Norma Zimmer has passed.

[plain old dave]

Broke on the news this morning. Norma Zimmer, Lawrence Welk's last (and longest tenured far as I know) Champagne Lady, passed of "natural causes" last night. Following Youtube clips should suffice to demonstrate just what an awesome Voice she had. We have lost a very significant connection to the Golden Era; 7-8pm on Saturday Night is how a LOT of us got our first exposure to Golden Era music, whether watching the Lawrence Welk Show on our own or with Mamaw and Papaw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djeFP5mIzNw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-L_EUE5M4s&feature=related

(Just realized God Bless America was the music for President Reagan's funeral, too. I think I'm going to go be depressed for a while.)