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Norma Zimmer Obituary -- http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... f23da2e9e0


Those of us (Americans) of a certain age probably remember sitting in front of the black-n-white (later color) TV on Saturday nights, to watch our parents and grandparents watch "The Lawrence Welk Show." (I knew of no kid my age that would admit that he or she personally watched the show.)

A featured attraction every week was the Champagne Lady, "Lovely Norma Zimmer." (Those of us of an even more advanced certain age probably also remember the original Champagne Lady, Alice Lon, who eventually was deemed too sexy for Welk's standards, and was fired on-air in 1959.)

Funny, but some 40-50 years after the fact, I've come to appreciate Norma's lovely, pure singing style, and wish there were more like her today. (Oncoming old age setting in?)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G9X0it8kLY[/youtube]

I also have to admit, as the years pass, I've found myself enjoying the "Lovely Lennon Sisters," more and more.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LXIyCcCYyI[/youtube]
(Actually, I enjoyed them when I was a kid.... ...though I'd never admit it in public.)

I don't really remember Norma. Alice was still the Champagne Lady at the time I no longer had to be in the house on Saturday nights.

Jim

Thanks for the news, a bit sad but hardly a surprise. The local PBS station airs re-runs of the Lawrence Welk show, and it will have an added segment where former (surviving) band members are interviewed. Norma was one of them, a seemingly lovely person.

This show was such a consistent part of my family's entertainment for many years. Even as the re-runs aired in recent years on PBS, my parents would watch as often as they could. When my late Mom was in her final days in the nursing home 6 years ago, it was a revelation how many of the other rooms had the TV tuned to the Lawrence Welk show (I'd swear it was almost 90 percent of them).

As a small youngster, it was just a nice show---but then, we sang along with Mitch Miller too. As a teenager, I thought it was the most hokey and formulaic thing on TV. At some point I became aware that the performance as aired was a pantomime of sorts to a pre-recorded sound track. Yes, it was the actual performer playing or singing (and NOT auto-tuned yet!) but simply pre-recorded to preclude any flubs that were almost guaranteed in live TV performances. Fast forward to today, and I can appreciate the genial musicianship and the cozy familiarity of the songs and arrangements. Sure, my age is showing, but it does no harm to remember those performers that knew their craft and gave some of us small town folk a hour's entertainment and a tune to whistle in the morning.

I know Norma sang for film actresses in the 1950s. She can be heard singing for one of the gals in "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers." Her sound was always so sweet with lovely intonation and phrasing.
I noticed in the youtube clip she flubs the words a bit near the end of the second chorus of "Always." This was the era before the obvious pre-recording that came later.
The Lennon Sisters clip was entertaining too: Even as young as they were they were obvious professionals and ones I always enjoyed watching. Janet (the youngest) was my favorite.
Being born in Minnesota, I didn't really notice Welk's accent until much later when I moved East!
Geritol, Aqua-Velva and Serutan ("Natures" spelled backwards!)were sponsors I remember back in the day. I couldn't wait to be old enough to use these! Thanks for posting!
Bob

My great-grandmother lived with my grandparents when I was a kid. She (born in 1878) loved the Welk show, but her hearing was very poor - so she watched Welk in one of the bedrooms which had a huge B&W TV with the volume turned WAY up. You didn't dare go in there while it was on, unless you wanted to kill your ears!

Slightly off topic...but does anyone remember ever seeing the Whittington Sisters?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAML3mOSS1s[/youtube]

Hmmmm . . . any relation?

Howzabout the ultimate -- the Ross Sisters from West Texas!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mVpGmoE ... ata_player

How did you know?! They are my Aunts. Here is a scan of one of their records with the mp3's.

Does anyone knows what happen with Natalie Evans and Steve Smith members of Lawrence Welk Show they were such a good singers. I would be very interested to know if they are still around.

James

Ortho_Fan wrote:Norma Zimmer Obituary -- http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... f23da2e9e0


Those of us (Americans) of a certain age probably remember sitting in front of the black-n-white (later color) TV on Saturday nights, to watch our parents and grandparents watch "The Lawrence Welk Show." (I knew of no kid my age that would admit that he or she personally watched the show.)

A featured attraction every week was the Champagne Lady, "Lovely Norma Zimmer." (Those of us of an even more advanced certain age probably also remember the original Champagne Lady, Alice Lon, who eventually was deemed too sexy for Welk's standards, and was fired on-air in 1959.)

Funny, but some 40-50 years after the fact, I've come to appreciate Norma's lovely, pure singing style, and wish there were more like her today. (Oncoming old age setting in?)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G9X0it8kLY[/youtube]

I also have to admit, as the years pass, I've found myself enjoying the "Lovely Lennon Sisters," more and more.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LXIyCcCYyI[/youtube]
(Actually, I enjoyed them when I was a kid.... ...though I'd never admit it in public.)