Description Highlites of Brigadoon 1964 Bloomington Minnesota High School Featuring Tom Netherton Made famous by The Lawrence Welk Show Music Masters, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, 64063 This rare high school drama record is very interesting for featuring a young Tom Netherton, who went on to be a major star on the Lawrence Welk Show and has had a successful music career in his own right. Netherton was cast in the starring role of Tommy Albright in his school's 1964 production of Brigadoon. I found a 2007 interview with Netherton in the Goshen, Indiana newspaper which mentions the high school play as a formative moment in his career: "It was there, during an audition for the high school musical “Brigadoon,” that Tom found he was male lead vocal material." Condition of jacket: Excellent, very little wear. Condition of record: Excellent, very glossy, appears unplayed. Side One: '64 Highlites of Brigadoon Side Two: '64 Highlites of Brigadoon From the back of the jacket: The musical "Brigadoon" and many of the senior class members of this cast saw the light of day about the same time. After collaborating on two war-time reviews, "What's Up?" and "The Day Before Spring", lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe tasted their first real success in 1947 with their production of "Brigadoon". A war-weary public was ready for just such a fantasy. Lerner and Loewe moved on to a series of successes: "Paint Your Wagon", "My Fair Lady", "Gigi", and most recently "Camelot". From "Brigadoon" Lerner and Loewe prove themselves to be more than craftsmen; they are artists weaving the elements of legend, music, dance and stagecraft into a well-balanced work in which virtue appears to be rewarded (in spite of a two hundred year time barrier) while those who relish their human frailties find life incomplete. The story is of two Americans, Tom Albright and Jeff Douglass, who are lost while hunting in a misty highlands of Scotland. They find themselves in a small village which for some reason is not on their map. Tom and Jeff are caught up with the activitiesof the villagemarket day and later attend a wedding. The sense of urgency and disaster that occurs when a pathetic figure, Harry Beaton, attempts in despair to leave Brigadoon during the wedding further accents the air of mystery for Tom and Jeff. Mr. Lundie, the local school master, explains the well planned "miracle" of this enchanted village which reappears one day each hundred years. Tom has fallen in love with Fiona MacLaren, and upon his return to New York, he finds himself incompatible with his fiancee and her plans of marriage. He and Jeff return to Scotland to find that love is strong enough to reawaken the sleeping village. Musicals have been a tradition at Bloomington High School for a number of years. Mr. Richard Byrne, musical director, and Mr. Robert Boehme, drama director, have cooperated in the production of "The Mikado", "Show Boat", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Wizard of Oz", "South Pacific" and "Brigadoon". "Brigadoon" was enhanced by the help of Mr. Robin Jacob, assistant drama coach, and Miss Delia Martinez, choreographer. Without doubt, one of the stars of this production was pianist Judy Pederson, '66. Leads were played as follows: Tommy Albright: Tom Netherton Fiona MacLaren: Joan Kurtz Jeff Douglass: Gary Rieckhoff Meg Brockie: Renee Dean Charlie Dalrymple: Charles Sanford Mr. Lundie: Richard Daly This performance by arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library Inc., New York. RECORDED BY MUSIC MASTERS INC. • Engineer-John Haeny • Graphics-Ken Nelson From the Goshen News, Goshen, Indiana: Former 'Lawrence Welk' star calls Goshen home By STEPHANIE DEBOLT Nov 24, 2007 Standing out in a crowd is something 6-foot 5-inch Tom Netherton is quite accustomed to. Not only does his stature make people take notice, but his familiar face and disarming smile often stop people in their tracks. The voice, however, is a definite giveaway as soon as he shares his friendly hello. Netherton is used to the affection, genuinely shared by fans who at once recognize him for his successful eight-year run with television’s The Lawrence Welk Show, and his continued success as a recording artist and entertainer. Lately though, Netherton has enjoyed the fellowship and fond welcome of the Goshen community since moving here. The entertainer has been in the Goshen area for a few weeks and says his long-term plans just might keep him here. “Goshen offers a quality of life that big cities just don’t have. I’ve never had a sense of community and this reminds me of some of the places I’ve been that I loved