Lawrence Welk Show
 

Bob Ralston, Pianist

Pianist on Lawrence Welk Show from 1963 to 1982


Bob RalstonBob Ralston was a pianist on the Lawrence Welk Show from 1963 to 1982. He took over accordion duties in the band after the death of Jerry Burke and performed with fellow pianist Jo Ann Castle on the show in the 1960's. Ralston was a child prodigy who was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1938. Ralston began performing while attending college at USC, playing for the Freddie Martin orchestra at the Coconut Grove on the Sunset Strip. Welk hired Ralston in 1963 as a member of the band.        
Bob Ralston In 1984, Ralston was arrested for child molestation. In 1986, Ralston was ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation for molesting a 13 year old boy and was placed on five years' probation after pleading no-contest to a charge of performing lewd acts on a child. He was also ordered to continue in a program of psychological counseling and to refrain from associating with children under 18 unless accompanied by a responsible adult. Today, Ralston and his wife Fiejte make their home in Granada Hills, CA.

Bob Ralston Performs Cumana