LENNON SISTERS CONTRACT WITH COA WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY VERY RARE 1968 FANTASTIC For Sale

A FANTASTICALLY RARE 2 YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE LENNON SISTERS IN 1968 WITH THE WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY WITH COA FROM TODDD MUELLER AUTOGRAPHS
SIGNED BY DIANNE LENNON, PEGGY LENNON, KATHY LENNON AND JANET LENNON ON LAST PAGE AND ALSO INITIALED ON FIRST PAGEThe Lennon Sisters are an American vocal group initially made up of four sisters from a family that had seven sisters in all and five brothers. The original quartet consisted of Dianne, Peggy, Kathy, and Janet. All 12 Lennon children were born in Los Angeles, California.


The Lennon Sisters are a singing group consisting of four siblings: Dianne, Peggy, Kathy, and Janet. They were all born in Los Angeles, California of German/Irish and Mexican ancestry. The original quartet were the eldest four in a family of twelve siblings. In 1992, younger sister Mimi replaced second sister Peggy who retired. Sister Dianne has also retired. The group were a regular on the weekly television show, The Lawrence Welk Show. The current group line-up, appearing mostly at Welk resorts, consists of Mimi, Janet and Kathy.
The quartet debuted on The Lawrence Welk Show on Christmas Eve 1955 after their school classmate, Larry Welk, son of Lawrence Welk, brought them to the attention of his father. Welk was home, sick in bed, when his son brought the sisters in to sing for him. He was so impressed he picked up the phone and booked them for that week’s show. They were a mainstay on the show until they left to start a career of their own in 1968. The quartet was only three members from 1960 to 1964; oldest sister Dianne married, left the group, and then rejoined them. Peggy sang the high harmony part, Kathy the low harmony, and Janet and Dianne sang the middle harmony and lead parts.
Their first hit, “Tonight, You Belong to Me” reached to #15 on the charts in 1956. This was followed by their 1961 single, “Sad Movies “, which turned out to be their highest-charting record. It provided them with the only number #1 single of their career, reaching the top of the charts in Japan.
Items such as coloring books, paper dolls and story books were produced with the Lennon sisters.
They were a young, wholesome, crisply harmonic quartet of siblings who called themselves simply The Lennon Sisters. Making their singing TV debut in the mid-1950\'s, they became an instant household name on The Lawrence Welk Show (1955), a clean, old-fashioned variety show, with sixteen-year-old Dianne Lennon (Dee Dee), fourteen-year-old Peggy Lennon, twelve-year-old Kathy Lennon and nine-year-old Janet Lennon on board.
The daughters were four of eleven children born to devout Catholics William, a milkman who also worked for a gold course, and Isabelle (\"Sis\") Lennon. Living humbly in Venice, California during their formative years, the Lennon girls\' musical prowess was discovered early. In 1955, a friend to Lawrence Welk arranged a meeting and audition between the Lennons and the famous bandleader. Completely charmed and impressed, Welk booked the girls immediately. Their a cappella version of \"He\" proved a scene-stealing success and America fell hard for the four pretty little innocents and their angelic vocal blend. Welk professionally adopted the girls and The Lennon Sisters became regulars on his show every Saturday night for the next thirteen years.
Dubbed \"America\'s Sweethearts of Song,\" they recorded their first of many albums entitled \"Let\'s Get Acquainted\" in May of 1957. So popular were the girls that they became a merchandising factory with coloring books, lunch boxes and doll collections all doing very brisk business. Dianne retired for marriage in 1960 and the quartet became a trio until Diane\'s return in 1964.
In 1968, the now adult sister group decided to leave the security of the Welk show (the parting was rather acrimonious) in order to branch out, but found the going extremely difficult as a pristine Camelot-era vocal group caught up in the radical Vietnam-era age. Although the eponymous sisters started off promisingly enough in their own sweetly sentimental musical variety show Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters (1969), the pairing of Jimmy Durante and the girls proved too odd a mixture and the show lasted only a season. Personal tragedy hit in the midst of shooting the series when, on August 12, 1969, their father, William, was shot and killed by a deranged fan of Peggy\'s at the Venice golf course where he still worked.
In the early 70s, The Lennon Sisters became frequent guests on The Andy Williams Show (1962) and subsequently performed with the singing star in Las Vegas on a fairly steady basis. Their talent notwithstanding, they became a hard act to book with a repertoire of songs that included \"My Favorite Things,\" \"Getting to Know You\" and \"Zip A Dee-Doo-Dah.\" They were plainly out of sync. They spent a large percentage of time on the road in the next couple of decades, sustaining their act at state fairs, charity benefits and convention halls. Broaching on a five-decade career, they eventually found a steady home in Branson, Missouri, at (where else?) the Welk Champagne Theatre where they continued to charm loyal, nostalgic, highly enthusiastic crowds.
In 1999, Peggy, the mother of six children, retired from the sister act for good and was replaced by another sister Mimi Lennon. After Dianne, a cancer survivor, retired in December of 2001, the girl group remained a touring trio. Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1987 for their television contributions, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
Trivia (5)Peggy Lennon and Dianne Lennon (known as Dee Dee) retired in 1999 and 2001 respectively, but Kathy Lennon, Janet Lennon, and another sister, Mimi Lennon, perform in Branson, Missouri, at the Welk Champage Theatre.Their father was murdered by a deranged fan in 1969; their mom remarried in 1998 at age 80.In 1954, the girls\' sixteen-month-old baby sister Mary was struck and killed by a speeding car.They have sung for seven different United States Presidents - Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan.In 1987, the Lennon Sisters were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Lennon Sisters(Inducted 2001)
The Lennon Sisters were a singing group consisting of four siblings: Dianne (born December 1, 1939), Peggy (born April 8, 1941), Kathy (born August 2, 1943), and Janet (born June 15, 1946). They were all born in Los Angeles, California.
