Today in Entertainment History Vol. 5 – Tiny Tim – Herbert Khaury

NOVEMBER 30th

It was ten years ago today (1996) that the world lost one of its more creatively odd characters, singer Tiny Tim. Born in New York in 1925, and given the name Herbert Khaury, Tiny Tim was most famously known for his song “Tiptoe Through the Tulips”, which highlighted his unique falsetto singing and ukulele playing. In the 1960s he performed in Greenwich Village and a 1968 documentary about the 60s, You Are What You Eat, used several of his songs. The comedy show Laugh In helped establish him as a star before it faded in the 1970s, with a brief burst of life in the 1990s. He died of congestive heart failure, and was buried with his ukulele.

Here’s a great clip of Tiny Tim on Laugh In, singing his trademark song.

Fun facts about Tiny Tim:

One time while Tim was staying at Caesar’s Palace, a famous hotel in Las Vegas, he decided to have fun and order one of everything on their menu.

Tim married Vicki Budinger on December 17, 1969; they divorced in 1977.

When Tim and Miss Vicki married their wedding was broadcast nationwide on the The Tonight Show and had over 35 million viewers.

Tim and Vicki had a daughter together; Tulip Victoria was born on May 10, 1971.

On June 26, 1984 Tim married Miss Jan Alweis Kaury; they divorced in 1995.

Tim married Sue Gardner on August 18, 1995. They were married until his death. To this day, Sue is still petitioning to get him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

More Tiny Tim trivia at TV.com