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Re: Pete Fountain / Lawrence Welk

Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-02-22 08:03

I understand the same was said of Paul Whiteman. (That people were "held back" from playing to their strengths.)

Yet, both Whiteman and Welk were so widely accepted, that the exposure of being in one of their bands seems to have reflected positively on those who were members (thinking of Bing Crosby, Bix Beiderbeck, Jack Teagarden, etc. in Whiteman's band)

Likewise, while it is easy to find fault with both Welk and Whiteman when viewed through the lens of retrospection...it is hard to argue with the great success they had, and the amount of talent they supported and helped launch (even if bridled for a time.) I admire each leader's ability to find a way to take top talent, mold it into something they knew would be marketable to the population at that time...pay the musicians well, and then release the talent when it couldn't be restrained any longer. It sounds like a tough job, and a fine wire to walk.

Fuzzy

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