Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.” —Marshall Cohen, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association
WOELK, Ralph "Whitey"
WOELK, Ralph "Whitey." (Dubuque, IA-Dubuque, IA, Dec. 23, 1981). Jazz great. Woelk has been called the greatest bass player to be heard in Dubuque. For five years he traveled with the Frenchy Bouton trio throughout the Midwest before the group broke up. He later played with the Gus FUHRMAN band.
In the 1930s. Woelk joined Mark Gavin on clarinet, Joe Chevalier on guitar, Russ Evans on drums and Gus Fuhrman on accordion as Mark Gavin's "Mississippi Mountaineers." They played on WKBB Radio from 6:00 to 6:15 every evening on Dubuque's first live, musical show to have a sponsor, DUBUQUE STAR BREWING COMPANY.