Ralna English
Encyclopedia
Ralna Eve English American-born singer (born June 19, 1942)
was born in Haskell
, the seat of Haskell County
, north of Abilene
, Texas
. She gained fame as half of the husband-and-wife singing duo of Guy & Ralna
with then-husband Guy Hovis
, both of whom were featured performers on The Lawrence Welk Show
.
English was reared in Lubbock
, where, as a teenager, won a local battle of the bands competition with her group "Ralna and the Ad-Libs". One of her competitors was legendary rock star Buddy Holly
, a Lubbock native.
After attending Texas Tech University
, and singing jingles for television
commercials in Dallas, she relocated to California
in the late 1960s, where she performed regularly at The Horn nightclub
in Santa Monica
.
It was there that she met fellow aspiring performer Guy Hovis
, a native of Mississippi
. They were married on January 25, 1969.
Later that year, she joined Lawrence Welk
on his television program originally as a soloist. In the first year, husband Guy joined the program, and for the next thirteen years, until the show ended its run in 1982, Guy & Ralna
became one of the most popular acts on the show.
Although they divorced in 1984, they are still good friends and often perform together in concert venues. They are the parents of a daughter Julie (born 1977). English remained single, but Hovis has since remarried.
In March 2007, Ralna's solo TV special, Ralna English: From My Heart premiered nationally on PBS. In the special, a fundraiser for PBS, she performed with a 75-piece orchestra and 100-voice choir.
In 2007, Ralna also published a "Ralna English Family Cookbook", which was offered to viewers who purchased DVDs of her TV special. Recipes are from her two sisters, Sharon and Jane, as well as her aunts, grandmother, mother and other relatives.
Now living in Scottsdale
, Arizona
, Ralna still maintains a busy concert schedule, either performing as a solo act, or with her ex-husband, Guy Hovis, who was an aide, based in Jackson, Mississippi
, to his longtime friend, former Republican
U.S. Senator Trent Lott
.
was born in Haskell
Spur, Texas
Spur is a city in Dickens County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,088.On October 9, 2009, Spur celebrated its centennial with the dedication of a Giant Spur sculpture. The Giant Spur was built by local welder John Grusendorf. The event, sponsored...
, the seat of Haskell County
Haskell County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, 6,093 people, 2,569 households, and 1,775 families resided in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile . There were 3,555 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, north of Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. She gained fame as half of the husband-and-wife singing duo of Guy & Ralna
Guy & Ralna
Guy & Ralna are an American singing duo that appeared as regulars on television's The Lawrence Welk Show from 1970 to 1982.-Musical career:...
with then-husband Guy Hovis
Guy Hovis
Guy Lee Hovis, Jr. , is an American-born singer who, along with his former wife, Ralna English of West Texas, was one of the featured acts of television's The Lawrence Welk Show....
, both of whom were featured performers 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...
.
English was reared in Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, where, as a teenager, won a local battle of the bands competition with her group "Ralna and the Ad-Libs". One of her competitors was legendary rock star Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, a Lubbock native.
After attending Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, and singing jingles for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
commercials in Dallas, she relocated to 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...
in the late 1960s, where she performed regularly at The Horn nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
.
It was there that she met fellow aspiring performer Guy Hovis
Guy Hovis
Guy Lee Hovis, Jr. , is an American-born singer who, along with his former wife, Ralna English of West Texas, was one of the featured acts of television's The Lawrence Welk Show....
, a native of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. They were married on January 25, 1969.
Later that year, she joined 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...
on his television program originally as a soloist. In the first year, husband Guy joined the program, and for the next thirteen years, until the show ended its run in 1982, Guy & Ralna
Guy & Ralna
Guy & Ralna are an American singing duo that appeared as regulars on television's The Lawrence Welk Show from 1970 to 1982.-Musical career:...
became one of the most popular acts on the show.
Although they divorced in 1984, they are still good friends and often perform together in concert venues. They are the parents of a daughter Julie (born 1977). English remained single, but Hovis has since remarried.
In March 2007, Ralna's solo TV special, Ralna English: From My Heart premiered nationally on PBS. In the special, a fundraiser for PBS, she performed with a 75-piece orchestra and 100-voice choir.
In 2007, Ralna also published a "Ralna English Family Cookbook", which was offered to viewers who purchased DVDs of her TV special. Recipes are from her two sisters, Sharon and Jane, as well as her aunts, grandmother, mother and other relatives.
Now living in Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Ralna still maintains a busy concert schedule, either performing as a solo act, or with her ex-husband, Guy Hovis, who was an aide, based in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, to his longtime friend, former Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Senator Trent Lott
Trent Lott
Chester Trent Lott, Sr. , is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and has served in numerous leadership positions in the House of Representatives and the Senate....
.