Was featured a lot on the Lawrence Welk Show and other variety shows when they were popular on TV. He and Al Hirt made New Orleans music mainstream.
Real name was Pierre La Fontaine. His music was more complex than his smooth style indicates.
He was in the Lawrence Welk Orchestra for at least four or five years until Lawrence fired him for “jazzing it up too much”.
That was the story around that time but I believe Lawrence denied it later.
Nevertheless Lawrence and Pete remained close friends and Pete made a few guest appearances if I remember correctly. I believe Pete was replaced with Mahlon Clark who would later marry Kathy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters.