The Story of Tiny Tim 

Tiny Tim may have been misunderstood. But he didn't care whether he was understood or not, he just wanted to play his music -- and I still love that about him

I'll tell you a story about Tiny. Many years ago, my dad suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and I got leave from the Navy to visit him in my hometown of Atlantic City. I took a red eye flight. Before boarding the plane (I think this was in Chicago), I had walked by Tiny and I guess, his manager. I normally was apprehensive about approaching celebrities (although I later interviewed many famous jazz artists), I grew up with him and also a few sheets in the wind, so I briskly greeted him with "God bless Tiny Tim!". I'll be damned if he didn't smile and blow me a kiss! On board the plane, I looked up, and there he and his companion were, just across from me on the aisle. So, I'm in this pretty empty airplane at 3:30 am. Tiny looked across at me and recognized me from our recent encounter. I asked where he was headed off to (a TV appearance and concert in Philadelphia). He asked about me and when I told him about my dad, he was genuinely concerned. He asked my name and my dad's name and he delivered a beautiful little prayer for "Mr. Michael" and "Mr. Joe" as well as asking God to look over me while I was enlisted. I'm not religious, but was deeply moved. We chatted briefly and I happened to mention I'd been collecting big band records since I was 10 (I was 19 at the time) and how I was into Goodman, Shaw and the other greats while my peers were into heavy rock and all that. At the time, I didn't know that like me, he was deeply invested in songs from a generation before his birth. Well, when I mentioned that, his eyes lit up and he became very animated--he found a "soul brother"! We had a marvelous time discussing our favorites; he loved Dick Haymes, and we talked about the great Bob Eberly (vocalist with Jimmy Dorsey--I was fortunate to meet him twice on our radio show); he was very effusive in his praise for those two performers. I gathered that Tiny TRULY knew his stuff, because normally, when discussing big band vocalists, those " in the know" rarely brought up Sinatra, who at the time, was somewhat surpassed by several male band singers (he flourished a bit later on). The man startled me with his uncanny memory for record titles, artists labels, and even matrix numbers (!!!). From this, I learned that Tiny was an incredible music historian. He was so nice, articulate, funny and charming. When we landed, Tiny reached into his bag (yes, "the bag"!) and handed me a list of his playdates and an autographed 45RPM of "I Saw Elvis Tip-Toe Through the Tulips" and wished me luck. Those two hours went so fast and I wish today it had been recorded somehow. Many years later, we bought a house in Minneapolis. When Tiny passed on, I was stunned to find that he and his wife lived only five blocks away. Had I only known! I'm certain he would have remembered me and I missed out on a potential friendship with him in his final years. Over time, listening to his work, I am delighted to find that he had a tremendous range (I've heard him convincingly sing opera), and was far more versatile than most of the public knew. Even that falsetto was perfect. It was not nasally like most, very open. It's ironic that that very same falsetto he was unfairly knocked for made the Bee Gees famous (and they were nasally!). I'm so very lucky to have met this memorable artist.

Apart from his presentation of himself, his ability to sound like an old gramophone record when singing was absolutely unique.

I feel like Tiny Tim was ahead of his time but also could only have been successful in his time. internet culture would be more accepting of his alternative eccentricity if he was around today, but I don’t think his legacy would be as special and long-lasting.

Tiny Tim was the only "famous" person I ever met personally and talked to, in my life. He had came down from New York on a Greyhound bus, and I was working at a newsstand in a bus station in Pennsylvania. He came over to buy one of those rag papers, I think it was either Star or the National Enquirer. He started complaining to me about the lies they were saying about him in the rag paper. He gave me his autograph on one of the papers.

I was driving a cab in Northampton MA in the 80's when I looked to my right and there was Tiny Tim walking near the Calvin Theater! I parked the cab and ran up to him, thanking him for all the fun he brought to us during all those years. He was very gracious, smiled and in his Tiny Tim voice thanked me and shook my hand! That was awesome!

I knew him. He was a brilliant and knowledgeable man . Strange indeed but always polite and very caring . He cared very much about others feelings.

He would've made a hell of a Penguin in a Batman movie.

