("I'm on My Way") ♪ ♪ Got a dream, boys ♪ ♪ Got a song ♪ ♪ Grab that dream, boys ♪ ♪ And come along ♪ ANNOUNCER: Welcome to From The Heart.

Join us for A Tribute To Lawrence Welk And The American Dream, with our special guests, The Jordanaires.

♪ Where am I goin' ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ Where am I headin' ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ I ain't certain ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ All I know is I am on my way ♪ Floyd Kramer, Pete Fountain.

(audience applauds) ♪ When will I be there ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ I don't know ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ When will I get there ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ I ain't certain ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ All I know is I am on my way ♪ And a reunion of the Welk family of stars.

(audience applauds) ♪ Where am I goin' ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ I don't know ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ When will I get there ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ I ain't certain ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ All I know is I am on my way ♪ Ken Delo, Anacani, Tom Netherton.

♪ ♪ When will I be there?

I don't know ♪ ♪ When will I get there?

I ain't certain ♪ ♪ All I know is I am on my way ♪ Guy Hovis and Ralna English.

(audience applauds) ♪ Joanne Castle.

♪ (audience applauds) Art Duncan, Bobby Burgess, and Elaine Balden.

♪ Where am I goin'?

I don't know ♪ ♪ When will I be there?

I ain't certain ♪ ♪ What will I get?

I ain't equipped to say ♪ Dick Dale, Ava Barber, Jack Campbell, Mary Lou Metzger.

♪ But come on along ♪ (audience applauds) Gail Farrell, Norma Zimmer, Ron Anderson.

♪ Come on along ♪ Joe Feeney.

(audience applauds) ♪ Come on along ♪ Jim Roberts.

(audience applauds) ♪ Myron Floren.

(audience applauds) And our From The Heart host Ms. Barbara Mandrell.

(audience cheers) (audience applauds) ("This is My Country") ♪ This is my country ♪ ♪ Land of my birth ♪ ♪ This is my country ♪ ♪ Grandest on Earth ♪ ♪ I pledge thee my allegiance ♪ ♪ America, the bold ♪ ♪ For this is my country, to have and to hold ♪ ♪ Where am I goin' ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ ♪ Where am I headin'?

I ain't certain ♪ ♪ All I know is I am on my way ♪ ♪ When will I be there?

I don't know ♪ ♪ When will I get there?

I ain't certain ♪ ♪ All I know is I am on my way ♪ ♪ I pledge thee my allegiance ♪ ♪ America, the bold ♪ ♪ For this is my country, to have and to hold ♪ ♪ Got a dream, boys ♪ ♪ Got a song ♪ ♪ Grab that dream, boys ♪ ♪ And come along ♪ ♪ Where am I goin'?

I don't know ♪ ♪ When will I be there?

I ain't certain ♪ ♪ What will I get?

I ain't equipped to say ♪ ♪ But come on along ♪ ♪ Come on along ♪ ♪ Come on along ♪ ♪ We're on our way ♪ (audience applauds) BARBARA: Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Gotta dream boys gotta song, that could have been written for young Lawrence Welk leaving his North Dakota farm home looking for his American dream.

And as we all know, he found it.

He became one of the legendary figures in the world of music and television, earning his dream the hard way.

Playing in dance halls and ballrooms all across the country for over 25 years.

After that he was on national television for more than 30 years, entertaining you and your kids every Saturday night.

On this tribute, we're gonna refresh your memory about the American dream and tell you the story of a man who became even more successful than he ever dreamed he could be.

Our special guests are some of the men and women who were with him on the show.

His dream had opened doors for them too.

Mr. Welk even helped me by letting me be a guest on his show one Saturday night.

It was really a wonderful thing being a part of his family of stars.

LAWRENCE: The nicest thing that ever happened in my life when you got in touch with me and said you wanted to do our show.

What a great compliment.

BARBARA: This is- this is just the best to me.

You have treated me like one of you and that's the best feeling in the whole world.

LAWRENCE: You're just marvelous.

BARBARA: Thank you.

LAWRENCE: And we hope we can see you again before too long.

BARBARA: Thank you so much.

Please keep up the great entertainment for all of us.

Will you?

LAWRENCE: Yeah, yeah.

BARBARA: Thank you.

