Dick Dale (not to be confused with the legendary same-named guitarist who's still with us), a longtime singer and saxophonist with Lawrence Welk's Champagne Music Makers who was featured on Mr. Welk's long-running television show, passed away on Friday at Algona, Iowa (the city of his birth) at age 88.
Formerly with Harold Loeffelmacher's Six Fat Dutchmen, Mr. Dale was the last surviving original member of the Welk cast who was a regular on Lawrence's show throughout its' entire 31-year run (KTLA, Los Angeles [1951-55], ABC [1955-71], and first-run syndication [1971-82]. He also hosted a number of reruns that aired on public television.
Not only was Dick a talented reed player (he played the saxophone and clarinet), he also was known for his baritone voice and romantic or novelty vocals. He did numerous vocal duets with 1954-59 Champagne Lady Alice Lon and also sang with one or more of the Lennon Sisters. By the 1970s, he did a number of duets with singer/pianist Gail Farrell as the twosome performed as "Gail and Dale".
Here are Dick and Gail singing "One Toke Over The Line" in this excerpt from a 1971 Lawrence Welk Show telecast.
Thanks for the memories, Dick, and Rest In Peace.
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