Lawrence Welk

Born on March 11, 1903, in Strasburg, ND, Lawrence Welk was an American accordionist, bandleader, television impresario and host. One of eight children, Welk dropped out of school in the fourth grade to work on the family farm. He spoke almost nothing but German up until his teen years.

At the age of 13, Welk learned to play polka music on his father's accordion and began performing at local dances and social events. In return for a new accordion, Welk promised to work on the farm and give all his musical earnings to the family until he turned 21. Upon turning 21, Welk took up music full-time and eventually formed his own quartet, the Lawrence Welk Novelty Orchestra. The band was headquartered in Yankton, SD, for several years.

In 1937, Welk moved the group to Omaha, where it soon grew into a 10-piece outfit. In 1940, at the height of the big-band era, Welk secured a booking for his group at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago. In 1951, after a successful appearance on a late-night TV show, the idea of working in television prompted Welk's move to Los Angeles.

"The Lawrence Welk Show" made its national debut in 1955 on ABC. Welk was also a recording artist. Between 1956 and 1963, 19 of Welk's LPs reached the Top 20 (10 of those made the Top 10). After ABC canceled "The Lawrence Welk Show" in 1971, Welk secured a syndication deal.

Following his retirement in 1982, Welk settled in Santa Monica, Calif., where he established the Lawrence Welk Country Club Village, a resort/retirement community in Escondido. On May 17, 1992, Lawrence Welk died of pneumonia at the age of 89.