'80s Hip Hop - 'Sign of the Times' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

So the older I get, the more I realize the world really hasn't changed much over the course of my 50 trips around the sun. Without getting too deep, there has always been pestilence, famine, war and death. Now with smart technology, its in our faces all of the time. Whatever ends of the earth bad things are currently taking place on, we now hear about it. The world has definitely gotten a lot smaller. Which brings me to the topic of this post, the 1985 song called 'Sign of the Times' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. 

As a naive kid growing up in a small Northwestern Colorado town, I was oblivious to just how much evil and injustice was out there in the real world. I got into rap music in 1981, mainly because of the sound and how different it was from anything else on the radio at the time, and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was one of my favorite rap groups. I'm the type of person that really listens to lyrics in songs, and the Furious Five started opening my eyes in ways I never imagined.

The first time I heard them rap about situations involving police brutality, I thought that it was surely a lighthearted jab at authority. However, my mind was opened as a pre-teen and suddenly news articles or short news spots on the exact same situations they were rapping about, started catching my eye. What's more, it seemed to me that no one wanted to talk about these uncomfortable situations, or quickly dismissed them. When they did make it to media, it also seemed like they were buried or minimized.

The other day I was listening to some old school rap for old times sake, and started singing along to 'Sign of the Times'. I suddenly stopped and realized everything they were rapping about, are the same exact issues people still ponder on to this very day.  Without further ado.. read the lyrics for yourself to see the correlation.

A side note:

You'd think you would be able to find everything on the internet in 2021, but I could not find the full and accurate lyrics anywhere online. I listened to the song myself to fill in the gaps, and succeeded with the exception of only one lyric which I've italicized.

 
Sign of the Times - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Now listen up 'cause I got a little something to say
To educate you about the life in the streets today
Now everybody's confused about what to do
and what this world is coming to

Inflation rises every time opportunity knocks

The rent's crazy for the house the size of a box

It's an arm and a leg to keep clothes on your back

The daily run, push and shove, you just can't hack

The payday comes around you go to pick up your check

The money never seems to get you out of debt

Hinkley shot the president, he had nothing to lose

? - when a jury to see a brother eyewitness news - ?

Cops shooting up all of the citizens

To find out the next day the guy's innocent

Young girls being raped and taken by force

All the people getting married just to get divorced

Working for minimum wage, one foot in the grave

And all the rich folks screaming they're underpaid

Daddy's in jail doing twenty to life

He has a family back home, five kids and a wife

Girls run away from home with no way to survive

And have to sell her body to stay alive

Nowadays in the trains and the buses you see

People fighting for seats with the elderly

Momma down by the bedside on her knee

So much crime it ain't safe for her to walk the street

Because times are hard, either do or die

You can run and ignore, but you can't hide

Politicians like to max and relax

Say 'Vote for me, I know what to tax'

Sipping their Martinis with a little coke

And then the headline reads 'Drug overdose'

Magazines expose our beauty queen

The American Dream, what does it mean?

For tis' of thee in our country

Don't take things as they appear to be

You see babies cry while their mothers sigh

Sweet land of liberty for spacious skies

You got actors running for president!

So what the hell's going on with this government?

No hurt is worse than a mother's pain

when the love for her child goes down the drain

Been used and abused but would never expect

that the child grows up and gives her no respect

Car dealer wanted to make quick cash

Try to buy the coke and don't to got over glass

Nowadays kids are growing up too fast

Learning more in the street than they do in class

Dealing drugs on the corner at the age of ten

I say, if you go to jail, you got to stay in

Speeding in the fast lane, going no place

And when it's over, you see it was all a waste

Found with a letter by your bedside

end of July, committing suicide

Mom is searching in the trash for bottles and cans

While the kids stood by with outstretched hands

While a man holds a dollar and so must pray  

in this land of the free, home of the brave

You see people getting shot over nickels and dimes

Don't you know that's all a sign of the times?

Great song that brings back a lot of memories. If you know the missing lyrics let me know. I'd love to update them here!

Remembering The Fat Boys: Hip Hop Legends and Their Legacy in 2025

Remembering The Fat Boys — 2025 Edition

This is an updated version of a post I originally wrote in 2021

It’s 2025, and every time I press play on an old Fat Boys tape (or vinyl, or digital rip) I’m reminded why the trio of Prince Markie Dee, Kool Rock Ski, and Buff Love (The Human Beat Box) weren’t just a  novelty act. They changed how a lot of us heard rap, and how a lot of rap heard itself. I simply blows my mind that its been 41 years since I first witnessed their rap prowess.

They weren’t trying to be cool in the narrow sense. They were just being themselves. Big personalities. Big appetites. Humor as loud as their beats. To a lot of us, especially the guys who didn’t fit the lean image, they offered something important: pride, fun, and confidence without needing to look like anyone else.

---

Origins: From 'The Disco' 3 to Hip Hop Pioneers

Before they were The Fat Boys, they were The Disco 3. Three friends from Brooklyn trying to make something happen. Kool Rock and Markie Dee had the rhymes, and with no money for a DJ, Buff provided the beats. The story goes that on an early European tour, their manager got hit with a huge hotel bill for all their extra meals. He angrily exclaimed that maybe they should call themselves The Fat Boys. The rest is history.

In 1984 they released their self titled debut album. It was one of the first rap albums to put live beatboxing front and center. Tracks like “Human Beat Box” and “Jailhouse Rap” helped open the door for people who didn’t fit the traditional image. They showed that you could rap, laugh, clown around, and still be taken seriously. I believe I have owned that album in every possible format that it was ever produced, from LP to Digital.

---

Breakout Success: Hits, Movies, and Mainstream Appeal

Songs like “The Fat Boys Are Back,” “Can You Feel It,” “Stick ’Em,” and “Pump It Up” helped cement their place as early hip hop icons.

They didn’t just stay in the rap lane however. Their 1987 album Crushin' produced Wipeout, a collaboration with The Beach Boys that became a huge crossover hit.

They also appeared in some movies. Krush Groove in 1985. Knights of the City in 1986. Disorderlies in 1987. These films helped bring hip hop into spaces it had never been. They were fun, goofy, and full of personality. Exactly what people loved about them.

Another 80s pop culture tidbit.. Robert Englund appeared as Freddy Krueger in the Fat Boy's 1988 music video and actually rapped on the song 'Are You Ready for Freddy' further solidifying the trio's presence in pop culture.

---

Loss, Legacy, and the One Light Still On

Buff Love passed away on December 10, 1995 at only 28. Prince Markie Dee passed on February 18, 2021 at 52.

But the legacy didn’t fade. In 2023, The Fat Boys were inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Kool Rock Ski, the last surviving member, accepted the honor and spoke about the group’s impact and the memories of his friends.

