Bobby Burgess

Bobby Burgess
Burgess with dance partner Cissy King and Lawrence Welk, 1969.
Born	Robert Wilkie Burgess (1941-05-19) May 19, 1941 (age 75) Long Beach, California, U.S.
Nationality	United States
Occupation	Singer, dancer

Robert Wilkie "Bobby" Burgess (born May 19, 1941, Long Beach, California) is an American dancer and singer. He was one of the original Mouseketeers. Later, he was a regular on The Lawrence Welk Show.

Growing up in Southern California, Burgess started performing at age five, which included dancing, singing and playing the accordion. In 1955 he was selected as one of the original Mouseketeers by Walt Disney to appear on his new ABC television series, The Mickey Mouse Club, giving young Burgess his first taste of celebrity. He also guest starred on The Donna Reed Show as a suitor of Mary Stone (Shelley Fabares). Burgess attended Southern California Military Academy in Long Beach for his elementary and junior high school.

When the series ended in 1959, Burgess returned to a normal teenager's life, completing high school. He then began attending Long Beach State University where he became a member of Sigma Pi fraternity. While there, he and his childhood friend (and dancing partner) Barbara Boylan entered a Calcutta dance contest held by Lawrence Welk and his orchestra based on the hit song of the same name. They won the contest and first prize was an appearance on The Lawrence Welk Show, which appeared nationally on ABC.