The most unlikely showbiz success of all-time. →[More:] Born of a Lebanese father and a Jewish mother in the Washington Heights section of upper Manhattan, Herbert Khaury let an adolescent obsession with old-time records and the ukulele transform him into the force of nature known as Tiny Tim. Whatever else you want to say about this cat, he
was a genuine 'piece of work' as my dad would say. And he took the most unlikely idea and turned it (if ever so briefly) into a huge success. He appeared on
Carson (even got married there, the clip includes a snippet),
hobnobbed with celebs, appeared in
the Ironside pilot, did
some fun covers and a few
ill-advised ones. And, like a true showman, he kept
going long after his moment had passed. He was, love him or hate him, a true original. Because of his goofy earnest charm and enthuisiasm for what he did, I kinda love the guy. Enjoy the clips.