As of 2025, there is still no official reunion or new Fat Boys lineup. And honestly, I don't think there needs to be. You would never catch lightning in a bottle with the Fat Boys ever again. But their influence is everywhere. Their music still gets rediscovered. Their videos still get shared. Their energy still hits.

---

What The Fat Boys Gave Us (Still True in 2025)

• Beatboxing brought into the mainstream
• Early body positive confidence without needing a trend
• Comedy and fun in rap at a time when things were getting serious
• Bridges between hip hop and pop culture
• A blueprint for artists who didn’t fit the mold

When I hear “Human Beat Box” or “Wipeout,” I go straight back to pizza shops, cassette tapes, and a time when hip hop felt like a funhouse full of chaos and creativity.

To Markie. To Buff. To Kool Rock. Thanks for the fun, the beats, and the big energy.

---

Why It Still Matters in 2025

Their story is a reminder that hip hop wasn’t always polished and perfect. It was raw. Honest. Playful. Loud. Messy.. and real.

The Fat Boys didn’t just make music. They made people feel seen.

And that sticks around.

Racoon and Possum running through my mind

As you may have gathered, my thoughts often revolve around the recent and not so recent past. That being said, I've been finding myself intently reminiscing about my grandparents lately. When I was a young boy living in California, many an afternoon was spent at their house in Ontario, which was located on a busy street named Mission Boulevard. Back then, there was nothing I loved more than relaxing on the porch with my grandfather. We would while away the hours, sipping on soda and watching the trains in the distance roll by. During those afternoons, Grandpa would share stories about his youth, as well as an infinite array of life experiences.


Sometimes when there was a lull in the conversation, he would entertain me by yodeling, whistling, and singing old songs. Many of those songs are permanently burned into my brain, and often manifest themselves when I think of dear old granddad. However, there's one song in particular that I often whistle and hum to this very day.

Throw them 'simmons down
A "simmon" aka persimmon, is a wonderful fruit that somewhat resembles a tomato in color and shape.  The varieties I remember eating, kind of mimicked a plum in flavor.  My Grandfather used to sing a song about them that I used to love, and it went like this..


Possum in the 'simmon tree, Racoon on the ground..

Racoon shouts to the possum, throw them 'simmons down.

Throw them Simmons down.. throw them 'simmons down..

Racoon shouts to the possum, throw them 'simmons down.  


That's all there was to it.. a catchy little tune that always made me giggle and laugh. Every last detail about the way my Grandfather used to sing it, is permanently housed in my data banks. I can still vividly recall the way we held his pitch, tone, and even the speed he sang it.

I never thought much about the origin of this song, but always assumed he picked it up somewhere in the south. I decided to do a little research on the song, as well as persimmon trees, and was amused at the info I came across online. It's apparently well documented that possums love persimmon trees and their ripened persimmon fruit, as do racoons. I was elated to find the title and full lyrics to the song my Grandfather used to sing to me. Here's the skinny..

Raccoon's Got a Bushy Tail

Raccoon's got a bushy tail,

Possum's tail goes bare,

Rabbit's got no tail at all

Just a little old bunch of hair.

Raccoon is a mighty man,

He rambles through the dark,

You ought to see him hunt his den

When he hears Old Ranger bark.

Possum up persimmon tree,

Raccoon on the ground,

Raccoon says to possum,

"Won't you shake them 'simmons down."

Rabbit up in the gum stump,

'Coon in the holler,

Possum in the 'tater patch,

Fat as he can waller.



Raccoon's got a bushy tail,

Possum's tail goes bare,

Rabbit's got no tail at all

Just a little old bunch of hair.

I was surprised to learn that it was a five verse folk song that was originally sung by Pete
Seeger. Seeger released 28 songs and stories about animals on two short LP
records in 1955. The only instrument played in the song was a banjo, which gives me some added insight as to why my Grandpa loved the song so much.

It doesn't surprise me that Grandpa's version of the song is so different from the official version above. Grandpa most likely sung the song as he remembered it, or wanted to remember it. He got a real kick out of singing it, so maybe it was his favorite verse. That's how old folk songs and stories are sometimes. Liberties are taken with them, and the changes end up sticking over the years. I'm just happy the verse Grandpa used to sing, was in tact enough for me to dig up some history on this song.

In the end I'm more partial to Grandpa's version, but it was very satisfying to learn the history behind the song that we both loved so much.

By the way.. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Smithsonian Folkways  for providing me with some back history, and links to buy "Racoon's got a bushy tail" and many other great folk songs written by Pete Seeger.

My Cheeseburger in Paradise. A tribute to Jimmy Buffett

After Jimmy Buffett's passing last week, I began thinking about his influence on my philosophy and dreams, one of which was relocating to Florida. Embarrassingly, I realized that in the last six years, I had only spent one measly day of leisure on my patio listening to Jimmy Buffett music. 

Outdoor living like this is exactly what I used to dream of back when I lived in Colorado. Many a cold winter evening whilst donning one of my Hawaiian shirts and playing Jimmy Buffet tunes, would I dream about being able to comfortably grill year round in flip flops. I was disgusted with myself and set out to change this, starting with the weekend. I hit the store and stocked up on hamburger fixings and of course lots of Landshark Lager.

That being said, I'm happy to say I had a wonderful Saturday at home spent with my bride. I grilled, swam, threw back more than a few Landshark Lagers, listened to Jimmy Buffett music, and enjoyed a cheeseburger in paradise. The day turned out more wonderful than I ever imagined.

 

My Cheeseburger in Paradise..

(Not too particular not too precise)

So as you can see, I grilled and enjoyed my 'Cheeseburger in Paradise' as a tribute of sorts to Jimmy Buffett. I crafted my cheeseburger just like Jimmy liked his as well, with Muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato, Heinz 57, and an onion slice. French fried potatoes, a big Kosher pickle, and ice cold beer were the perfect accompaniments. 

These flip flops and I have covered a lot of ground in the last decade

As my bride and I repeatedly moved to and fro from the pool to our patio chairs, we took time to really listen to the lyrics in Jimmy Buffet's songs. Some made us flat out laugh and some made us really ponder what life is truly about. I must admit that his newest song only released a day ago from his forthcoming album, brought a tear to my eye. The song is called 'Bubbles Up' and I absolutely love it.  Here's a link to the video in case you haven't heard it yet..

The emotion I felt while listening to this song was not because it carries a sad or melancholy message. On the contrary, it's inspiring and is meant to pull you out of a funk and realize there is hope, people who love you, and that there are good things in life to look forward to. 

What got to me personally, is that Jimmy wrote this song and planned on releasing it soon, inevitably knowing what direction his health was going. What an incredible Man. He still wanted to bring peace and comfort to folks, when he had every right to retire and simply focus on himself and his family during his last days. Pondering this humbled me and made me realize my problems are pretty insignificant compared to many other folks.

