Dick Dale (singer)
Encyclopedia
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
.
A native of Algona, Iowa
, he served in the United States Navy
during World War II
after graduation from Algona High School. His entertainment career began when he worked for several bands such as Harold Loeffelmacher
and his Six Fat Dutchmen
Old-Time Band when he was discovered by Lawrence Welk
in 1951.
During his tenure on the show, in addition to his playing the saxophone, he sang not just solos but also in duets, performed in comedy sketches, dances, and also played Santa Claus
for many years on the Christmas
shows. Even after the show went into retirement in 1982, he continues to this day to perform with his fellow Welk alumni.
From 1990 to 1996, he co-owned and operated the Rainbow Theater in Pigeon Forge
, Tennessee
with fellow Welk star Ava Barber
.
He married his wife, Marguerite, in 1949, and they are the parents of four children and several grandchildren. After making their home in Sparks, Nevada
for several years, the Dales have recently moved back to his Iowa hometown of Algona.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and musician, best known as a featured singer and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player on the TV variety show The Lawrence Welk Show
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...
.
A native of Algona, Iowa
Algona, Iowa
Algona is a city in and the county seat of Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,741 at the 2000 census. Ambrose A. Call State Park is located two miles southwest of the city.-History:...
, he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
after graduation from Algona High School. His entertainment career began when he worked for several bands such as Harold Loeffelmacher
Harold Loeffelmacher
Harold Loeffelmacher was an American musician and bandleader best known for forming the polka band known as the Six Fat Dutchmen. The band, based in New Ulm, Minnesota, traveled extensively and played as many as 335 dates per year, mostly in the Midwestern United States...
and his Six Fat Dutchmen
Six Fat Dutchmen
The Six Fat Dutchmen was a polka band formed around 1932 by Harold Loeffelmacher in New Ulm, Minnesota. The band was known mostly for playing the "Oom-pah" style of polka music that originated from Germany and the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia...
Old-Time Band when he was discovered 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...
in 1951.
During his tenure on the show, in addition to his playing the saxophone, he sang not just solos but also in duets, performed in comedy sketches, dances, and also played Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
for many years on the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
shows. Even after the show went into retirement in 1982, he continues to this day to perform with his fellow Welk alumni.
From 1990 to 1996, he co-owned and operated the Rainbow Theater in Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the southeastern United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 5,875....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
with fellow Welk star Ava Barber
Ava Barber
Ava Barber is an American country music singer and performer. She is best remembered for having performed on The Lawrence Welk Show throughout much of the 1970s and early 1980s....
.
He married his wife, Marguerite, in 1949, and they are the parents of four children and several grandchildren. After making their home in Sparks, Nevada
Sparks, Nevada
Sparks is a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States, located east of Reno, Nevada. The 2010 U.S. Census Bureau population count was 90,264. Sparks is often referred to as half of a twin city .-Geography and Climate:...
for several years, the Dales have recently moved back to his Iowa hometown of Algona.