resting_place death_place death_date children birth_place birth_date spouse article_title name occupation alma_mater
woodlawn memorial cemetery in santa monica , california sherman oaks , california , usa 17 december 2003 three children , including : mcallen , hidalgo county texas , usa 23 december 1931 janette cuesta henry cuesta
 henry falcon cuesta , sr. clarinetist del mar college
henry cuesta

henry falcon cuesta , sr. -lrb- december 23 , 1931 -- december 17 , 2003 -rrb- , was an american-born musician who was a cast member of `` the lawrence welk show '' .
his primary instrument was the clarinet .
at an early age , cuesta began studying classical violin , then switched to woodwinds .
he proved himself gifted and was selected to play with the corpus christi symphony orchestra in texas while still in high school .
before being drafted into the united states army in 1952 , he graduated from del mar college where he majored in music .
in the army special services , he was involved in entertaining troops in europe and england , which included a `` tribute to gershwin '' concert with the stuttgart symphony orchestra .
after his army duty , cuesta toured the united states and canada and developed his own highly personal style .
while living in toronto , cuesta and his group became popular for visiting musicians , including benny goodman on one occasion .
he later toured in the working band of the legendary trombonist , jack teagarden .
bobby hackett advised him to get in touch with lawrence welk , and after listening to his recordings , welk hired him immediately .
cuesta made countless personal appearances performing and conducting in jazz festivals , state and county fairs , conventions , supper clubs , and symphony pops concerts .
he appeared as a soloist with jack teagarden , bob crosby , mel tormé , in a bobby vinton television special , on `` the tonight show starring johnny carson '' , and ten years on `` the lawrence welk show '' .
he also made several appearances to the colorado springs invitational jazz party and performed with numerous international jazz musicians .
cuesta died on december 17 , 2003 at the age of 71 at his home in sherman oaks , california after a bout with cancer .
his only son , henry , jr. , was shot and killed in a robbery at the age of seventeen while he was working in 1987 at a movie theater on wilshire boulevard in santa monica , california .