10 years ago..
when my flip flops were brand new
Both of us were a lot less weathered

The loss of Jimmy Buffett was like a punch to the gut this week. I must say however that listening to his songs for hours on end, reminiscing about seeing him in concert and looking back on the many memories we have from his music, was like medicine for our souls.

I don't know what the loss of this icon will mean for Parrot Head Nation. I do have a sneaking suspicion we will hear new music from him for years to come. I really hope his fanbase as well as his empire continues to grow. Will we see special tribute concerts, meetups, fan fests and events? I certainly hope so. I believe his legacy is in good hands with his family. 

There's enough good stuff Jimmy created and crafted for us to last a lifetime. The concepts and escapism he opened our minds to is priceless. I'm sure there will be more for us to experience, and I will anxiously await to see what that is.

Visit Margaritaville Online

Rest in Peace Jimmy Buffet

If it suddenly ended tomorrow, I'd somehow adjust to the fall. Good times and riches and Son-of-a-bitches, I've seen more than I can recall.

Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
by Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffet

1949 - 2023

Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1st, 2023. I wanted to post something right away, but his death took me the better part of this week to wrap my head around. It's always a strange feeling when a musical artist who's always been around for as long as you remember suddenly passes away. When you are a fan of the artist and hold an immense amount of respect for them, it definitely feels like there's a small part of yourself that's ceased to exist as well.

In the 70s, I remember my Dad sweeping his barber shop between appointments singing 'Cheeseburger in Paradise' and 'Margaritaville'. While it was not cool to like the same music your folks listened to, I always loved those songs unapologetically. 

In the 90s, I would work in my auto reconditioning shop singing along with Buffett's latest hit 'Fruitcakes'. 

In the 2000's, my co-workers on the factory production line and I would sing along and throw around the phrase "It's 5 O'Clock somewhere" as a small act of defiance to The Man. In the 2010's, 'Knee Deep' by Buffett and the Zac Brown Band got a crazy amount of play on my MP3 player.

By my 40s, I had compiled a massive playlist of Jimmy Buffett tunes. I loved listening to his music while walking or riding my beach cruiser by the lake. His music was also my soundtrack for many an afternoon of grilling and enjoying Landshark beer in my backyard. On our yearly family road trips to Florida, I would pop in the Jimmy Buffet CDs as we crossed over the Florida state line.

Many simply know about Jimmy Buffett from his music and maybe his restaurants, but he was what I consider to be a modern day 'Renaissance Man'. Check out a few of his pastimes..

Singer, songwriter, performer
Author
Pilot
Sailor
Surfer
Activist
Entrepreneur

I included entrepreneur on this list, because this man built an entire empire off of his name and a lifestyle. Resorts, restaurants, hotels, beer, tequila, food, and endless amounts of merch will make sure his grandkids will be able to chillax and follow their folly for decades to come. 

Buffett's legion of fans are called "Parrot Heads". Their devotion is comparable to Deadheads in many ways. Parrot Heads are folks who totally embrace the laid back, happy go lucky, beach loving lifestyle that Jimmy Buffet lived and breathed. Parrot Heads love tiki bars, boat drinks, tropical attire, and for the most part are sociable, accepting and positive people. Watch some Parrot Head tailgating parties on YouTube to get a feel for how dedicated these fans are.

What's more, Parrot Head Nation continued to grow with every passing year. People get older and as they approach middle age, often search for some sort of break or relief from the rat race that is life. That was the case with me at least. I'm not a full on Parrot Head mind you, but I do try to embrace the philosophy and attitude as much as I can. This week has brought me to the realization that maybe I should make a concerted effort to do so more.

Ever since moving to Florida, I had hopes of catching another one of his performances, as he often did spur of the moment concerts here. It wasn't meant to be however, and that is really wearing on me as I write this. He crafted a form of escapism that immensely helped me through some rough patches in my life. When I actually began listening to his lyrics, it very much helped me to realize life isn't is bad as I thought it to be, and enjoying the little things in the moment can truly bring you peace and clarity. 

This weekend I plan on grilling and enjoying a cheeseburger in the paradise that is my backyard. I even plan on crafting mine the same way Jimmy liked to enjoy his. And I quote:

Cheeseburger in paradise

Medium rare with Muenster'd be nice

Heaven on earth with an onion slice

I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise

I like mine with lettuce and tomato

Heinz 57 and french-fried potatoes

Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer

Well, good god Almighty, which way do I steer?

For my cheeseburger in paradise

Makin' the best of every virtue and vice

Worth every damn bit of sacrifice

To get a cheeseburger in paradise

In closing, I apologize if this article seemed a bit scattered. There were so many thoughts and feelings racing through my mind this week, I had a hard time reeling them all in and organizing them. Rest in peace Jimmy. You've earned that license to chill.

Visit Jimmy Buffett.com

Visit Save the Manatee
Founded by Jimmy Buffett in 1981

Sign of the Times. Grandmaster Flash had it right in 1985

So the older I get, the more I realize the world really hasn't changed much over the course of my 50 trips around the sun. Without getting too deep, there has always been pestilence, famine, war and death. Now with smart technology, its in our faces all of the time. Whatever ends of the earth bad things are currently taking place on, we can now hear about it almost instantly. The world has definitely gotten a lot smaller. Which brings me to the topic of this post, the 1985 song called 'Sign of the Times' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. 

As a naive kid growing up in a small Northwestern Colorado town, I was oblivious to just how much evil and injustice was out there in the real world. I got into rap music in 1981, mainly because my older brother had already turned me on to Funk and R&B, and the rap of that era just sounded good to me. 

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was one of my favorite rap groups in the 80s. I'm the type of person that really listens to lyrics in songs, and the Furious Five started opening my eyes in ways I never imagined.

The first time I heard them rap about situations involving police brutality, I thought it was surely a lighthearted jab at authority. However, my mind was opened as a pre-teen and suddenly news articles or short news spots on the exact same situations they were rapping about, started catching my eye. What's more, it seemed to me that no one wanted to talk about these uncomfortable situations, or quickly dismissed them. When they did make it to media, it also seemed like they were buried or minimized.

The other day I was listening to my 80s rap playlist for old times sake, and started singing along to 'Sign of the Times'. I suddenly stopped and realized everything they were rapping about are the same exact issues people still ponder on to this very day. Without further ado.. read the lyrics for yourself to see the correlation.

A side note:
You'd think you could find everything on the internet in 2021, but I simply could not find the full and accurate lyrics to this song anywhere online. I listened to the song myself to fill in the gaps, and I think I nailed them down, with the exception of only one lyric at the end of the second verse which I've italicized.

