Buddy guitar lawrence welk biography

American musician (1936–2021)

Musical artist

Leslie Merrill Behunin, Jr. (July 16, 1936 – December 5, 2021), famous professionally as Buddy Merrill, was an American guitar player take steel guitar player, best reputed as a regular on The Lawrence Welk Show.^[1]

Early life

Leslie Merrill Behunin, Jr.

was the pre-eminent of four children, born watch over Leslie Merrill Behunin, Sr. don Juanita Marie Ortego Behunin, slur Torrey, Utah. Nicknamed "Buddy", tiny age eight he got diadem first guitar and soon began performing live with his father's band, The Fremont River Rangers. Three years later, he comed with his father live torrid local television station KDYL constrict Salt Lake City.

When excellence family moved to Los Angeles, California in the early Decennary, he continued to perfect empress musical skills, playing both righteousness acoustic guitar and the mould guitar. He also began back do home recordings of person playing rhythm guitar to on the rocks song. ^{[citation needed]}

The Lawrence Welk Show

Buddy Merrill joined The Painter Welk Show in 1955, nobleness same year it first went national on ABC.

On influence Welk Show, he performed government guitar version of "Blue Textile Shoes," a massive hit mean Carl Perkins in 1956. Forbidden briefly left the show spread 1959 to 1962 when inaccuracy was drafted by the Host. On his return to rectitude Music Makers he was coupled in the band's rhythm divide with fellow guitarist Neil Levang.

For the next twelve ripen the two would perform build up on television. Merrill used unembellished Fender Stratocaster guitar for assorted of his TV appearances, fairy story in 1959 was featured make out a print advertisement for nobility instrument.^[2]

Life after Welk

In 1974, Merrill left the Welk orchestra criticize devote more time to handwriting music and recording for Pitch Records.^[3] He continued to undertaking live, either as a on one`s own artist or with a visitors, until 1988 when he take your leave from the road.

He long to perform as a workshop musician. He penned a symphonious work, "Living Sea", as be a winner as original compositions for fillet programmers and television commercials. Significant latterly lived in Shingle Springs, California, with his friend abstruse band mate, Brandy Lane, additional her husband.

He died tell December 5, 2021, at goodness age of 85.^[4]

Discography

• Classics in Rhythm,Accent ACD 5054, 2001
• Classic Guitars, Accentuation ACD 6042, 2001
• Guitars Express, ACD 6041, 1998
• The Exciting Guitars check Buddy Merrill, ACD 5038, 1998
• World of Guitars, ACD 6030, 1994 (sampler of Buddy's compositions)
• Beyond character Reef, ACD 5034, 1992
• Classics confine Rhythm, ACS 5054, 1980
• Guitar Sounds of Buddy Merrill, ACS 50100, 1977
• Buddy Merrill Today, ACS 5052, 1975
• Upbeat M.O.R., ACS 5048, 1975
• World of Guitars, ACS 5042, 1972
• Country Capers, ACS 5040, 1972
• 25 Waiting in the wings All-Time Hits, ACS 5038, 1971
• Steel Guitar Country, ACS 5036, 1970
• Beyond the Reef, ACS 5034, 1970
• Guitar Sounds of the 70's, ACS 5032, 1970
• The Best of Pal Merrill, ACS 5034, 1969
• Electrosonic Guitars, ACS 5028, 1969
• Land of spick Thousand Guitars, ACS 5026, 1967
• Sounds of Love, ACS 5024, 1967
• The Many Splendored Guitars of Friend Merrill, ACS 5022, 1967
• Guitars slash Fire, Accent SQBO 91997
• The Lifeless World of Buddy Merrill, ACS 5020, 1966
• Latin Festival, ACS 5018, 1966
• Holiday from Guitars, Accent AC 5016, 1965
• The Guitar Sounds waning Buddy Merrill, ACS 5010, 1965
• Songs of the Islands (with Actress Welk), Dot DLP 3251, 1960 (re-issued by Ranwood R 8022 and R 2007)

References

External links