Mr. Welk did keep entertaining us for many, many more years and his shows are still keeping our toes tappin'.

We all love Mr. Welk and this song is for him from my heart.

("Our Love is Here to Stay") ♪ ♪ It's very clear ♪ ♪ Our love is here to stay ♪ ♪ Not for a year ♪ ♪ But forever and a day ♪ ♪ The radio and the telephone ♪ ♪ And the crazy movies that we know ♪ ♪ They may be just passing fancies ♪ ♪ And in time may go ♪ ♪ But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay ♪ ♪ Together we're going a long, long way ♪ ♪ In time the Rockies may crumble ♪ ♪ Gibraltar may tumble ♪ ♪ They're only made of clay ♪ ♪ But our love is here to stay ♪ ♪ ♪ But oh, my dear ♪ ♪ Our love is here to stay ♪ ♪ Together we're going a long, long way ♪ ♪ In time the Rockies may crumble ♪ ♪ Gibraltar may tumble ♪ ♪ They're only made of clay ♪ ♪ But our love is here to stay ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) You're wonderful.

Thank you so much.

You know, recently Norma Zimmer visited the Welk homestead in Strausberg, North Dakota and she'd like to share some of her thoughts about Mr. Welk's boyhood home.

(birds chirping) ♪ NORMA: Every day at sunrise, a young boy climbed out of bed an hour before his chores and slipped down the back stairs to practice with his accordion on the North Dakota prairie.

♪ Today the homestead looks much the same as it did in 1920 when young Lawrence Welk was working on his American dream.

The dream began in 1893 when his parents Ludwick and Christina Welk immigrated to Strausberg, North Dakota where other German families from Russia had settled.

They built a sod house and fought to grow crops in the rocky, unproductive soil.

♪ One of the few possessions Papa Welk had brought from the old country was an accordion and his eight children, especially Lawrence, learned to love music sitting at his feet.

When a ruptured appendix and peritonitis made Lawrence homebound for a year, he taught himself to play the accordion and the pump organ and dreamed of a life as a musician instead of a farmer.

The Lawrence Welk homestead has been restored funded entirely by family and friends as a tribute and a reminder that someone with ingenuity, hard work, and talent can overcome humble beginnings and achieve the American dream.

(audience applauds) MYRON: At wedding dances in North Dakota the hardworking farmers didn't want sedate waltzes.

They wanted polkas and schottisches, the whirling shouting dances from their home country.

Lawrence never forgot how much the people enjoyed this kind of music and included some of it in every program.

One of his favorites was an old German waltz that his father had taught him, "Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken," "My Three-Cornered Hat."

You might recognize it as the "Carnival of Venice."

("Carnival of Venice") ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ One, two, three, four.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) (audience applauds) BARBARA: Oh, that was so wonderful.

Ladies and gentlemen the sweethearts of song, The Lennon Sisters.

ALL: Hi.

KATHY: Our sister Peg was unable to be with us today, but in our hearts, we're all there with you as we pay tribute to the man who made our American dream come true.

When Mr. Welk asked us to be part of his television show, our dad, who was a milkman at the time, was also a great singer and worked hard to coach us in our singing.

JANET: Being on the show every week gave us the opportunity to help our large family move from a small home to a very large old Victorian home and Mom still lives there today.

DIANNE: On weekdays, we went to school just like regular kids but we have special memories of the weekends.

Saturdays were spent rehearsing in studios much like this one and performing with Mr. Welk.

("Come Saturday Morning") ♪ ♪ Come Saturday morning ♪ ♪ I'm goin' away with my friend ♪ ♪ We'll Saturday-spend 'til the end of the day ♪ ♪ Just I and my friend ♪ ♪ We'll travel for miles in our Saturday smiles ♪ ♪ And then we'll move on ♪ ♪ Yes, then we'll move on ♪ ♪ But we will remember long after Saturday's gone ♪ ♪ Come Saturday morning, come Saturday morning ♪ ♪ Come Saturday morning ♪ ♪ Come Saturday morning ♪ ♪ I'm goin' away with my friend ♪ ♪ We'll Saturday-laugh more than half of the day ♪ ♪ Just I and my friend ♪ ♪ Dressed up in our rings and our Saturday things ♪ ♪ And then we'll move on ♪ ♪ Yes, then we'll move on ♪ ♪ But we will remember long after Saturday's gone ♪ ♪ Come Saturday morning, come Saturday morning ♪ ♪ Oh, we will remember ♪ ♪ Yes, we will remember ♪ ♪ Oh, we will remember ♪ ♪ Long after Saturday's gone ♪ ♪ Come Saturday morning ♪ (audience applauds) BARBARA: We love The Lennons.