Sign of the Times - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Now listen up 'cause I got a little something to say

To educate you bout the life in the streets today

Now everybody's confused about what to do

and what this world is coming to

Chorus-

Sign of the Times. Can really Blow your mind.

Inflation rises every time that opportunity knocks

The rent's crazy for the house the size of a box

It's an arm and a leg to keep clothes on your back

The daily run, push and shove, you just can't hack

The payday comes around you go to pick up your check

The money never seems to get you out of debt

Hinkley shot the president, he had nothing to lose

? - when a journey to see a brother eyewitness knew - ?

Cops shooting up all of the citizens

To find out the next day the guy's innocent

Young girls being raped and taken by force

All the people getting married just to get divorced

Working for minimum wage, one foot in the grave

And all the rich folks screaming they're underpaid

Daddy's in jail doing twenty to life

He has a family back home, five kids and a wife

Girls run away from home with no way to survive

And have to sell her body to stay alive

Nowadays in the trains and the buses you see

People fighting for seats with the elderly

Momma down by the bedside on her knee

So much crime it ain't safe for her to walk the street

Because times are hard, either do or die

You can run and ignore, but you can't hide

Politicians like to max and relax

Sayin 'Vote for me, and I know what to tax'

Sipping on Martinis with a little coke

and then the headline reads 'Drug overdose'

Magazines expose our beauty queen

The American Dream, what does it mean?

For tis' of thee in our country

Don't take things as they appear to be

You say babies cry by their mothers side

Sweet land of liberty for spacious skies

We got actors running for president!

So what the hell's going wrong with this government?

No hurt is worse than a mother's pain

when the love for her child goes down the drain

Been used and abused but would never expect

that the child that she birthed would give her no respect

Car dealer wanted to make quick cash

Try to buy the coke and don't do got over glass

Nowadays kids are growing up too fast

Learning more in the street than they do in class

Dealing drugs on the corner at the age of ten

I say, if you go to jail, you got to stay in

Speeding in the fast lane, going no place

And when it's over, you see that it was all a waste

Found with a letter by your bedside

you ended your life, committed suicide

Mom is searching in the trash for bottles and cans

while the kids stood by with outstretched hands

While a man holds a dollar and so must pray

in this land of the free, home of the brave

You see people getting shot over nickels and dimes

Don't you know that's all a sign of the times?

I just shake my head and laugh at parts of this song. I mean c'mon.. Actors running for president, rich people screaming they're underpaid? I've seen two actors run for president in my lifetime and win. And.. just today, a bipartisan group of politicians passed a new law that.. SURPRISE, yet again protects the rich from paying more taxes. Other parts of the song make me shake my somberly shake my head in disgust with society. Working for minimum wage, one foot in the grave, and lets not even start talking about police.

I've always strived to keep it 'light' on this blog, but as you get older you find yourself pondering on life. You begin to analyze history, politics, poems, the meaning of life, your own existence and even song lyrics. Thanks for reading another one of my cathartic ramblings. I'm sure it won't be the last.

By the way, here's the video below.
(in case you'd like to reminisce about just how much rap has changed)

And.. a link to their music you can get on Amazon Digital!
. .

Life Begins at Forty

I must admit that I used to scoff at the old adage "Life begins at forty".   I'm not trying to perpetuate a cliche, but I truly believe with all of my heart that this saying indeed holds water.  Everyone is different, and some may come to this type of epiphany a little sooner or later than others. Granted.. I took me half of a year after I turned forty to realize this, but then again.. I was always somewhat of a late bloomer.

I'm not sure what it is about approaching midlife that gets people to start deeply examining their lives. All I can speak about is what I'm feeling personally, and the philosophies that seemed to sprout in my brain virtually overnight.  Here's a few of them..

• Life is precious, and I don't want to waste anymore time dwelling on what I can't change, and what I can't control, meaning.. the past and the future. One can only live in the here and now, and as John Lennon so eloquently stated.. "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".  I must say that this hasn't been the easiest thing for me to do, but my attitude has improved one hundred times over by keeping this philosophy in the forefront of my mind.

• I'm slowly freeing myself from the box I've wiggled myself into.  There are so many things I've kept myself from doing over the years because they didn't seem practical for whatever reason.  Many dreams I've always had, have got pushed to the back burner or forgotten about altogether. I was either too busy, or had more pressing commitments that I felt needed my attention first. Things like learning a musical instrument, taking time for myself everyday (even if its five minutes) and writing a book, are just a few things that have totally changed my outlook and have brought immense joy to my life in this new year.
  
   
• I want the second half of my life to be better than the first half.  I'm blessed that I have my health, and fully intend to improve upon it.  I'm actually really enjoying being more active and eating better, because it's helping me to experience as much as this life has to offer.  To do so for many years to come, means that I have to be on top of my game health wise.  It's time for Dad to become a lean, mean, man of the world!

• For the first time in my life, I'm actually starting to feel comfortable with who I am.  This feeling has got me doing and saying things I would have never done before due to a lack of self confidence.  This feeling of empowerment has made me feel like I'm now the Captain of my own life, steering it in whatever direction I so choose.  I no longer overly obsess about bad things that could possibly happen to me in the future. Unforeseen circumstances will inevitably befall everyone sooner or later.  If you're resolved that they are going to happen, then you will be prepared to handle them if and when they happen.

Turning forty for me was a very positive experience, and in essence spurred me to reinvent myself.  However, the whole experience made me realize that I don't want to lose myself either.  I've seen guys my age go to extremes, trying to pursue things that they think will make them happy with disastrous results.  Fortunately, my bride and kids keep me grounded and remind me that while helping myself to get the most out of life is important.. it's not all just about me. 

I didn't mean to get all deep on you, and I promise my next post will be a bit more fun and upbeat.  In the meantime, I leave you with the lyrics to an old Sophie Tucker song I feel is most appropriate to this post.  And no.. it's not her song The middle age mambo.

Life begins at forty - by Sophie Tucker

I've often heard it said and sung 
That life is sweetest when you're young
And kids, sixteen to twenty-one 
Think they're having all the fun
I disagree, I say it isn't so 
And I'm one gal who ought to know
I started young and I'm still going strong
But I've learned as I've gone along.......