Back in the mid 80s, Tiny Tim was scheduled to sing at an island park in Mishawaka IN. He came to my bar before hand, got schnockered and did his concert. After the concert, he saw me packing up and asked me where the party was. Long story short... My house was packed for 3 DAYS 😆 He was SUCH a cool dude!

Tiny was a personal friend of mine. He was one of the most genuine people I have ever known. I will never forget him!

remember: "Weird Al' Yankovic was inspired by this person and he's the closest we have to Tiny Tim in our generation.

hey he is proof that being gawky and awkward can still be a winning combination if you play it just so...

In a botanical garden near to where I live there is a Tulip garden with a sign that says "Please don't tiptoe through the Tulips"

tiny tim is a timeless being, he has and will always exist

I visited Australia many years ago, and while driving north from Sydney, I had to pass through a place where the road cut through a mountain. There was a truckers strike on, and the truckers had blockaded the road going south into Sydney. As I arrived at the blockade after sundown, I found an incredible sight. Hundreds of truck drivers in sweaty singlets, (it was summer) were standing in front of a big semi, and in the headlights you could see a lone figure standing on the top of the cab. As I got close, I could see Tiny Tim, with his ukelele, giving an impromptu concert to the burly blokes with tattoos. They liked it too, judging by the roars of approval and applause. (True Story)

My great grandma liked him I was 5 years old in 1970 and I remember my grandma dancing to his music and we laughed singing tip toe song she was born in 1891 so she was pushing 80 at that time but when I hear him it will always remind me of her I miss you grandma she passed when I was 24 in 1989 she was the best grandma and she always made me happy and I felt loved so much I love you grandma I'm passing on what you taught me to my grandchildren with love and happiness I know your with God

I met him when he stayed at a Nashville hotel in the mid-80s. He was so very sweet, and gave me his autograph. He stopped in the dining-room and asked me to have 2 pizzas loaded with onions sent up to his room and placed in the fridge. He went out on the town & came back quite, well, in a very pleasant mood! He sat in the lobby & played his ukulele & sang for everyone who gathered there.

How messed up that most his family looked at him as being a "crazy person"...he was just being himself and I always thought that..Tiny Tim always warmed my heart :0)

He lived ten times the life of his detractors, no need to feel sorry for him..he was waving not drowning.

He was a a performer, a vaudevillian and a performance artist, way up there, way out there. You can never judge someone on their social mores after the fact, as we all know life, life is about that intangible combination of time & place. RIP God bless Tiny Tim

At least he stood up for what he believed in.

One of the greatest risk takers ever. In league with Hunter Thompson and Andy Kaufman. For Herbert Khaury, life was horrifyingly simple: push with his odd talents or go nowhere. He made up his mind, after nearly dying from a ruptured appendix... He found the faith to be brave and never looked back...

He marched to the beat of a different drummer. RIP Tiny Tim.

I never thought the day would ever come when I would witness Tiny Tim singing, "Highway To Hell".

I worked at a club called Steve Paul's Scene on the Westside in NYC in the late 60s and Tim would play almost every night without pay. When we closed the AM I would give Tim a ride home to Washington Hights were he lived with his mother. I moved on but received a Christmas card from him for many years. He was an interesting guy that never was out of character, what you saw on stage was him off.

I'm honored that a clip was included from the video that I did with Tiny Tim in 1982 -- it's at 23:38. My idea of recording him with my big band, The Sizzling Syncopators, was to show that Tiny was an honest-to-goodness musical historian and a serious vocalist of period styles. He sings Do Ya Think I'm Sexy in the style of Al Jolson. Working with him was a great experience and one of the highlights of my musical career.

Tiny Tim was the king of misfits. He was in essence a self made freak, lonely, unhappy, and torn. Ultimately it was his profound inability to fit in that made him famous. He suffered terribly, but by his own hand. He was sublimely pathetic, and anybody with a heart felt sorry for him to some degree, I know I did.

I've, known about Tiny Tim, most of my 45 year's. This was the most comprehensive content....an enjoyable experience and I thank you!

Saw him in concert in FL in the mid 1980's - what a fun show and treat. He was a true entertainer and made the world a better place....... And boy does it need the help.

