Two examples of the kazoo

A metal kazoo

The kazoo is a simple musical instrument (membranophone) that adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when one hums into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton - a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane. ZOO Digital Group Plc. ... The Great Gazoo The Great Gazoo is a character from The Flintstones animated series. ... A photo I have taken of 2 kazoos for the Kazoo entry. ... A photo I have taken of 2 kazoos for the Kazoo entry. ... Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... A membranophone is any musical instrument which produces sound primarily by way of a vibrating stretched membrane. ... Mirliton can mean: A vegetable or its vine, also known as the chayote A class of musical instruments with a membrane that vibrates in the manner of that of a kazoo or the eunuch flute. ...

Playing

While humming is the term typically used to describe the technique required to play a kazoo, a more accurate term would be singing into the kazoo. Humming with your lips closed around the mouthpiece of the kazoo will not change the sound - you must vocalize or "sing" in order for the kazoo to make any sound. Many people will struggle with getting any sound from a kazoo when instructed to hum. But when instructed to speak "do, do, do..." into the kazoo mouthpiece, the 'hard' vocalization makes a more effective sound.

History

Such. instruments have been used in Africa for hundreds of years, to disguise the sound of somebody's voice or to imitate animals, often for various ceremonial purposes. It was on such an instrument that the kazoo, invented by an African American named Alabama Vest in the 19th century in Macon, Georgia, is based. The first kazoo was manufactured to Vest's specifications by Thaddeus von Clegg, a German clockmaker in Macon. The kazoo was first publicized at the Georgia State Fair in 1852. The first metal kazoos were manufactured and patented in Eden, New York, where they are still made in the original factory. An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Macon is a city located in central Georgia, USA. It is among the largest metropolitan areas in Georgia, and the county seat of Bibb County, It lies near the geographic center of Georgia, approximately 75 miles (129 km) south of Atlanta, hence the citys nickname as the Heart of... Thaddeus von Clegg was an immigrant German clockmaker that constructed the first kazoo from plans drawn up by Alabama Vest in the 1840s. ... A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs clocks. ... Eden is a town located south of Buffalo, in Erie County, New York, USA. The population was 8,076 at the 2000 census. ...

Records

On December 31, 2006 at 11:40 p.m. the Guinness world record for the world's largest kazoo ensemble was broken with a new record of 2,679 participants in Rochester, New York on the Main Street Bridge.[1] On Thursday, September 27, 2007, Macon, Georgia went for the world record for the world's largest kazoo emsemble but sadly wasn't achieved when there was only an unofficial 2,007 people attending the event. On Saturday, November 17, 2007, spectators at the Bob Jones University Turkey Bowl broke the Guinness world record for the world's largest kazoo ensemble with an unofficial 3,800,^{[citation needed]} members, all buzzing to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for over five minutes. is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Guinness Book of Records (or in recent editions Guinness World Records, and in previous US editions Guinness Book of World Records) is a book published annually, containing an internationally recognized collection of superlatives: both in terms of human achievement and the extrema of the natural world. ... This article is about the city of Rochester in Monroe County. ... Macon is a city located in central Georgia, USA. It is among the largest metropolitan areas in Georgia, and the county seat of Bibb County, It lies near the geographic center of Georgia, approximately 75 miles (129 km) south of Atlanta, hence the citys nickname as the Heart of... Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private, Protestant Fundamentalist, liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina. ... The Guinness Book of Records (or in recent editions Guinness World Records, and in previous US editions Guinness Book of World Records) is a book published annually, containing an internationally recognized collection of superlatives: both in terms of human achievement and the extrema of the natural world. ...

On April 3, 2008, the live tour of the Radio 4 show I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue attempted to break the record with 3550 people in attendance at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK. Confirmation from Guiness World Records is pending. Im Sorry I Havent a Clue, sometimes abbreviated to ISIHAC or simply Clue, is a BBC radio comedy which has run since 1972-04-11. ...

Professional usage

The kazoo is played professionally in jug bands and comedy music, and by amateurs everywhere. It is one of the few acoustic instruments to be developed in the United States and one of the easiest melodic instruments to play well, requiring only the ability to hum in tune. In North East England and South Wales, kazoos play an important role in so-called jazz bands (really children's marching bands). A jug band is a band employing a jug player and a mix of traditional and home-made instruments. ... A comedy is a dramatic performance of a light and amusing character, usually with a happy conclusion to its plot. ... North-East England is one of the nine official regions of England and comprises the combined area of Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear and a small part of North Yorkshire. ... Approximate extent of South East Wales. ... A jazz band (or jazz ensemble) is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music usually without a conductor. ...