These singers debuted on The Lawrence Welk Show in 1955 after their school classmate, Larry Welk, son of Lawrence Welk, brought them to the attention of his father. They were a mainstay on the show until they left to start a career of their own in 1968. The quartet was only three members from 1960 to 1964; oldest sister Dianne got married, left the group, and then rejoined them again.
Over the decades, they recorded many albums. Their first album was on Brunswick Records and later on Coral, Dot, Ranwood and Mercury. They have recently released 4 CD volumes of songs taken from their own ABC-TV show.
The Lennon Sisters display at The Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
The Lennon Sisters atThe Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
In 1969, the sisters starred in their own variety show, Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters Hour. Six weeks before the show premiered on August 12, the sisters were forced to deal with the shooting death of their father, William, by a deranged fan, Chet Young (a stalker who believed himself to be married to Peggy and that the father stood in the way and had to be eliminated.) Lying in wait, Young shot Mr. Lennon in the parking lot of the Marina Del Rey golf course and two months later used the same gun to commit suicide. The sisters discovered an unopened letter having a cutout of Bill, a picture of a gun pointed at his head, and the words \"High Noon\" (the time of the murder.) (Source, Dr. Doreen Orion, I Know You Really Love Me)The Lennon Sisters performing at The Vocal Group hall of Fame Induction Concert.
The Lennon Sisters performing atThe Vocal Group Hall of Fame Induction Concert.
L to R. Kathy Lennon, Janet Lennon and Mimi Lennon.
In the wake of the murder, The Lennon Sisters Hour lasted one season before it was ended by all four of the girls. In the 1970s, the sisters performed regularly on The Andy Williams Show, and toured with Williams across the country. From 1994 to 2004, the quartet performed as headliners at the Welk Champagne Theater in the Ozark community of Branson, Missouri. When Peggy retired from singing in 1999, younger sister Mimi took her place, and when Dianne left for a second time in 2001, the act became a trio again for the rest of its run in Branson.
They are not related to the former Beatle John Lennon, who died in 1980.
The four original Lennon Sisters wrote their autobiography \"Same Song, Separate Voices\" which was originally published in 1985 and updated a decade later.
In 2001, The Lennon Sisters were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
- Wikipedia
The sparkling vocal quartet which graced Lawrence Welk\'s weekly television music show from 1955 to 1967, the Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Janet, Peggy and Kathy) grew up in Venice, California, and earned a contract with Coral Records, thanks in large part to Welk. Their first hit, \"Tonight You Belong to Me,\" reached number 15 in the 1956 charts, followed by the moderate success of \"Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)\" almost five years later. After leaving Welk, the Lennon Sisters performed infrequently.ENTERTAINMENT ICONS
THE LENNON SISTERS
CELEBRATE 65 YEARS IN SHOW BUSINESS!- BIO -As one of the most acclaimed, admired and longest performing
female vocal groups in popular music, The Lennon Sisters are
entertainment icons who have captivated audiences with their
legendary harmonies throughout a dazzling 65 year career!First finding success as singing television stars when they were
mere children ranging in ages from 9 to 16, The Lennon Sisters
literally grew up in the public eye and rose to fame as recording
artists, and vibrant live performers throughout the United States.
They are honored to be the only female vocal group to have
performed for seven United States’ Presidents - Eisenhower,
Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan. They have a
star on the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, and are inductees
in the National Vocal Group Hall of Fame.The Lennon Sisters are showcased in the PBS television special The Lennon Sisters: Same Song, Separate Voices (Polly O. Entertainment) which first aired in 2011 but has been updated for 2020. Three newly remastered CD & digital collections of their classic recordings have been released in conjunction with the newly updated special.They first charmed the nation with their sweet-voiced harmonies in the pioneering days of live television and grew up in front of America. Across two decades, 30 million television viewers tuned in every week to watch the four little girls from Venice, California known as The Lennon Sisters perform. Their artistry propelled them to the heights of show business, and the center of popular culture, just behind Jacqueline Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor as the most covered personalities of the 1960’s. Now, with seven decades of continuous performances, their career accomplishments are commemorated at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution, and they have become the longest running sister act in history. The combination of their extraordinary natural vocal talents, hardworking professionalism, striking looks, unassuming personalities and strong family values earned them a place in the hearts of millions of fans. That’s why, as youngsters, they were dubbed “America’s Sweethearts of Song.”