Dixieland was Laurence Welk's favorite kind of music and for a couple of years in the late '50s a young man played the real thing on his show every week.

Ladies and gentlemen, oh, this is a thrill, Mr. Pete Fountain.

(audience applauds) PETE: Thank you.

BARBARA: Yes.

PETE: Barbara.

BARBARA: Hi.

PETE: It's great to be back here in Nashville and then to honor this great man- BARBARA: Oh, yes.

PETE: Who is a big- a big thing in my life.

He was, he's the one that created the monster.

BARBARA: I wanna ask you, how did Mr. Welk find you?

PETE: Well, Mr. Welk didn't find me.

His son found me, Larry.

He heard me on a disc that I did, a record, and he... BARBARA: Uh-huh.

PETE: Introduced me to his dad, and his dad brought me up to California for a couple years.

And he used to come out to listen to me at the Mardi Gras Lounge in Orange County, and... BARBARA: Oh he did?

PETE: And he would drink a Shirley Temple, (Barbara laughs) (audience laughs) and just get so happy.

BARBARA: Oh that is great.

(everyone laughs) PETE: And that, well that's, that's what happened.

He used to listen to me.

BARBARA: Well I know what made him so happy was just to listen to you.

Oh, may we do that now?

Would you be so kind?

PETE: Easy.

Thank you.

BARBARA: Thank you very much, Pete.

There's no other than Pete Fountain.

(audience applauds) ("Basin Street Blues") ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ ("When the Saints Go Marching In") ♪ ♪ Oh, when the saints go marchin' in ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ Oh, when the saints go marchin' in ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number ♪ ♪ When the saints go marchin' in ♪ ♪ Oh when the Sun, begins to shine ♪ ♪ Oh when the Sun, begins to shine ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord I want to be in that number ♪ ♪ When the Sun begins to shine ♪ ♪ Oh, when old Gabriel blows his horn ♪ ♪ Oh, when old Gabriel blows his horn ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number ♪ ♪ When old Gabriel blows his horn ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ (audience cheers) (audience applauds) BARBARA: Please stay tuned for part two of From The Heart, but right now show this public television station that you are with them all the way, please call with a generous pledge of your support.

(man cheering) (audience applauds) ("America Is") ♪ ♪ America is a sharecropper's son ♪ ♪ Who plays a guitar ♪ ♪ And grows up to be a rock and roll star ♪ ♪ Yes even a sharecropper's son can go far ♪ ♪ In America ♪ ♪ America is an immigrant's daughter ♪ ♪ With something to say ♪ ♪ Who grows up to be a writer one day ♪ ♪ An immigrant's daughter can turn out okay ♪ ♪ In America ♪ ♪ America, America, America ♪ ♪ You can build a bigger bridge ♪ ♪ You can make a better car ♪ ♪ Erect a building ♪ ♪ Tall enough to almost touch a star ♪ ♪ Anything you can dream you can do ♪ ♪ It's up to you ♪ ♪ America is the cop on the beat ♪ ♪ Who walks all alone ♪ ♪ And offers his life to safeguard your own ♪ ♪ Like so many heroes unsung and unknown ♪ ♪ In America ♪ ♪ America is the telephone man ♪ ♪ On top of a pole ♪ ♪ The miner who digs deep down in a hole ♪ ♪ And each one in search of his own private goal ♪ ♪ In America ♪ ♪ America, America, America ♪ ♪ You can build a stronger dam ♪ ♪ You can make a faster plane ♪ ♪ Irrigate a barren desert ♪ ♪ That is crying out for rain ♪ ♪ Anything you can dream you can do ♪ ♪ It's up to you ♪ ♪ America is the light in the harbor ♪ ♪ That immigrants see ♪ ♪ That tells them they've reached ♪ ♪ The land of the free ♪ ♪ And that is the way that it always will be ♪ ♪ In America ♪ ♪ America, America, America ♪ ♪ In America ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) BARBARA: Anything you can dream you can do.

