Jack Imel
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Jack Imel is an American
singer, dancer, musician, and television
producer who is best known for his work on The Lawrence Welk Show
.
A tap dance
r since the age of four, Imel later took up playing the marimba
. He appeared in clubs and concerts in and around his hometown right through elementary and high school. Later, with the advent of the Korean War
, Imel joined the U.S. Navy and considered a career as a sailor, but towards the end of his tour of duty he was stationed in San Diego
. He made the trip up to Los Angeles
to audition for the television show of bandleader Lawrence Welk
, and wowed the maestro with his dancing and marimba-playing abilities. He was invited to join the cast of the show, and cemented his status on it in his debut performance in 1957.
After Imel spent about three months on the show, the Welk Show began receiving mail saying that he was "conceited" and a "show-off." To rectify the situation, Welk suggested that Imel take a place in the band, since all soloists on the show came from the band. Since the marimba was not designed to be a part of the orchestra, Jack was given unique percussion instruments to play, such as bells
, the triangle, and the maracas. With this development, fans began to accept Imel wholeheartedly.
Imel's career as a producer began with the hiring of tap dancer Arthur Duncan
in 1964. With two hoofers on the show, Imel decided he needed to diversify, and began pitching production ideas. The show brass found them interesting, and he was invited to the production meetings; eventually, he became a full-fledged associate producer of the show.
Beginning in the 1970s, Imel was paired with Mary Lou Metzger
in specialty song and dance
routines. They quickly became one of the most popular items on the show. Imel also became known for wearing animal costumes in various numbers, alongside dancer Bobby Burgess
.
Imel has been married to his wife Norma since 1951. They currently reside in Springville, California. Although retired from the Welk organization, he continues to be involved in entertainment as part of the audition committee for the City of Porterville City of Hope Spectacular. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Porterville Auxiliary of the City of Hope.
In Jack's hometown of Portland, Indiana
, Jack Imel Drive is named in his honor.
Jack is also an accomplished drummer. He was featured in the band within a band called, "the hotsy tottsy boys". Playing in the style of the 1920's, using woodblocks, temple blocks, and even the musical spoons!
Jack sat behind the drums for the whole big band for the 1977 season premier. Perhaps for an ailing Johnny Klein.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, dancer, musician, and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
producer who is best known for his work 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...
.
A tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
r since the age of four, Imel later took up playing the marimba
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
. He appeared in clubs and concerts in and around his hometown right through elementary and high school. Later, with the advent of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Imel joined the U.S. Navy and considered a career as a sailor, but towards the end of his tour of duty he was stationed in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. He made the trip up to 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...
to audition for the television show of bandleader 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...
, and wowed the maestro with his dancing and marimba-playing abilities. He was invited to join the cast of the show, and cemented his status on it in his debut performance in 1957.
After Imel spent about three months on the show, the Welk Show began receiving mail saying that he was "conceited" and a "show-off." To rectify the situation, Welk suggested that Imel take a place in the band, since all soloists on the show came from the band. Since the marimba was not designed to be a part of the orchestra, Jack was given unique percussion instruments to play, such as bells
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
, the triangle, and the maracas. With this development, fans began to accept Imel wholeheartedly.
Imel's career as a producer began with the hiring of tap dancer Arthur Duncan
Arthur Duncan
Arthur Duncan is a tap dancer, known for his stint as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982; which made him the first African-American regular on a variety television program....
in 1964. With two hoofers on the show, Imel decided he needed to diversify, and began pitching production ideas. The show brass found them interesting, and he was invited to the production meetings; eventually, he became a full-fledged associate producer of the show.
Beginning in the 1970s, Imel was paired with Mary Lou Metzger
Mary Lou Metzger
Mary Lou Metzger is an American singer and dancer best known as a cast member on The Lawrence Welk Show....
in specialty song and dance
Song and Dance
Song and Dance is a musical comprising two acts, one told entirely in "Song" and one entirely in "Dance", tied together by a love story.The first part is Tell Me On A Sunday, with lyrics by Don Black and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, about a young British woman's romantic misadventures in New York...
routines. They quickly became one of the most popular items on the show. Imel also became known for wearing animal costumes in various numbers, alongside dancer Bobby Burgess
Bobby Burgess
Robert Wilkie "Bobby" Burgess is an American dancer and singer. As a child he was an original Mouseketeer and later in life a regular on the The Lawrence Welk Show.-Early life:...
.
Imel has been married to his wife Norma since 1951. They currently reside in Springville, California. Although retired from the Welk organization, he continues to be involved in entertainment as part of the audition committee for the City of Porterville City of Hope Spectacular. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Porterville Auxiliary of the City of Hope.
In Jack's hometown of Portland, Indiana
Portland, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,437 people, 2,739 households, and 1,750 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,566.8 people per square mile . There were 2,928 housing units at an average density of 712.7 per square mile...
, Jack Imel Drive is named in his honor.
Jack is also an accomplished drummer. He was featured in the band within a band called, "the hotsy tottsy boys". Playing in the style of the 1920's, using woodblocks, temple blocks, and even the musical spoons!
Jack sat behind the drums for the whole big band for the 1977 season premier. Perhaps for an ailing Johnny Klein.
External links
- Jack Imel Bio
- Jack Imel at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...