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American ragtime pianist.
Born September 3, 1939, in Bakersfield, California, USA.
She adopted the stage name Castle from a type of accordion, another instrument she played with great proficiency. She was often referred to as Queen of the Ragtime Pianists, and was seen as the younger version of star ragtime pianist Del Wood.

Castle has released sixteen albums throughout her career. She is most known for being the central ragtime performer on The Lawrence Welk Show, on which she performed from 1959 to 1969. Originally discovered for Welk by Joe Feeney, Castle became a permanent member of the Welk Family just prior to her twentieth birthday, replacing the departing Big Tiny Little. Welk wished to announce her age on the air, when she informed him that revealing her actual age publicly would jeopardize her budding career as a Las Vegas entertainer. At first nonplussed, he then surprised her on air a week later with a piano-decorated cake and announcing her hiring as one of his champagne music-makers. On the show, she was known for playing the Red Hot Piano.

In the 1990s, Castle performed for fans at the Lawrence Welk-owned Champagne Theater in Branson, Missouri, as well as making a guest appearance for a show with Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra on RFD TV.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ALBUMS


Jo Ann Castle
Ragtime Favorites
1995, Cass, Comp, Hamilton, ,
Ragtime
Jo Ann Castle
The Best Of Jo Ann Castle
1995, Cass, Comp, Ranwood
Jo Ann Castle
The Best Of Jo Ann Castle
1995, CD, Album, Comp, Ranwood
Jo Ann Castle
On Stage
1994, CD, Album, Not On Label (Jo Ann Castle Self-released)
Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren, The Lennon Sisters, Jo Ann Castle, Anacani, Guy Hovis
The Lawrence Welk Show T.V Favorites
1989, Cass, Album, Comp, Hamilton, ,
Ballad/Easy Listening/Honky Tonk
Jo Ann Castle
Something Old, Something New… Honky Tonk/Dixieland Favorites By
1989
Jo Ann Castle
The Best Little Honky Tonk In Town
1983
Jo Ann Castle
22 Great Ragtime Hits, Volume 2
1978
Jo Ann Castle
22 Great Ragtime Hits
1977
Jo Ann Castle
Those Were The Days
1968
Jo Ann Castle
Tiger Rag
1967
Jo Ann Castle
Queen Of The Ragtime Piano
1967, ,
Ragtime
Jo Ann Castle
Lawrence Welk's Ragtime Gal!
1967
Jo Ann Castle
I Will Wait For You
1967
Jo Ann Castle
Hello, Dolly!
1966
Jo Ann Castle
Hawaiian Ragtime
1965, 7", Jukebox, Dot Records
Jo Ann Castle
Hawaiian Ragtime
1965, ,
Ragtime/Pacific
Jo Ann Castle
Jo Ann Castle Plays Great Million Sellers
1964, Vinyl, ,
Ragtime/Honky Tonk
Jo Ann Castle
Ragtime Melodies
1964
Jo Ann Castle
Wolverton Mountain
1963, Vinyl, ,
Country
Jo Ann Castle
Ballad Of Jed Clampett / Maid In France
1963
Jo Ann Castle
The Ballad Of Jed Clampett
1963
Jo Ann Castle
Honky Tonk Twist / I Want A Girl
1962, 7", Dot Records, ,
Twist/Boogie Woogie
Jo Ann Castle
12 Great Hits In Ragtime
1962
Jo Ann Castle
Ragtime Piano Gal
1960, Vinyl, ,
Ragtime
Jo Ann Castle
Accordion In Hi-Fi
1958, 7", EP, Mono, Roulette
Jo Ann Castle
Accordion In Hi-Fi
1957
Jo Ann Castle
Jo Ann Castle & Her Ragtime Piano
2xLP, Album, Comp, Pickwick/33 Records
Jo Ann Castle
Those Country Nights / Take That Easy Ride With Me
7", Sugarfoot
Jo Ann Castle
TV Favorites As Played On The Lawrence Welk Show
Jo Ann Castle
I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover

