The Lennon Sisters
In 1955 television audiences watched as four sisters, sixteen-year-old Dianne (Dee Dee), fourteen-year-old Peggy, twelve-year-old Kathy, and nine-year-old Janet Lennon, The Lennon Sisters, made their television debut on The Lawrence Welk Show, singing an a cappella version of "He". America fell in love with these four little girls and their sweet, innocent, and angelic voices, and The Lennon Sisters became regulars on The Lawrence Welk Show, performing on his show every Saturday night for the next thirteen years.
Their first recording was a 45 single of "Mickey Mouse Mambo" and "Hi to You." They sang both of these songs on their first of two guest appearances on The Mickey Mouse Club. They recorded their first of many albums, entitled Let's Get Acquainted, in May of 1957. In 1960,ð Dee Dee married Dick Gass and retired from show business to be a stay at home mom. Peggy, Kathy, and Janet continued on in her absence until Dee Dee rejoined the groupð in 1964. In 1968 The Lennon Sisters and Lawrence Welk parted company. It was a painful move, but one that had to be made. They were not little girls anymore, and although they remained grateful to Welk for all he had done for them, they had to move on.
From 1969-1970 The Lennon Sisters starred in their own musical variety show on ABC, Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters Hour. Each week the girls welcomed new guest stars such as Jack Jones, Jack Benny, and Bobby Goldsboro, and their good friend Jimmy Durante was with them each week.ð In the middle of this seemingly happy time tragedy struck the Lennon family for the second time. The first occurred many years early in 1954 when their sixteen month old baby sister Mary was struck and killed by a speeding car. The second turned even more tragic. On August 12, 1969 their father Bill was shot and murdered by a deranged fan who then turned the gun on himself. This was an extremely painful and frightening time for the entire Lennon family,ð but their strong faith in God and close family ties kept them going and gave them the strength needed to weather this storm.
In the 70s, The Lennon Sisters were regular guest stars on Andy William's television show and performed with him in Las Vegas frequently. They also guest stared on many television variety shows and game shows including "Hollywood Squares," "Family Feud," "Mike Douglas," "Cher," and "The Merv Griffin Show." When Peggy needed to take time out to have her last two children, Jennie and Betsy, younger sister Mimi was recruited to fill in for her during their Las Vegas performances. In the 80s The Lennon Sisters spent more time on the road touring farther away from home to venues such as Atlantic City.
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Sentimental Journey Anniversary Song You Made Me Love You Scarlet Ribbons Vaya Con Dios When I Fall In Love There I've Said It Again Greensleeves Now Is The Hour Melody of Love This Is My Song Fascination Theme From a Summer Place You Are So Beautiful Can't Help Falling In Love Scarborough Fair Autumn Leaves You'll Never Walk Alone |
The smooth, blended harmonies of the Lennon Sisters, their discovery by Lawrence Welk and their many appearances on his show and Andy Williams', all these things you know. Well, here are 18 (accompanied) songs, the "best of " the Lennon Sisters. Smooth and sweet, slightly jazzy at timesÇthis is happy music, slow-dancing music. Included are several wonderful 50s pictures of the girls, in costume and with Welk, and sweet little remembrances about each song by Kathy Lennon. "Sentimental Journey," "Anniversary Song," "You Made Me Love You," "Scarlet Ribbons," "Fascination" and a personal favorite, "Theme From "A Summer Place." You get the pictureÇthe Sisters harmonize even sweeter than you remember or could imagine!
Listen to Vaya Con Dios in Real Audio.
| 4469 CD $13.98 |
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Walk With Me Softly And Tenderly How Great Thou Art I Believe Ave Maria Were You There You'll Never Walk Alone Wedding Song Jesus You Are My Friend The Old Rugged Cross Battle Hymn Of The Republic My Tribute Soul Of My Savior Holy, Holy, Holy Let Us Break Bread In This Very Room Amazing Grace Unfailing Love Old Time Religion Eternal Life Faith Of Our Fathers The Lord's Prayer |
When the Lawrence Welk Show was no longer on prime time, The Lennon Sisters didn't stop singing, or, judging by the cover of this "22 Songs," looking beautiful! This is another of those wonderful compilations, where you get 2 albums worth of songs on a single regular-priced CD, issued on Ranwood Records, "A Welk Music Group Company," in the early 80s. The butter-smooth, sweet-harmonied sound of the Sisters hasn't faded a bit on these 22 lightly piano-accompanied songs. "Walk With Me," "Softly and Tenderly," "How Great Thou Art" (a personal favorite), "Ave Maria," "You'll Never Walk Alone," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Holy, Holy, Holy," "Faith of Our Fathers"--each song is a perfect gem, sung by the legendary Lennon Sisters. Enjoy and be inspired!