I remember when he married Miss Vicki on Johnny Carson’s show.

I saw Tiny Tim perform at the circus, he was the headliner. He entered the center ring and began singing songs from the 20's & 30's. The kids in the audience had no idea of his history and earlier fame, but they loved him. They were literally standing up and dancing in the aisles and at their seats. He was a huge hit!

Tiny is a true outsider and complicated icon. He left behind so much excellent music and a fascinating legacy.

Tiny Tim may have had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). He did remarkably well for himself and was known for being a gracious, kind person.

I’d compare him to Andy Kaufman or visa versa. They both did “odd ball” things and people were left guessing as to whether they were serious or joking.

I remember seeing him on shows as a kid and, at that time, saw anything out of the norm as really weird. As I got older I did a 180 and realized that the proverbial "normal" life was really weird. I suddenly saw all the writers, painters, poets, musicians, actors, and philosophers, with all their eccentricities and quirks, that they're the one's really living in this life. Tiny was one. They say you can live 90 years or one year 90 times over. Most do the later.

I met Tim at a party in Tampa Florida a few years before his death. He was wearing an old suit, and his ukulele case had a lot of tape on it. Seated on a sofa, he entertained the guests who sat around him on the floor of a big living room. He would sing a song, then chat for a while, then sing another song. He had a six pack of warm beer cans for himself on the floor by his feet. He was friendly, and cheerful, and maybe I imagined it but there seemed to be a hint of sadness in him at times, little flashes, and I remember being struck by how easily you could become fond of him, having just met. Rest in peace. I'm sure there are always tulips where you are.

I met Tiny Tim in 1994-1995 in Massachusetts, he used to play a place called Spooky World which was an outdoor Halloween haunted hay ride and haunted house. He would wander around the property between sets and was always gracious and would talk for hours as long as he had someone to talk with. I also saw him at a small club in Walpole MA called Pete’s Dream, he had a remarkable memory for people and names as he remembered everything we talked about when I saw him at SpookyWorld. The person you saw on stage was the same off stage.

He came to my summer camp . Camp Sussex in Sussex N.J 1980 . Hes a big guy 1st I thought he was Andre The Giant when I first seen him . He performed songs like How do you do everybody How do yo do . Then the last song the Ukuele came out and he song Tip toe thru the Tulips .We went wild ! Awesom time Ty Tiny Tim for that once in a life time childhood memory .

For more than 40 years, I thought he was British.

Great job on this video! You did the man a great honor I am certain Tiny would have loved this.

For a few years in the mid-2000s, in Maryland, I got to be friendly with a fellow customer in my local coffee shop who used to own a big nightclub in West Palm Beach, I think it was. He would tell stories of acts he used to book regularly. The ones that stand out were Freddie Cole, Buddy Rich, and Tiny Tim. He nearly venerated Tim and spoke of him in hushed tones. He said Tim was incredibly nice, and he had snapshot photos of Tim.

I had the pleasure of meeting Tiny Tim back in the 70's. He was cool.

Well jeff... i never thought I'd sit thru a thirty one and a half minute long video about Tiny Fucking Tim but you sir have just earned a new subscriber. Awesome video.

Legends never die. ....alright... I guess they do.. but you know what I mean.

Definitely one of the most strange and misunderstood entertainers I’ve never ever really understood until perhaps now, maybe, but one thing is for sure, weirdness is contagious and people either like you or reject odd balls, but dying on stage doing what he loved most, entertaining, Is poetry, like tip toeing into another world, where finally one can rest in peace! Peace

If they ever make a movie about his life Russell Brand should play him.

Dang, that sucks re: the threatening email. Just stopping by the re-upload to say great job on the vid! This doc is such high quality, man, and I've always wanted to see something like this on Tiny Tim, especially. Keep it up, dawg. *thumbs up*

The expressions on Dick Martin's face are just unforgettable.

Tiny Tim's heart: "tip toe through the tulips again? Screw you, I'm outa here and i'm taking you with me ukulele boy"

Me and my friends have been playing his music, partially as a joke, partially because we liked his music, I learned of him from Spongebob, but he always seemed so mysterious to me, thank you for making this.

