Yankton does not spring to mind if asked where world-renowned musicians have gotten their start. Yet over this past century musicians such as Lawrence Welk have made a name for themselves after gaining recognition in Yankton. Welk is just one of many artists who have visited Yankton in their rise to stardom.

Local radio station WNAX was the starting point for many burgeoning musicians, including Welk. WNAX began operations in 1922, and 21 years later had the tallest transmitter tower in the world at 927 feet. At that time WNAX covered the largest area -- five states -- and listeners in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska were the first step toward national recognition for North Dakota native Lawrence Welk and his band. The Lawrence Welk Orchestra and later Welk and the Champagne Music Makers went on to perform for years on national television in Los Angeles.

While Welk became the most well-known of WNAX's musicians, WNAX's Neighbor Lady Wynn Speece said that many other musicians became locally famous after performing on WNAX.

"WNAX had a lot of musicians early on. There were 52 musicians on staff, and they were all top flight," Speece said.

The Bohemian Band, which played big band music, was a regular on the radio station. Other notables included violinist Lynn Edwards and trumpeter Keith Eide. South Dakota Fiddlers Contest co-founder Wilbur Foss also frequented the airwaves.

While many other musicians gained prominence performing on WNAX, a number of Yankton organizations also worked to promote the musical culture of Yankton. Before 1947, Mount Marty College and Yankton College promoted any musicians or musical events in Yankton. Among these were Gregorian Chant concerts and an appearance by Felix Vinatieri, General Custer's bandmaster and composer of a number of pieces of band music and church anthems, Yankton County native Marilyn Nyberg said.

Nyberg, who was one of the first students of Yankton College's sacred music program, said that the colleges had a huge influence on the cultural life of Yankton.

"Yankton College was a big influence as a conservatory of music," Nyberg said. "Laiten and Lucy Weed influenced the community, and now the Weed Foundation is used to promote musical events."

Nyberg also credits Yankton's rich musical culture to Evelyn Hohf, founder of the sacred music program at Yankton College, and Lewis Hamvas.

The Yankton Community Concert Association was largely responsible for bringing musicians to Yankton after 1947, Nyberg said. Its first concert in 1947 featured vocalists George London and Mario Lanza, members of the renowned Bel Canto Trio. London became one of the world's most acclaimed singers and later became artistic director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, director of the National Opera Institute and head of the Washington Opera.

The Concert Association also brought jazz great Dave Brubeck to Yankton. Brubeck's band, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, was best known for works such as Blue Rondo a la Turk and Take Five.

While most of the artists that performed at Concert Association concerts were instrumentalists or vocalists, Native American dancer Maria Tallchief also performed in Yankton. Born on an Indian Reservation in Oklahoma, Tallchief later became a member of the New York City Ballet and was in high demand.

While only highlights of Yankton's musical past have been mentioned, Nyberg said these renowned performers are evidence of the community's appreciation for music.

"They are generally involved in the musical life of the community," Nyberg said. "People in Yankton appreciate what's good in a number of areas and they've had leadership to make them discerning in musical taste."