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Concurrent with their work on television, the Sisters began a concert career, traveling extensively during their summers off from school to make record-breaking personal appearances and performances throughout the heartland and in every major U.S. city, both with the Welk Orchestra and as solo artists.They also embarked on a successful recording career upon the release of their first album, Let’s Get Acquainted. Their early singles “Tonight You Belong to Me” and “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” were Billboard chart hits, and subsequent albums including The Lennon Sisters Sing Twelve Great Hits, On the Groovy Side, Somethin’ Stupid and The Lennon Sisters Today made them a frequent presence on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart while spawning turntable favorites including “This Is My Song,” “Till,” and “I’m Coming Back to You.” It was also during this period that the group became a trio when, in 1960, eldest sibling Dianne got married and took a 4 year hiatus to concentrate on starting her own family before returning to the group in 1964.The Lennon Sisters’ albums and single recordings paired their lush vocals with the top producers, arrangers and musicians of the day, and featured backing by members of the fabled cadre of Los Angeles musicians known as “The Wrecking Crew” and acclaimed producer Snuff Garrett. Their two holiday albums, Christmas with the Lennon Sisters and Noel remain perennial bestsellers on CD and digital download, and their recorded work continues to appear within a variety of film and television projects, including Johnny Depp’s Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and the Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito film Deck the Halls.The Lennon Sisters ever growing popularity was also fueled by their appearances on the covers of over 400 movie and TV fan magazines. Fans from around the world eagerly followed every perceived detail of The Lennon Sisters personal and professional lives through countless pictorials and articles chronicling their TV and concert appearances, their weddings and the births of their children. Their fan magazine appearances placed them amongst the ranks of the most popular personalities of the day including The Beatles, Jacqueline Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor.On television, they’ve made over 150 guest appearances on virtually every variety and talk show, including The Mickey Mouse Club, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Hollywood Palace, the Today show, Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, The Mike Douglas Show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The Merv Griffin Show and The Cher Show, amongst others.They starred in their first very own TV special in 1969 for ABC simply called The Lennon Sisters Show. It was one of the top-rated entertainment specials of that year and earned the Sisters their own musical variety series on the network: Jimmy Durante presents The Lennon Sisters Hour.Their variety series, which paired the talented young stars with show business legend Jimmy Durante, proved a sparkling showcase for the Sisters’ vocal, dancing and comedic talents. During its run, the show attracted such top name guest stars as Andy Williams, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Hope, Perry Como, George Burns, Desi Arnaz, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Dinah Shore, The Lettermen, Joey Bishop, Bobby Goldsboro, Merle Haggard, Wayne Newton, Martha Raye, Danny Thomas, Mel Tormé, Glen Campbell, Jerry Lewis, Jack Jones, Leslie Uggams and The Osmond Brothers.Unfortunately, it was also during this time that the Sisters were faced with one of the darkest chapters of their entire lives. On August 12, 1969, their father, 54 year old William (Bill) Lennon, was shot and killed by a demented fan who had stalked the Lennon family for several years. This tragic event, just a few days after the infamous Tate-LaBianca/Manson murders, drew national attention and a police manhunt ensued to find the killer. The Lennon Sisters and their families were sequestered to their homes under 24-hour police protection for several weeks. Though they continued to fulfill the contractual obligations of their TV series, they would tape subsequent episodes on a completely closed set without a studio audience and stopped all other personal appearances. The killer was eventually found 2 months later in the trunk of an abandoned car filled with Lennon Sisters’ fan magazines. He had taken his own life. This is one of the first ever and most tragic celebrity stalking/murder incidents on record.
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After months of being away from the public, it was only with their friend Andy Williams’ persuasion and his promise to insure they were safe that the Sisters carefully chose to appear live on stage again. They joined Andy as regular special guests on his TV series The Andy Williams Show and performed with him live in concert for nearly a decade. Their critically acclaimed performances at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, where the Sisters premiered a new elaborately staged and sophisticated concert act, propelled them to the top ranks of U.S. live performers.Fans were thrilled that “America\'s Sweethearts of Song” had persevered through their tragedy and emerged as sophisticated ladies, transformed before the nation’s eyes. They were singing better than ever with increasingly intricate harmonies and sensitive interpretations of the works of such classic composers of the Great American Songbook as Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, and George and Ira Gershwin. Their shows also included new solo numbers reflecting their individual styles and personalities.
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This transformation was documented in their quartet-authored memoir, Same Song, Separate Voices. The book gives the public new insight into the unique, personal struggles each has faced and the challenges of four distinct individuals whose blend as a single unit is the charm of their professional identity and success. In 2011 a musical documentary, based on their book and with the same name, was produced for public television Polly O. Entertainment. It features a plethora of new and classic performances, rare home movies and new interviews with all 5 performing sisters Dianne (“Dee Dee”), Peggy, Kathy, Janet and Mimi. In November 2020, an updated version of the special aired on public television in commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of their television debut.In 1994, The Lennon Sisters came full circle with the Welk “family of performers” becoming the featured headliners at the newly constructed Lawrence Welk Champagne Theatre in Branson, Missouri. They were in residence at the 2,200 seat theater annually for 17 seasons, marking them as the longest performing entity in that venue, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area and helping to establish Branson as an entertainment mecca. The Lennon Sisters happily incorporated many additional family members into their shows at The Champagne Theatre including their own children and some of their siblings like younger sister Mimi Lennon as well as brothers Dan, Bill and Joe Lennon, known as The Lennon Brothers.Then in 1999, after more than 40 years of performing, Peggy Lennon decided to retire from the group. Younger sister Mimi was asked to join the quartet as a permanent Lennon Sister with Dianne (“Dee Dee”), Kathy, and Janet. As a child, many Lennon fans may recall enjoying Mimi, a natural comedienne, performing as a temporary Lennon Sister (subbing for one sister or another) from 1970-1975 on The American Music Awards, and The Mac Davis Show, and in several concerts at the Circle Star Theater in San Francisco and with Andy Williams at Caesar’s Palace and the Sahara in Tahoe. As a child Mimi appeared numerous times on television with her sisters and the entire Lennon family and, as an adult, performed for several years with her sisters at the Champagne Theatre in Branson throughout the 1990s.In 2001, the eldest of the Sisters, Dianne, also decided to retire and the group once again became a trio with Kathy, Janet and Mimi. But that trademark Lennon sound continued without change. It’s a fine testament to the group’s brilliant musicality, their refined interpretive skills, and the innate charm that infuses all of their performances.The trio has continued to bring their distinct harmonies and their multi-media concert showcase to theaters across the country over the past 20 years and annually with their Christmas residency in Branson, MO. Since younger sister Mimi joined the group, they’ve been inducted into the National Vocal Group Hall of Fame and have released two CD’s The Lennon Sisters Now! Live in Branson and Christmas with the Lennon Sisters at the Moon River Theatre plus a new concert DVD also called Christmas with the Lennon Sisters at the Moon River Theatre. They’ve also returned to performing in top showrooms of Las Vegas.The Lennon Sisters classic performances on The Lawrence Welk Show still re-air weekly on many PBS stations nationwide delighting fans both old and new. And they remain in the pop culture pantheon with mentions on such top shows as ABC’s The Middle and as “answers” on Jeopardy and Family Feud, Trivial Pursuit and in several crossword puzzles including TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times and People magazine.In a career marked by extraordinary achievement The Lennon Sisters continue to solidify their reputation as entertainment legends by attracting new generations of fans across the decades. Whether you enjoy them in concert, on television, on YouTube or through their recordings, when their voices combine in that unforgettable familial blend you understand why their stardom has endured for 65 years.
