History Singer Ukulele
Listing Info
from the Herbert Buckingham Khaury aka Tiny Tim web site
Herbert Khaury (April 12, 1932 – November 30, 1996), better known by the stage name Tiny Tim, was an American singer, ukulele player, and musical archivist. He was most famous for his rendition of Tiptoe Through The Tulips sung in his distinctive high falsetto / vibrato voice. He was generally thought of as a novelty act, though his records display a wide knowledge of American songs. Tiny didn’t have a legal middle name, he came up with Buckingham because it sounded like royalty.
Tiny Tim played the ukulele left handed, though retained the standard string placement. The instruments he played included a vintage Martin, a Favilla and a Johnston metal resonator. A huge fan of Arthur Godfrey, Tim taught himself to play using a method book that came with the Godfrey-endorsed Maccaferri Islander plastic ukulele.
More information available on the Herbert Buckingham Khaury aka Tiny Tim's web site.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing below.
Additional Information for: Herbert Buckingham Khaury aka Tiny Tim
In 1963, he landed his first paying gig at Page 3, a gay and lesbian club in Greenwich Village, playing 6 hours a night and 6 nights a week for $96 per month. For the next two years, he performed as Dary Dover
, and after that, Sir Timothy Timms
. After being booked to follow a midget act, his manager, George King, billed the 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Khaury using the ironic stage name Tiny Tim
, which would later become his signature name.
Tiny Tim was married three times, and had one daughter from his first marriage to the then 17-year-old Victoria Budinger – also known as "Miss Vicki" – at the age of 37. Tiny Tim married Miss Vicki on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on December 17, 1969, with 40 million people watching. (Ed. This is the Tiny Tim most non-ukulele people of that era remember.)
Tiny Tim played the ukulele left-handed – and played the guitar right-handed. The instruments he played included a vintage Martin, a Favilla, and a Johnston metal resonator. Tiny was a huge fan of Arthur Godfrey and taught himself to play using a method book that came with the Godfrey-endorsed Maccaferri Islander plastic ukulele.
