Jo Ann Castle

Jo Ann Castle
Castle on the left with Lawrence Welk and Cissy King, 1969.
Background information
Birth name	Jo Ann Zering[1]
Born	(1939-09-03) September 3, 1939 Bakersfield, California, United States
Genres	Honky-tonk, Boogie-woogie, Ragtime
Occupation(s)	Pianist
Instruments	Piano, Accordion
Associated acts	The Lawrence Welk Show

Jo Ann Castle (born September 3, 1939) is an American honky-tonk pianist, best remembered for appearing on The Lawrence Welk Show.^[2] She adopted her stage name from the name of an accordion manufacturer, another instrument she played proficiently. She was often referred to as "Queen of the Honky-Tonk Piano" by Lawrence Welk himself.

Originally introduced to Welk by Joe Feeney in 1959, Castle became a permanent member of the Welk Family, replacing the departing Big Tiny Little. Shortly after joining the Show, Castle married cameraman Dean Hall. They divorced in 1966 after having a daughter. Castle married again in 1968 and had a son and a daughter. Castle left the Welk Show in 1969 and divorced in 1971. Her third marriage, in 1978, ended in 1986.

In the 1990s, Castle performed at the Welk-owned Champagne Theater in Branson, Missouri, as well as making a guest appearance for a show with Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra on RFD TV.

On September 3, 2011, Castle married her fourth husband, Lin Biviano, a trumpet player from Boston.

References