That life begins at forty
That's when love and living start to become a gentle art
A woman who's been careful finds that's when she's in her prime
And a good man when he's forty knows just how to take his time

Conservative or sporty, it's not until you're forty
That you learn the how and why and the what and when
In the twenties and the thirties you want your love in large amounts
But after you reach forty, it's the quality that counts

Yes, life begins at forty
And I've just begun to live all over again

You see the sweetest things in life grow sweeter as the years roll on
Like the music from a violin that has been well played upon
And the sweetest smoke is from a mellow, broken and old pipe
And the sweetest tasting peach is one that's mature, round and ripe

In the twenties and the thirties you're just an amateur
But after you reach forty, that's when you become a connoisseur
Then it isn't grab and get it and a straight line for the door
You're not hasty, you're tasty, you enjoy things so much more

For instance, a novice gulps his brandy down, he doesn't understand
Observe a connoisseur, the way he holds it in his hand
How he strokes the glass, fondles it, warms it as he should
Smaks his lips, aahhh, slowly sips, hah, boy, it tastes good

Life begins at forty
Then it isn't hit and run and you find much more fun
You romance a girl of twenty and it costs you all your dough
But when a forty thanks you, she hates to see you go

And girls of twenty, all they want are big men
Big men with strong physiques
I don't say that it's bad
But you do get tired of those damn Greeks

Life begins at forty
And I'm just living all over again

5 Retro things I've always wanted

Congas and bongos

As a kid, I loved watching I Love Lucy reruns.  My favorite segments of the show were of Desi Arnaz performing in his nightclub The Tropicana. I was always enthralled with the skill and passion that Desi Arnaz oozed while singing and playing his percussion instruments.

I've never been an aspiring musician, but have always had the inkling to take up a musical instrument.  I've messed around with a few musical instruments in my time, but those from the percussion family have always been my favorites.  I did recently buy a modest pair of bongos, and really dig playing around with them.  Playing them feels so natural, and whenever I lay into them, beats come to mind out of nowhere.  Arranging them into rhythmic time with my hands, feels almost as easy as breathing.  I'm not entirely sure why I didn't get into trying my hand at them years ago, but better late than never.

A Ukelele

I'd love to own a ukulele, and learn how to play it.  To me, the ukuleles has always been an endearing instrument synonymous with Polynesian and tiki culture.  How cool would it be to pluck away at one of these at a tiki party, pool party, BBQ, camp fire, while relaxing on the beach, or lounging around in the backyard?  They're so small and compact, you could literally take them anywhere.  My daughter actually wanted one, so we got one for her as a gift.  She's taught herself how to play it, and can compose little ditty's very quickly.

A smoking jacket

Do I smoke?  No.  Am I an aspiring playboy?  Heck no.

I've just always thought smoking jackets were ultra swank!  As a young boy,  I used to see celebrities like Jackie Gleason, Sinatra, Dean Martin, Desi Arnaz, Sherman Hemsley aka George Jefferson, and Cary Grant donning flashy smoking jackets whilst relaxing and unwinding.



The purpose of the smoking jacket was quite simple.  A quality smoking jacket was/is an extremely comfortable garment, made for the express purpose of protecting underclothing from ashes and the smell of cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke.  However, they also became widely accepted as a men's garment worn for domestic leisure.  Ah yes, I can imagine sitting back in my easy chair on a cold winter night in a soft silk smoking jacket, matching slippers, heck.. maybe even a fez.  No stogies or cigarette's.. just a good book and maybe a nice glass of cognac.  Now that's the good life!

Schwinn Phantom Bicycle

I've always loved the classic lines and styling of the 1950's Schwinn Phantom.  These bikes are extremely collectible now, and while I can't afford to buy a vintage model, I've found a happy medium that's quickly filling the void.  That would be in the form of my Schwinn Legacy Beach Cruiser. 

My bike features the same frame and similar styling to a classic Phantom, minus several bells and whistles.  I've spent the last couple of summers modifying and customizing the bike to my liking, and it brings me great joy to ride it.

A Pinky Ring

Go ahead and laugh.  Most people including my bride usually chuckle or roll their eyes when I tell them I'm in the market for one.  However.. that just makes me want to get one even worse!  Sinatra, Tony Soprano, heck... even Dr. Evil wore pinky rings.  How can they not be cool?  Actually, ever since I was a kid and saw my old man wearing a pinky ring he bought back in the 60's, I've wanted one.  His ring had a lion head with red ruby's for the eyes.  The fact that my mother didn't care for it, further added to the excitement of getting one.  As a kid I got several cheap steel rings from bubble gum machines that I donned as pinky rings.  I remember one featuring a gorilla face, the other the wolf-man, and of course being a child of the 70's, had a gaggle of mood rings.  It seemed like I was always cleaning a perpetual green stain from my finger that those cheap things would leave behind, but I loved them and wore every one until the broke or wore out.

That's it for now.  Trust me.. I've got a huge retro want list.  These were just the first five things that came to mind, so I may have to continue this topic at a later date.  Are there any retro items that you've always wanted, but just haven't got around to buying yet?

Exotica, Polka, and Cha Cha, Oh My!

Retro treasure hunting has paid off in a big way for me over the years, especially in regards to music.  Check out these albums I came across not too long ago for the cost of just 29¢ each..

This is a double album set with 20 of the greatest hits from one of the pioneers of Exotica music.. Les Baxter!

Another patriarch of Exotica music.. Arthur Lyman.  I'll tell you.. there's nothing better than sitting on the patio in the summer, sipping a Mai Tai, and relaxing to the soothing sounds of Martin Denny, Les Baxter, and Arthur Lyman.  I've already tested out these albums, and they play perfectly.  Once I get these ripped and uploaded to my iPod, I'll be able to jump into a tropical mindset no matter the season in this land locked state of Colorado.

I bought this one for Schnitz & Giggles

Not that I'm huge fan of polka or anything, but I do dig listening to it around Oktoberfest.  Ahh.. I can picture myself now filling up my Das Boot with Warsteiner Dunkel, eating Bretzels, Bock-wurst, und Sauerkraut, and listening to some good old fashioned Oompa music!

 If you don't love a good Cha Cha Cha.. then you need to get your pulse checked!

I didn't buy this one, 

but was perplexed by the album cover..

So there you have it.  Five way cool albums that play like they're brand new.  I basically got hours upon hours of listening pleasure for the cost of $1.45.  Most of the time I buy maybe one out of one hundred albums I like at thrift stores, because they're so badly damaged.  These albums I found on this particular day were grouped together by themselves, so I'm wondering if they were owned by the same person since they're in such pristine condition.

Oh.. and pictured below is one more throwback from the recent past for you.  An album hearkening back to a time when kids loved to be as active as they could.  They were hyper and energetic, and it wasn't due to having A.D.D.  I wonder, would the kids of today dig something like this in 2016?

From the archives of my Old Man's 8-track collection..

She Shot me down

by Frank Sinatra

Not one of Sinatra's bigger selling albums, even though his talent is exceptionally showcased.  It features lots of songs where he talks of love, regret, and loss. If you ever happen to be too happy and need to be taken down a notch or two, this album will do the trick pallie!

This still plays perfectly, and my Old Man swears 8-tracks have better sound than newfangled CD's!  Yup.. that's my Old Man.  Retro til' the end!

Crap that's stuck in my head. File # 121.. "Chicka Boom Chicka Boom, Don't you just love it?"

