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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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"

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

He’s a mix between Weird Al and Joaquin Phoenix in the Joker. He was one of a kind, a true original. Would be a great movie.

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

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 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)

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)

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.

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

At least he stood up for what he believed in.

How tragically poetic that he literally died while performing that tulip song on stage. I feel like I will die just trying to push out a turd on the toilet someday. I have no right to judge any man that sticks to his guns like that.

Loved the video, can't believe there is not a tiny Tim biopic too be honest as he seems like a perfect artist to portray on the big screen.

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

I think he was Asperger's with his fixation on the old songs and details on them. We have a couple of his albums and he details all the info about the song and the time and singers before each song. And he does an amazing duet taking both male and female parts in "sitting on the front porch". SO yes he's a baritone and this video does not really show that and do him justice.

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

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.

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...

I am impressed that all the many people in the comments that remember their encounters with Tiny Tim only have good memories of him.

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

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

I’ve adored Tiny since the 60’s and still do. I have two books all about him and I still miss him. He pops up in my dreams occasionally. What a delightful soul and so full of talent and misunderstood by many, but thankfully it not deter him, he will forever be in my heart.

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 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 had the unique privilege of attending a recording session of Tiny Tim’s in a small private studio in Staten Island, New York in the early 90’s. I had co-written a song with a good friend of mine Elisa Montay. She had met Tiny at a political function about a year earlier. Tiny took a liking to Elisa, and when he heard her sing the tune we wrote, he asked if he could include it on a album he was planning on recording. So I’m introduced to Tiny and I am immediately impressed with his almost Encyclopædic knowledge of the music industry. From the early days of vaudeville to the 60’s and 70’s he could tell you who wrote what tune, who owned the catalogues, the year a tune was recorded etc... his knowledge was astounding. While at the session he would occasionally take breaks and go to the sound board and speak with the engineer. During these breaks he would be receiving phone calls from well wishers and supporters from all around the country and the world, wishing him success on this latest project. Which was to include a medley of Beatles tunes. Along with the Barrett/Montay Song - Don’t Walk Away. A complex and original artist who I will always remember fondly! He was truly loved by so many people all around the world! Unfortunately I believe he passed away before this album was ever released, but those recordings may still exist somewhere!😎

A freak to the world, it was hard taking him serious because there was not another act this eccentric during that era...but he was an artist alright...and his undeniable belief and love for Jesus Christ and the way he defended Him on the Stern show, speaks for this man more highly than most modern professed christians...from New York stages and Hollywood, thru the record industry and then to a circus, lets me know he was truly genuine..and "nobody really got it"...RIP Tiny

It just goes to show you never judge a book by it's initial appearance. Tiny Tim was indeed an entertainer. Misconceptions are abundant about this man and that's exactly what they are. The world is richer for having him on our stage. Well done, sir!

My mother worked for his father in law. He was truly himself up until the moment he died. What a bizarre guy.

I think he was the only man on earth that knew he wasn't a gimmick. Thank you for a very enlightening video. I knew of him all my life, but I clearly never knew him. R.I.P. Herbert.

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!

He was a gentle soul. Today's crudity would not be kind to him.

So, it was 1981 during the heydays of Miami Vice when coke was _every_ where, and I walked into a bar one evening by the name of Hemingways, a favorited after work watering hole of white collar office workers populating Hollywood, Florida, and much to my surprise, who sitting at the bar playing their ukelele, was none other than the highly recognizable Tiny Tim. More to follow. To continue...so, it was happy hour, drinks were flowing all around, hors d'oeuvres were being enjoyed, the ambiance was very chill, and a gorgeous young lady of Tiny's entourage and I were simply having a lovely, lovely time as the evening progressed, culminating in wild-n-crazy debauchery as Tiny put down his uke, got up on the small, round stage in front of the dance floor, plugged-in, and rocked the f-in house with AC/DC's *Highway to Hell.* It was one of those times you can't quite remember, or one you'll never forget.

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.

This is such a good video man Netflix type Quality

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.

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

We do need a Tiny Tim more than ever.

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

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.

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

Tiny Tim was certainly one of a kind-He's truly missed.

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 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 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.

decided to visit his tomb once, very lonely aura... table in front of it was covered in cob webs. RIP 🖤

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!

What a class "A" production! Every facet was top-shelf; the writing, the video editing, voiceover! Obviously, you're professionally trained and very talented. I also loved the subject matter as Tiny Tim was a very memorable part of the pop culture as I was growing up in the 60's and 70's.

Phew, it's back. I thought I'd missed my chance.

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.

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"

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

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

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.

My autistic ass loves this guy for doing what pleased him, regardless of all the odds. Never heard of him, me growing up in Germany. So glad I discovered his legacy. Thank you so much for making this splendid video!

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!

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.

I love Tiny Tim, I have his Albums and his Pictures

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.

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

Thank you for this video. Clean, unbiased presentation. I read a lot of really nice stories of people meeting Tiny Tim and finding him a kind, gentle man. I also saw a side of him that is also described here as inflexible, critical and headstrong. A human I guess. Aries. RIP Mr Kaurny.

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.

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.

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.

God bless tiny Tim is a sad album

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

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

I love Tiny Tim and the entirety of 60s music in general. There's a lot of really bizarre gems like Tiny Tim from back then

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*

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

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.

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.

He reminds me of someone with Aspergers Syndrome, now a mild form of Autism. He has many of the traits. It's amazing he did so well considering the challenges he faced being understood. Aspergers persons often say that they feel like they are from the wrong planet. Music helps people with Aspergers. This could be why he sang everywhere no matter how important the pay was. He probably needed to sing.

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.

This is absolutely fantastic. Very well done. I'm so glad I stumbled onto this

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.

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.

Jeffrey, you never disappoint. Thanks for another great video essay.

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.

This is so excellent. Poignant and respectful.

I'd always thought of Tiny Tim as a living version of an old 1930s cartoon--- like a noodly-armed, dancing Betty Boop-type character. I get the impression his religion caused a lot of conflicting feelings in him, which led to a more extremist religious aspect of his life. He was an amazing singer and archivist, regardless of his personal life I would've loved to sit down and just talk to him about music history. GOD BLESS TINY TIM

Years ago found 'God Bless Tiny Tim' at a Thrift Store. Bought as a joke. Took home. After 2 plays, was hooked. A cohesive unique concept music gem.

What a fantastic essay on a fascinating person. I can't imagine the amount of work that went in to compiling all this footage and information. Bravo!!

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.

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

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.

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.