11 Responses to “Denny’s Adventures In Allee’s “Willis Wonderland” – July 2011 – Part 280”

  1. Allee Willis

    I have a few of these, two different sizes. I pick them up whenever I see them cheap enough though that’s rarely achieved anymore.

    I still get a kick out of watching The Lawrence Welk Show on PBS. If you haven’t seen those, run to youtube now.

    For more info on the vase and Mr. Welk:
    https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/2009/06/04/allee-willis-kitsch-o-the-day-lawrence-welk-accordion-vase/
    https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/2009/11/02/allee-willis-kitsch-o-the-day-lawrence-welk-musical-spoons/

    • windupkitty

      yes, yes I do !!! and back when I could still get tv channels, Saturday night at 7pm was Lawrence Welk for me, baby!!! The first time I went to an accordion club meeting, the guy at the entrance table asked me if I had “caught the Welk show last night” …I knew then, I was home :) Myron Floren was a regular guest and he pretty much shreds…

  5. BRBill

    This reminds me of Clifton Chenier’s accordion, a big black Italian thing with “Clifton Chenier” in white letters where Lawrence’s name is. The band would do a half hour warm up set, Clifton would come on stage, take off his tie(the band all wore suits), hand it to his brother Cleveland, put on his accordion and Cleveland would strap Cliff in using the tie to hold the over the shoulder straps together. Then they’d be off to the races for the next 3 1/2 hours, no breaks.

      • windupkitty

        wow, that’s nuts…he must have had some serious arms cause I think he played a big old 120 bass button beast…..he was magnificent….so, so jealous I couldn’t witness it…

        • BRBill

          Yes Windup, Clifton did play one of those 120 bass button accordions and unlike many who play a piano note accordion, he played both sides. His left hand was all over the bass keys. I “rate/judge” accordion players on a scale of 1 to Clifton Chenier. There aren’t many who come close but there are those that do.
          http://youtu.be/gof_LuhF2dw Cut and paste this link to see Sunpie Barnes and Steve Riley(of the Mamou Playboys) do a two accordion blues(it’s 10mn long but worth it). This was at the 2012 Jazz Fest on the first Sunday as Bruce Springsteen tilted the Fairgrounds that direction, some of us were at Sunpie’s International Accordion Summit. Sunpie on the piano note accordion, Steve on the triple row. This tune was one of the best things i saw out there in 4 days of going this year and i’m glad my arms held out holding the camera up. The things we do for our music addictions……

          • windupkitty

            wow, thanks so much for sharing this! LOVEd watching it! Love how Sunpie tried to help him with his shoulder strap while he’s playing too:)! So nice to hear this kinda sound form an acoordion….totally different style of music, but do you ever look up NIck Ariondo? He’s pretty amazing too…I mean there are a TON of great player out there (living and dead) in so many different genres too…It’s such a versatile instrument, really :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxTOwXEy2Mo&feature=related