I remember uttering the phrase "Chicka Boom Chicka Boom, Don't you just love it" in the early 70's when I was a very young boy.  In fact, I remember folks singing that tune for the entire decade of the 70's!  I remember my old man singing it whenever he was in a really good mood.  My brother, cousins, aunts, uncle's, friends, heck.. everyone I knew would sing that chorus!

I think it's safe to say that after 1980, I never heard the phrase mentioned ever again until a couple of months ago.  I was out with my golfing buddies one afternoon, and when one of them sunk a twelve foot putt on the green, he enthusiastically exclaimed "Chicka Boom Chicka Boom.. Don'tcha just love it?"  Immediately the dusty file in my memory banks was opened, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head ever since.

Now.. thanks to the wonders of the internet, I've not only learned the history of the song, but have found the single on You Tube!  The song was released in 1971 and was sung by Dick Monga who went by the name of  Daddy Dewdrop.  He originally recorded the song for the cartoon "Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies", but it somehow became a hit, and peaked at #9 on the charts that year.  Monga is a lifetime musician, and while Chicka Boom may have been his biggest success that he sung, he has also written hit songs for Tom Jones, Kenny Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr, Ringo Starr, and many others.  Apparently he still goes by the moniker of Daddy Dewdrop, and.. last time I heard, he was still releasing albums, with his most recent entitled "This Time".

Below is a recording of his hit single, as well as the original Groovie Goolies version.  Please be aware that once you listen to this song, the chorus may be permanently burned into your brain if it hasn't been already.

 

Whistle while you work!

My bride told me the other day that there was a spot on the news, that stated whistling is fast becoming a lost art.  I guess I can see that.  It seems like most everyone uses their spare time now with their noses smart phones and tablets.  It used to be that many folks would whistle to pass the time, honing their whistling skills, and personally challenging themselves to get better at whistling their favorite songs and American standards. At least that's how I grew up.  Now, I know many who don't even know how to whistle at all, or have the slightest inkling to whistle (at least for the reasons I do it).

You've heard of the old saying "Whistle While you Work" right?  Well, I'm guilty.. I'm one of those folks who likes to do just that.  Many times, I find myself whistling songs that I'm pretty sure my workmates under the age of thirty may have never heard of.  There's certain ditty's and theme songs that seem like they always have been, and always will be emblazoned upon my memory.  Some of these songs I barely know a verse of, others I can rattle off every word.  I think there's little chance of me ever forgetting any of the songs listed below, and I'm perfectly fine with that.  Here's a short list of songs I regularly whistle..



Listen to the Mockingbird

I can't begin to count the times I've seen or heard this song sung on variety shows, comedies, and cartoons over the years. It was written in 1855, and was one of Abraham Lincoln's favorite songs.  The meaning of the song is pretty somber, having to do with a fellows sweetheart who is now dead and buried, and a mocking bird singing over her grave.  Sounds a bit morbid I know.. but the tempo is incredibly upbeat!   I have great memories of my grandfather singing this song, and then bursting into an enthusiastic whistling solo.   I believe I've also seen Alfalfa from the Little Rascals singing a wonderfully funny and off key version.  It's a catchy tune that always instantly lifts my spirits.

By the light of the silvery moon

I remember being at my grandparents house one cold winter night with my parents, various cousins, aunts and uncles.  We were all in the living room watching the 1953 movie "By the light of the silvery moon" starring Doris Day, on a beautiful 21 inch black and white Zenith television.  I believe I was reading a Spider Man comic book when almost everyone in the room except for the kids burst out singing this song. I'm not sure if it was the final song of the movie, but it was a nice scene with Doris Day and Gordon MacRae ice skating and singing the movies namesake.



I remember being in awe that everyone knew the lyrics and harmonized pretty good to boot!  Below is a clip of that beloved scene.  ( The song begins at about 57 seconds into the video )  Oh, and for you kids that aren't aware, back in the old days.. stating that you wanted to "Spoon" meant something totally different, and much more innocent.

 





American Bandstand theme

What an iconic show for both mine and my parents generation!  Sung by Barry Manillow, the shows theme song was incredibly catchy, and I've been whistling it since I was a boy.   If you want to hear the full version of "Bandstand Boogie" set to an incredibly funny street comedy video by comedian George Gallo, you must check this out..

"Drunken Sailor"

I'm no sailor.  I'm not even a son of a son of a sailor.  However, I dig whistling this old sea shanty while hard at work.  While there are numerous version of this song, the basic lyrics are below if you feel like belting it out sometime..

What shall we do with a drunken sailor? (repeat 3 times)

Early in the morning.

Put him in the long-boat and make him bail her. (repeat 3 times)

Early in the morning.

What shall we do with a drunken soldier? (repeat 3 times)

Early in the morning.

Put him in the guardroom till he gets sober. (repeat 3 times)

Early in the morning.

I assure you there are many more songs I regularly whistle and hum to, but perhaps I'll share those another time.

Forgotten folk - Robert Palmer

For many, Robert Palmer may not be forgotten, but a lot of kids from this generation have never heard of him.  For masses of music lovers such as myself in the 80's and 90's, Robert Palmer was the epitome of class and coolness.   As fashion in the 80's went crazy with color and mismatched pairings of garments, Robert Palmer made it cool to again to wear suits and look sharp.  In fact..  Rolling Stone magazine voted him the best dressed rock star of 1990.

Robert Palmer had a long and successful career spanning from the 1960's to 1995.  One of my favorite projects he took on however, was the formation of his group 'The Power Station'.  The band consisted of Robert Palmer, brothers Andy and John Taylor from Duran Duran, and drummer Tony Thompson from the band Chic.  I actually wore out two cassettes and one CD of their first album which was also named "The Power Station".   The album featured the two smash hits 'Some like it hot' and 'Bang a Gong', but every other song on the album was excellent as well.  "The Power Station" was one of those albums that you could let play from start to finish and never get tired of.

Robert Palmer may be best known for his music video "Addicted to Love".   The video featured beautiful women identically dressed in tight dresses, with white painted faces and bright red lipstick, making them resemble women in the art of Patrick Nigel paintings which were so popular in the 80's.

Robert Palmer passed away from a heart attack in September 2003, two months prior to Power Station band mate Tony Thompson, who died of liver disease in November.  He was an immensely talented artist whose style, talent, and soulful voice will continue to impress and influence music lovers for years to come.

Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys

It's been exactly three years since I got back from a wonderful 11 mile bike ride, opened up my laptop, and learned that Adam Yauch from the Beastie Boys had passed away.  This terrible news ruined my week, and had me bummed out on so many levels.

I had heard in the news in the years prior, that he was battling cancer (cancer of a salivary gland of all things).  Mike Yauch expected to make a full recovery, as it was thought that the cancer was very treatable.

