Buddy Merrill,
Guitarist (1957-1977)
Lawrence Welk Guitarist Often Performed With Neil LeVang
Buddy
Merrill joined the Lawrence Welk Show in
1957 and remained with the show until 1977.
Lawrence Welk had wanted to add the new sound of
Rock and Roll to his show and hired Merrill to play
the song "Rock Around the Clock." Merrill
left the show in 1960 to serve in the military but
returned two years later, in 1962. While he was with Welk,
Merrill made a number of solo recordings beginning
in the sixties and continuing into the 1970's. He
was a proficient and versatile guitar player who
recorded and performed on both the electric and the
steel pedal guitar. He also wrote the musical scores
for a number of television commercials.
After
Lawrence Welk
Merrill left the Lawrence Welk Show because he
didn't like performing in front of the camera
and wanted to concentrate on musical
arrangements.
After Merrill left Lawrence Welk, he continued
to write and compose music and produced several
television and radio commercials. He also
performed in a Country band based in Los
Angeles. In the early 1990's, he began recording
as a solo performer again. He released Beyond
the Reef in 1992, followed by World of Guitars
in 1994.