Jo Ann Castle
Encyclopedia
Jo Ann Castle is a noted ragtime
pianist
. She adopted the stage name "Castle" from a type of accordion
, another instrument she played with great proficiency. She was often referred to as "Queen of the Ragtime Pianists," and was seen as the younger version of star ragtime pianist Del Wood
.
Castle has released sixteen albums throughout her career. She is most known for being the central ragtime performer on The Lawrence Welk Show
, on which she performed from 1959 to 1969. Originally discovered for Welk
by Joe Feeney
, Castle became a permanent member of the "Welk Family" just prior to her twentieth birthday, replacing the departing Big Tiny Little
. Welk wished to announce her age on the air, when she informed him that revealing her actual age publicly would jeopardize her budding career as a Las Vegas
entertainer. At first nonplussed, he then surprised her on air a week later with a piano-decorated cake and announcing her hiring as one of his "champagne music-makers". On the show, she was known for playing the "Red Hot Piano".
Castle was a close friend and colleague of Liberace
and has since spoken fondly of him in various retrospectives since his death.
In the 1990s, Castle performed for fans at the Lawrence Welk
-owned Champagne Theater in Branson, Missouri
, as well as making a guest appearance for a show with Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
on RFD TV.
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. She adopted the stage name "Castle" from a type of accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, another instrument she played with great proficiency. She was often referred to as "Queen of the Ragtime Pianists," and was seen as the younger version of star ragtime pianist Del Wood
Del Wood
Polly Adelaide Hendricks Hazelwood , known professionally as Del Wood, was an American pianist.-Biography:...
.
Castle has released sixteen albums throughout her career. She is most known for being the central ragtime performer on 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...
, on which she performed from 1959 to 1969. Originally discovered for Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
by Joe Feeney
Joe Feeney
Joe Feeney was an American tenor singer who was a member of The Lawrence Welk Show television program.Born to an Irish-American family in Grand Island, Nebraska, Feeney first started singing as a boy soprano in his hometown's church choir and after high school, he landed a guest appearance on the...
, Castle became a permanent member of the "Welk Family" just prior to her twentieth birthday, replacing the departing Big Tiny Little
Big Tiny Little
Dudley "Tiny" Little, Jr. was an American musician who appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1959. His primary instrument was the piano.-Biography:...
. Welk wished to announce her age on the air, when she informed him that revealing her actual age publicly would jeopardize her budding career as a Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
entertainer. At first nonplussed, he then surprised her on air a week later with a piano-decorated cake and announcing her hiring as one of his "champagne music-makers". On the show, she was known for playing the "Red Hot Piano".
Castle was a close friend and colleague of Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
and has since spoken fondly of him in various retrospectives since his death.
In the 1990s, Castle performed for fans at 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...
-owned Champagne Theater in Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
, as well as making a guest appearance for a show with Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
Jimmy Sturr
James W. "Jimmy" Sturr, Jr. is a polka musician, trumpeter/clarinetist/saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra. His recordings have won 18 out of the 24 Grammy Awards given for Best Polka Album. Sturr's orchestra is on the Top Ten List of the All-Time Grammy Awards, and has acquired...
on RFD TV.