Biography
Myron Floren earned widespread recognition as a frequent performer and assistant conductor on The Lawrence Welk Show, yet he also ranked among the most accomplished accordionists in polka music. Born to Norwegian parents on November 5, 1919, in Roslyn, South Dakota, he grew up on a farm situated between that town and nearby Webster; although certain records cite Webster as his birthplace, Roslyn regards him as a native son. At age seven he encountered the accordion for the first time during a neighbor’s house party, after which he persuaded his father to purchase an instrument for him. Several piano lessons taught him to read music, but as an accordionist he remained almost entirely self-taught.
His professional debut occurred at eight when he appeared at the Day County Fair. Later he attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, supplementing his income by teaching accordion; one of his pupils, Berdyne, eventually became his wife. In 1939 he secured his own program on local station KSOO, where he played primarily polkas and Scandinavian-style waltzes. During World War II he attempted to enlist in the Air Force but was rejected owing to lingering effects from a near-fatal case of rheumatic fever contracted in his early teens; instead he performed with the USO for troops stationed near the European front. In 1946 he and his wife relocated to St. Louis, where he appeared regularly on local radio with the country ensemble known as the Buckeye Four and made his first television appearance in 1948.
Two years afterward, Floren and his wife attended a Lawrence Welk concert; Welk had already learned of Floren and invited him onstage for a number. Floren delivered a rendition of “Lady of Spain” that elicited an enthusiastic ovation, prompting Welk to offer him a position in the band. Floren toured with the group for the following year until Welk established a regular local television engagement in Southern California. The Lawrence Welk Show reached a national audience via ABC in 1955, and Floren quickly assumed a central role second only to the host. Both men played accordion and favored polka material, so Floren performed a polka selection nearly every week; in addition he served as the band’s manager and assistant conductor, leading the ensemble whenever Welk took up his own instrument. After ABC discontinued the series in 1971, Welk arranged a syndication agreement that broadcast the program on more than two hundred stations until 1982, and Floren remained throughout its entire run.
During the same period Floren issued numerous polka and waltz albums on the Ranwood Records label, operated by the Welk Music Group, among them the well-received collaboration with Welk titled World’s Greatest Polkas. Once the television program ended, Floren increased his touring schedule, appearing with big bands nationwide and at numerous festivals and ethnic gatherings; he also performed often alongside the Jimmy Sturr Band. In 1998 he experienced a minor stroke; although he regained full health, medical treatment disclosed colon cancer, which required surgery. He resumed road work for a time, yet additional health concerns gradually curtailed his demanding performance calendar.
His professional debut occurred at eight when he appeared at the Day County Fair. Later he attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, supplementing his income by teaching accordion; one of his pupils, Berdyne, eventually became his wife. In 1939 he secured his own program on local station KSOO, where he played primarily polkas and Scandinavian-style waltzes. During World War II he attempted to enlist in the Air Force but was rejected owing to lingering effects from a near-fatal case of rheumatic fever contracted in his early teens; instead he performed with the USO for troops stationed near the European front. In 1946 he and his wife relocated to St. Louis, where he appeared regularly on local radio with the country ensemble known as the Buckeye Four and made his first television appearance in 1948.
Two years afterward, Floren and his wife attended a Lawrence Welk concert; Welk had already learned of Floren and invited him onstage for a number. Floren delivered a rendition of “Lady of Spain” that elicited an enthusiastic ovation, prompting Welk to offer him a position in the band. Floren toured with the group for the following year until Welk established a regular local television engagement in Southern California. The Lawrence Welk Show reached a national audience via ABC in 1955, and Floren quickly assumed a central role second only to the host. Both men played accordion and favored polka material, so Floren performed a polka selection nearly every week; in addition he served as the band’s manager and assistant conductor, leading the ensemble whenever Welk took up his own instrument. After ABC discontinued the series in 1971, Welk arranged a syndication agreement that broadcast the program on more than two hundred stations until 1982, and Floren remained throughout its entire run.
During the same period Floren issued numerous polka and waltz albums on the Ranwood Records label, operated by the Welk Music Group, among them the well-received collaboration with Welk titled World’s Greatest Polkas. Once the television program ended, Floren increased his touring schedule, appearing with big bands nationwide and at numerous festivals and ethnic gatherings; he also performed often alongside the Jimmy Sturr Band. In 1998 he experienced a minor stroke; although he regained full health, medical treatment disclosed colon cancer, which required surgery. He resumed road work for a time, yet additional health concerns gradually curtailed his demanding performance calendar.
Albums