Career
His primary instruments were the flute, saxophone and clarinet. Born in Mechanicville, New New York He was a self-taught musician from a young age, learning all the woodwind instruments and even the violin.
He joined the Welk orchestra in October 1945, when they were headquartered in Chicago.
He was with the band when they moved out to Southern California in the early 1950s, and when they made their national television debut in 1955. Orie left the Welk organization in 1970 to lead his own orchestra, influenced by the sounds of Count Basie.
During his twenty five years with the Champagne Music Makers, he played all the woodwind instruments and was also the band photographer.
