The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Welk and Whiteman

Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2026-10-20 22:28

In retrospective (and possibly even contemporarily) the names of Lawrence Welk and Paul Whiteman elicit(ed) winces from a percentage of professional/dedicated players and listeners.

However, both Welk and Whiteman created huge followings and huge success for themselves and their bands, paid their performers very well, hired some of (what would become) the eras biggest names in music, and helped launch or sustain the careers of many musicians throughout the decades.

Are there other band leaders/music groups/conductors, etc. who played a similar role and who are similarly "looked down" upon today?

Is there a "classical" counterpart/example?

Thanks,
Fuzzy
;^)>>>

Reply To Message

Re: Welk and Whiteman

Author: Ed
Date: 2026-10-21 03:40

I grew up with my parents watching Lawrence Welk. Yeah, sometimes it seemed hokey. There are times when stuff pops up on Youtube and when I listen, I have to acknowledge that some of these guys were terrific players. Some of the really fine clarinet players over the decades included Pete Fountain, Peanuts Hucko and Henry Cuesta. Aa you mention, I have heard that Welk treated his musicians very well and paid them a good salary.

Reply To Message

Re: Welk and Whiteman

Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2026-10-21 04:15

And it's Whiteman (with Gershwin at the piano) who premiered Rhapsody in Blue and gave us the most bizarre clarinet intro played, according to Google, by Ross Gorman. Recording is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5baSY3EZxI.

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.