Lawrence Welk left the family farm when he turned 21 with his accordion and set off to make a living in music. He played in a traveling dance band in South Dakota that was known to play hot dance tunes from time to time.
In late 1927 during a blizzard, the band arrived exhausted to Yankton, South Dakota, where they got in touch with Chan Gurney, the son of the President of Gurney’s Seed & Nursery, who operated radio station WNAX. After agreeing to give the boys an audition – which was broadcast live on-air!
Based on their popularity with listeners, they were offered a one-week contract with WNAX that turned into a long and fruitful relationship with the radio station.
The following year, the band traveled to Indiana to record their first record with Gennett. The two sides were released on the Gurney label – funded by the seed company in Yankton.
This release was once considered extremely rare. In 78 Quarterly Volume 12 only two copies were known to exist. Based upon recent conversations with collectors, it appears that a larger number (10-20?) are now known to exist – with perhaps more copies out there yet undiscovered. This copy was found in Vermillion, South Dakota.
Recorded in Richmond, Indiana on November 16, 1928.
Released as Gurney 20341.
(A different take of “Spiked Beer” was released on Gennett 6712 and Champion 15639)
Credits
Lawrence Welk – director, clarinet, alto saxophone, piano-accordion
Leo Fortin – trumpet
Jimmy Garvey – trumpet
Harold “Squeak” Boughton – trombone
Raleigh “Rollie” Chestney – clarinet, alto saxophone, violin, banjo, guitar
Cliff Moore – clarinet, tenor saxophone
Howard Kaiser – clarinet, saxophone
Sidney “Spider” Webb – piano, clarinet
Homer “Smitty” Schmidt – brass bass
Gordon Malie – drums
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