Entertainer. She is remembered as a "Champagne Lady" from Lawrence Welk's long-running television show. Born Alice Wyche, she was raised in east Texas by a musical family; first singing in public at six, she had her own radio show on KOAL, Shreveport, Louisiana, at 10, and was soon performing at local theaters, military bases and hospitals. A member of the famed Kilgore Rangerettes while in college, she was first runner-up at the 1945 Miss Texas Pageant. Alice recorded the album "It's Alice" for Coral Records and became a regular at Dallas' Interstate Theater and later on Don McNeill's "Breakfast Club" which was broadcast from Chicago. In 1953 she won an audition to become Lawrence Welk's Champagne Lady; originally called 'Alice from Dallas' she and her trademark colorful petticoats proved popular, especially after ABC began national broadcasts of the show in 1955. Alice was fired in 1959, either for showing too much leg on camera, or for asking Welk for a raise, or for both reasons. Faced with much fan protest Welk tried to hire her back, but to no avail. Alice settled in Dallas, ran a dress shop for a time, and died following a long battle with scleroderma. She can be heard on several Lawrence Welk albums from the 1950s.
Entertainer. She is remembered as a "Champagne Lady" from Lawrence Welk's long-running television show. Born Alice Wyche, she was raised in east Texas by a musical family; first singing in public at six, she had her own radio show on KOAL, Shreveport, Louisiana, at 10, and was soon performing at local theaters, military bases and hospitals. A member of the famed Kilgore Rangerettes while in college, she was first runner-up at the 1945 Miss Texas Pageant. Alice recorded the album "It's Alice" for Coral Records and became a regular at Dallas' Interstate Theater and later on Don McNeill's "Breakfast Club" which was broadcast from Chicago. In 1953 she won an audition to become Lawrence Welk's Champagne Lady; originally called 'Alice from Dallas' she and her trademark colorful petticoats proved popular, especially after ABC began national broadcasts of the show in 1955. Alice was fired in 1959, either for showing too much leg on camera, or for asking Welk for a raise, or for both reasons. Faced with much fan protest Welk tried to hire her back, but to no avail. Alice settled in Dallas, ran a dress shop for a time, and died following a long battle with scleroderma. She can be heard on several Lawrence Welk albums from the 1950s.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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