Charlotte Harris
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Harris Deveny (born April 29, 1931) is an American
musician who plays the cello
and was the only female member of the Lawrence Welk
orchestra.
, Illinois
, USA, Harris first took up the cello at age five, she first played as part of a jazz
combo throughout her childhood and teenage years. She has also played with numerous symphony orchestras across the country including both the Chicago
and the San Antonio Symphony
. According to her interview on an episode of The Lawrence Welk Show, she states that one of the reasons she played in the Lawrence Welk orchestra was because, at the time, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra did not allow women to play.
In 1956, she appeared in the film Around the World in Eighty Days
as a musician. By this time, she had moved out to Los Angeles
working as a session musician and with various bands. It was in early 1961 that she was hired by Lawrence Welk
as the orchestra's new cellist where she performed both on his television show, and in their live concerts, whenever they went out on tour and at the Hollywood Palladium
on Saturday evenings.
Throughout her tenure on the show, she was featured many times with pianist Bob Ralston
for instrumental numbers and has also performed with the Welk singers in many choral numbers.
Harris left the show in 1978 and was replaced by Ernie Ehrhardt. Today she lives in Palos Verdes
, California
where she teaches cello and has two daughters, Charlotte and Catherine. She also teaches beginning and intermediate piano in her studio, which features two Steinway grand pianos.
Harris came from a family of six and was the second oldest. All of her siblings enjoyed music.
She was married to Edwin Deveny for 19 years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who plays the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and was the only female member of the Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
orchestra.
Life
Born in Oak ParkOak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, USA, Harris first took up the cello at age five, she first played as part of a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
combo throughout her childhood and teenage years. She has also played with numerous symphony orchestras across the country including both the Chicago
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
and the San Antonio Symphony
San Antonio Symphony
The San Antonio Symphony is a full-time professional symphony orchestra based in San Antonio, Texas. Its season runs from late September to early June...
. According to her interview on an episode of The Lawrence Welk Show, she states that one of the reasons she played in the Lawrence Welk orchestra was because, at the time, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra did not allow women to play.
In 1956, she appeared in the film Around the World in Eighty Days
Around the World in Eighty Days (1956 film)
Around the World in 80 Days is a 1956 adventure film produced by the Michael Todd Company and released by United Artists. It was directed by Michael Anderson. It was produced by Michael Todd, with Kevin McClory and William Cameron Menzies as associate producers. The screenplay was written by James...
as a musician. By this time, she had moved out to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
working as a session musician and with various bands. It was in early 1961 that she was hired by Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
as the orchestra's new cellist where she performed both on his television show, and in their live concerts, whenever they went out on tour and at the Hollywood Palladium
Hollywood Palladium
The Hollywood Palladium is a theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and includes an 11,200 square foot dance floor with room for up to 4,000 people.-History:...
on Saturday evenings.
Throughout her tenure on the show, she was featured many times with pianist Bob Ralston
Bob Ralston
Robert Ralston is an American pianist and organist who performed on television's The Lawrence Welk Show from 1963 to 1982....
for instrumental numbers and has also performed with the Welk singers in many choral numbers.
Harris left the show in 1978 and was replaced by Ernie Ehrhardt. Today she lives in Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes is a name often used to refer to a group of coastal cities in the Palos Verdes Hills on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, within southwestern Los Angeles County in the U.S...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where she teaches cello and has two daughters, Charlotte and Catherine. She also teaches beginning and intermediate piano in her studio, which features two Steinway grand pianos.
Harris came from a family of six and was the second oldest. All of her siblings enjoyed music.
She was married to Edwin Deveny for 19 years.