Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color by Disneyland Records

Cover (front)

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Story behind Recording of Wonderful World of Color

As a member of The Wellingtons who recorded this record, the Soundtrack for Wonderful World of color, and whose voice is heard in the solo, I can share the story behind the recording. We were a folk group who came to Hollywood the summer of 1961. Our first professional job was at the Disneyland Hotel, but we were called The Lincolns (a folk reference to Abraham Lincoln, symbol of our home state of Illinois). We first recorded a folk album for Kapp Records called The Lincolns: Four Boys from Illinois. Donald O'Connor heard one of the songs on that album (The Minstrel Boy) a beautiful Irish folk tune and signed us to tour with him as his opening act and also to appear in comedy skits with him. Our first performance with him was at the Coconut Grove nightclub at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. In the audience opening night was Walt Disney who loved our group and signed us that night to his record label. This was one of our first recordings for Disney along with an album with Annette Funnicello called Annette on Campus with the Wellingtons. The Wellingtons became a trio and went on to sing the theme song for Gilligan's Island and were regulars on the popular television show, Shindig on ABC-TV. Both Dr. George Patterson and Ed Wade are still alive living in Southern California. Kirby Johnson passed away in 1996.

Thank You!

Thanks for the great info!