Obit: Henry Cuesta

Subject: Obit: Henry Cuesta
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 09:29 AM

A very obscure famous person -- Henry Cuesta, the Canadian clarinet player with Laawrence Welk's orchestra -- has just died. He played with many big bands, and it was obvious that Lawrence Welk thought highly of him, because he was often featured on his show. Just someone who brought me a lot of pleasure over the years.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Obit: Henry Cuesta
From: Amos
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 10:03 AM

Peter:

Thanks for a name to put on that single voice, heard often but never identified!

A

Subject: RE: Obit: Henry Cuesta
From: Cruiser
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 12:48 PM

A fine man and an excellent clarinetist.

Last Saturday I watched the Lawrence Welk Show that featured a 1980's Christmas special with Mr. Cuesta playing an instrumental with his son (Henry Jr.) and two daughters. The host, Sandy Griffiths, mentioned that Henry Jr. was later killed in a burgulary.

I got introduced to the LW show in the 1950's because my grandmother watched it every Saturday night, the time of family get-to-gathers. I did not admit to watching and actually liking the show then or especially later as a teenager. Heck, even Marty Robbins was featured in black and white during the '50s. However, as a senior 50s something guy, I enjoy watching the reruns and the older current hosts remarking on "the way things were" when they were younger performers on the show. The program is a snapshot in musical time and brings back fond memories of places and people.

The "In Memoriam" list grows and I am feeling a bit older and mortal.