The release of the Beastie Boys newest album at the time "Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2." was postponed in 2011.  When Adam wasn't in attendance for the Beastie Boys induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier in 2012, I wondered if his health was suffering again, and sadly it obviously had been.

What kid didn't dig the Beastie Boys in the 80s?  When "You Gotta Fight for Your Right To Party" came out, almost every kid in my school were instant fans of the song.  It didn't matter what kind of music you were into, or what high school social class you belonged to.  The song transcended all of that, and simply made you happy (and maybe a wee bit rebellious).

I've always been a fan of the Beastie Boys, and it was truly sad that one of the founding members of a band I had followed since my youth, was now gone forever.  I'm sure millions of folks worldwide felt the same way.

I leave you now with a Beastie Boys video from 1986 called "Hold it now hit it".  It features Adam Yauch (in the plaid shorts) as I like to remember him.. Rowdy as ever, and full of laughs.

Rest in Peace MCA.  You are still sorely missed.

Three deliciously retro music videos

I'm a bit of a throwback from the 80s in regards to music, as I still love watching music videos whether they be new or old.  During my many hours of perusing videos on YouTube, I came across these three gems that have an absolutely retro vibe to them.

The first is a superbly done fan video of the song Just one Kiss by the British electronic dance music duo The Basement Jaxx.  I actually dig this video more than the official video put out by the band.  The VW bug in this video is exactly like one I had as a kid, and the groovy 70's vibe is truly "far out".  Plus, if this song doesn't get you moving.. you must be dead.

I like a lot of the Foo Fighters music, and their song Rope is one of my favorites.  The minimalistic style of the video shoot relies heavily on the bands performance skill, and for some reason screams 1980's to me when I watch it.  This is a classic example of how sometimes.. less is more.




Remember afternoon dance shows?  American Bandstand and Soul Train were pretty main stream, but when I was a teen in the 80's, there were tons of local dance shows that were broadcast in cities across the nation.  I remember rushing home from school and tuning in to watch.   I loved seeing all of the fashionable hip kids dancing, as well as catching up on the latest music.

This Mayer Hawthorne video below is pretty awesome.  One of his newest songs called Long Time from his latest album 'How do you do?" is layed over an actual Detroit dance show filmed in the 80's!  The dance moves, the clothes, and the classic dance lines where dancers showcase their best moves while they mosey between the two lines of people, gets me grinning from ear to ear every time.  If nothing else.. fast forward to the two minute mark of the video to get a load of Blackula / James Brown Jr.!






On a side note.. I watched this video with my daughter and bride to poke fun of the women's fashions that my wife surely had in her wardrobe back in the day.  Much to my surprise, she didn't see anything wrong with many of the fashions the gals were wearing back then.   Sheesh.. and I thought I was retro!

You might be a Retrophile if.. you start your day with a song

Have you ever heard the old adage.. "Start your day with a song"?  Maybe it's because my Mom and Dad used to wake up humming and singing, but for as far back as I remember, I wake up with a song in my head every morning.

I'm talking every morning, with no exception, no matter how I'm feeling.  What's more, it's always a different song.  I'm sure these songs eventually repeat themselves.  However, if they do.. the amount of time between these occurrences are so long, that I can't recall when it happens.

A while ago, I began to question if I was somehow mistaken, or if I really did wake up with music in my head every morning.  I decided to keep my trusty writers journal next to my bed for a week, to jot down the names of songs that I woke up humming, singing, speaking, or simply thinking of.

Well.. I indeed woke up to a different song every day for the duration of my record keeping.  Sometimes the songs were there the second I opened my eyes.  Other times the songs were in my head a few seconds before opening my eyes, acting like an alarm clock.  On a couple of instances, the music didn't pop into my head until a few minutes after I got out of bed and stepped into the shower.

Here's my mental playlist from those seven days..

Day 1 - It's a Beautiful Morning - The Rascals

Day 2 - My Guy - Mary Wells

Day 3 - Tossin' and Turnin' - Bobby Wells

Day 4 - Have you seen her? - The Chi-Lites

Day 5 - Why do fools fall in love? - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers

Day 6 - Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen

Day 7 - Born on The Bayou - Creedence Clearwater Revival

( Bonus! )
Day 8 - Runaway - Jefferson Starship

Once I perused this list, I took note of two interesting facts.  One.. there's nothing remotely new on this list, which makes me think my "Retro-Oblongata" takes up more space in my brain than I had originally thought.  And two.. not one of these songs are anywhere in my personal music collection.

I love all kinds of music, and this list doesn't doesn't even come close to the smorgasbord of musical genres I sometimes wake up to.  Waking up with a song in my head is sometimes "a blessing and a curse" as they say.  Sometimes I get a song stuck in my head for the entire day like "I'm too sexy" or "Mambo #5", but overall I wouldn't trade waking up like this for anything.

1977 Disco hit - "Ain't gonna bump no more" by Joe Tex

Yes friends.. it's another edition of "Crap that's stuck in my head".  This tidbit comes directly from the music file in my memory banks.  When I was seven years old, I vividly remember a song that took the Disco world by storm.  The song is called "Ain't gonna bump no more (with no big fat woman)".

You see, back in the 70's there was a dance phenomenon known as "The Bump".  This dance basically consisted of dance partners bumping their hips (and sometimes other body parts) in sync with the music they were dancing to.  "Ain't gonna bump no more" was singer Joe Tex's account of what happened one night in a disco when he was doing the bump with a larger than life gal.

My friends would laugh their heads off whenever this song came on the radio.  I also remember Joe Tex performing this song on all kinds of television shows of the day.  My brother owned the album and we'd play it over and over, giggling for the duration of the song.  Heck.. my parents would even reluctantly crack a smile when they'd hear it.

Here's a YouTube video with pretty good sound quality so you can listen to the lyrics.  Listed below the video are the lyrics, so you can memorize the song and sing it at your leisure!




  Ain't Gonna Bump no More lyrics -

Three nights ago I was at a disco
Man, I wanted to bump, I was rarin' to go
And this big fat woman, bumped me on the floor
She was rarin' to go, that chick was rarin' to go

Man she did a dip, almost broke my hip
She was gettin' down, that chick was gettin' down
She wanted to bump some more, but I told her, no
You done knocked me down once

You done knocked me down once
Said, if you want to dance
Find you a big fat man
Ya'll both can get on down
Ya'll both can get on down, huh


I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
Lord, I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman


Somebody take her
She's too big for me
She'll knock me down
She came over to me, snatched me out of my seat
She wanted to get on down, still wanted to get on down
I told her to go on and leave me alone
I ain't gettin' down
You done hurt my hip once

I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
Lord, I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman

Somebody take her, I don't want her
She done hurt my hip, she done knocked me down
Done hurt my hip, she done knocked me down
Somebody take her, I don't want her
Say, Leroy, you can have this one, dude
This big fat woman, dude
I don't want her

 

On a side note.. Joe Tex had a distinct style of singing where he actually talked over his music.  He described this style of singing as "Rap".  From my research, it appears that he was the first artist ever to describe this style of music in this way.

