AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra

Artist:Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra f/Wayne Marsh

Song:Don't Sweetheart Me

Album:The Lawrence Welk Collection 1938-62

Of course most folks are familiar with Lawrence Welk from his long running TV variety show. Even if you didn't watch it, it aired for 30 years so most knew about it. But in the 40s, Welk's band was more of a standard big band. He hadn't added the Champagne Music flourishes yet. He had several hits and Don't Sweetheart Me was his biggest hit in 1944. He was born Mar. 11, 1903 in Strasburg, ND. His parents emigrated from what is now known as the Ukraine. His family roots are in Germany. Strasburg was a German speaking community. Welk was the sixth of eight children. Welk convinced his father to buy him an accordion if he agreed to work on the family farm until he was 21. After fulfilling that promise, he led bands including the Hotsy Totsy Orchestra and the Honolulu Fruit Gum Orchestra. He had a daily radio show on WNAX in Yankton, SD from 1927-36. In the 30s, he led a travelling big band playing "sweet" music similar to Guy Lombardo. The term "champagne music" came when Welk's music was described as "light and bubbly as champagne". Welk liked that and he was also given a bubble machine. Welk's band was successful in the Midwest but mostly in Chicago. And he began a ten year residency at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago drawing big crowds. Welk signed with Decca Records in 1941. Most of his singles charted but the 1944 single Don't Sweetheart Me reached #2 on the hit parade. It was the B side of Mairzy Doats but DJs liked the B side better. This would turn out to be the biggest chart hit of Welk's career. Don't Sweetheart Me doesn't have much of a history. It was written by the veteran songwriting team of Cliff Friend and Charles Tobias (The Merry Go Round Broke Down) in 1943. Several artists including The Ink Spots recorded it but Welk's recording was the biggest hit. This was singer Wayne Marsh's only recording with Welk and his only recorded appearance. Maybe he was filling in for someone. This 2CD comp from the British label Acrobat covers Welk's entire career. Welk moved to Los Angeles in 1951 and that's when he started The Lawrence Welk Show. It was a local hit and was picked up by ABC in 1955. The show ended when Wek retired in 1982. He died on May 17, 1992 at age 89. If you're like me, you don't like Welk's music. But you have to respect his longevity. Besides, Don't Sweetheart Me is more standard big band than most of Welk's music. Here's a video of Don't Sweetheart Me by Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra.