Andra Willis
Encyclopedia
Andra Willis is an American singer best known from television's The Lawrence Welk Show
from 1967 to 1969.
Born and raised in Danville
, Virginia
. Andra began singing professionally with her sisters Toneda and Sheryl. Billed as the Willis Sisters, they started out locally with bands such as the Freddie Lee Orchestra and later guest starred on national television programs such as The Tonight Show
and ironically, on Lawrence Welk's
The Plymouth Show. Later, when the Willis Sisters split up, Andra became a solo vocalist, and was a frequent regular on Don McNeill's
radio program, The Breakfast Club.http://www.welkgirls.com/andrawillis.html
She joined the cast of the Welk show in late 1967, and until her departure in 1969, was featured as both a soloist and in duets with fellow Music Maker Dick Dale
.
Since leaving the Welk organization, Andra has pursued a career as a studio session singer and a songwriter. She has worked on the soundtrack for the movie Lost Horizon where she supplied the vocals for Olivia Hussey
in the songs Share The Joy and The Things I Will Not Miss http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0932268/.
Today, since the late 1980s, Andra and her husband, musician and composer Larry Muhoberac
make their home in Australia
.
The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years , then nationally for another 27 years via the ABC network and first-run syndication .In the years since first-run syndication...
from 1967 to 1969.
Born and raised in Danville
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Andra began singing professionally with her sisters Toneda and Sheryl. Billed as the Willis Sisters, they started out locally with bands such as the Freddie Lee Orchestra and later guest starred on national television programs such as The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
and ironically, on Lawrence Welk's
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
The Plymouth Show. Later, when the Willis Sisters split up, Andra became a solo vocalist, and was a frequent regular on Don McNeill's
Don McNeill (performer)
Don McNeill was an American radio personality, best known as the creator and host of The Breakfast Club, which ran for more than 30 years.-Early career:...
radio program, The Breakfast Club.http://www.welkgirls.com/andrawillis.html
She joined the cast of the Welk show in late 1967, and until her departure in 1969, was featured as both a soloist and in duets with fellow Music Maker Dick Dale
Dick Dale (singer)
Dick Dale is an American singer and musician, best known as a featured singer and saxophone player on the TV variety show The Lawrence Welk Show....
.
Since leaving the Welk organization, Andra has pursued a career as a studio session singer and a songwriter. She has worked on the soundtrack for the movie Lost Horizon where she supplied the vocals for Olivia Hussey
Olivia Hussey
Olivia Hussey is an Argentinian actress who became famous for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's Academy Award-winning 1968 film version of Romeo and Juliet. For this role she won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actress as well as the David di Donatello for best actress...
in the songs Share The Joy and The Things I Will Not Miss http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0932268/.
Today, since the late 1980s, Andra and her husband, musician and composer Larry Muhoberac
Larry Muhoberac
Larry Muhoberac is an American musician, producer and composer who at various times has also been known as Larry Owens and Larry Gordon....
make their home in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.