APPEARANCES +


Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell Live From Branson Highlights
2004, CD, Album, DPTV Media,
Rick Warren
Just Me
1994, LP, Album, Not On Label (Rick Warren (3) Self-released), ,
Big Band
Lawrence Welk
A Musical Anthology #1
1992, CD, Comp, Ranwood, ,
Big Band/Easy Listening
Lawrence Welk
A Musical Anthology #2
1992, CD, Comp, Ranwood, ,
Big Band/Easy Listening
Lawrence Welk
Memories With Lawrence Welk
1984
Lawrence Welk
My Personal Favorites
1978, Vinyl, ,
Ballad
Lawrence Welk And His Champagne Music Makers*
Merry Christmas From Lawrence Welk And His Champagne Music Makers
1970, ,
Polka/Easy Listening/Holiday
Lawrence Welk
The Lawrence Welk Television Show 10th Anniversary
1964
Various
Ten Stereo Albums • Twenty Dot Records Stars
10xLP, Comp + Box, Dot Records, ,
Easy Listening/Folk/Polka/Vocal/Ragtime/Pacific
Various
Fascination
8x Vinyl, Box Set, ,
Theme/Soundtrack/Easy Listening/Beat
Various
Ragtime Fun
Various
Ambience: 63 Nuggets From The Cramps’ Record Vault
2017, 2xCD, Comp, Righteous
Various
The Very Best Of Ragtime
2015, 2xCD, Comp, Not Now Music
Various
EMI Holidays
2008, 2xCD, Comp, Promo, EMI Film & TV Music
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk's Musical Treasures
2007, 2xCD, Comp, Ranwood Records, Inc.
Lawrence Welk
Precious Memories
2005, 2xCD, Comp, Ranwood
Various
Lawrence Welk: Milestones & Memories A Musical Family Reunion
2001, 2xCD, Comp, Ranwood, ,
Easy Listening/Vocal
Lawrence Welk
Moments From Milestones & Memories (A Musical Family Reunion)
2001, CD, Album, Ranwood
Various
Rock And Roll Hits Vol 6
1997, CD, Teen-Life Records
Various
Boogie Woogie Hits!
1996, 2xCD, Comp, RCA Special Products, The Good Music Record Co., ,
Boogie Woogie
Various
Exotic Moods Instrumental Favorites
1996, CD, Comp, Time Life Music, CEMA Special Markets
Various
Legends Of Accordion
1995, CD Allied Pressing,
Various
Re/Search: Incredibly Strange Music, Volume I
1993
Various
All-Star Piano Moods
1993, 4x CD,
Lawrence Welk
A Musical Anthology
1992, 3xCD, Comp, RM + Box, Ranwood, ,
Big Band/Easy Listening/Light Music/Polka/Vocal/Country/Gospel/Dixieland/Pop Rock/Western Swing/Theme/Comedy/Novelty/Tango/Samba
Lawrence Welk
A Musical Anthology
1992, 4xCass + Box, Ranwood, ,
Big Band/Easy Listening/Light Music/Polka/Vocal/Country/Gospel/Dixieland/Pop Rock/Western Swing/Theme/Comedy/Novelty/Tango/Samba
Various
The Lawrence Welk Show: T.V. Favorites
1989, CD,
Various
Rock & Roll Collection Vol. 13
1985, LP, Comp, Blend (5)
Various
Musical Memories With Lawrence Welk
1984, ,
Easy Listening/Swing/Vocal
Various
Golden Memories
1983, 3xCass, Comp, Reader's Digest, Reader's Digest, Reader's Digest
Lawrence Welk
The Lawrence Welk Musical Family Reunion
1983
Various
Piano Impressions: A Treasury Of 60 Mood-Making Favorites
1981, 6x Vinyl, ,
Easy Listening
Various
Let The Good Times In With Honky Tonk Piano
1978
Lawrence Welk
The Lawrence Welk Story
1974, 6xLP + Box, Comp, GRT
Various
Musical Bang-Bang
1971, LP, Comp, Premier (2)
Various
26 Non Stop Sing Along Honky Tonk (Vol. 1)
1971
Various
Hit Parade: Musicassetta 3
1970, Cass, Comp, Selezione Dal Reader's Digest, RCA, ,
Dixieland/Ragtime/Gospel
Various
Ragtime Fun
1968
Various
Freddy Martin And His Orchestra, Jo Ann Castle
1965, LP, Comp, Armed Forces Radio & Television Service Station Library
Lawrence Welk
The Lawrence Welk Television Show 10th Anniversary
1964, Reel, 4tr Stereo, 7" Reel, Dot Records, ,
Big Band/Modern/Easy Listening/Swing
Various
Jo Ann Castle, Sammy Davis Jr., Roy Hamilton, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Tillotson
1964, LP, Comp, Armed Forces Radio & Television Service Station Library
Various
Instrumentals
CDr, Comp, Promo, Sony / ATV Music Publishing
Lawrence Welk
Musical TV Favourites
LP, Comp, Dot Records, ,
Easy Listening/Vocal
Various
Pop Piano Party
LP, Comp, Reader's Digest, Reader's Digest, ,
Easy Listening/Ragtime
Various
The Rockin' - Boppin' Ladies Vol. 3
CD, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Rock & Roll/Swing
Various
The Rockin' - Boppin' Ladies Vol. 4
CD, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Rock & Roll/Swing
Lawrence Welk
God Bless America
2xCD, Comp, Ranwood,
Various
Strumenti Alla Ribalta - Grandi Solisti Della Musica Leggera
6xCD, Comp, Selezione Dal Reader's Digest,
Various
Ranwood Sampler In-Store Play Album
Vinyl,
Various
Wir Tanzen Eine Ganze Nacht
8x Vinyl, Box Set, ,
Schlager/Easy Listening/Swing/Ragtime/Beat
Various
The Rockin-Boppin Ladies Vol. 6
CD, Comp, Unofficial, Not On Label, ,
Rock & Roll/Jump Blues/Rhythm & Blues