Joe Feeney Tenor Starred on 'Lawrence Welk'

Joe Feeney, 76, an Irish American tenor who was one of the featured performers on Lawrence Welk's television programs, died April 16 at a Carlsbad hospice, said his son Chris, a member of the L.A. Opera company. Although he never smoked, the elder Feeney was diagnosed with emphysema about a year ago.

Joe FeeneyFeeney appeared on “The Lawrence Welk Show" from 1957 until production ended in 1982. His repertoire of popular numbers included traditional songs such as “Danny Boy" and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing."

Feeney was born in Grand Island, Neb., and first started singing as a boy soprano in his church choir. While a student at the University of Nebraska, he entered several singing contests and studied opera. He had the lead in a student production of “La Boheme."

He served in the Army during the Korean War and afterward won a spot on the television program “Talent Patrol." While working at a radio station in Omaha in 1956, the station manager sent recordings of Feeney's voice to Welk, who subsequently offered him a job.

During his career, Feeney sang for five U.S. presidents and performed at Carnegie Hall several times. In 1975, he sang for Pope Paul VI at the canonization of Mother Seton.