My America, your America Book

Reflecting on his life, his eventual success and the remarkable achievement of his musical family, Lawrence Welk, America's best loved orchestra leader, concludes that it hasn't all been a matter of luck. In telling the story of how he, as well as many members of his musical family, overcame disadvantages and adversity to reach the pinnacle of success they now enjoy in the world of entertainment, a pattern becomes apparent. "Apparently I'd worked with so many different kinds of people over the years, I discovered some basic principles of behavior... And now we had our own Plan." The plan emphasizes all the traditional old-fashioned virtues of hard work, commitment and personal involvement that were fundamental on building this country. MY AMERICA, YOUR AMERICA is a song of praise to his God, his country, his family (both professional and personal) and to these ideals. Lawrence tells how these ideals were formed within himself back in North Dakota, and he reminisces about his mentor, vaudevillian George Kelly, who had "taken me right off the farm - awkward, shy, saddled with a giant inferiority complex, but burning with hopes and ambitions - and with kindness and compassion, transformed my life." Welk has a lot of shrewd, helpful advice to offer about how to achieve a successful and happy life; but as always, his approach is entertaining and anecdotal. There are stories, backstage glimpses, a bicentennial prayer for the rebirth of American ideals, and a strong expression of religious faith as the cornerstone of the author's philosophy.