And that was certainly what 17-year-old Lawrence Welk believed, so he offered his father this proposition.

If he could borrow $400 to buy a new accordion he would stay and work on the family farm until he was 21 years old without pay.

After considering it for a few days, his father agreed.

On March 11th, 1924, his 21st birthday he left the farm, inexperienced, unsophisticated, and speaking no English determined to make it in the music business.

He joined a group called The Peerless Entertainers and was billed as the world's greatest accordionist.

By 1927, he had his own band called the Hotsy Totsy Boys and was playing the Midwest Vaudeville circuit.

♪ MAN: All right, send me that song at dance team.

If I like your act, I can get you two weeks at Sheboygan.

BOTH: Did you say Sheboygan?

Music, maestro.

("Mention My Name in Sheboygan") ♪ Mention my name in Sheboygan ♪ ♪ It's the greatest little town in the world ♪ ♪ Just tell 'em all you're an old friend of mine ♪ ♪ And every door in town ♪ ♪ Will have a big welcome sign ♪ ♪ (feet tapping) MAN: That's too corny for Sheboygan.

Have you ever been to Tacoma?

BOTH: Did you say Tacoma?

Music, maestro.

♪ ♪ Mention my name in Tacoma ♪ ♪ It's the greatest little town in the world ♪ ♪ I know the big shots in their city hall ♪ ♪ They've even got his picture on the ♪ ♪ Post Office wall ♪ ♪ Ha hah ♪ ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ Mention my name, I said mention my name ♪ ♪ But please don't tell them where I am ♪ ♪ We wanna go there ♪ ♪ Please don't tell them where I am ♪ ♪ BARBARA: His radio career started in Yankton, South Dakota and the band played the station during the day and ballrooms all over the Midwest at night.

("Oklahoma") ♪ ♪ Oklahoma ♪ ♪ Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain ♪ ♪ And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet ♪ ♪ When the wind comes right behind the rain ♪ ♪ And when we say yeeow ayipioeeay ♪ ♪ We're only sayin' ♪ ♪ You're doin' fine, Oklahoma ♪ ♪ Oklahoma okay ♪ BARBARA: Those one-night stands were brutal and the young band leader figured that there had to be a better way to get a good night's sleep.

He invented the sleeper bus.

Lawrence Welk and his Honolulu Fruit Gum Orchestra headed down Route 66 in style.

("Route 66") ♪ If you ever plan to motor west ♪ ♪ Travel my way, take the highway that's the best ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ ♪ ♪ It winds from Chicago to L.A. ♪ ♪ More than 2,000 miles all the way ♪ ♪ Get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ ♪ ♪ Now you go through Saint Looey ♪ ♪ Joplin, Missouri ♪ ♪ And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty ♪ ♪ You see Amarillo ♪ ♪ Gallup, New Mexico ♪ ♪ Flagstaff, Arizona ♪ ♪ Well don't forget Winona ♪ ♪ Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino ♪ ♪ Won't you get hip to this timely tip ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ When you make that California trip ♪ ♪ Get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ ♪ Get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ ♪ Route six six ♪ BARBARA: Mr. Welk got his first big-time job in 1938 at the St. Paul Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

And his new fans started calling his band The Champagne Music Makers because of their sparkling bubbly sound.

("Pennsylvania Polka") ♪ ♪ ♪ With the band's new name and distinctive sound, Lawrence Welk became an overnight success after paying his dues for a dozen years.

During the late '30s and most of the '40s you could usually find them at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, the Trianon Ballroom, or at the exotic Aragon Dance Palace in Chicago.

("Chicago") ♪ ♪ At the height of the big band era, Mr. Welk played the Capitol Theater, the Paramount, and the Roosevelt Hotel many times.

It was a very long way from North Dakota to New York City.

("New York, New York") ♪ My little town blues ♪ ♪ My little town blues ♪ ♪ Are melting away ♪ ♪ I'll make a brand new start of it ♪ ♪ In old New York ♪ ♪ If I can make it there ♪ ♪ I'd make it anywhere ♪ ♪ It's up to you ♪ ♪ New York, New York ♪ BARBARA: He played the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, in the state that has a song in its heart and a waltz in its step.

