Johnny Zell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Zell
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| Born | November 24, 1947 Fort Benning, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician (trumpeter) |
| Instruments | Trumpet |
Johnathan Zell (born November 24, 1947) is an American musician. He is famous for playing the trumpet on The Lawrence Welk Show. This was a popular musical TV show.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Johnny Zell was born in Fort Benning, Georgia. This is a U.S. Army base. He grew up in Los Angeles, California.
Johnny started learning music when he was very young. He first played the violin. Later, he switched to the trumpet.
When he was thirteen, Johnny tried to audition for Lawrence Welk. Welk's band was playing at the Hollywood Palladium. Johnny asked if he could play a trumpet solo. Lawrence Welk was impressed by his talent. However, he thought Johnny was too young. Welk told him to come back later. He said Johnny should get more experience first.
Joining The Army Band
After high school, Johnny played in other bands. These included the Freddy Martin and Russ Morgan bands. Then, he joined the army. He served from 1965 to 1968.
While in the army, Johnny played in a special band. It was called The Commanders. This band was part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Two other future Welk musicians, Dave Edwards and Richard Maloof, also played in this band.
In 1968, Johnny got another chance to audition for Lawrence Welk. He was filming a TV commercial for army recruiting. Part of the job was to be interviewed on The Lawrence Welk Show. He also played trumpet with the band. After his performance, Welk offered him a job. Johnny joined the band after finishing his army service.
Life on The Lawrence Welk Show
Johnny Zell played on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1968 to 1982. He was one of the show's most popular musicians. He often performed trumpet solos. Some of his famous solos included "Hot Lips" and "A String of Pearls".
Johnny learned a lot from Norman Bailey. Norman Bailey was another great trumpet player on the show. He even gave Johnny one of his special gold trumpets.
Later in life, Johnny also shared his music in churches. He made albums with Christian songs. He also became a pastor. He led The Church of New Beginnings in Oregon for over 17 years.
Family Life
Johnny Zell and his wife, Laura, lived in Oregon. They have two children.
See Also
