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Ukulele

Tiny Tim

Tiny
Tim, known for playing the ukulele and singing songs in a falsetto voice, was
regarded by many as a novelty act of the sixties. He has been called eccentric,
unique, and bizarre for his style of music and persona.

Butros and Tillie Khaury

Tiny
Tim was born as Herbert B. Khaury in New York City on April 12, 1932 to Butros
Khaury, a textile worker, and Tillie (Staff) Khaury, a garment worker.

Greenwich Village

Herbert Khaury

He
grew up in New York, displaying musical talent at a young age.  When he discovered the music of the early 1900’s, he began performing it.  In 1952,
he started singing in falsetto and performing under the name of Larry Love. He
made his performing debut at a cabaret called Page 3 in Greenwich Village.  In 1962, he began using the name Tiny
Tim after casting aside such names
as Darry Dover, Vernon Castle, and Larry Love.  At a height of 6’1” the name drew attention.  He continued to perform in Greenwich
Village, building a cult following for his unique musical style.

Tiny Tim on Laugh-In

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

His
big break came in 1967 when he appeared on Rowen and Martin’s variety show, Laugh-In.  He sang A Tisket A Tasket and On the Good Ship Lollipop while accompanying himself on a soprano ukulele.
On his third visit to the show he sang what was to become his theme song, Tiptoe
Through the Tulips.

Sixties Crowd

First Album

Tiny
Tim developed a cult following and became a true icon of the sixties.  He released his first album, God Bless
Tiny Tim in 1968.  He said the album name
was a reference to Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”  The album sold over 200,000 copies and
reached the Top 20.

For All My Little Friends

In
1969, he recorded a collection of children’s song on the album, For All My
Little Friends, which was
nominated for a Grammy.

With Vickie Budinger

Married on the Tonight Show

On
December 17, 1969, in front of 45 million viewers of the Tonight Show with
Johnny Carson, Tiny Tim married Miss Vicki  – his seventeen-year-old girlfriend, Victoria Mae Budinger.
They had one child, in 1971, a daughter named Tulip Victoria.  The couple lived apart for most of
their marriage, divorcing eight years later. 

Great American Circus

At
the height of his popularity, Tiny Tim performed on the Jackie Gleason and Ed
Sullivan shows.  He played in front
of 600,000 people at the Isle of Wight festival in 1970.   As quickly as his popularity
rose, it began to wane.  His last
appearance on the Tonight Show was during the summer of 1979.  During the eighties, he performed with
Roy Radin’s Vaudeville Revue, and toured with the Great American Circus for
seven months.

Jan and Tim

In
1984, he married again, this time to Jan Alweiss Kaury, known as Miss Jan.  He preferred to live alone, so he and
his wife lived in neighboring houses and would visit each other.  They divorced in 1995.

Tiny
Tim continued to perform and release albums, his last being Girl in 1996. 
He now sang in his normal baritone voice. The only song he continued to
sing in falsetto was his signature song, Tiptoe Through the Tulips.

In
1995, Tiny Tim married Susan Marie Gardner, known as Miss Sue.  They lived in Minneapolis.

Before the show with Fred Fallin

In
September 1996, Tiny Tim was performing at a ukulele festival in Montague,
Massachusetts, when he suffered a heart attack.  He was hospitalized at the local medical center for three
weeks.  When released he was told
not to perform again. The stress of a live performance would be too risky on his heart.

Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

Disregarding
doctor’s orders, Tiny Tim took to the stage for a Gala Benefit at the Woman’s
Club of Minneapolis on November 30, 1996. 
He suffered another heart attack on stage and died at the Hennepin
County Medical Center. He was 64 years old.

Tiny Tim’s Crypt

Lakewood Mausoleum

Tiny
Tim was interred in a mausoleum in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He was laid to rest with his ukulele and a single tulip.

~
Joy