("Tennessee Waltz") ♪ I was waltzing with my darling ♪ ♪ To the Tennessee Waltz ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ When an old friend I happened to see ♪ ♪ I introduced her to my loved one ♪ ♪ And while they were dancing ♪ ♪ My friend stole my sweetheart from me ♪ ♪ I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz ♪ ♪ Only you know how much I have lost ♪ ♪ Yes, I lost my little darling ♪ ♪ The night they were playing ♪ ♪ The beautiful Tennessee Waltz ♪ BARBARA: In the late '40s, Lawrence Welk headed for California playing the beautiful St. Francis Hotel in the city by the sea.

("I Left My Heart in San Francisco ") ♪ I left my heart ♪ ♪ In San Francisco ♪ ♪ High on a hill ♪ ♪ It calls to me ♪ ♪ To be where little cable cars ♪ ♪ Climb halfway to the stars ♪ ♪ The morning fog may chill the air ♪ ♪ I don't care ♪ ♪ My love waits there ♪ ♪ In San Francisco ♪ ♪ Above the blue ♪ ♪ And windy sea ♪ ♪ When I come home to you ♪ ♪ San Francisco ♪ ♪ Your golden sun will shine for me ♪ ♪ BARBARA: He was a big hit at the Aragon Ballroom in Santa Monica and decided to call it home.

In 1951 a local television station was looking for programming and Lawrence Welk's life was about to change for good.

("California Here I Come") ♪ California, here I come ♪ ♪ Right back where I started from ♪ ♪ Where bowers and flowers bloom in the spring ♪ ♪ Each morning ♪ ♪ At dawning birdies sing and everything ♪ ♪ A sun-kissed miss said don't be late ♪ ♪ That's why I can hardly wait ♪ ♪ Open up that Golden Gate ♪ ♪ California, here I come ♪ (audience applauds) BARBARA: Ladies and gentlemen, the queen of honky-tonk and boogie, Ms. Joanne Castle.

(audience applauds) JOANNE: Thank you.

(audience applauds) Thank you, Barbara.

(audience applauds) Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

You know when The Lennon Sisters and I joined the musical family Mr. Welk had to be both father and boss and he always took good care of us, especially when we were out on the road.

And during those performances, my encore number was always the same because it was his favorite and it was the very first number I ever played on the piano.

And now I'd like to perform it for you here tonight.

("Chopsticks") (audience laughs) (audience applauds) Yeah, woo.

(audience applauds) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) Woo!

(audience applauds) (audience applauds) Thank you very, very much, You know about five years after I got started on the Lawrence Welk show, Mr. Lawrence Welk thought he needed a little bit more action on that dance floor, so he hired my good buddy, Mr. Arthur Duncan.

(audience applauds) ("I Know When I Am Happy") ♪ ♪ ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ I know when I'm happy, my feet are on the go ♪ ♪ Art knows when he's happy ♪ ♪ His feet go tic tac toe ♪ ♪ I know when I'm happy, my feet tell me so ♪ ♪ Art knows when he's happy ♪ ♪ That's the way he makes his dough ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ Doo, doo, doo, doo ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ Doo, doo, doo ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ Doo, doo, doo, doo ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ Doo, doo, doo ♪ (feet tapping) (audience applauds) (feet tapping) (audience applauds) (feet tapping) ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo ♪ ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ A- one, two, three, four, one more time ♪ ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) (feet tapping) (audience applauds) ♪ (feet tapping) ♪ A-one, two, three, four, that's all ♪ (audience applauds) BARBARA: Even though The Welk Band was a sweet one, like those of Sammy Kaye, Guy Lombardo, and Wayne King, he really loved the swing bands.

Almost every week he would do a big band number and almost single-handedly kept big band music alive and well on television.

LAWRENCE: The great Glen Miller Band really hit the jackpot with this swing tune and it never fails to get a big reaction from our audience.

Remember "In the Mood?"

Gentlemen one, and two, and... ("In the Mood") ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ ("Sing, Sing, Sing") ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience cheers) (audience applauds) BARBARA: Where else can you get big band music these days?

Only on public television.

If you want more special programs like this one please call this station right now and pledge your generous support from the heart.

