]

@oOOpIIIqOOo Ha!! That right hand tremelo would make your eyes water!

[@ellerboda]

Oh gosh... this was hilarious. Guess she inspired Kyle Esplin.. Thanks for posting chen73

[@moboutmen]

Ah, yes. Ticklin' the ivory on the old brick piano.

[@caninbar]

The guy on the guitar seems amazed...and why shouldn't he?...He's just playing a few notes...while she's going like a mad woman! Great stuff!

[@fernandocruzc8066]

WOW.

[@nikk_mcd3824]

1:10

[@mggentry]

Jo ann drops the beat

[@HerSweetness]

Wow!

[@harmonizedigital.]

Is it really made of bricks or is that just a pattern on the piano

[@Divine6]

bin sprachlos. So was gabs mal wirklich? Eine feine Dame.

[@Mustangladyme]

Lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!! lol

[@kathydethman7218]

Her hands are a blur they move so fast

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

A brick piano, ha ha ha ha and she just keep smiling!!!

[@HankKroll]

I've heard of brisk out houses but not pianos.

[@iggystompbarnyard]

i want a brick piana

[@thefamilycat]

Jo Ann Castle-great name like she's a Hot Boppin' Girl.And great dress. The Beatles made this song famous later

[@bikeboytim]

This is hilarious!

[@davidwalterhall]

At 1:09, for a brief moment, she appears to be actually concentrating on what she's doing. Obviously she's completely focused the whole time, but that's the only point when she drops the smile. Incredible.

[@Mustangladyme]

Lol!!!!!!!! I am laughing my butt off.

[@Remekable]

Rownie pieknie gra na fortepianie.Talent co?

[@fixitmann6685]

Alla youse boyz getta short haircut anda putta the grease in it, maka you ears look big, and alla you girlz you weara wigz!

[@KMNKeyboardVault]

She Is The Best & She Can Play Any Piano But Have You Ever Thought About if That Piano Was Realy Brick how Much it Would Weigh. It Will Be More Than 3 Mason & Hamlin Concert Grands Pianos An Old Cabinet Grand Upright Like That Is 400LBS Already