Biography
Tanya Welk is no stranger to show business. She began at the age of four on stage singing at her Uncle’s famous Los Angeles Restaurant, “Little Joe’s”.
Her Television debut came at the age of five on the Gene Norman Show and she performed as a semi regular on the Bill Stella Show.
Tanya studied with Jane Withers and Gene Byron. At
the time they were at the top of their field. She did many live performances
as well as commercials and then started doing voice overs at the age
of sixteen. Recording contracts included: MGM Records, United Artist
Records,
A and M Records, Ranwood Records and Janus Records.
By the age of seventeen she was on an exclusive contract with WALT DISNEY, performing voice overs and hosting their Goodwill Tours. Disney developed a band for her, “TANYA and THE MUSTANGS”.
Lawrence Welk discovered her when she was 18. The Lawrence Welk Show was number one in the ratings for ABC when she made her nation wide debut.
She then became a regular for over 12 years. In later
years she married Lawrence Welk’s son, Larry Welk. They have
two children together. She remarried in 1980, and had 3 more children,
raising all five.
WELK YEARS TO PRESENT DAY
During the time of the “WELK” years and PRESENT DAY, she has made hundreds of appearances all over the country. She appeared on many TV specials and commercials, hosted telethons and enjoyed a recurring roll on General Hospital.
In 2000, Tanya decided to hit the road again due to the PBS, Special “Milestones and Memories, 50 years of Television.”
The show was such a triumph; PBS has picked up the Lawrence Welk Show to the year 2009 to be seen all over the country.
Tanya is now doing current “Wrap Arounds” for PBS. Tanya talks about behind the scenes and shares with the audience what she’s up to these days.
Currently working as a producer of Movies, TV, and Music Videos, Fund Raisers and stage performances, has just completed (2008’) a TV Pilot for a Kitchen and Design show where she shows off her culinary and design work..
Tanya still has many fans along with a new generation of viewers that watch the show every week in syndication.
Tanya said, “I have learned one thing from Lawrence that I will keep with me forever; give the people what they want.”
That is just what she intends to do.
