Late Singer of 'The Lawrence Welk Show'

Tom Netherton | Biography

Author of Autobiography Book 'In the Morning of My Life'

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : February 12, 2022

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Tom Netherton was an American singer best recognized for his regular appearances in the musical variety show The Lawrence Welk Show from 1973 to 1982.

Who is Tom Netherton?

Tom Netherton was born Thomas Harold Netherton Jr. on 11 January 1947 in Munich, Germany. His mother was Lillian (Christensen) Netherton, and his father was Thomas, a United States Army officer. Growing up, he frequently relocated to different places due to his father's military career. Finally, they settled in Bloomington, Minnesota, following his father's retirement in 1961. 

Netherton then attended high school in Bloomington. During his junior high, he and his friends dared each other to audition for the school's musical production. He sang Frederick Loewe's song 'Almost Like Being in Love' on the stage and was selected as the main lead. He participated in track and field events during his high school years.

To earn a leadership role in the school's international youth exchange organization called American Field Service (AFS) Club, he partook in the AFS intercultural program. He lived in Peru during his summer break. Later, he was elected class president after returning to Bloomington for his senior year.

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After graduating high school in 1965, he attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to study architecture. During his college years, he was hired as one of the entertainers at the Edgewater Inn restaurant's floor show called Edgewater Eight.

In 1966, when American involvement in Vietnam was intensifying, he dropped out of college and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served as a second lieutenant, plans and operations officer for the 193rd Brigade in Panama, Central America, and then first lieutenant during his military career. He also frequently sang for the troops and was broadcast over Voice of America, the Army's non-military radio network. Netherton was discharged from the Army in 1969.

Later in his life, he also released an autobiographical book titled 'In the Morning of My Life' in 1979. He died on 7 January 2018 at age 71. 

'The Lawrence Welk Show'

After his military discharge, he eventually decided to become a Christian singer. So he started performing in gospel singing tours. Later, he spent the summer of 1973 as one of the cast members of a musical revue called Medora Musical. Impressed by his musical and entertainment abilities, Sheila Schafer introduced him to Lawrence Welk at a golf course in Bismarck.

Welk invited him to perform in a live audition at the St. Paul Civic Center. Netherton subsequently became a regular member of Welk's musical family show, The Lawrence Welk Show. Netherton appeared on the show for nearly a decade. 

Netherton debuted on The Lawrence Welk Show on its 19th season in a Christmas special episode on 22 December 1973. He appeared regularly on the show until the show ended in 1982. He was one of the most popular singers on the show. The show's host, Welk, considered Netherton, who proclaimed himself as 'born again Christian,' fulfilled the image Welk wanted on his family-friendly show. 

In addition to his television appearances, he released 13 albums and toured extensively as a Christian recording artist.

Cause of Death

Netherton passed away of pneumonia on 7 January 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to a Facebook post shared by his brother-in-law Bruce Koblish, Netherton suffered from the flu, which turned into pneumonia. Koblish further wrote that Netherton went to the doctor, but he had become too weak to the point that he could not recover.

His age at death was 71 years old. 

Was Tom Netherton Gay?

Netherton was never married. He was speculated of being gay, but whether he was gay or not remained unknown.