The Lennon Sisters are an American vocal group initially consisting of four of the six sisters from a family of 11 siblings- 6 girls, 5 boys: Dianne Barbara (a.k.a. DeeDee) (b. 1 December 1939), Peggy (Margaret Anne) (b. 8 April 1941), Kathy (Kathleen Mary) (b. 2 August 1943), and Janet (Janet Elizabeth) (b. 15 June 1946). All 11 Lennon children were born in Los Angeles, California.
For thirteen years, from 1955 – 1968, the group appeared regularly on The Lawrence Welk Show, receiving union scale wages, which was $180 per week at that time. Although the original quartet was composed of the eldest sisters, in 1999, younger sister Mimi (b. 16 October 1955- Miriam Theresa) replaced Peggy upon her retirement. Dianne has also since retired. The current line-up of the Lennon Sisters is now a trio consisting of Mimi, Janet and Kathy. They appear mostly at Welk resorts.
Their parents married in early 1939. It is reported that the children are of German, Irish, and Mexican-American or Spanish ancestry. Their father, William Lennon (b. 1915-1969) worked as a milk-man for many years before getting a job at a local golf course. Their mother, Isabelle “Sis” (b. 1919-2005) remained at home to care for the needs of her very large family. Sis was the daughter of Reina (Spanish for Queen) Ysabella Alvarez Denning. Sources report that Sis is a first cousin to actor Leo Carrillo and is also related to other prominent California Spanish families such as the Yorbas and the Comachos.The California Birth Index lists the maiden name for the mother of all the Lennon children as Denning. There is further discrepancy as to whether Denning is of Scottish or Bavarian origin. According to Wikipedia, the surname of Lennon is solely of Irish origin.
During their formative years, the family lived in Venice, California, in a modest, two-bedroom home. This included two parents, 11 children, and one grandmother. They were and are devout Roman Catholics and attended The Church of St. Mark, which is part of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Most, or all of the children attended Catholic school. Throughout the Lennon Sisters’ career, their faith has had a major influence/role in both their lives and careers. Many of their songs are either hymns or of a “religious” or spiritual nature. (Source: interview/live performance, 6/18/2013, Home and Family, Hallmark Channel).
The Lennon Sisters made its television debut on The Lawrence Welk Show on Christmas Eve – December 24, 1955. A high school classmate, Larry Welk, son of Lawrence Welk, brought them to the attention of his father. Welk was at home, sick in bed, when his son brought the sisters in to sing for him. Mr. Welk was so impressed that he immediately booked them for that week’s show. They were a mainstay on the show until they left to start a career of their own in 1968. The quartet became a trio from 1960 to 1964; eldest sister Dianne married, left the group, and then rejoined.
Peggy sang the high harmony part, Kathy the low, and Janet and Dianne sang the middle and lead harmonies. Janet also specialized in barbershop or counter-harmony singing, taught to her by her father (who performed during the big band era in a quartet with his own three brothers). The girls idolized Patti Page’s multi-track vocal sound, feeling they achieved something close to her smooth blend in their Dot recording of “Stars Fell On Alabama.” Kathy was especially fond of Connie Francis, evident in her solo recording of “Malaguena Salerosa,” which showcased her impressive vocal range. The Lennon Sisters made no secret that they were huge fans of the innovative, intricate musical stylings of both The Andrews Sisters and The Mills Brothers.
Their first hit, “Tonight, You Belong to Me” reached #15 on the charts in 1956. In 1961, the single, “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)”, (Dot 16255), turned out to be their highest-charting record. It was the only number #1 single of their career, reaching the top of the charts in Japan. Although much of the group’s fame was based on their television appearances, they also recorded frequently for Dot Records in the 50s and 60s, producing a dozen albums, featuring their interpretations of well known standards such as “Among My Souvenirs,” “Moon River,” “Twilight Time,” and many others. Some of their best known recordings included “Scarlet Ribbons,” “Greensleeves,” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” A themed LP entitled “Dominique” featured The Lennon Sisters with their musically talented siblings and cousins performing a variety of 60s folk songs, including “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “If I Had My Way (The Sermon of Samson),” and the title track, Dominique.
