Lawrence Welk

Who is more Milwaukee than Lawrence Welk? With his accordion and orchestra, played polkas plus light and bubbly “champagne music,” which laid claim to the bubble machine. He played many dance dates in Milwaukee, including George Devine’s Million Dollar Ballroom. It was there, as a youngster, my parents took me to see him, and they bought me an accordion. That didn’t last long, as I preferred to play baseball instead of playing the squeeze box. Welk recorded some of his records in Grafton, Wisconsin. Today those recordings are rare and valuable. Welk started out in radio and later his very popular “Lawrence Welk Show.” He mentions the threat of being canceled, but that never happened, and reruns are seen today on local TV. He had several hits including “Calcutta,” which was a number one record in 1961. Welk was inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He even appeared on Saturday Night Live. You might remember when Stan Freberg impersonated him in a recording called “Wunnerful Wunnerful.” Welk was not happy with Freberg’s mimic but ended up using it for the title of his book.