Singer. A popular vocalist of the World War II years, she is remembered as an early "Champagne Lady" of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Born Dorothy Jayne Flanagan to a musical family, she was raised largely in Torreon, Mexico where her father was in the silver mining business. After graduating from Brackenridge High School of San Antonio, she embarked on a music career, taking the name 'Jayne Walton'. Heard initially in San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, she went on to radio appearances in Dallas, Oklahoma City, and finally Chicago where in 1940 Lawrence Welk heard one of her broadcasts and invited her to be his new Champagne Lady, Lois Best having married and left the ensemble. For the next five years she toured the country playing venues large and small while often performing for wounded warriors at military hospitals, her signature piece the well-known Spanish song "Maria Elena" which garnered her a Gold Record. Jayne left Welk in 1945, embarking on a solo career that saw her perform with Big Bands in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Following her 1950 marriage to Jack Rosen she used the name Jayne Walton Rosen and in 1952 left show business, though she did make guest appearances on Welk's television show from time to time. Jayne lived in San Antonio, taught dance, worked in local department stores up to her 1990 retirement, remained sharp and active until well into advanced years, and died of the infirmities of age including cardiac and renal disease.
Singer. A popular vocalist of the World War II years, she is remembered as an early "Champagne Lady" of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Born Dorothy Jayne Flanagan to a musical family, she was raised largely in Torreon, Mexico where her father was in the silver mining business. After graduating from Brackenridge High School of San Antonio, she embarked on a music career, taking the name 'Jayne Walton'. Heard initially in San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, she went on to radio appearances in Dallas, Oklahoma City, and finally Chicago where in 1940 Lawrence Welk heard one of her broadcasts and invited her to be his new Champagne Lady, Lois Best having married and left the ensemble. For the next five years she toured the country playing venues large and small while often performing for wounded warriors at military hospitals, her signature piece the well-known Spanish song "Maria Elena" which garnered her a Gold Record. Jayne left Welk in 1945, embarking on a solo career that saw her perform with Big Bands in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Following her 1950 marriage to Jack Rosen she used the name Jayne Walton Rosen and in 1952 left show business, though she did make guest appearances on Welk's television show from time to time. Jayne lived in San Antonio, taught dance, worked in local department stores up to her 1990 retirement, remained sharp and active until well into advanced years, and died of the infirmities of age including cardiac and renal disease.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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