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 | 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.]].[1] 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 Lawrence 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.
On September 3, 2011, Castle married her fourth husband, Lin Biviano, a trumpet player from Boston.
References
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