About the Aldridge Sisters
Born in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Sheila and
Sherry, The Aldridge Sisters, were influenced at an early age, receiving the
tremendous gift of music which came from a great family heritage. Their Father,
Talton Aldridge, began his carrer in music with his brother Paul, and father,
Lewis.The two young brothers, then barely big enough to hold an insturment,
were invited to perform at Carnigie Hall for President Roosevelt. As the years
passed, Talton ventured out on a solo career. Soon after, forming a group called
the Blue Ridge Entertainers, he was recording on the Bluebird label, which later
became RCA Records.
Quite naturally, their father brought music home to his daughters, Sheila and
Sherry. Frequent Sunday afternoon “jam sessions” were a part of life in the
Aldridge home, consisting of two older sisters, Sandra and Sue, their beautiful
mother, Jacqueline, and more love than a dwelling could hold. Sheila and Sherry
took part in these impromtu home concerts as soon as they could warble a tune
or wrap tiny arms around their father’s guitar. Singing in church, at holiday
peagents, in high school plays, and winning leading roles in Community theatre
earned both girls many musical and theatrical accolades.
During high school, the girls went solo temporarily, only to merge again in
Knoxville, Tennessee and “The Aldridge Sisters” were formed. Still in their teens,
they began singing in clubs in the area, devoting all their time and energy in
developing their careers. Little did they know at the time, they were about to
embark on a musical journey so profoundly blessed, it would later seem almost
surreal. “We heard that Lawrence Welk believed in giving young talent a chance.
Our parents and grandparents watched the show religiously when we were
children, so it felt like the right place to start.”
Their mother Jackie read about the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show performing in nearby Nashville, and their grandmother Goins purchased tickets for the girls
in hopes of helping them realize their dream. They arrived at the concert and
according to Welk’s book “This I Believe”, he stepped off the stage to greet
friends in the front row when he felt a small tug on the back of his coat. He turned
to find the Aldridges’ identically dressed in white,
“Wow!, how cute can you be-ah!” he said. The girls talked excitedly about their
ambition to appear on his show. Mr. Welk invited them backstage to sing for him.
Despite their obvious talent, there were no openings on the show at the time. A
loyal and fair man, Mr. Welk never “fired” anyone to “hire” someone else, but he
told them if they were ever in Santa Monica, CA. to drop by...
They did drop by...one week later! They sang for him again, but still no room for
them on the show. They returned home, saved enough money for more plane
tickets to California, and tried AGAIN... Still no luck, but they tried a third time. It
was a charm. “Those two girls had a dream, but also enough courage and
determination to realize it”’ Welk wrote. And on this third attempt, one of his
regular performers had just left the show, and as fate would have it, the
Aldridges’ were there to fill the spot! Lawrence was thrilled, the girls were
ecstatic, and they taped their first show the very next week. Welk wrote, “The
little Aldridge sisters chose the song ‘All I Have To Do is Dream’, and I have
always thought, “how appropriate...that kind of faith can move mountains!”
Appearing regularly on the longest running musical variety show in television
history, opened the doors to numerous oportunities. The Aldridge Sisters have
appeared on virtually every television show from Barbara Walters’ “20/20” to
the down