In the Original Dixieland Jass Band 1921 recording of "Crazy Blues", what the casual listener might mistake for a trombone solo is actually a kazoo solo by drummer Tony Sbarbaro. The Mound City Blue Blowers had a number of hit kazoo records in the early 1920s. The Mound City Blue Blowers featured Dick Slevin on metal kazoo and Red McKenzie on comb-and-tissue-paper kazoo. The vocaphone, a kind of kazoo with a trombone-like tone, was occasionally featured in Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. Trombonist-vocalist Jack Fulton played it on Whiteman's recording of "Vilia" (1931) and Frankie Trumbauer's "Medley of Isham Jones Dance Hits" (1932). Original Dixieland Jass Band (after mid-1917 spelling changed to Jazz) was a New Orleans band which, in 1917, was the first ever to make a jazz recording. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1928 Columbia Records label with caricature of Paul Whiteman Paul Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was a popular american orchestral leader. ... Frankie (Tram) Trumbauer (1901–1956) was one of the leading jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s. ... Isham Jones, 1922 Isham Jones (31 January 1894 – 19 October 1956) was a United States bandleader, violinist, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter. ...

The kazoo is not often found in European classical music, a rare exception being David Bedford's With 100 Kazoos, a piece which emphasizes the simplicity of the instrument - rather than being played by trained musicians, kazoos are handed out to members of the audience, who accompany a professional instrumental ensemble. Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... David Vickerman Bedford (born August 4, 1937) is a British composer and musician. ...

The kazoo was used in the 1990 Koch International and 2007 Naxos Records recordings of American classical composer Charles Ives' "Yale-Princeton Football Game", where the kazoo chorus represents the football crowd's cheering. The brief passages have the kazoo chorus sliding up and down the scale as the cheering rises and falls. Koch International Records, founded in 1975, is one of the major distibutors of German language music. ... -1... This photo from around 1913 shows Ives in his day job. He was the director of a successful insurance agency. ...

One of the best known kazooists in recent times might be Barbara Stewart. She was a classically trained singer who has written a book on the kazoo[2], formed the "quartet" Kazoophony, and performed at Carnegie Hall. She recently appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street. ... Late Night with Conan OBrien is an Emmy Award-winning American late night talk show that is syndicated worldwide. ...

The Kazoo is played by children from the boys choir, during the conclusion of the Kyrie Eloison" section of the "Mass" by Leonard Bernstein.

The Grateful Dead used a kazoo on the song "Alligator" from the album Anthem of the Sun. Jerry Garcia later in life The Grateful Dead was an American rock band, which was formed in 1965 in San Francisco from the remnants of another band, Mother McCrees Uptown Jug Champions. ... Anthem of the Sun is the second studio album by the Grateful Dead, released in 1968. ...

The Beatles used makeshift kazoos (comb and waxed paper) on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", and "Lovely Rita". The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... For other uses, see Sgt. ... Being for the Benefit of Mr. ... Lovely Rita is a song by the Beatles off of the album Sgt. ...

Jimi Hendrix famously played a kazoo part on the song "Crosstown Traffic" from his 1968 album Electric Ladyland. He used a hastily constructed comb and waxed paper setup (often mistaken for a peculiarly buzzy guitar tone), as it was the only way to achieve the sound he was looking for. Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... Crosstown traffic refers primarily to vehicular traffic between Manhattans East Side and Manhattans West Side, the two areas being largely discontiguous due to Central Park. ... Electric Ladyland is a rock album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in 1968 (1968 in music). ...

Another well known modern band to use the kazoo is The Cure who sometimes use it in acoustic sessions, perhaps most famously in their song "The Walk" for MTV Unplugged. This article is about the band. ... The Walk is the title of more than one song: The Walk (Eurythmics song), a 1982 song by Eurythmics The Walk (The Time song), a 1982 song by The Time The Walk (The Cure song), a 1983 song by The Cure The Walk, a 2007 album by Hanson Category: ... MTV Unplugged is a series showcasing popular musical artists playing acoustic instruments. ...

The instrument also features prominently in the game of "Swanee-Kazoo" in the long-running British radio panel game, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue and also in the song "Over and Over" by Hot Chip in their album Warning. A slide whistle (variously known as a swanee whistle, piston flute or less commonly jazz flute) is a wind instrument consisting of a fipple like a recorders and a tube with a piston in it. ... Im Sorry I Havent a Clue, sometimes abbreviated to ISIHAC or simply Clue, is a BBC radio comedy which has run since 1972-04-11. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

In Ireland, the Gomez family have been known to play traditional Irish tunes, such as Spancil Hill on the instrument.

