Lawrence welk cast members still alive plus#
Hovis is best known, however, for his 40 plus years as a member of the Lawrence Welk Television Show which is still aired weekly on public television stations throughout the country.īorn and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, Guy Lee Hovis, Jr. Throughout his career Guy has appeared on many celebrity game shows, in numerous commercials and on national telethons for various charities. He has recorded fifteen albums, has been nominated as artist and producer of the year by the Gospel Music Association, and is a member of the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. He has been on national television for more than forty years beginning with the Art Linkletter’s House Party Show on CBS in 1967. She has also recorded the popular CD titled "Gail Farrell Piano and Voice" which demonstrated both her talents as a singer and pianist.Guy Hovis has one of the more recognizable faces in America. Today, she and Ron make their home in Northern California, recently she performed at the Welk Resort Escondido as part of the 2006 Christmas show, and in the spring of 2007 went out on tour as part of the Live Lawrence Welk Show concert series. Gail is also the mother of twin girls, Erin and Lauren, who were born on September 1982. Gail has also provided background vocals for artists like Kenny Rogers, Amy Grant, Andy Williams and on the soundtrack for the Disney movie, "The Little Mermaid". Her songwriting talents have been put to good use, as her songs have been recorded by Barbara Mandrell and on three episodes of the long-running prime time soap "Knots Landing. She has appeared on numerous television shows such as "Dinah!", "The Mike Douglas Show" and "Match Game", plus appeared on telethons, conventions and county fairs and was an opening act for Bob Hope. Since her time on the show, Gail has continued to perform.appearing as part of the Four Wunnerful Women, or with Ron and Michael. On December 7, 1979.Gail married her currenet husband Ron Anderson, and just a few months later.he joined along with tenor Michael Redman as music makers where the three teamed together as the popular mixed trio of "Gail, Ron and Michael". Gail also sang soprano for many epic big band numberts, did novelty numbers with Mary Lou Metzger and wrote vocal arrangements for many of the cast members' numbers. She was then inivited to appear on the Welk show's premiere show of the 1969-70 season that September, and after two more appearances, was hired as a regular member.Īs a member of the musical family, her versatility and energy won her many fans she sang solos, played the piano, did duets with Dick Dale and was a member of the trio of "Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou". Shortly afterwards, she was onstage singing "Cotton Fields" with the orchestra, and the crowd loved it. While there, she talked h er way into auditioning for Lawrence Welk at the Hollywood Palladium where that night, during a tag dance, she tapped the Maestro on his shoulder, introduced herself and asked if she can sing for him. Gail was also a hit with her natural good looks, competing in the Miss Oklahoma Pageant where she won both the talent and swimsuit competitions.Īfter graduating college in 1969, Gail flew out to Los Angeles originally to study the Yamaha method for teaching music to pre-school children and also to try her luck in entertainment going out on auditions. That also led her to attending at the University of Tulsa where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in classical piano. Starting out first at church, at rodeos and talent shows, and that led her to New York City where learned piano at workshops at the Juliard studios. Her father was a cattle rancher and her mother was a plumber, so she took the most obvious route.music, by taking up piano lessons and performing at age six. She was born in Salinas, California on October 6, 1947, but spend her childhood and teenage years in Durant, Oklahoma. Multi-talented, versitile and beautiful.just three of many things that define Gail Farrell and why she is one of the most popular members of the musical family.