11 Facts About Myron Floren

Myron Floren was an American musician best known as the accordionist on The Lawrence Welk Show between 1950 and 1980.

Myron Floren was highly regarded by Lawrence Welk, who was an accomplished accordion player in his own right.

Myron Floren took up playing the accordion at the age of six when his father bought him a $10 mail-order squeezebox.

Myron Floren often spent several hours a day using his own methods of study.

Myron Floren tried to enlist in the Army when the United States entered World War II, but was turned down for active duty because of heart damage caused by the rheumatic fever he had suffered as a child.

In 1950, Myron Floren, who was performing with a music group known as "The Buckeye Four", went to a dance at the Casa Loma Ballroom in St Louis, Missouri at which the Lawrence Welk Orchestra was then playing.

The number turned out to be "Lady of Spain", and from the overwhelming positive response from the audience, Lawrence hired Myron Floren to be a permanent member of his band.

Myron Floren took over some of the maestro's announcing duties.

Myron Floren is shown playing in the music video 'Can't Cry Anymore' by the band Kansas.

Myron Floren died of cancer in California on July 23,2005, at age 85.

Myron Floren was among the first class of inductees into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame in 1984 and inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame in 1990.