Jason Dunn, from the Canadian punk rock Band Hawk Nelson, is a self proclaimed kazoo expert, revealing in Winter Jam that he practiced for "several weeks." He features a "Kazoo Solo" in the song "Hello" in their second album Smile, It's the End of the World. Hawk Nelson is a Christian pop punk band hailing from Peterborough, Ontario Canada . ... Smile, Its The End of the World is the second full length album by Christian Punk band Hawk Nelson. ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers cover of the Ohio Players song Love Rollercoaster uses a kazoo in the verse. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. ... The Ohio Players are a funk and R&B band whose heyday was in the mid- to late 1970s. ... Love Rollercoaster is a song by American funk/R&B band The Ohio Players, originally featured on their 1975 album Honey. ...

Weird Al Yankovic uses kazoo on several of his parodies, most notable is replacing the guitar solo on "Smells Like Nirvana" with kazoos and the end of "Headline News" with kazoos. This article is about the musician. ... Smells Like Nirvana is a parody of Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit written and performed by Weird Al Yankovic. ... This article is about the cable television network. ...

The kazoo was used in the musical interlude of "Johnny Get Angry," a top ten hit for Joanie Sommers in 1962.

Pink Floyd used kazoos in the songs "Corporal Clegg" and "Jugband Blues" from the album A Saucerful of Secrets, played by David Gilmour and Syd Barrett, respectively. Pink Floyd are an English rock band that initially earned recognition for their psychedelic or space rock music, and, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. ... Corporal Clegg is a song by British psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd, and is featured on their second album, A Saucerful of Secrets (1968). ... Jugband Blues is a song by British progressive rock band Pink Floyd. ... A Saucerful of Secrets is the second album by rock band Pink Floyd, and arguably one of the first progressive rock albums. ... For the Canadian writer and television journalist, see David Gilmour (writer), for the jazz guitarist see David Gilmore. ... Roger Keith Syd Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006) was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist, and artist. ...

Italian singer-songwriter Edoardo Bennato has often used a kazoo in his songs, which are a blend of Neapolitan folk tunes, blues and rock-and-roll. The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... Edoardo Bennato (July 23, 1946) is an Italian singer-songwriter. ... Location of the city of Naples (red dot) within Italy. ...

The Kinks incorporated the kazoo into the song "She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina" on their album Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire). The Kinks were an English rock group formed in 1963 by lead singer-songwriter Ray Davies, his brother, lead guitarist and vocalist Dave Davies, and bassist Pete Quaife. ... </gallery> </gallery> </gallery> </gallery> </gallery> </gallery> </gallery> </gallery>neygoround, Part One]] (1970) Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) is a concept album by English rock band The Kinks, released in late 1969. ...

The Spinto Band use the kazoo in the intro to the song 'Brown Boxes' from the album 'Nice and Nicely Done'. The Spinto Band is a rock band from Wilmington, Delaware. ... Nice and Nicely Done is an album by The Spinto Band, released in 2005. ...

Sparky's Flaw use the kazoo to give a more "fun" feel to the song "Indie Rocker" on their "One Small Step EP." Sparkys Flaw is a band that describes itself as Acoustic Driven Pop Rock. ...

The Killers used the kazoo for their song 'Bling' from the album Sam's Town, the kazoo in this case was used by guitarist Dave Keuning's cousin Allister Edmends. The Killers are an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, most famous for their hit singles Somebody Told Me, Mr. ... This article is about the album by The Killers. ... David Brent Keuning is the guitarist for the American synth rock band The Killers. ...

Blind Melon features the usage of a kazoo in the intro to the song 'Skinned', from the album Soup. It is played by their then frontman, the late Shannon Hoon. This article is about the band. ... Singles from Soup Released: 1995 Released: 1995 Soup is the second album by the American rock band Blind Melon, released shortly before vocalist Shannon Hoons fatal drug overdose. ... Richard Shannon Hoon (September 26, 1967 – October 21, 1995) was an American musician and lyricist, and the lead singer of the band Blind Melon. ...

