Album Title: Lawrence Welk's Ragtime Gal!
Record Label: Pickwick/33
Catalog Number: SPC-3072
Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo, Album
Country: U.S.A.
Year: 1967
Genre: Ragtime
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TRACKLISTING:
A-Side
A1 [01:58] Canadian Sunset
A2 [01:37] Black And White Rag
A3 [01:40] Wang Wang Blues
A4 [01:45] Humoresque
A5 [02:00] Song Of The Islands
B-Side
B1 [01:52] Goofus
B2 [01:44] Pagan Love Song
B3 [01:40] Castle Rag
B4 [01:59] Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy
B5 [01:53] Lovely Hula Hands
Playing Time.........: 00:18:11
MATRIX NUMBERS:
A side run-out: SPC-3072-A W-1
B side run-out: SPC-3072-B W-1
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Mono / SPC-3072
Stereo / SPC-3072
Previously released on Dot Records.
LINER NOTES:
Being pretty is an advantage, as any comely lass will admit confidentially, but blonde Jo Ann Castle, honky-tonk pianist with Lawrence Welk's Champagne Music Makers, was taking no chances — she prepared herself with an armful of musical degrees, and studied like mad to be ready when and if opportunity ever came her way. Starting as a dancer and singer at the ripe age of three, the toddler made her first professional appearance at that age in her native Bakersfield, California, where she was born September 3rd
When she was a veteran of 7, she commenced studying classical music, slid naturally into popular melody and at eight, played at banquets and other functions, to the delight of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Zwering.
At 10, the family having moved to Ventura, California, Jo Ann and her then six-year old sister, Diane, started picking out tunes on the accordion. She was dazzled by its brilliant decorations and sound, but she was really dazzled into studying it seriously when, at that time, she first met Lawrence Welk backstage in Ventura where he was making an appearance. He listened to her, commented favorably on her fine musicianship, and that clinched her decision "to become a famous accordion star!"
Her first professional work in Hollywood was as an accordionist-singer on Tex Williams' radio network show when she was 15. At 17, she made her network TV debut playing piano and accordion on the Ina Ray Hutton show, followed by a six months engagement with a local western band on television. There followed appearances on the Spike Jones show, and on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scout telecasts, during which engagements she found herself becoming enamored of the art of playing so-called honky-tonk piano.
Upon her return to Hollywood, she appeared as a guest entertainer on Lawrence Welk's Dancing Party, playing her now noted honky-tonk piano, after which she returned to Las Vegas for a month at the Dunes Hotel, this time with a trio — ("Two men and who else'" she asks.)
On New Year's Eve, in 1958, she made her second guest appearance with the Champagne Music maestro Lawrence Welk, and in August of 1959, she was signed as a "regular" on the popular Welk television show.
An exceptionally able musician, who plays regular piano stylings with Jerry Burke, Larry Hooper and Frank Scott, Welkmen all, she also performs alone or with popular Myron Floren on the accordion, and is spotted every week by Welk, additionally, on the battered upright
Jo Ann practices piano today as ardently and as ardously as she did when she was a child — at least two to three hours daily, "mostly scales and runs to keep my fingers at top speed. "
Does she like playing honky-tonk piano arrangements instead of "regular" piano? Let's ask Jo Ann to answer that herself:
"Irving Berlin was a honky-tonk piano player in the old days," she says "And if its good enough for Irving Berlin, just lead little Jo Ann to the old upright and let Her have at it!"
PICKWICK/33's Commitment to Excellence . . . The name PICKWICK/33 is a guarantee of quality in the field of sound recording. This carefully selected library is a product of the artistic and engineering talents of the top names in the industry. Every step in the production of the record has been taken under the supervision of these craftsmen and the result is a sound that is a sound that is the equal of any recording being produced today. You will enjoy a fuller depth and brilliance of the strings, the power and precision of percussion, a sense of intimacy with the vocal portions, and a clarity and coloring from the brass and reeds. No matter what your playback equipment, the quality of this record will give you its optimum in listening pleasure. These recordings have been carefully selected from the libraries of many distinguished major and independent recording companies, and have been assembled for our PICKWICK / 33 Re-Release. We acknowledge with thanks the cooperation and assistance of these companies in bringing these performances to you.
PICKWICK/33 Stereo records should be played only on phonographs equipped with a Stereophonic and needle.
PICKWICK/33 Hi-Fidelity records may be played on either Monaural or Stereophonic Phonographs with equal reproduction.
A product of Pickwick International, Inc., Long Island City, 1, New York.
(Printed in U.S.A.)
Manufactured by Keel Mfg. Corp., Hauppauge, L.I.
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