Sandi Griffiths

Griffiths and Sally Flynn in 1972

Sandi Griffiths (born Sandi Jensen on August 1, 1946) is an American singer. She is best known as a performer on American television's The Lawrence Welk Show.

Early years

A native of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California; she started singing as a child and by the age of five, was a regular on TV by appearing on the Art Linkletter program, House Party. She continued to perfect her music skills all throughout school, and in college, at Brigham Young University where she teamed with and became friends with Sally Flynn.^[1]

Sandi and Sally

At BYU, the duo sang at the school's musical revue known as the Program Bureau, later at Disneyland and then went over to Vietnam to entertain the troops as part of a USO tour. After three weeks, she and Sally returned to the states to concentrate on their professional careers, in which their break came when they were asked to open for Jack Jones at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe.

It was here that Lawrence Welk and his music makers in the summer of 1967 played their annual three-week engagement at Harrah's.

Gail, Sandi and Mary Lou

When Sally Flynn left to pursue a solo career in 1972, Sandi wasn't sure about her future on the show since the program already had plenty of soloists. However, she found even greater popularity by being part of a new musical act, a girl group featuring fellow Welk stars Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger that sang numbers made famous by The Andrews Sisters, McGuire Sisters and other famous acts.

The trio, with its blend of good looks and pretty voices, also became very popular with fans of the show. In addition, she also sang a few solos, toured with the Musical Family in concerts and branched outside the organization by providing background vocals for numerous artists, and appeared in several television commercials.

Personal life

A member of the LDS Church, Sandi and her husband Brent are the parents of seven children, a foster daughter, and grandparents of sixteen children.^[2]

References