Dude it's insane how fantastic your videos are. They're so well edited. I'm jealous

This man,Tiny Tim, had the SHEER GUTS to have super-long hair back in the 50s(not just 'over the ears' but to the shoulders!) and as soon I was able I stopped cutting my hair and grew out my mane...until the years and genetics took it away, LOL! ......good man Tiny and a true scholar of early songs.

I grew up when tiny Tim was at his peak and I remember everyone thinking he was gay in a very meek flamboyant way but it was kinda hush hush we didn’t want to judge him but everyone did they made fun of him for being different and strange , he was very courageous because he was made fun at his whole life.

God bless tiny Tim is a sad album

One of the worlds unique people. Whilst most of us are like sheep this man was a one off. He needs a statue erected to remind people that human beings can be totally original and amazing. Bravo Tiny Tim.

Hello Jeff, I traveled with Tiny Tim. We both worked for Alan C. Hill's Great American Circus in the day. He was a walking encyclopedia of pop music going back to the days of Tin Pan Alley. He was always polite even when speaking of people who used him during his career! He lived to sing! God Bless Tiny Tim! Thanks for reminding me again of my friendship with Tiny! Sign me Omar Gosh the clown!

Lots of fabulous clips you compiled here. Really incredible stuff you put together here

What strike me after watching various interviews with Tiny is how he is often able to recall the exact date that things happened in his life, even small, somewhat inconsequential things. His retention was remarkable.

So I consider myself a pretty huge metalhead/listener of many genres of music. But tiny tim is a guilty pleasure of mine.

I used to love it when he'd appear on the Johnny Carson show, I'd watch it with my dad some nights growing up.

I am only 4 minutes in, so I don't know if you bring this up or not. But I thought it was something to add, that a lot of people do not know. He traveled with The Great American Circus. I used to work for that circus, here is some pictures from when I was there. These pictures were not taking by me, but I am in a couple of the pictures. The first semi trailer has Tiny Tim written on the side. It would be cool to see you talk about that life. Here is a link to the pictures from the circus. www.flickr.com/photos/robert_herman/albums/72157639428014915

A HUGE man and one of the greatest underground MMA-fighters ever.

Many years back I read an article by a Seattle Times sports reporter who had discovered Tiny Tim sitting in the stands watching a University of Washington Baseball practice. This was years after his unusual popularity had waned. He must have still loved the game.

Thank you. I was 10 in 1965 and unable to appreciate him as anything beyond a novelty act. Since then I've learned a lot more about the times he represented, I can appreciate much better the music he tried to make. There's very little left of the early twentieth century, in the light of modern technology it all seems so faded.

When I still lived in central Iowa, I walked into the bar at the Hotel Fort Des Moines and there he was...sitting at the bar. Thought I was hallucinating at first. But no...there was Tiny Tim sitting at a bar in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.

Great job on making this video essay. Tiny was such a complex person, and my first real mentor. Thank you for using my photos and clips of my recordings of Tiny, from the album 'I've Never Seen A Straight Banana - Rare Moments Vol. 1'. Folks can find that album, and a second one, 'Tiny Tim's America', on Apple Music, Spotify, and all online services. All my best to all ~ Richard Barone

In Kansas City, there was a radio host named Mike Murphy, one of the best. Tiny Tim was on his show one time, talking about older music. I am an amateur WW1 historian, so I called up the show and we talked about the music of the Great War. He was a true musicologist, and it was a pleasure to talk with him. Seriously.

If anyone happens to see this comment: there once was a video interview of Tiny at the Hotel Savery in Des Moines, sadly that video has been removed or made private. If anyone would happen to have a copy of this interview please get in touch!

Rest in peace, Mr. Corey. You're sorely missed. I remember hearing about your passing in middle school. You made it seem more than ok to be defiantly different. Thank you for posting this video! I haven't thought about this man in quite a while. I greatly appreciate being reminded!

And Tiny Tim wasn't the "Weird Al Yankovic of Our Generation", and the appropriation of his music for SpongeBob was just that, appropriation. Tiny Tim was Tiny Tim. There was never anyone like him before, and there won't be anyone like him ever again. He was very much a postmodern part of his time. I remember him well from my childhood in the early seventies - he was a singular synthesis of vaudeville tropes, fascinating, weird, goofy, silly, fun - somehow he pulled it off, and was the only person in the world who could. Thank you, Tiny Tim, for being you, and for giving permission to people like me to be me.