(audience applauds) ♪ ("America") ♪ Far ♪ ♪ We've been traveling far ♪ ♪ Without a home ♪ ♪ But not without a star ♪ ♪ Free ♪ ♪ Only want to be free ♪ ♪ We huddle close ♪ ♪ Hang on to a dream ♪ ♪ On the boats and on the planes ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Never looking back again ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Home ♪ ♪ Don't it seem so far away ♪ ♪ Oh, we're traveling light today ♪ ♪ In the eye of a storm ♪ ♪ In the eye of a storm ♪ ♪ Home ♪ ♪ To a new and shiny place ♪ ♪ Make our bed and we'll say our grace ♪ ♪ Freedom's light burning warm ♪ ♪ Freedom's light burning warm ♪ ♪ ♪ Everywhere around the world ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Every time that flag's unfurled ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Got a dream to take them there ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ They've got a dream they've come to share ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ They're coming to America today ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Oh, today ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ My country 'tis of thee ♪ ♪ Sweet land of liberty ♪ ♪ Of thee I sing ♪ ♪ Of thee I sing ♪ ♪ Of thee I sing ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ They're coming to America ♪ ♪ Today ♪ ♪ They're coming to, they're coming to America ♪ (audience applauds) BARBARA: As a first- generation American, Lawrence Welk was filled with ambition and believed that everyone could make it if they just put their mind to it.

When he was approached by young performers out on the road they always got a few minutes of his time, good advice, and some of them even got jobs on the show.

He also recognized new songwriting talent and one of those young composers he helped is here, the great Floyd Kramer.

FLOYD: Thank you, Barbara.

(audience applauds) Thank you.

BARBARA: Hello, Floyd.

FLOYD: Thank you.

(audience applauds) (Barbara exhales) BARBARA: You know Floyd, you must have been so excited when Lawrence Welk played your composition on his show.

FLOYD: I'm telling you, that was really an exciting time, you know, to- to have a hit record- single going and for him to start playing my song on his show.

BARBARA: Yes.

FLOYD: He also recorded it and released an album out on the market and had it in every store in the country before I had one.

(Barbara laughs) And sold more records than I did.

BARBARA: (laughs) Well, you're not the only one to be outsold by Lawrence Welk.

FLOYD: Well that's true, true.

BARBARA: It would be such a wonderful tribute if you would play that song for us.

Would you?

FLOYD: Be glad to.

Thank you.

BARBARA: Floyd Kramer.

(audience applauds) ("Last Date") (audience applauds) ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) BARBARA: Lawrence Welk savored the Spanish heritage of his adopted home state and he made it a regular part of his program when he found the talented Anacani.

(audience applauds) ANACANI: Thank you, Barbara.

("Memory") (audience applauds) ♪ Midnight, not a sound from the pavement ♪ ♪ Has the Moon lost her memory ♪ ♪ She is smiling alone ♪ ♪ In the lamplight ♪ ♪ The withered leaves collect at my feet ♪ ♪ And the wind begins to moan ♪ ♪ Memory, all alone in the moonlight ♪ ♪ I can dream of the old days ♪ ♪ Life was beautiful then ♪ ♪ I remember the time I knew what happiness was ♪ ♪ Let the memory live again ♪ ♪ Cada luz ♪ ♪ Que veo brillar ♪ ♪ Parece ser un recuerdo ♪ ♪ Veo la luna y reaparecen ♪ ♪ Aquellos sentimientos ♪ ♪ Debo esperar a que el día ♪ ♪ Me traiga nueva vida ♪ ♪ Y no recuerdos de ayer ♪ ♪ Cuando el alba se asome ya las fuerzas tendre ♪ ♪ Y a la vez renacere ♪ ♪ ♪ Burnt-out ends of smokey days ♪ ♪ The stale cold smell of morning ♪ ♪ A street lamp dies, another night is over ♪ ♪ Another day is dawning ♪ ♪ Touch me ♪ ♪ It's so easy to leave me ♪ ♪ All alone with a memory ♪ ♪ Of my days in the Sun ♪ ♪ If you touch me ♪ ♪ You'll understand what happiness is ♪ ♪ Look, a new day has begun ♪ ♪ Look, a new day has begun ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) (audience applauds) BARBARA: (clapping) Yes.

On every show, Mr. Welk would dance with a champagne lady, one of the girl singers, or someone from the audience.

