Charlotte Harris

Charlotte Harris (died December 20, 2019) was an American cellist.
Career
Born in Oak Park, Illinois, United States, Harris first took up the cello at age five, she first played as part of a jazz combo throughout her childhood and teenage years. She graduated from Northwestern University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Music degree. It was in early 1961 that she was hired by Lawrence Welk as the orchestra's new cellist where she performed both on his television show, and in their live concerts, whenever they went out on tour and at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday evenings. She was the only female member of Welk's Orchestra. She was featured on the album, "Lawrence Welk's Champagne Strings".
Throughout her tenure on the show, she was featured many times with pianist Bob Ralston for instrumental numbers and has also performed with the Welk singers in many choral numbers.
Harris left the show in 1978 and was replaced by Ernie Ehrhardt. She lived and taught cello in Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County, California.
Personal life and death
Harris came from a family of six and was the second oldest. All of her siblings were also involved in music. She was married to Edwin R. Deveny (1930-2010), a performer and music teacher, for nineteen years.
Harris died on December 20, 2019. She was survived by two daughters, Charlotte and Catherine.

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