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'Weird Al' Yankovic
Age: 50
Height: 6' 0"
Birth Place: Lynwood, California, USA
Born: Oct. 23rd, 1959
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'Weird Al' Yankovic's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: Al Yankovic was born on October 23, 1959, in the Los Angeles suburb of Lynwood. He first took up the accordion when a salesman came around to solicit business for a music school. His parents, Nick and Mary Yankovic, decided on the accordion because of polka king Frankie Yankovic (no relation). As a child and young teen, Al watched a lot of TV, which gave him much inspiration for his later work. He also became a fan of such musician/comedians as Allan Sherman and Spike Jones (I). He became especially acquainted with these musicians through the radio show of Barry Hansen (II), aka "Dr. Demento", which would later become a great source of publicity for his talents. After an extraordinary career at Lynwood High School, where Al graduated as valedictorian, he attended the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo to study architecture, a field he is said to have chosen because it was listed first in the catalog (although he has said that he really chose it on the advice of a guidance counselor). It was at Cal Poly that Al had a radio show and earned the nickname "Weird Al". Although he had sent tapes to Dr. Demento in the past, it was at Cal Poly where he recorded his first real published piece, a parody of the popular "My Sharona" by The Knack, called "My Bologna". After the astounding success of that song, forever to be known as the "bathroom recording" as it was recorded in the acoustically perfect mens' room, Al began his phenomenal career, which has spanned twelve albums, numerous compilations, a box set, movies, videos and edible underwear. He has also done a great deal to advance the cause of accordion-wielding weirdos, for which we can all be thankful.
TRIVIA:
- He used the money he earned from "My Bologna" to found his own short-lived record label, Placebo Records, which released his second record (an "EP" record with only 4 songs). Copies of the record are hot collector's items.
- Yankovic wrote the song "One More Minute" after being dumped by a then-girlfriend. He sought to remake this song as a duet with 'Frank Sinatra' (qv), but Sinatra declined Yankovic's invitation.
- Since 2001, his song 'Christmas at Ground Zero' has been banned at some radio stations due to content. Although the song is about Nuclear war at Christmas and was recorded in 1986 (from his album "Polka Party"), those stations have feared that "Ground Zero" has recently become synonymous with the World Trade Center buildings collapsing.
- The contract that allows his records to be released by record companies outside the US also grants permission for those companies to use other cover artwork. As a result, some truly bizarre covers have been produced, particularly in Japan and other non-English-speaking areas.
- Contrary to popular belief, Yankovic is not under any explicit obligation to obtain permission from the composers of the songs he parodies -- courts in the U.S. and other countries have consistently given great latitude to parody, almost always ruling that it is protected under the tenets of free expression and social critique (the exceptions are generally cases where the resulting work violates principles of good taste). Out of respect for his peers in the entertainment industry, however, he has always asked permission, and (the 'Coolio' (qv) controversy notwithstanding) has consistently abided by the artists' wishes. While permission isn't mandatory, he *is* obligated to pay royalties for any direct parodies.
- His album covers are frequently parodies as well: 'Michael Jackson (I)' (qv)'s "Bad" album was spoofed as "Even Worse" (Yankovic even hired the same photo, artwork, and wardrobe team to replicate the cover precisely); 'Nirvana' (qv)'s "Nevermind" became "Off The Deep End" (with Al replicating the naked baby in the pool photo himself); and the _Jurassic Park (1993)_ (qv) soundtrack was turned into "Alapalooza".
- After doing a short polka parody of "Jocko Homo", members of DEVO ran into Al at a party and asked why they weren't worthy of a full song parody. Al responded with the pastiche piece, "Dare To Be Stupid". Reportedly the members of Devo were not impressed.
- Daughter Nina Yankovic born to Al and Suzanne on February 11, 2003.
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