I'm From Barcelona is a Swedish pop act. There are 29 members and their music mixes instruments such as kazoos, clarinets, saxophones, flutes, trumpets, banjos, accordions, guitars, drums and keyboards among others. During live shows fans who have brought their kazoos are sometimes invited on stage to join in in the kazoo playing. Im From Barcelona is an indie-pop act from Jönköping, Sweden, best known for its 29 band members and eclectic mix of instruments such as clarinets, saxophones, flutes, trumpets, banjos, accordions, kazoos, guitars, drums, and keyboards among others. ...

The first act finale of John Corigliano's opera The Ghosts of Versailles features a troop of marching kazoo players. John Corigliano (b. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The kazoo is also one of the main instruments used by players in groups of the Carnival of Cádiz. The Carnival of Cádiz is one of the best known carnivals in the world. ...

The game Zak McKracken prominently features a kazoo, essential for solving one puzzle and useful for others. Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders is a graphical adventure game, originally released in 1988, published by LucasArts (known at the time as Lucasfilm Games). ...

The game Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles uses the kazoo often throughout it, such as Veo Lu Sluice (Promised Grace), Moschet Manor (Magii is Everything), or the theme of Raem, Sad Monster. For other uses, see Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (disambiguation). ...

The game Banjo-Kazooie for the Nintendo 64 platform uses the kazoo for the opening game intro as well some levels in gameplay. It was also made the primary instrument played by the scarlet female bird character, Kazooie, hence the origins of her name. Banjo-Kazooie is a 3-D platform/adventure video game for the Nintendo 64. ...

Willie Kimberson's Concerto for Kazoo and Strings (2004) is heralded as one of the most popular new works for kazoo. It was commissioned by kazoo virtuoso Herindinickidish Berschmerkes for the annual kazoo and steel drum festival at Baniff Music Festival.

The Kazoo Funk Orchestra use Kazoos in many tracks but aren't limited to them, they blend with guitars and the usual band related instruments.

Creedence Clearwater Revival mentions the kazoo in the song Down on the Corner from the album Willy and the Poorboys. Creedence Clearwater Revival (commonly referred to by its initials CCR or simply as Creedence) was an American rock band, which consisted of John Fogerty (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano), Tom Fogerty (guitar, vocals, piano), Stu Cook (bass guitar, vocals), and Doug Clifford (drums, percussion, vocals). ... Down on the Corner is a song by American band Creedence Clearwater Revival. ...

Ringo Starr's "You're sixteen" features a kazoo solo, played by Paul McCartney. Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940), better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an Academy Award-winning English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer for The Beatles. ...

Italian singer-songwriter Patrizia Laquidara plays sometimes the kazoo during its concerts. The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ...

Michelle Branch is a skilled kazoo player, often featuring the instrument in live performances. Michelle Jacquet Branch-Landau (born July 2, 1983) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. ...

References

• Lombardi, Fabio, 2000, Canti e strumenti popolari della Romagna Bidentina, Società Editrice "Il Ponte Vecchio", Cesena
• Guizzi, Febo, 2002, Gli strumenti della musica popolare in Italia. Invaluable survey of popular instruments in use in Italy, ranging from percussion,wind and plucked instruments to various noise makers. Numerous drawings and plates. Wrappers. - Lucca : Alia Musica, 8. - 502 p. ISBN 88-7096-325-x
• Lombardi, Fabio, 1989, Mostra di strumenti musicali popolari romagnoli : Meldola Teatro Comunale G. A. Dragoni, 26-29 agosto 1989; raccolti da Fabio Lombardi nella vallata del bidente, Comuni di: Bagno di Romagna, S. Sofia, Meldola, Galeata, Forli, Civitella diR. e Forlimpopoli ; presentazione Roberto Leydi. - Forli : Provincia di Forli, 1989. - 56 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. In testa al front.: Provincia di Forli, Comune di Meldola.

Roberto Leydi (1928 - 2003) Italian ethnomusicologt He started his career in the field of contemporary music and jazz, and in the 1950s started his research into the social significance of folk and popular music. ...

External links

• Kazooco, kazoo museum and historic manufacturer
• Eden, NY, home of Kazooco
• "This is a kazoo!" Captain Kazoo: The world's largest private kazoo collection. More history, including details on the mirliton.
• List of pop kazoo performances including Eric Clapton, The Kinks, and Pink Floyd.
• Kazooka, The world's first electric kazoo manufacturer
• Ever wondered what a Kazoo sounds like through a wah-wah pedal?
• Kazoo Links Kazoo information and links
• The Kazoo Funk Orchestra alternative-pop band
• http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=166441300 - Masters of the Kazooniverse - A massed marching band of Kazooness.