On his 21st birthday, having fulfilled his promise to his father, Welk left the family farm to pursue a career in music. Welk became an iconic figure in the German-Russian community of the northern Great Plains-his success story personified the American dream. Welk did not learn to speak English until he was twenty-one and never felt comfortable speaking it in public. Any money he made elsewhere during that time, doing farmwork or performing, would go to his family.
Welk decided on a career in music and persuaded his father to buy a mail-order accordion for $400 (equivalent to $5,167 in 2020) He promised his father that he would work on the farm until he was 21, in repayment for the accordion. Welk left school during fourth grade to work full-time on the family farm. They spent the cold North Dakota winter of their first year inside an upturned wagon covered in sod.
The family lived on a homestead that is now a tourist attraction. Welk's paternal great-great grandparents, Moritz and Magdalena Welk, emigrated in 1808 from Germanophone Alsace-Lorraine to Ukraine. Welk was a first cousin, once removed, of former Montana governor Brian Schweitzer (Welk's mother and Schweitzer's paternal grandmother were siblings). He was sixth of the eight children of Ludwig and Christiana (née Schwahn) Welk, Roman Catholic ethnic Germans who emigrated in 1892 from Odessa, Russian Empire (now Ukraine). Using The Welk Group collection of archive photos, the final number, "Through the Years," pays tribute to most of the other members of the Musical Family, including band members, who were such an important part of The Lawrence Welk Show for over 50 years.Welk was born in the German-speaking community of Strasburg, North Dakota. Musical numbers include Ralna's "Amazing Grace" and Guy's brand new recording of the title song, "Through the Years." Also featured are "Exodus" by Jo Ann, "Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair" by The Lennon Sisters, "Tiger Rag" by Myron and "Faith Unlocks the Door" by Jimmy. The stars featured on this program, in both biography and outstanding musical numbers, are: Anacani, Bobby Burgess, Jo Ann Castle, Henry Cuesta, Dick Dale, Ken Delo, Arthur Duncan, Ralna English, Joe Feeney, Myron Floren, Guy Hovis, Jack Imel, The Lennon Sisters, Mary Lou Metzger, Tom Netherton, Bob Ralston, Jimmy Roberts and Norma Zimmer.
Many never-before-seen pictures make this unforgettable program a "must-see" for longtime fans and friends. more » ks, the program's host, Mary Lou Metzger, takes the viewer on a journey through the life and career of 18 stars, including her own. Using treasured photos from their own albums and scrapboo. The Welk Stars Through the Years is a very special salute to the much beloved entertainers who have been a part of Lawrence Welk's Musical Family for so many years.
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