And a few times it was even his number one partner Fern, his wife of 60 years.

Bobby Burgess and Elaine Balden remember Mr. Welk with a beautiful waltz.

("You Light Up My Life") ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) (audience applauds) BARBARA: Lawrence Welk was truly proud to be an American and let the world know it.

On a program called Thank You America, he reminded his audience that the United States, even with all its problems, is still the greatest place to live.

LAWRENCE: If we keep this in mind it should help us to appreciate what we have in this democracy and remind us to use our freedom to build our country not to tear it down.

(audience applauds) ("Battle Hymn of the Republic") ♪ Glory, glory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Glory, glory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Glory, glory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ ("Hush Little Baby") ♪ ♪ ♪ So hush little baby ♪ ♪ Don't you cry ♪ ♪ You know your daddy is bound to die ♪ ♪ All my trials ♪ ♪ Lord ♪ ♪ Soon be over ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Glory, glory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Glory, glory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ (audience applauds) BARBARA: Public television is an American tradition too, with worthwhile entertaining programming for all ages.

Please pick up the phone and call this station, pledge your heartfelt support.

We're counting on you.

(audience applauds) (audience applauds) (audience applauds) ♪ BARBARA: Mr. Welk's daughter Donna had a favorite big band song that her father used to play and it's one of my favorites too.

("The Very Thought of You") ♪ ♪ The very thought of you ♪ ♪ And I forget to do ♪ ♪ Those little ordinary things ♪ ♪ That everyone ought to do ♪ ♪ I'm living in a kind of daydream ♪ ♪ I'm happy as a king ♪ ♪ Funny as that may seem ♪ ♪ To me that's everything ♪ ♪ The mere idea of you ♪ ♪ The longing here for you ♪ ♪ You'll never know how slow the moments go ♪ ♪ 'Til I'm near to you ♪ ♪ I see your face in every flower ♪ ♪ Your eyes in stars above ♪ ♪ It's just the thought of you ♪ ♪ The very thought of you, my love ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The mere idea of you ♪ ♪ The longing here for you ♪ ♪ You'll never know how slow the moments go ♪ ♪ 'Til I'm near to you ♪ ♪ I see your face in every flower ♪ ♪ Your eyes in stars above ♪ ♪ It's just the thought of you ♪ ♪ The very thought of you, my love ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) (audience applauds) Thank you.

Thank you very, very much.

Many of the people here started with Mr. Welk when they were just kids.

It really was a musical family and a big one.

Like any good father figure he stepped back and let his children grow.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Ralna English.

(audience applauds) RALNA: Thank you, Barbara.

(audience applauds) ("The Wind Beneath My Wings") ♪ It must have been cold there in my shadow ♪ ♪ To never have sunlight on your face ♪ ♪ You've been content to let me shine ♪ ♪ You always walked a step behind ♪ ♪ And I was the one with all the glory ♪ ♪ While you were the one with all the strength ♪ ♪ Only a face without a name ♪ ♪ I never once heard you complain ♪ ♪ Did you ever know that you're my hero ♪ ♪ And everything I'd like to be ♪ ♪ I can fly higher than an eagle ♪ ♪ 'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings ♪ ♪ It might have appeared to go unnoticed ♪ ♪ But I've got it all here in my heart ♪ ♪ And I want you to know I know the truth ♪ ♪ I would be nothing without you ♪ ♪ Did you ever know that you're my hero ♪ ♪ And everything I'd like to be ♪ ♪ I can fly higher than an eagle ♪ ♪ 'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings ♪ ♪ Did you ever know you're my hero ♪ ♪ And everything I'd like to be ♪ ♪ I can fly higher than an eagle ♪ ♪ 'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings ♪ ♪ I can fly higher than an eagle ♪ ♪ 'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings ♪ ♪ Yes, you are the wind beneath my wings ♪ ♪ Yes, you are the wind beneath my wings ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) (audience applauds) BARBARA: Oh, Ralna, so beautiful.

Thank you.

The little farm boy from North Dakota who taught himself how to play the accordion entertained the public for over 60 years.

His play-the-melody and play-it-straight philosophy irritated the music critics but endeared him to the rest of us.

He was always as effervescent as his music and youthfully optimistic.

