Norma Zimmer was a vocalist, best remembered for her 22-year tenure as Lawrence Welk"s "Champagne Lady" on The Lawrence Welk Show, and for her love of traditional.
Background
Born Norma Larsen on a dairy farm in Shoshone County, Idaho, she grew up in Seattle, Washington after her father moved the family west when she was 2 years old. Her father was a violin teacher, and Zimmer had hoped to play that instrument until he told her that her hands were too small.
Education
She was offered a scholarship to Seattle University but chose to continue vocal studies.
Career
Zimmer was singing in a church choir when a guest artist suggested she travel to Los Angeles, California and audition for a musical group. When she turned 18, she did just that, singing with a succession of top vocal groups, including the Norman Luboff Choir and the Ken Darby Singers, among others Zimmer"s radio network debut as a soloist came February 28, 1947, on Sparkle Time.
She later became the soloist on Standard School.
In 1972, Zimmer "traveled about 80,000 miles singing God"s praises at religious concerts." She sang with the Billy Graham Crusade and on the Hour of Power and was a soloist at a White House service during the Nixon Administration. Zimmer painted as a hobby.
She created more than 100 paintings, primarily portraits. In 2011 Zimmer died at her home in Brea, California at the age of 87.
Membership
At that time, she performed weekly on the program as a member of The Singers vocal group.