I loved Tiny Tim! Always looked forward to seeing him on Laughin! He was actually very intelligent.

Jeff, good video. For the record, "big pink" is a house in Woodstock where Dylan & the Band recorded, not a club.

I met Tiny Tim while living on Weyland Square in Providence RI in 1991. I was walking my Cocker Spaniel Shiney when he walked up to me introduced himself and ask to pet Shiney. He told me that whenever he walked near my apartment Shiney would bark at him out the window and called her the Weyland Square concierge. I met him a dozen times while walking Shiney and they both loved each other. He was a good man.

Whoa! I've never seen that shot of Tiny at 3:26. Where was that from?

Why did the world look so more social and fun back then, i mean I understand that the internet didnt exist back then but just how more, like happy and enjoyable back then.

When I was growing up in the late 60's and early 70's we kids mocked him, but now I have a better understanding of Tim. I think he was of Lebanse or Syrian origin.

I never heard about him until a few weeks ago. Thank you for putting this together and having respect for this personna. His song will probably jump into my little répertoire, i think. Bless him.

My dad was your classic All American guy, born in 1942, but I can honestly say my dad loved Tiny Tim's music, He though he was unusual but he loved his music

letting this play all the way through again to help you regain well deserved views

It's unfortunate that we judge people of the past by our modern standards. It's only through a thorough understanding of history that we can see the true character of individuals that came before us.

I saw a Tiny Tim in concert in Cleveland, Ohio when I was a teenager in the late 60s. He was the opening act for Herman’s Hermits. I remember watching his appearances on Johnny Carson and my mother and I stayed up late to watch him get married on the Johnny Carson show. We also made sure that we watched him whenever he was on the show Laugh In. When I eventually saw him in concert I thoroughly enjoyed his act. I bought the tickets just to see Tiny Tim.

I was born in New Orleans in 1958. My Dad laughed at how upset people were about Tiny Tim. He would have just been another screwball where we lived. Still, he always appeared to be a very sad man.

I MET HIM AT PASTELS JULY 16,1983 VERY NICE MAN.HE WAS VERY HUMBLE . WHEN HE LEFT THAT NIGHT OF ONE OF THE BOUNCERS SAID GOODNIGHT NOONE ELAE PAHE HAD LIVED PAST HIS FAME BUT STILL SHOWED EXTREME HUMILITY

Leon Redbone was an unusual character too. Anybody remember him?

Great video! ❤ There's massive talent in your work.

I have the original 1st pressing of God Bless Tiny Tim on vinyl. Safe and sound.

His talking voice is so close to Peter Steeler’s talking voice I’m so blown away. How they say “because”🤯

I grew up with Tim and I still have that damn ear worm of Tip Toe Through the Tulips that plagues my sanity at least three or four times a year.

his version in the 60's compared to his version on the 80's/90's was very different, it's like they were two different persons, maybe his divorce with miss Vicky and the desilusion he had with her made him change so drastically

What a great job you did on documenting Tiny Tim's life. Excited to see more of your docs. very smart, informative and well written. Great job.

I met Tiny Tim at an autograph line at Spooky World sometime in the 90s. He was very gracious.

I think tiny Tim got reincarnated as a singer for the band THE DARKNESS.

I'll never forget his Laugh In appearances. Went right out and bought his album.

Bless his heart, I love Tiny Tim and share in his appreciation for old music. I love how he became a Christian later in his life, and the way he stood up for Jesus, defending Him to Howard Stern.

Y’all really ignore the fact that he married a 16 year old.

I loved him , still do.... Rest In Peace Tiny Tim ♥️🎶🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

R.I.P..Love him :(

Note; this was evidentially put together in somebody's basement using material already available on RU-vid.

Thank you for this precious memory. I’ve always loved Tiny/Herbert since he first appeared on TV, got his LP’s, books and his autograph...🌷 🌈 🎻 ❤️

jefferey. do another video on the boys of the beach plz i beg i require more beach boys