Forgotten Folk - Tiny Tim

All of my life Tiny Tim has been somewhat of a mystery wrapped in an enigma.  He was primarily known for singing classic songs in a high falsetto voice while playing his ukulele.  I remember masses of people (my folks included) adamantly professing that they weren't Tiny Tim fans, but being glued to the television whenever he appeared on shows like Johnny Carson or Laugh In.  Case in point.. 40 million viewers tuned in to see Tiny Tim marry his first wife "Ms. Vicki" on the Johnny Carson Show.  I remember folks talking about that event for an entire decade after it happened. It was the most viewed televised wedding of all time, and remained so until 1982 when the Princess Diana and Prince Charles wedding garnered 750 million viewers worldwide.

After hours of research, I learned Tiny Tim was much more than a funny looking outrageous performer, and feel it my duty to share what I've learned to help enlighten the masses.

Who is Tiny Tim?
Herbert B. Khaury was born on April 12, 1932, and passed away on December 1, 1996.  As a young boy, he immersed himself in classic American music from the 1940's all the way back to the 1800's.  His idols were performers such as Al Jolson, Henry Burr, Rudy Vallee, Irving Kaufman, and Bing Crosby just to name a few.  He was inspired in the 1940's by musical artist Arthur Godfrey, bought his book "You too can play ukulele", and succinctly taught himself how to play the instrument.

The stage name "Tiny Tim" was concocted one night when his manager booked him to perform at a venue that was known for musical and comedy acts performed by little people. Performing or not, Tiny Tim was seldom found without his trusty ukulele.  Tiny's receptacle of choice that he would carry it around in, was usually a paper bag.  Pulling his ukulele from the bag would always get chuckles and laughs from the audience.

His Music
Tiny Tim is probably best known for his remake of the 1926 hit song "Tiptoe through the tulips".  But many find it surprising that he didn't always sing with the high falsetto voice he became so widely known for.  Tiny Tim only sang in his natural voice which was quite lovely, during the early part of his career.  By chance, he started experimenting with his voice and discovered he could sing in an incredibly high pitch as well.  It wasn't until he entered a talent show and performed with his high voice that his career skyrocketed.

Performance of Tiptoe through the Tulips on Johnny Carson

This song hit #17 on the music charts in 1968

My favorite Tiny Tim song has to be Livin' in the sunlight, Lovin' in the moonlight.  The song was originally made famous by Maurice Chevalier back in 1930.  Once you listen to it, you'll swear that it's the perfect song for the optimists of the world.  Tiny Tim was introduced to a whole new generation when this very song was used on the first ever episode of Sponge Bob Square pants. Its for this reason that my kids and many of their friends are now well aware of who Tiny Tim is. 

Tiny Tim in the movie - An Odd Thought 

He plays the part of an eccentric curio shopkeeper to a tee.

What the heck was up with the weird guy act?
Tiny Tim himself said that he was "the master of confusion" and nobody really knew who he was. I've noticed this statement still stands true to this day.  It's obvious Tiny Tim had talent, so what was with the weirdo shtick?  Quite simply, Tiny Tim stuck with what worked for him, and that weirdness factor gained him a cult following that exists to this day.

After hours of reading and viewing virtually every Tiny Tim website and video on the internet, I've come to the conclusion that Tiny Tim's weird guy act was sheer genius.  It was said by friends and those who knew him, that the weird guy persona was completely opposite of who Tiny Tim really was.  If you ever heard him when he was out of character, it was incredibly evident that he was an intelligent man who was nothing short of a walking encyclopedia when it came to old songs and classic American music.

A Good Egg
Contrary to what many believe, Tiny Tim never fell into the snare of drugs or substance abuse.  He also had an immense respect for his elders, those whom he greatly admired, and his fellow man.  Once while appearing with Bing Crosby on television, Tiny Tim repeatedly kept addressing him as "Mr. Crosby". When told that it was okay for him to refer to him as Bing, Tiny Tim did... as "Mr. Bing".   Tiny Tim also prided himself on his relationship with God, and his belief that Jesus was his savior.  In the 90's during a visit on the Howard Stern show, he was offended by Howard Stern and the staff using Jesus name in vain, and refused to appear on the show again.

The more videos I watched of Tiny Tim, the more evident it became that he was a kind, respectful, compassionate human being.  It got to the point during my online research that I was actually enthralled by watching him in everyday situations.  I once saw a video clip where he was doing some shopping in Des Moines Iowa, for a St. John's Bay lined flannel shirt which he was quite enthusiastic about.  I kind of get that, because St John's Bay does make a heck of a shirt. My old man had some St. John's Bay flannel that seemed like it was indestructible, and is probably still in his closet to this day!  It was also interesting to see how gracious he was while interacting with the store staff, and fans that asked him for autographs.

Below are two video clips of Tiny Tim on "The Coca Crystal show" during Veteran's Day 1981.  This Manhattan based public access show ran for about thirteen years, and was the type of show that the SNL Wayne's World skits were based off of.  I believe Coca Crystal was expecting Tiny Tim to bring some real weirdness to the show, but other than his cheap suit and enormous bow tie, he was very even keeled and professional.  When asked to perform, he even insisted on singing old American standards dedicated to our veterans.

Tiny's last call
In September 1996, Tiny Tim suffered a heart attack at a ukulele festival in Massachusetts just as he was beginning to perform.  He was hospitalized for about three weeks, and was strongly encouraged to no longer perform.  Being the entertainer he was, he decided to play at a benefit ball for The Woman's Club of Minneapolis two months later.  While performing on stage, he again suffered another heart attack and died later that night in the hospital.

Call Tiny Tim what you will, but it's become obvious to me that he indeed had talent, and an incredible knack for giving people what they wanted.  What's more.. he was truly a decent human being, which always goes a long way with me personally.

Tiny Tim went from making $50,000 a week in Vegas at the height of his career, to at times accepting free dinners as forms of payment for appearances. However, no matter where his career was at any given time, he always expressed that he was thankful for everything he's experienced. Sadly, just as interest in Tiny Tim was once again on the rise, and many new bands were seeking to do collaborations with him, his life was cut short at the age of 64.  Word has it that there is a movie in the works based on Tiny Tim's life, and if it comes to fruition, I'll be one of the first in line to see it.

With that, I leave you with a final Tiny Tim video displaying what he did best.. making people laugh, all the while making them wonder.. "What the heck?"