Jo Ann Castle

Jo Ann Castle
Castle on the left with Lawrence Welk and Cissy King, 1969.
Background information
Birth name	Jo Ann Zwering
Born	(1939-09-03) September 3, 1939 Bakersfield, California, United States
Genres	Honky-tonk
Occupation	Pianist
Instrument	Piano

Jo Ann Castle (born September 3, 1939) was an American honky-tonk pianist on The Lawrence Welk Show. Her offstage personal struggles made her infamous among bandmembers. She adopted her stage name from the name of an accordion manufacturer, another instrument she played with great proficiency. She was often referred to as "Queen of the Honky-Tonk Piano" by Lawrence Welk himself.

Originally introduced to Welk by Joe Feeney in 1959, Castle became a permanent member of the Welk Family, replacing the departing Big Tiny Little. Shortly after joining the Show, Castle married cameraman, Dean Hall. They divorced in 1966 after having a daughter together. Castle married again in 1968 and had a son and a daughter. Castle left the Welk Show in 1969 and divorced in 1971. Her third marriage, in 1978, ended in 1986.

In the 1990s, Castle performed at the Welk owned Champagne Theater in Branson, Missouri, as well as making a guest appearance for a show with Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra on RFD TV.

Castle suffered a series of strokes in 2005 and 2009. In 2011, Castle married her fourth husband, Lin Biviano, a trumpet player from Boston.

External links

• Castle Biography