Her very first dance number with Bobby Burgess, titled "Ma! He's Making Eyes At Me."
Here's Cissy in the middle, between Kathy and Dianne Lennon in "Throughly Modern Millie"...nothing like back-to-back roaring twenties numbers to kick off your tenure as a music maker!
And here's our blonde bombshell to your right in the closing group number, "Crusin' Down The River."
That was Cissy's first show in a nutshell....as the old saying goes, "The Best Is Yet To Come!"
Let us celebrate.....with cake and punch for everyone!
Kathie Sullivan is in the solo spot, singing one of her beautiful numbers with her pure voice....one main reason why the Maestro hired her on the spot in 1976 when she was a student at the University of Wisconsin.
Now let's go to some highlights from this week's episode,
Here's the Maestro with the Lennon Sisters, showtime that day just happened to fall on Kathy Lennon's birthday so everyone in the audience and the cast sing her the birthday song!
The host of these wraparounds are by Big Tiny Little,
Here's Tiny with the fellers in a comedic number, their own rendition of the Coasters' classic rock smash "Yakety Yak."
And here's Tiny at the ragtime piano taking Manhattan with his honk tonk tickles of the ivory!
A great episode and a great show for the Big Apple, and of course their legendary Madison Square Garden concert would take place thirteen years and a month later!
Until next week, the Bronx is up and the Battery is down.
The native of Oakland, California previously worked with the Mary Kay Trio and other bands before joining the music makers in 1969.
He and his wife Mary, are the proud parents of three children.
And here's the Maestro congratulating Bob on another terrific piano solo!
That my friends is Bob Smale in a nutshell.
This one has always been one of my personal favorites, the selections are from the popular Broadway play of the same name and it's very pleasant listening done champagne style!
And I also like the episode where the Welk stars perform the songs, their excitement and enthusiasm shows in their performances.
It also features Mary Lou Metzger's singing the title track, which I do believe has been released by Decca as a 45 single in 1971.
Here's the whole breakdown of the album, find it either on ebay or your record swap shop and you "want to be happy" too!
LAWRENCE WELK: PLAYS SELECTIONS FROM THE BROADWAY MUSICAL SMASH!
NO, NO, NANETTE
SIDE ONE
TEA FOR TWO - featuring Norma Zimmer, Jimmy Roberts & Chorus
TOO MANY RINGS AROUND ROSIE - Girls Chorus
I'VE CONFESSED TO THE BREEZE - Guy & Ralna
I WANT TO BE HAPPY - Tanya Falan Welk & Chorus
SIDE TWO
NO, NO, NANETTE - Mary Lou Metzger, Bob Lido with The Hotsy Totsy Boys
YOU CAN DANCE WITH ANY GIRL AT ALL - Sandi & Sally with clarinet solo by Peanuts Hucko
"WHERE HAS MY HUBBY GONE'' BLUES - Guy & Ralna
CALL OF THE SEA - Ken Delo
TAKE A LITTLE ONE STEP - The Lawrence Welk Singers
GIRLS CHORUS: Norma Zimmer, Ralna English, Sandi Griffiths, Sally Flynn, Tanya Falan Welk & Gail Farrell
BOYS CHORUS: Guy Hovis, Ken Delo, Dick Dale, Bob Lido, Charlie Parlato & Curt Ramsey
Released by Ranwood Records (1971), produced by George Cates, Lawrence Welk and Randy Wood
He's been with Lawrence Welk since 1957 and his solo numbers have always been a popular feature on the show
And today, he still very active with his singing...often with his son Chris
Happy Birthday Joe, Those Irish eyes are smiling down from Galway Bay!
Kathy, Janet and Mimi Lennon singing "Ava Maria"
Gail Farrell at the piano singing, "You Can Do Anything"
Joe Feeney and son Chris Feeney singing "Walk On"
And what inspiration Welk special would not be complete without Ralna English!
Now that brought back some....precious memories! That was too easy.
I did pledge my own moolah when it first aired back in the day, got the combo pack featuring the DVD, CD and the playing cards...they are very nice.
Especially the playing cards, great for solitare, poker or playing "Card Sharks."
And here's Ava with her cowpokes singing, "Waiting At The End Of Your Run."
How about a little "Bonaparte's Retreat" with Arthur Duncan and Tanya Falan?
And here's Ken doing a little "Walkin' The Floor Over You" with Sandi Griffiths...
Until next week, good wishes and keep a song in your heart!
The 1970s, when she made her "comeback" to the show
And today, still has that sparkling Barbara Boylan smile!
She's been married to Greg Dixon (one of the Blenders) for forty years, and is still dancing up a storm!
Happy Birthday Barbara.....keep dancing to that champagne beat.
Enter my friend, the Shirl who runs the popular Lennon Sisters Blog...
