Tanya Falan Welk
Encyclopedia
Tanya Falan Welk is an American
singer who appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show
from 1968 to 1977.
Born and raised in Glendale
, California
, Tanya began singing at age four at her uncle's Los Angeles
restaurant. As a teenager, she worked at Disneyland where she had her own band known as Tanya and the Thunderbirds. While in high school, she developed her skills with other instruments such as the drums, cello
, bass and xylophone
in addition to singing.
Tanya made her Welk show debut on New Year's Eve 1967, and shortly afterwards was made a regular member of the cast. A few months later in the summer of 1968, she also became a member of Lawrence Welk
's own family when she married his son Larry, Jr. The couple would have two sons, Lawrence Welk, III (born 1970) and Kevin (born 1971).
During her tenure on the show, she sang solo numbers and in many group numbers, pairing with Anacani
as a duo and often as a trio with fellow Italian-American music makers Bob Lido
and Charlie Parlato
.
Tanya also branched out in other areas of television, making guest appearances on Jerry Lewis
' Labor Day Telethon
and in 1971, guest starred on the soap opera
General Hospital
.
In 1969, she recorded the album Let It Be Me which was released by Ranwood Records
.
She left the show in 1977, and two years later (1979) her marriage to Larry Welk ended.
Today, she makes her home in the Southern California
area with her second husband Kenny. In addition to singing, she also works as an interior designer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer who appeared 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...
from 1968 to 1977.
Born and raised in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, 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...
, Tanya began singing at age four at her uncle's Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
restaurant. As a teenager, she worked at Disneyland where she had her own band known as Tanya and the Thunderbirds. While in high school, she developed her skills with other instruments such as the drums, 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...
, bass and xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
in addition to singing.
Tanya made her Welk show debut on New Year's Eve 1967, and shortly afterwards was made a regular member of the cast. A few months later in the summer of 1968, she also became a member of 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...
's own family when she married his son Larry, Jr. The couple would have two sons, Lawrence Welk, III (born 1970) and Kevin (born 1971).
During her tenure on the show, she sang solo numbers and in many group numbers, pairing with Anacani
Anacani
Anacani Maria Consuelo y Castillo Lopez Cantor Montoya is a Mexican-born American singer best known as a featured performer on The Lawrence Welk Show television program....
as a duo and often as a trio with fellow Italian-American music makers Bob Lido
Bob Lido
Bob Lido was an American musician and singer who was a regular member of television's The Lawrence Welk Show, his instrument was the violin....
and Charlie Parlato
Charlie Parlato
Charles Parlato was an American musician who performed with the Lawrence Welk orchestra. His instrument was the trumpet.- Bio :...
.
Tanya also branched out in other areas of television, making guest appearances on Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
' Labor Day Telethon
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The MDA Labor Day Telethon is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association . The first MDA telethon was during the Thanksgiving Day weekend of 1952 and titled Party for MDA. It has been held annually since 1966...
and in 1971, guest starred on the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
.
In 1969, she recorded the album Let It Be Me which was released by Ranwood Records
Ranwood Records
Ranwood Records was started in 1968 by Randy Wood together with Lawrence Welk. Ranwood acquired Welk's Coral Records and Dot Records catalog for reissue on Ranwood. Most of Welk's recorded musical output from that point on was released on the Ranwood label. Welk acquired Wood's interest in the...
.
She left the show in 1977, and two years later (1979) her marriage to Larry Welk ended.
Today, she makes her home in the Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
area with her second husband Kenny. In addition to singing, she also works as an interior designer.