Tiny Tim

 

"I'd love to see Christ come back to crush the spirit of hate and make men put down their guns.  I'd also like just one more hit single."

Tiny Tim was born Herbert Butros Khaury in New York City on April 12, 1932.  He was a born musician, who was singing and playing the guitar by the time he was six.  He spent much of his teenage years studying sheet music and listening to records in the New York City Public Library.

In 1949, he discovered his high voice, a trait that would define his career.  That same year, he taught himself to play the ukelele, which would become a key ingredient in his act.  By 1958, he was already performing in clubs throughout Gotham, singing his signature hit Tiptoe Through the Tulips.

Tiny Tim first came to national attention in 1968, when he appeared on the premiere broadcast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, where he performed A-Tisket, A-Tasket and On the Good Ship Lollipop (watch both here).  A few months later, he made his first of 22 appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, the most famous of which featured his wedding to first wife Victoria Budinger, whom he lovingly referred to as "Miss Vicki."  Over the course of his four-decade career, Tiny Tim released 14 albums, but he'd never match the success of his signature hit. 

In 1995, Tiny Tim married one of his fans, Sue Gardner ("Miss Sue"), his third and final bride.  He moved to her home state of Minnesota, and by this time, he'd been diagnosed with diabetes.  He revealed that he was, much to Gardner's dismay, impotent, due to poor blood circulation.  He suffered the first of two heart attacks while performing on stage at Massachusetts ukelele festival in September 1996.  Spectators later posted the video online, which you can see for yourself on YouTube. 

He suffered a second heart attack just two months later on November 30, while once again performing on stage, but this one would prove fatal.  When asked by his wife if he felt alright, he'd utter his final words to her, saying "no, I'm not."  He died later that night at the age of 64, passing on to the Other Side.

Unfortunately, you can't tiptoe through anything to reach his grave in Minneapolis, as Tiny Tim is entombed within the Memorial Mausoleum at Lakewood Cemetery.  A single ukelele was placed with him in the coffin.  There are pictures of this online, including this one (scroll down to the bottom).

Location: Room #117, Tier #2, Crypt F

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• If you want to learn more about Tiny Tim, take a voyage to your public library or Amazon.  It's all in books.
  
  
• Australia's Seven Network gave Tiny Tim his own TV special in 1970.  Although A Special Tiny Tim never aired on American television, you can watch it in its entirety on YouTube.  
  
  
• Tiny Tim twice ran for elected office as a member of the New Age Party.  In 1989, he threw his hat into the ring during the New York City mayoral race, but he later admitted that it was just a publicity stunt.  In 1992, he was Pat Paulsen's running mate in the presidential election, but the team never moved past the primary stage.
  
  
• The 1970 Saturday morning series Groovie Ghoulies included a character inspired by Tiny Tim, simply named Tiny.  The singing mummy was known for his song Slip-Slop Through the Swamp Weeds, an obvious riff of Tiny Tim's signature song.
  
  
• Until her passing in 2025, Miss Sue spearheaded a campaign for her husband's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Her application never received serious consideration, however, and seemingly died with her.