They recorded briefly for Mercury Records after leaving Dot, focusing on more contemporary pop/light-rock fare, such as “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and “Never My love.” Their three most popular albums were “Lawrence Welk presents The Lennon Sisters: Best-Loved Catholic Hymns (Dot);” “Christmas with The Lennon Sisters (Dot); and “Noel,” their Christmas album for Mercury Records. Their full-bodied, homestyle choral blend was perfect for such yuletide favorites as “Adeste Fideles,” “Christmas Island,” “Faith of Our Fathers,” “The Star Carol,” and “Home for the Holidays.”
Several souvenir items, such as coloring books, paper dolls and story books featuring the Lennon sisters, were produced .In 1969, the sisters were set to star in their own variety show, Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters Hour. However, six weeks before the show premiered, (12 August) tragedy struck the family. Their father, William Lennon, was shot and fatally wounded in the parking lot of the Venice Golf Course in Marina Del Rey where he worked.He was only 53. The murderer, a delusional stalker named Chet Young, believed himself married to Peggy and was convinced that Mr. Lennon stood in his way of his “marriage” to Peggy and had to be eliminated. Two months later, Young used the same weapon on himself to commit suicide. The sisters discovered an unopened letter containing a cut out of their father, a picture of a gun pointed at his head, and the words “High Noon” (the time of the murder). (Source, Dr. Doreen Orion, I Know You Really Love Me) The sisters were devastated by the death of their father and in the wake of the murder, their new show, Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters Hour lasted only one season, and was cancelled by ABC.
In the 70s, The Lennon Sisters performed regularly on The Andy Williams Show, and toured with Williams across the country, including engagements at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. They also appeared on several game shows, including Family Feud, Tattletales and The Hollywood Squares. From 1994 to 2004, the quartet headlined at the Welk Champagne Theater in Branson, Missouri. When Peggy retired from singing in 1999, younger sister Mimi took her place, and when Dianne left for a second time in 2001, the act became a trio again for the rest of its run in Branson.
While continuing to play tour dates, Kathy and Janet Lennon have branched out into the toy market, designing and selling a line of “Best Pals” dolls. In addition to the dolls, the sisters have recorded CDs of favorite children’s songs for the “Best Pals” line. Kathy has appeared on a religious TV show called Search, produced by Catholic TV Studios in California.The four original Lennon Sisters wrote an autobiography entitled Same Song, Separate Voices, first published in 1985 with a new edition in 1995.Two of their five brothers, Kipp & Pat Lennon, are members of the band Venice, which also includes their cousins Michael and Mark Lennon
They are known as America\'s Sweethearts, and they have grown up on television from little girls to grown-up ladies.
And for more than fifty years; Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet, the Lennon Sisters of Venice, California, have entertained millions of Americans from Presidents to celebrities and then some.
They appeared on many television shows, such as Hollywood Squares, Andy Williams, Merv Griffith, Family Feud, Dinah!, Mike Douglas, Love American Style, Perry Como and various Jerry Louis MDA telethons just to name a few, plus also released several albums that have sold millions.
They have their own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and have been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon, Pennsylvania.
Whatever incarnation of the group, which included younger sisters Mimi and Annie, either as a trio or quartet, are still going strong today.
The eldest, Dianne Lennon (also known as Dee Dee), was born on December 1, 1939 to William and Sis Lennon. She sang lead vocals in the quartet from when the girls made their debut on the Welk Show on December 24, 1955 until 1960 when she left to get married (to Dick Gass). She returned to the show in 1964, rejoining her sisters until the act themselves parted way with the Maestro in January 1968. For a while, Dianne worked for a Catholic newspaper, and taught reading and kindergarden at St. Mark\'s School in between appearing on television and concerts with the act. She retired from performing in 2001 to spend more time with her family, which now includes three children and numerous grandchildren. Dianne now enjoys playing golf and runs, with her husband Dick, a restaurant in Branson, Missouri.
Peggy Lennon was born April 8, 1941; and as a youngster took interest in both music and religion, plus acting where as a teenager was active in productions at her high school. In 1964, she married Welk trumpet player Dick Cathcart, who was seventeen years older than her, and until his passing in 1993, were the proud parents of six children. Having retired from the act in 1999, Peggy has since remarried (to Bob Felt) and makes her home in Northridge, California.
Kathy Lennon was born August 2, 1943; she was known as the most athletic of the sisters, and for her pure singing voice. While the Lennon Sisters were at the height of their popularity on the Welk show, she was featured on many of the celebrity magazines and was linked with many of Hollywood\'s leading men. Kathy was married to Lawrence Welk\'s clarinet player Mahlon Clark for several years beginning in 1967 and today is married to Jim Daris for the past twenty five years. She also served as the act\'s manager and spokesperson over the years. Kathy is known to have collected Lennon Sister memorbilia and antiques from the Hearst household.
Janet Lennon was born June 15, 1946, the younger of the quartet. From their debut on Christmas Eve 1955, she was singled out for stardom with her singing voice, stage presence and charisma having her own paper dolls, making the cover of several fan magazines and a series of adventure books starring her. She married Lee Bernhardi in 1966, and became the mother of three children, and later to John Bahler, who led the Welk orchestra when they peformed at the Champagne Theater in Branson from 1994 to 2004. In 2006, Janet along with Kathy launched Best Pals, which sells a line of dolls based from their childhood and a CD of new material.
