LAWRENCE WELK'S BIG BAND SPLASH, hosted by bandleader and trumpeter Doc Severinsen, is a celebration of the Big Band Era's classic hits, performed by the great Welk Band and the talented Musical Family on the popular “Lawrence Welk Show.” Broadcast on network television from 1955 to 1982, the Welk Show has been a popular weekly series on many public television stations since 1987.
Included in this special is Doc's guest appearance on “The Lawrence Welk Show” in 1972, playing the Oscar-winning song, “Love Story.” And the Welk Band salutes Doc — the conductor of “The Tonight Show” Band for Johnny Carson from 1967 to 1972 — with a performance of his signature song, “Johnny’s Theme.”
This brand-new PBS special, the 17th Lawrence Welk special to be produced for public television, pays tribute to 25 legendary bandleaders including Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Les Brown, Count Basie, Ben Bernie, Artie Shaw, Clyde McCoy, Pete Fountain, Harry James, Bob Crosby, Sammy Kaye, Ted Lewis, Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman, Ray Anthony, Doc Severinsen and many others.
The complete song list:
- “In the Mood”
- “Let's Dance”
- “One O'Clock Jump”
- “Sentimental Journey”
- “I'm Getting Sentimental Over You”
- “Contrasts”
- “Sweet Georgia Brown”
- “St. Louis Blues”
- “Celery Stalks at Midnight”
- “South Rampart Street Parade”
- “Sugar Blues”
- “You Made Me Love You”
- “Big Noise From Winnetka”
- “Woodchopper's Ball”
- “Little Brown Jug”
- “When My Baby Smiles at Me”
- “Ring Them Bells”
- “Boo Hoo”
- “The Dipsy Doodle”
- “Boogie Woogie”
- “Love Story” (featuring Doc Severinsen)
- “Panama”
- “Rhapsody in Blue”
- “Take the A Train””
- “Begin the Beguine”
- “Song of India”
- “Johnny's Theme”
- “American Patrol”
- “Toot, Toot, Tootsie”
Band soloists include Henry Cuesta, Bob Havens, Pete Fountain, Jo Ann Castle, Johnny Zell, Kenny Trimble, Jack Imel, Bob Ralston and Johnny Klein. Many of the Big Band numbers include the entire Welk Show cast. Vocal solos include Alice Lon, Mary Lou Metzger, Tanya Welk Roberts, Guy Hovis and Ralna English. Dance numbers feature Bobby Burgess, Cissy King, Elaine Balden, Jack Imel, Arthur Duncan and others.
Doc's host segments were recorded at the Cicada Restaurant in Los Angeles, California, a beautiful Art Deco room, with its original décor of dark wood cabinetry and, appropriately, a large crystal chandelier.
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