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Norman Bailey,
Trumpet
Lawrence Welk Trumpet Player Earned
Nickname "Ironlips"
Norman
Bailey was a trumpet player in the Lawrence Welk
orchestra from 1952 through 1973.
Bailey
was born in 1913 in Worcester, Massachusetts and
joined the Freddy Martin Orchestra in 1934. After
taking a career break in 1951 to work for Northrup
Aircraft, he joined the Welk Orchestra in 1951. Two
of his most notable songs were "Sugar Blues" and
"Hot Lips." Bailey formed the core of an impressive
group of trumpeters in the Welk Orchestra during the
late 1950's which included Rocky Rockwell, Woody
Guidry, Art Depew and Warren Leuning. Welk nicknamed
Bailey "Iron Lips" because he never got tired.
Bailey could easily be spotted in the trumpet
section because of his dark rimmed glasses.
After leaving the Show in 1973, Bailey retired
and passed away in 1984 at the age of 71.
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