Part band leader and part cheerleader for his millions of fans, Lawrence Welk was the very best kind of entertainer and truly is the personification of the American dream.

("God Bless the USA") ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ ♪ If tomorrow all the things were gone ♪ ♪ I worked for all my life ♪ ♪ And I had to start again ♪ ♪ With just my children and my wife ♪ ♪ I'd thank my lucky stars ♪ ♪ To be living here today ♪ ♪ 'Cause the flag still stands for freedom ♪ ♪ And they can't take that away ♪ ♪ Hey, oh, I'm proud to be an American ♪ ♪ Where at least I know I'm free ♪ ♪ And I won't forget the men who died ♪ ♪ Who gave that right to me ♪ ♪ And I'd gladly stand up next to you ♪ ♪ And defend her still today ♪ ♪ 'Cause there ain't no doubt ♪ ♪ I love this land ♪ ♪ God bless the USA ♪ (audience applauds) ("America the Beautiful") (audience applauds) ♪ Oh beautiful, for spacious skies ♪ ♪ For amber waves of grain ♪ ♪ For purple mountains majesty ♪ ♪ Above the fruited plains ♪ ♪ America, America ♪ ♪ God shed His grace on thee ♪ ♪ And crown thy good, with brotherhood ♪ ♪ From sea to shining sea ♪ ("Let There Be Peace on Earth") ♪ Let peace begin with me ♪ ♪ Let this be the moment now ♪ ♪ With every step I take ♪ ♪ Let this be my solemn vow ♪ ♪ To take each moment ♪ ♪ And live each moment in peace eternally ♪ ♪ Let there be peace on Earth ♪ ♪ And let it begin with me ♪ ♪ To take each moment ♪ ♪ And live each moment in peace eternally ♪ ♪ Let there be peace on Earth ♪ ♪ And let it begin with me ♪ ♪ With me ♪ (audience applauds) NORMA: Hello, I'm Norma Zimmer.

Mr. Welk's daughter Shirley wrote a wonderful eulogy for her father.

I'd like to share a small part of it.

She wrote, I remember being a very small girl when my father said, I'll tell you a secret, Shirley.

It's a secret that most people don't know.

It's the secret of success.

You see, when people try something they usually give up too soon.

Just when their projects begin to curve upward, they quit.

My mother always said, Lawrence is like a cork.

If you push him down in one part of the water he pops up in another part and keeps right on going.

The hardships of my father's boyhood provided a major strength when he struck out on his own as a self-taught musician.

It didn't matter that he had to sleep in corn fields or in cars.

A life of music seemed like a miracle.

And into that music, he poured his immense sense of wonder, joy, and zest for life.

People listened and are still listening.

♪ ("Amazing Grace") ♪ ♪ Amazing grace how sweet the sound ♪ ♪ That saved a wretch like me ♪ ♪ I once was lost, but now I'm found ♪ ♪ I was blind but now I see ♪ ♪ 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear ♪ ♪ And grace my fears relieved ♪ ♪ How precious did that grace appear ♪ ♪ The hour I first believed ♪ ♪ When we've been there 10,000 years ♪ ♪ Bright, shining as the Sun ♪ ♪ We've no less days to sing God's praise ♪ ♪ Than when we first begun ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) (audience applauds) BARBARA: Public television is an American tradition too, with worthwhile entertaining programming for all ages.

Please pick up the phone and call this station, pledge your heartfelt support.

We're counting on you.

(audience applauds) BARBARA: Thank you.

Thank you very much everyone, and good night.

("Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen") ♪ Good night, good night until we meet again ♪ ♪ Adios, au revoir, auf wiedersehen, 'til then ♪ ♪ And though it's always sweet sorrow to part ♪ ♪ You know you'll always remain in my heart ♪ ♪ Good night, sleep tight ♪ ♪ And pleasant dreams to you ♪ ♪ Here's a wish and a prayer ♪ ♪ That every dream comes true ♪ ♪ And now 'til we meet again ♪ ♪ Adios, au revoir, auf wiedersehen ♪ ♪ Good night ♪ (indistinct chatter) (audience applauds) ♪ (indistinct chatter) ♪ ♪ (Joanne laughs) ♪ (indistinct chatter) ♪ (indistinct chatter) (audience applauds) ♪