Jo Ann Castle

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.

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 (age 85) Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Genres	Honky-tonk Boogie-woogie Ragtime
Occupation	Pianist
Instruments	Piano Accordion

Castle started her career in Bakersfield, California. When she was 3 years old, she began singing, dancing and performing within her local community.^[3]

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, who was a trumpet player from Boston.

Discography

List of albums, with Australian chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		AUS [4]
The Best Little Honky Tonk in Town	Released: September 1983 Format: LP Label: J&B (JB 149)	30