Listen to Battle Hymn Of The Republic in Real Audio.
| 4497 CD $14.98 |
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May We Wish You Well Simple Life Softly One Way Ticket / Grass is Always Greener Pennies from Heaven Love In A Home Can't Take That Away From Me Let Go Walt Disney Medley Bless This House |
From their first 1955 appearance on the Lawrence Welk Show as 9- (Janet) to 16-year olds (Dee Dee) singing an a cappella "He," America fell in love with the 4 Lennon Sisters. For 13 years of Saturday nights, they appeared on the Welk show before, as grown women, they finally broke with him to do their own "The Lennon Sisters Hour" from 1969 to 1970. "Favorite" is the first of 4 CDs of "best of" songs from this show there are 10 songs, and a lot of warm memories for Lennon fans here. "May We Wish You Well," the show's theme song, the sweet "Simple Life," "Softly," "Love In A Home," "Can't Take That Away From Me," and "Bless This House." We particularly liked the production medley "One Way Ticket/Grass Is Always Greener," the jazzy "Pennies from Heaven," "Let Go," and "Walt Disney Medley" (the Sisters' "Hi to You" and "Mickey Mouse Mambo," from a guest spot on the Mickey Mouse Club, was their first recording). America's Angels in top form!
| 4581 CD $11.95 |
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Wonderful, Wonderful They Say It's Wonderful Love Is Just Around The Corner My Cup Runneth Over Feelin' Good Medley (Far Away Places) Where Or When Watch What Happens Smile If My Friends Could See Me Now |
Review pending.
| 4582 CD $11.95 |
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This A Lovely Way Finian's Rainbow Medley Look For The Silver Lining / I'm Always Chasing Rainbows Taste of Honey The Spiritual Medley Ain't Misbehavin' That's All S'Wonderful Windmills of my Mind May We Wish You Well |
Review pending.
| 4583 CD $11.95 |
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Baubles, Bangles and Beads Easy to Remember Meetin' Here Tonight Hey Mr. Banjo Paper Moon More Breezin' Along With The Breeze Heather On The Hill Pass Me By Medley: The Very Thought of You/I'm Glad There Is You This Is My Lucky Day |
Review pending.
| 4584 CD $11.95 |
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Pick Yourself Up Miami Medley Love Is A Very Light Thing Kentucky Babe Ain't We Got Fun You Go To My Head Canadian Sunset In The Still Of The Night Walk Right In I Can Dream Can't I & I'll See You In My Dreams You're Undecided Now |
Review pending.
| 7486 CD $11.95 |
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My Favorite Things Greensleeves I Will Wait For You Goin' Out Of My Head Scarborough Fair Fascination Ave Maria You'll Never Walk Alone Sentimental Journey |
Review pending.
| 4496 CD $11.95 |
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Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer The Little Drummer Boy Christmas Island Adeste Fideles I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Silent Night White Christmas Jingle Bells Away In A Manger Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Winter Wonderland O Little Town Of Bethlehem Joy To The World I'll Be Home For Christmas |
Recorded in 1959 this is the Sister's first Christmas recording and one they have fond memories of. The lovely cover photo of the fresh-faced teens in velvet red dresses is of the age of when "Little Janet" singing "I Saw Mama Kissin Santa Claus" was a highlight of the legendary Lawrence Welk Christmas shows. "Winter Wonderland" was one of the very first songs the girls sang for Welk at a charity event and which led to their later frequent appearances on his show. This reissue is a classic and adds a wonderful touch of nostaligia to the season.
Listen to Adeste Fideles in Real Audio.
| 4592 CD $14.95 |
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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Do You Here What I Hear White Christmas The Christmas Waltz Lullaby For Christmas Eve The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On A Open Fire) Home For The Holidays Oh, Holy Night Blue Christmas What Child Is This The Star Carol The First Noel |
OK, we admit we had a thing for the Lennon Sisters when growing up, especially Janet. And all these songs are accompanied, possibly by Lawrence Welk himself, and the orchestra. That said, this CD is as corny, sentimental and wonderful as any Christmas CD we've ever heard! The sisters sing these 12 standards ("Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Do You Hear What I Hear," "White Christmas," "Lullaby For Christmas Eve," "Home for the Holidays," "What Child Is This," "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire), "Oh, Holy Night," etc.) as brightly and sweetly (and with as perfect enunciation) as you could possibly imagine. Just tuck us in, leave the cookies and milk for Santa by the fire, put on this CD and we're set for that long winter's night!
Listen to White Christmas in Real Audio.
| 4463 CD $14.95 |
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Christmas Medley Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Christmas Song/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Christmas Day Beautiful City Thank You For Your Love The Best Gift Lullaby Of Love Baby's First Christmas Christmas Pictures Talk Turkey Lurkey Christmas Medley Deck The Halls We Wish You A Merry Christmas Joy To The World Merry Christmas From Our House Drummer Boy |
This orchestrally-accompanied, digitally edited and mastered 1994 recording features the 4 Lennon Sisters, Peggy, DeeDee, Kathy and Janet, and their brothers and sisters, children and even Peggy's husband, Dick Cathcart. There are officially 14 songs, but actually many more with a pair of 4-song Christmas Medleys. In addition to those chestnuts, we have a nice "Drummer Boy" and "O Holy Night" and the spiritual "Beautiful City;" but there are a number of tunes we haven't heard, like "Christmas Day," "Thank You For Your Love," "The Best Gift," "Lullaby of Love," "Baby's First Christmas," "Christmas Pictures Talk" and the exuberant and fairly silly "Turkey Lurkey." It's clear that the Lennons and all their relations are blessed with beautiful voices, and that they all had great fun doing this recording together!
| 4751 CD $14.95 |
From the moment the Lennon Sisters appear on the screen till the close of this extraordinary special, you'll be enthralled with this nostalgic 1992 compilation hosted by "America's Sweetheart of Song". Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet have chosen achival black & white footage from their early days on the Welk show and recent footage from a variety of "old haunts" at the Santa Monica Pier, their family Victorian home and St. Monica's High School. They recall highly personal backstage memories and full-scale production numbers featuring such Welk stars as Larry Hooper, Myron Floren and Pete Fountain. It's superb entertainment form the glory days of television. Running time 85 minutes
| 6277 VIDEO $19.95 |
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