She told me that the track came from the Lennon Sisters' On The Groovy Side album, and with that....I found a print of the album on sale for ebay, bid on it and won it.
In addition to "Up Up And Away" the album has plenty of great songs on there, such as "Ode To Billy Joe", "Prisoner Of Love" and "Sunny."
Thanks Shirl....and here's the fun track listings and stuff for "On The Groovy Side"
SIDE ONE
1. GOIN' OUT OF MY HEAD
2. TILL
3. SUNNY
4. NEVER MY LOVE
5. I LOVE
6. UP, UP AND AWAY
SIDE TWO
1. I WILL WAIT FOR YOU
2. PRISONER OF LOVE
3. GYPSY, WHAT CAN I DO
4. ODE TO BILLY JOE
5. COUNT ME IN
Released by Dot Records in 1967, produced by Snuffy Garrett
Here's Jo Ann again, this time with Aladdin and Bob Lido in this number titled, "Paddlin' Madeline."
Now we head for the islands with Dick Dale and the Lennon Sisters in this calypso number titled "Marianne."
And after a long hard day of singing and entertaining, what better way to relax and unwind with a picnic in the park.
I hope no one forgot to bring the peanut butter and M&M's!
Regardless of what you were able to watch, it was a great day of champagne viewing as always on the tube.
Next week, WGTE is in pledge mode still....but I do believe WBGU will carry "Salute To Nashville."
From 1957 to 1982, he was a mainstay in the reed section....making his own mark in rhythm and rhyme
The native of Worcester, Massachusetts (same place where Norman Bailey is from) previously played with the David Rose and Freddy Martin orchestras.
Also, he was married to the Maestro's personal secretary Lois Lamont from 1975 until his passing in 1996.
And you watched from many reruns that Russ sure can swing on the sax!
This was first recorded during the summer of 1978, when Lawrence Welk and his musical family were doing their annual summer engagement of concerts from the Harrah's casino and hotel in Tahoe, maybe some of you guys had the chance to see them perform there....but this album contains live performances of the music makers doing what they do best.
It all makes for very pleasant listening on this fine two-record set, here's a complete rundown of all the songs.
SIDE ONE
Fanfares and Opening Announcements
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
When Day Is Done - orchestra and chorus conducted by George Cates
Granada - Anacani
Who Can I Turn To - Joe Feeney and chorus
Deep River - Henry Cuesta
SIDE TWO
You Light Up My Life - Guy & Ralna
I Won't Last A Day Without You - Tom Netherton
Chattanooga Choo Choo - orchestra with Gail, Sandi & Mary Lou
The Way We Were - Kathie Sullivan with Joe Livoti
Wait 'Til The Sun Shines, Nellie - tap dancing by Arthur Duncan
SIDE THREE
The Hawaiian Wedding Song - Ken Delo & Girls
Dance Of The Comedians - Myron Floren
Beer Barrell Polka - Myron Floren
You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me - Dick Dale
You Made Me Love You - Johnny Zell
Mississippi Mud - Larry Hooper & Quartet
Catch A Falling Star - Girls' Chorus
SIDE FOUR
Star Wars - orchestra
Cotton Fields - The Aldridge Sisters and Otwell Twins
La Vie En Rose - Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren and Jimmy Roberts
Bucket To The South - Ava Barber
Panama - orchestra (solos by Johnny Zell, Russ Klein, Bob Smale, Bob Havens & Paul Humphrey)
Panama Reprise - orchestra
Adios, Au Revior, Auf Wiedershen - entire cast
And the Otwell Twins, Roger and David!
Kathy joined the Welk show with her sisters on Christmas Eve 1955 and stayed on until all four departed in 1968. She's known as the "athletic" one, and has a beautiful, pure singing voice...who also sang duets with Steve Smith.
Today, Kathy and husband Jim Daris make their home in Branson....
The Otwells joined the music makers in 1977 from Tulia, Texas and teamed up the Aldridge Sisters as the Aldridges and Otwells.
They sing mostly country and Christian ispirational music, and today...both brothers are happily married and make their home back in Texas in the community of Amarillo.
Happy Birthday Kathy, Roger and David, here's a champagne toast to you!
Here's Sandi in action with her singing partner Sally Flynn as everyone's favorite duo of Sandi & Sally, they always have alot of fun together! 
And then she joined forces with Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger to become "The Trio" and that also was very popular as well....
And Sandi has done solo numbers as well, singing "And I Love You So" and "The Way We Were."
But, in her words, her greatest triumph is her role as wife, mother and grandmother....she and husband Brent have been married for 38 years and have seven kids (Jenni, Ami, Ben, Emili, Daniel, Sam and Chad), a foster daughter (Debbi) and an ever growing stable of grandkids.
And she still very young and beautiful, both inside and out, Happy Birthday Sandi!
