Musicians

Dr. Demento – He is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present. While not a musician himself, his radio program brought many comedic musicians into the mainstream. He is most famous for bringing popularity to “Weird Al” Yankovic, Tom Lehrer, Elmo and Patsy, Larry Groce, and Stan Freberg.

Homer & Jethro – Homer and Jethro were the stage names of American country music duo Henry D. Haynes (1920–1971) and Kenneth C. Burns(1920–1989), popular from the 1940s through the 1960s on radio and television for their satirical versions of popular songs. Known as the Thinking Man’s Hillbillies, they received a Grammy in 1959 and are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

P.D.Q. Bach – A fictitious composer invented by musical satirist “Professor” Peter Schickele. In a gag that Schickele has developed over a five-decade-long career, he performs “discovered” works of the “only forgotten son” (aka “last and least”) of the Bach family. Schickele’s music combines parodies of musicological scholarship, the conventions ofBaroque and classical music, and slapstick comedy. His most famous pieces include: The Seasonings, Oedipus Tex, Missa Hilarious, Echo Sonata For Two Unfriendly Groups Of Instruments, and The 1712 Overture.

Pinkard & Bowden – an American country music duo composed of singer-songwriters James “Sandy” Pinkard and Richard Bowden, who also play guitar and bass guitar. The duo’s music comprises a mix of musical parody and original comedy songs.

Spike Jones – An American musician and bandleader specializing in performing satirical arrangements of popular songs. Ballads and classical works receiving the Jones treatment would be punctuated with gunshots, whistles, cowbells, and outlandish vocals.

Stan Freberg – An American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian,radio personality, puppeteer and advertising creative director, whose career began in 1944. He is still active in the industry in his mid-80s, nearly 70 years after entering it. Stan has been doing historical satire for many years, and is the man who actually pioneered the now-booming field of comedy recording.

Tom Lehrer – An American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician. He has lectured on mathematics and musical theater. Lehrer is best known for the pithy, humorous songs he recorded in the 1950s and 1960s.

Victor Borge – A Danish and American comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as The Clown Prince of DenmarkThe Unmelancholy Dane, and The Great Dane. Borge was one of the world’s most beloved entertainers. His legendary career spanned more than seven decades, and he was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as video fans’ favorite funny person.

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary singers or bands. His most famous songs include: Fat, Amish Paradise, White & Nerdy, Eat It, Bohemian Polka, and Another One Rides The Bus.