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- MILESTONES, Page 27
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- DIED. Lawrence Welk, 89, bandleader whose wholesome charm and
- "champagne music" made him a TV phenomenon; in Santa Monica,
- Calif. Welk, who was born in a sod farmhouse in Strasburg,
- N.D., dropped out of fourth grade to farm full time. His father
- taught him to play the accordion, and he began performing
- professionally at 21. His weekly show on ABC was derided by some
- as schmaltzy, but its easy-listening quality charmed millions
- of viewers from 1955 to 1971. Welk, who had a German accent, was
- known for his famous cue line, "An' ah-one, an' ah-two," and his
- frequent exclamation, "Wunnerful, wunnerful!" His 24-piece band
- played everything from polkas to pop. Said Welk of his style of
- music: "You have to play what the people understand."
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