You may not even know “Tiny Tim”, but you may know his most famous song: “Tiptoe through the Tulips”. Can you hear it? You listen to the falsetto voice and the ukulele of Herbert Butros Khaury aka Tiny Tim in. He would have had to blow out 75 candles on his birthday cake on friday.
His rise to stardom began with the movie “You Are What You Eat” (a crude hippie movie with no plot) which earned him an invitation for the replacement show of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”. This program, best described as sexistic, plain silly and chaotic – yes, we are talking about the 70ies – was called “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” grew very popular. His first single “Tiptoe” was a world wide hit. Flash!
His second album called “Tiny Tim’s Second Album” couldn’t outsell his first one. His wedding on with Vicki Budinger live on the “Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” couldn’t help – old showbiz rule: No one wants to look a t a freak constantly.
To me he symbolises the tragic artist who was typecasted as a freak and never had the chance to show his true talents. His mission to revive pre-rock music was little understood. His passion for these early recording artists was never appreciated by a greater audience.
His part of “You are what you eat”: I Got You Babe sung by Tiny Tim & Eleanor Barooshian.
Tim’s Tiptoe through the Tulips and one of his later works and his personal favorite: Sweet and Lovely.
BTW: Ponkmedia promised to remaster his best album “Prisoner of Love” this year. God Bless Tiny Tim
I found the images and much more at the Official Tiny Tim Memorial Website, which is constantly groomed by Ernie Clark. Thank you, Earnie!
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