He believed deeply in the importance of a nurturing family and the opportunity for all to live with dignity. Welk never forgot his humble beginnings, speaking fondly about his family and birthplace, where he said he was taught to work, share and live “according to God’s laws.” In 1960, the family-oriented bandleader with a penchant for “treating people right” founded the Lawrence Welk Family Foundation. In 1951 KTLA television broadcast his show and the effervescent sound of his “Champagne Music” was heard across the nation, every Saturday night for the next 30 years.
He took his musical talent and joyful spirit with him as he traveled the Midwest playing at barn dances, on local radio and, eventually, in dance halls around the country. Lawrence left his family farm in North Dakota on his 21 st birthday with an accordion, the clothes on his back, a fourth grade education and command only of the German language. While winters were grim and money was tight, the family found joy in singing and dancing together.
Bandleader and television personality Lawrence Welk was one of eight children born to German/Russian immigrant parents in North Dakota.