On Christmas Eve 1955, “champagne music” bandleader Lawrence Welk introduced the Lennon Sisters from Venice — Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet — on his popular ABC musical variety series, “The Lawrence Welk Show.” And before you could say “a-one-and-a-two,” the girls, ages 9 to 16, were an overnight phenomenon.
Their harmonies were pure, with Peggy singing the high notes, Kathy the low, and Dianne — known as Dee Dee — and Janet, in the middle. They scored their first hit “Tonight, You Belong to Me” in 1956. They were a mainstay on the series until 1968, then in 1969 got their own ABC musical variety series “Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters.” They also appeared on “The Andy Williams Show,\"\"The Ed Sullivan Show” and performed for years in Las Vegas.
Dee Dee, 72, and Peggy, 71, are retired, but the Lennon Sisters are still harmonizing. Since 1994, Kathy, Janet and, for the last 13 years, younger sister Mimi, have been performing, primarily at the Welk Resort Champagne Theatre in Branson, Mo. They will be returning to California for the second annual Lennon Family Concert and Fundraiser at the Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club on Friday and Saturday.
Peggy Lennon, who lives in Northridge with her husband, will be joining Kathy, Janet and Mimi, along with several other performing Lennon siblings, children and cousins, including the band Venice, the Lennon Brothers and Gail Lennon, Ted Lennon, Charlie Vaughn, Tom Lennon, Laurie Lennon and Mike Cathcart.
“There are so many performers in our family, we had to do a cut-off age,” said Janet, 66, in a conference call with Dee Dee, Kathy and Mimi, from her home in Branson. “They are all so talented, it is hard to put on a two-hour show.”
The sisters point out that family has always meant more to them than their career — in fact Dee Dee, who lives in Branson along with Kathy, 68, Mimi, 56, and Janet, won’t be coming out to California because her daughter is visiting from England.
“We enjoyed being together and singing together, but if someone would have said ‘OK, it’s ending tomorrow,’ we would have said ‘OK,’” said Dee Dee. “This was an occupation and it fell into our laps and we did the best we could. We were proud of it.”
Their parents kept them grounded. “We got to go to our same Catholic school and we had all of our brothers and sisters and our cousins,” said Janet.
“It didn’t identify us,” said Kathy. “Our girlfriends worked at Walgreens; we worked at ABC. We would change our little brothers’ and sisters’ diapers, do dishes and help our brothers and sisters with their homework and do our homework. If we would go on the road and do ‘The Andy Williams Show’and ‘The Ed Sullivan Show,’ we couldn’t wait to just get home.”
They penned their autobiography, “Same Song, Separate Voices,” in 1985 and last year, a documentary of the same name aired on PBS and is available on the. In the documentary, they discuss their experiences on the Welk series as well as the killing of their father, William Lennon, by a stalker who was infatuated with Peggy.
The Lennons are surprised when they realize it’s been 56 years since the Welk premiere. “We have made all of our friends promise that if they see us up there and are thinking, ‘uh-oh,’ they will get a hook and pull us off,” said Kathy, laughing.
“The voices are still there, just like when we were tiny little kids, that hasn’t changed at all,” added Peggy.
Two Lennon brothers recently called Peggy after they saw a Smithsonian exhibition on music through the ages. “From the 1950s and ‘60s, they had records and movie magazines with the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and the Lennon Sisters [on the covers],” Peggy said.
“We were in Photoplay and Radio Mirror and every movie magazine you can image. When my brothers said we were in the Smithsonian, I said I feel old enough to be in the Smithsonian!”
“We have huge fan clubs all over the United States and the United Kingdom and Australia,” said Kathy. “They follow us. It is so amazing how many clips of us are on YouTube.”
Adding to their popularity is the “Saturday Night Live\"spoof with Fred Armisen as Welk, who seems to enjoy his champagne a bit too much, introducing a Lennon Sisters-like group — Judice & the Merrell Sisters from the Finger Lakes. Last season’s finale of “SNL” found them singing with a bad Italian crooner played by Jon Hamm.
The Lennons have enjoyed those spoofs. “It just cracks everybody up,” said Janet. “It’s hard for us to believe we’re kind of an American institution.”The Lennon Sisters are an American vocal group initially made up of four sisters from a family that had seven sisters in all (including infant Mary Frances, March 5, 1953 – June 20, 1954) and five brothers. The original quartet consisted of Dianne (born Dianne Barbara; aka DeeDee; December 1, 1939), Peggy (born Margaret Anne, April 8, 1941), Kathy (born Kathleen Mary, August 2, 1943), and Janet (born Janet Elizabeth, June 15, 1946). All 12 Lennon children were born in Los Angeles, California.
For thirteen years, from 1955 to 1968, the group appeared regularly on The Lawrence Welk Show (receiving union scale wages) before having their own television variety show, called Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters with Jimmy Durante. After their show was cancelled, they partnered with Andy Williams to create a successful Las Vegas residency, which lasted a decade. In 1999, younger sister Mimi (born Miriam Theresa, October 16, 1955) replaced Peggy upon the latter\'s retirement. DeeDee has also since retired. The current line-up of the Lennon Sisters is a trio consisting of Kathy, Janet, and Mimi. They continue to tour around the country and appear annually with their Christmas show at The Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri.
