Some things simply stick with you throughout the years, and one unforgettable singing performance on The Lawrence Welk Show is one of them. The Lennon Singers, a quartet of four siblings, performed on this show for the first time on December 24, 1955, and their unforgettable version of their classic song, Tonight, You Belong To Me, has been cherished down the centuries. In reality, it has earned over five million views on YouTube since it was released in 2010.
The Lennon Sisters continue to play today, however only three of the original four members remain. Dianne, 16, Peggy, 14, Kathy, 12, and Janet, 9, were members of the group when it was formed in 1955. Mimi, who was only two months old at the time of this group’s first appearance on The Lawrence Welk Show, subsequently succeeded Peggy before retiring herself. As a result, three of the original four members remain in the present lineup: Dianne, Kathy, and Janet. Their most well-known performance presently is a yearly participation at a Christmas event in Branson, Missouri.
Lawrence Welk’s son, Larry, who was a classmate of theirs, found this remarkable foursome with exquisite vocals. Larry had taken the girls home to perform for Lawrence, who was so delighted that he promptly called to schedule them on the show that would be taped later that week. It wasn’t long until the rest of the country was as enthralled by their sounds as he was.
The Lennon Sisters did not make a single appearance on The Lawrence Welk Show. They were regulars on the show from 1955 through 1968, only leaving when they decided to build a name for themselves outside of the show.
Tonight, You Belong to Me ended up climbing the charts, peaking at number 15 in early 1956, and it’s still one of the Lennon Sisters’ favorites today. It ended up being their biggest hit, and the only one to make the charts.
The Lawrence Welk Show aired on ABC from 1955 to 1971, after being screened solely in the Los Angeles area from 1951 to 1955 and then having nationwide syndication from 1971 to 1982. It was most popular from 1964 to 1969, ranking in the top 30 television series during those five seasons.
Have you ever seen the Lennon Sisters in concert? Have you heard their lovely voices before? Do watch the video.