best,” Netherton said. And he should know. The child of an Army family, Tom moved from country to country and state to state before his father retired in 1961. He spent the last three years of his high school career in Bloomington, Minn. It was there, during an audition for the high school musical “Brigadoon,” that Tom found he was male lead vocal material. He continued his love of travel in high school, spending time in Peru as a foreign exchange student before attending the University of Minnesota, where he was the soloist and group singer for “The Edgewater 8.” He took his love for music into the Army when he enlisted, following in his father’s footsteps. He served in Panama as a second lieutenant in the infantry and sang with the Army and Air Force bands. After the service, Tom said he saw success as a member of “The Lamplighters,” but he felt the Chicago nightclub style wasn’t his calling. “I wanted to sing Christian music, but people in the industry didn’t know me. I had my own van and sound system and did my own booking,” he said. A year later, Tom found himself at his “wit’s end,” and took a job singing at the Medora outdoor amphitheater in North Dakota. “The owners heard me sing in chapel and asked if I’d mind if they’d talk to Lawrence Welk about me,” Netherton said. “And I was stunned.” Netherton was aware of the former big band leader’s variety show, prior to his 1973 introduction on the annual Christmas program, but said he hadn’t seen too many episodes. “My grandparents watched it, that and Barn Dance,” he laughed. So did millions of other fans. Immediately Tom was embraced as a member of the Welk family, not only by the artists he shared the stage with, but generations of fans from the United States and around the world. “I was blessed that the audience took to me as an individual, and it was nice being part of something so historic,” Tom said. The LA experience was something that took the rural Minnesota boy a bit to get used to. “Cher’s studio was right next to us, and Julie Andrew’s studio was next to that. We taped the hour show in an hour and I learned quickly to memorize songs and choreography,” Tom said. The camera practice and dress rehearsals worked up to their Tuesday night taping for the Saturday night program. After that, Tom said he would fly across country making appearances on behalf of the show. “I might be in New York on Friday, Seattle, Wash., Saturday and Miami on Sunday,” Tom said. That hectic pace set the tone for the next 30 years of his life. After the Lawrence Welk Show ended, Tom continued on, recording secular and Christian albums, headlining concerts, venues and entertaining fans to this very day. Beginning Monday at noon, Tom will host the first of his six-concert Christmas series at Greencroft Senior Center in Goshen. With four matinee and two evening performances, Tom is looking forward to sharing his love for music and talents with the community. “I can’t wait to get people in the holiday mood. People around here really inspire me,” Tom said. He will share some of his all-time favorites as well as some new songs that will be included in his upcoming album. He appreciates his ability to live and work in Goshen alongside those who recognize his celebrity, but choose to get to know the man behind the microphone. “Everyone is a human being and being here, the humility impresses me. I’ve learned that people are people and you don’t have to wear your position or wealth on your sleeve,” Tom said. Being an “average guy” is one of life’s joys for Tom who said he’s been fortunate to have seen and been everywhere he’s ever wanted to go. Where most people his age are looking forward to travel and recreation, he said he now looks forward to taking a more hands-on role in a place he can call home. “I’ve seen the work done here by community groups and volunteers. Places like Bashor Home, the Boys and Girls Club and the 4-H organization are incredible,” Tom said. He added that he’d love to give back and share more than just his musical talents with organizations he supports. As far as hanging up his tuxedo coat, Tom said he’s far from ready to call it a career. After his Greencroft appearances Tom will travel to Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Fla. for two shows before headlining in Richmond, Va., for two shows. He will then make a stop in North Dakota where he will again perform two shows before returning to Goshen for the holidays. He has theater owners and venue schedulers calling all days of the week to set up his next gig. “The Bible never talks about retirement... I just keep using what the Lord gave to me and see what he has next for my life,” Netherton said.