Jack Imel, marimba artist and dancer for many years with "The Lawrence Welk Show," and Dolores Park, a singer who has performed with Bob Hope and appeared in "command performances" for two U.S. presidents, are the guest artists who will headline the 1993 Days of '47 Pops Concert, scheduled for Tuesday, July 13, in the Salt Palace Arena.
Imel joined Welk's famous show in 1957 following a single guest appearance. An invitation from Welk prompted him to switch from the uniform of the Navy into the "uniform" of Welk's Champagne Music Makers orchestra.Before that time, Imel had attended music school in Indianapolis, where he was spotted by bandleader Horace Heidt. He toured with Heidt for 18 months, then joined the Navy (1952), where he was assigned to the Admiral's Band of the Pacific Fleet. Placing first in an all-Navy talent contest in New York City in 1955, he gained an appearance on Ed Sullivan's all-Navy TV show.
During his years with Welk, Imel appeared at state fairs, conventions, hotels and nightclubs. In 1965, he was promoted to assistant producer of Welk's popular show.
For his live performances, Imel mixes marimba numbers with comedy and dancing.
Dolores Park is an Orange County, Calif., native who began her show business career by winning nearly every local talent contest around. Her big break came in 1982 when Bob Hope saw her during a performance at the Palm Springs Convention Center. He immediately signed her up to appear on one of his NBC television specials.
Since then, she's been featured as the opening act for such stars as Hope, Phyllis Diller, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Floyd Cramer, Andy Williams and Norm Crosby and has starred in shows aboard the ships of five major cruise lines.
Park sang for President Jimmy Carter during the christening of the Sovereign of the Seas cruise ship, and for President Ronald Reagan when he was being honored by the Air Force in Washington, D.C.
In addition to being a talented singer, Park is also a composer, producer and arranger.
Other performers for the Days of '47 concert - believed to be the last major concert in the Acord Arena before it is razed this fall for expansion of the Salt Palace convention center facilities - will include singers Cliff Cole and Billie Loukas, pianist Bob Davis and Utah Jazz President Frank Layden, who will read a nostalgic tribute to the Salt Palace by Utah author Gerald McDonough.
Admission to the concert is free of charge, but tickets (available at all ZCMI customer service counters, Daynes Music, the Marriott Hotel and other locations) are required for preferred seating.