Bob Ralston
was a pianist on the Lawrence Welk Show from 1963 to
1982. He took over accordion duties in the band
after the death of
Jerry Burke and performed with
fellow pianist
Jo Ann Castle on the show
in the 1960's. Ralston was a child prodigy who was born in
Los Angeles, CA in 1938. Ralston began performing
while attending college at USC, playing for the
Freddie Martin orchestra at the Coconut Grove on the
Sunset Strip. Welk hired Ralston in 1963 as a member
of the band.
In
1984, Ralston was arrested for
child molestation. In
1986, Ralston was ordered to undergo psychiatric
evaluation for molesting a 13 year old boy and was
placed on five years' probation after pleading
no-contest to a charge of performing lewd acts on a
child. He was also ordered to continue in a program
of psychological counseling and to refrain from
associating with children under 18 unless
accompanied by a responsible adult. Today, Ralston
and his wife Fiejte make their home in Granada
Hills, CA.
Bob Ralston
was a pianist on the Lawrence Welk Show from 1963 to
1982. He took over accordion duties in the band
after the death of
Jerry Burke and performed with
fellow pianist
Jo Ann Castle on the show
in the 1960's. Ralston was a child prodigy who was born in
Los Angeles, CA in 1938. Ralston began performing
while attending college at USC, playing for the
Freddie Martin orchestra at the Coconut Grove on the
Sunset Strip. Welk hired Ralston in 1963 as a member
of the band.
In
1984, Ralston was arrested for
child molestation. In
1986, Ralston was ordered to undergo psychiatric
evaluation for molesting a 13 year old boy and was
placed on five years' probation after pleading
no-contest to a charge of performing lewd acts on a
child. He was also ordered to continue in a program
of psychological counseling and to refrain from
associating with children under 18 unless
accompanied by a responsible adult. Today, Ralston
and his wife Fiejte make their home in Granada
Hills, CA.