The Lennon Sisters were 2001 inductees into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.Contents1 Early life2 Career3 Members4 Awards5 Discography5.1 Albums5.2 Singles6 References7 External linksEarly lifeTheir parents married in early 1939. Their father, William Herbert Lennon (1915–1969), worked as a milkman for many years before getting a job at a local golf course. Their mother, Isabelle Emily \"Sis\" (1919–2005), remained at home to care for the needs of her very large family. Sis was the daughter of Reina Ysabella Alvarez Denning and Danforth Denning.[1] Their ancestry was a mixture of Mexican, Spanish, German, and Irish. Isabelle\'s maternal grandfather, Pablo Alvarez (1857–1905), was born in Santa Ana, California, and her maternal grandmother, Margarita Camacho (1864–1938), was from Wilmington, California. Pablo\'s great-great-great-grandfather, Bernardo Salgado De Oliberos, was born in San Andrés, Spain.[2]
During their formative years, the family, which included two parents, 11 children, and one grandmother, lived in Venice, California, in a modest two-bedroom home. They were and are devout Roman Catholics and attended the Church of St. Mark, which is part of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Most or all[clarification needed] of the children attended Catholic school. Throughout the Lennon Sisters\' career, their faith has had a major influence in both their lives and their careers. Many of their songs are either hymns or of a religious or spiritual nature.[3]
CareerThe quartet made its television debut on The Lawrence Welk Show on Christmas Eve 1955.[4] A high school classmate, Larry Welk, son of Lawrence Welk, brought them to the attention of his father. Welk was at home, sick in bed, when his son brought the sisters in to sing for him. Welk was so impressed that he immediately booked them for that week\'s show, where they were a mainstay until they left to start a career of their own in 1968. The quartet was a trio from 1960 to 1964 after DeeDee married and left the group; she rejoined in 1965. Peggy sang the high harmony, Kathy the low; and Janet and DeeDee sang the middle and lead harmonies. Peggy also specialized in barbershop, or counter-harmony, singing, taught to her by her father (who performed during the Big Band Era in a quartet with his own three brothers). The girls idolized Patti Page\'s multi-track vocal sound, feeling they achieved something close to her smooth blend in their Dot recording of \"Stars Fell on Alabama\". Kathy was especially fond of Connie Francis, evident in her solo recording of \"Malaguena\", which showcased her impressive vocal range. The sisters made no secret that they were huge fans of the innovative, intricate musical stylings of both The Andrews Sisters and The Mills Brothers.[5]
Their first hit, \"Tonight, You Belong to Me\", reached No. 15 on the charts in 1956. In 1961, their single \"Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)\" (Dot 16255) reached the top of the charts in Japan, although making it only to No. 56 on Billboard in the United States. It was the lone No. 1 single of their career, turning out to be their all-time highest-charting record. Although much of the group\'s fame was based on their television appearances, they also recorded frequently for Dot Records in the 1950s and 1960s, producing a dozen albums, featuring their interpretations of well-known standards such as \"Among My Souvenirs\", \"Moon River\", and \"Twilight Time\". Some of their best-known recordings included \"Scarlet Ribbons\", \"Greensleeves\", and Schubert\'s \"Ave Maria\". A themed LP titled Dominique featured the Lennon Sisters with their musically talented siblings and cousins performing a variety of 1960s folk songs, including \"Where Have All the Flowers Gone\" and \"If I Had My Way (The Sermon of Samson)\", as well as the title track. They recorded briefly for Mercury Records after leaving Dot, focusing on more contemporary pop/light-rock fare, such as \"Can\'t Take My Eyes Off of You\" and \"Never My Love\". Their three most popular albums were Lawrence Welk Presents The Lennon Sisters: Best-Loved Catholic Hymns (Dot); Christmas with The Lennon Sisters (Dot); and Noel, their Christmas album for Mercury Records. Their full-bodied, homestyle choral blend was perfect for such yuletide favorites as \"Adeste Fideles\", \"Christmas Island\", \"Faith of Our Fathers\", \"The Star Carol\", and \"Home for the Holidays\".[5]
Several souvenir items, such as coloring books, paper dolls, and story books featuring the Lennon sisters, were produced.[6]
In summer 1969, the sisters were filming episodes for their upcoming variety series, Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters Hour. They had filmed five episodes and then went on a two-week hiatus. On August 12, 1969, their father, William Lennon, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Venice Golf Course in Marina Del Rey, where he worked as a private instructor. Mr. Lennon was 53 years old and had just recently retired from managing his daughters\' careers; he had been on set at every one of their television appearances since 1955.
The murderer, a stalker named Chet Young, believed himself married to Peggy and was convinced that William Lennon stood in the way of his \"marriage\" to Peggy and had to be eliminated. Two months later, Young used the same weapon on himself to commit suicide. The sisters discovered an unopened letter containing a cut-out of their father, a picture of a gun pointed at his head, and the words \"High Noon\" (the time of the murder).[7] The sisters were devastated by their father\'s death, and in the wake of the murder, their new show lasted only one and a half seasons.
In the 1970s, the sisters performed regularly on The Andy Williams Show, and toured with Williams across the country, with engagements including Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. They had a successful floor show with Williams in Las Vegas for about ten years. They also appeared on several game shows, including Family Feud, Tattletales, and The Hollywood Squares. In the spring of 1982, Larry Welk asked the Lennon Sisters if they would like to perform at the Welk Theater from May until New Year\'s Eve for the Branson entertainment season. The four sisters moved their families from the Los Angeles area to Branson, Missouri. After the death of Lawrence Welk on May 17, 1992, the Lennon Sisters quartet headlined at the Welk Champagne Theater in Branson from 1994 to 2012. When Peggy retired from singing in 1999, younger sister Mimi took her place, and when Dianne left for a second time in 2001, the act was a trio again for the rest of its run in Branson.[8] They continue to tour across the country and appear annually with their Christmas show at The Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, marking 20 consecutive years of performing in Branson.
