… In fact, Lawrence Welk did not learn English until his early 20s, which explains the accent that became his trademark.
Welk’s parents were immigrants from Alsace-Lorraine who spoke only German to the nine children they raised on their farm outside Strasburg, North Dakota. Calcutta, Yellow Bird, Apples & Bananas, Winchester Cathedral, Last Date, Baby Elephant Walk) sound exactly the same on the show as they do on the original records… Why did Lawrence Welk have an accent? It is obvious to me that the numbers are lip synched and mime played… the renditions of Welk’s Greatest Hits thru the years (I.e. Welk was famous for his catchphrase “ Wunnerful, wunnerful!” and his song introduction of “Ah one, and ah two, and ah…” The music on the show ranged from polka tunes to novelty songs to big band standards.