While continuing to play tour dates, Kathy and Janet Lennon have branched out into the toy market, designing and selling a line of \"Best Pals\" dolls. In addition to the dolls, the sisters have recorded CDs of favorite children\'s songs for the \"Best Pals\" line.
The four original Lennon Sisters wrote an autobiography titled Same Song, Separate Voices, first published in 1985, with a new edition in 1995. A musical documentary based on the book was produced by Polly O. Entertainment and American Public Television in 2011 and aired across the country for several years.[9]
Two of their five brothers, Kipp and Pat Lennon, are members of the band Venice, which also includes their cousins Michael and Mark Lennon.[10]
The Lennon Sisters have frequented The Villages, the world\'s largest retirement community, for shows. They last performed in The Villages on February 15, 2016.[11]
The Lennon Sisters were among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire.[12]
MembersName Birth date Spouse(s)Dianne December 1, 1939 (age 81) Dick Gass, m. October 16, 1960 – present, three childrenPeggy April 8, 1941 (age 80) 1. Dick Cathcart (1924–1993), m. May 24, 1964, six children2. Robert Felt (1926-2013), m. July 2, 1995Kathy August 2, 1943 (age 78) 1. Mahlon Clark (1923–2007), m. June 26, 1967, divorced 19792. Jim Daris, m. April 24, 1982 – presentJanet June 15, 1946 (age 75) 1. Lee Bernhardi, m. May 7, 1966, divorced, three children2. John Bahler, m. September 25, 1976 – present, two childrenMimi October 16, 1955 (age 65) Danny Macias, m. November 5, 1977–present, two childrenAwardsIn 1987 The Lennon Sisters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street.[13]
In 2001 The Lennon Sisters were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.[14]
Discography[icon] This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2014)AlbumsTitle Details ChartsUSLet\'s Get Acquainted Label: Brunswick – BL 54031Format: Vinyl, LP, MonoReleased: 1957Lawrence Welk Featuring The Lennon Sisters Label: CoralFormat(s): LP (CRL 57262)[15]Released: 1958Christmas With The Lennon Sisters Label: Dot Records - DLP-25343Format: Vinyl, LP, StereoReleased: 1960#1 Hits Of The 1960s Label: Dot Records – DLP 25589Format: Vinyl, LP, StereoReleased: 1964Melody Of Love Label: Hamilton Records - HLP 12119Format: Vinyl, LPReleased: 1964Too Marvelous For Words Label: Vocalion 2 - VL 73864Format: Vinyl, LP, CompilationReleased: 1969SinglesYear Title ChartsUS USCashbox[16]1956 \"Tonight You Belong to Me\"[17] 15 —1957 \"Shake Me I Rattle (Squeeze Me I Cry)\"[18] — —Isabelle Emily “Sis” Denning Lennon Miller — originally from Venice and the mother of The Lennon Sisters — died of congestive heart failure Sunday, May 1st, in Branson, Missouri at the age of 85.
A private tribute service will be held Sunday, June 26th, in Los Angeles. The tribute site needs to remain private because of the family’s history with stalkers, said Kathy Lennon, a spokeswoman for The Lennon Sisters.
“Sis” Lennon was born in Los Angeles July 25th, 1919, to Danforth and Ysabel Alvarez Denning and was a fourth-generation Californian from a Spanish land grant family.
After some years of traveling throughout California during the Great Depression, the family settled in Venice, where she attended Venice High School.
After graduating in 1938, she married classmate William “Billy” Herbert Lennon in 1939.
The couple first lived in a house on the Venice Canals before they purchased another home in Venice.
She and Billy Lennon, a milkman, were the parents of 12 children, including The Lennon Sisters, who appeared weekly on television with Lawrence Welk.
The Lennon Sisters were household names and called “America’s Sweethearts of Song.”
The family also includes the couple’s sons, who perform as the swing quartet The Lennon Brothers, two other sons and nephews who perform as the rock band Venice and grandsons and a son-in-law who perform as the rock band The Thundering Red Rockets.
The couple was married for 30 years, until Billy Lennon was killed in August 1969 by a fan who was stalking Lennon Sister Peggy Lennon.
Billy Lennon would often sing at St. Mark Catholic Church in Venice and St. Clements Catholic Church and St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica.
His brother, Jimmy Lennon, was a popular announcer for boxing and wrestling matches in Los Angeles at Olympic Auditorium.
Kathy Lennon said there are now hundreds of Lennons who live in Venice, Santa Monica, and surrounding communities.
There are 11 surviving children with large families of their own and Billy Lennon had seven brothers and one sister who now also have large families.
“At the 100th birthday of Venice to be celebrated this year, there will be many who remember participating in the lives of the Lennons,” said Kathy Lennon.
Her mother encouraged her children when she opened her home to the neighborhood and everyone was always welcome, Kathy Lennon said.
In 1996, “Sis” Lennon moved to Branson to be with some of her children who had moved there to perform as professional entertainers.
In 1998, at age 79, “Sis” Lennon married her Venice High School sweetheart Joseph “Joe” Braxton Miller.
She is survived by her husband; five sons, six daughters, six stepsons, one stepdaughter, six sons-in-laws four daughters-in-law, 30 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, 11 step-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren.

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