The Kazoobie Kazoos Blog

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2012-01-27T18:47:00.003-05:00

As the web has evolved, we have found a better platform for sharing kazoo news and information using our Kazoobie Kazoo Facebook page.

Give us a visit:

Kazoobie Kazoos Facebook Page

We will not be updating this blog in the future.

Dan Hicks - Crazy For Christmas - and Kazoos!

2010-11-28T10:46:00.002-05:00

"Those arrangements feature your basic swing jazz band instrumentation (guitar, piano, bass and drums) with one noticeable addition: the kazoo. Hicks chuckles when asked about the inclusion of that populist and often scorned instrument. “I swore once that the kazoo would never be on my bandstand,” he says. “But somehow the two girls doing kazoos makes it.

Now I got the kazoo every now and then with that ‘kazoo duo,’ but hardly ever a kazoo alone. The kazoo is a staple of the jug band so I hear enough of it with that band. I hear enough, period. Who doesn’t? You never hear it and it’s still enough.” Given that pronouncement, can he think of anything particularly positive to recommend the kazoo? He thinks for a moment. “It’s sort of like singing, though more like falsetto for a guy. You can scat on it and get musical ideas going. You can play it like an instrument and take a solo. That’s a plus."

Read The Whole Review At JazzTimes

Buy The CD

The Crazy Kazoo

2010-08-12T09:42:00.002-05:00

Check out these crazy kazoo versions of popular songs. They are free downloads to use as ringtones or whatever.

The Crazy Kazoo

Nice Jazz Kazoo - Bogdon Vasquaf

2010-06-09T09:40:00.002-05:00

Here is a really nice version of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Desfinado" performed on guitar and kazoo by Bogdon Vasquaf.

Bogdon on Facebook

Bogdon is also the inventor of the Bogdon Box Bass.

Grand Analog - I Play My Kazoo

2010-01-17T01:53:00.003-05:00

Grand Analog is a Canadian collective offering a fresh, live take on hip hop using live music and thoughtful lyrics. In the song "I Play My Kazoo" from the CD Metropolis is Burning, the kazoo is central to the theme of finding meaning in life and struggling to find a place in the world.

The sound is edgy and raw. The passion is real.

And there is some very strong kazoo playing toward to end.

Grand Analog is worth a long listen, and not just for the kazoo playing.

Check Out A Blog About The Song

Grand Analog On MySpace

Grand Analog On Bandcamp

Tyondai Braxton Uses Kazoos

2009-09-27T21:10:00.002-05:00

Composer Tyondai Braxton (son of Anthony Braxton) Uses Kazoo In Recordings.

Here is a quote:

And seriously, anything but MIDI. And then the funny thing is, I'll use some of these effects as placeholders for when I record it, and then I'll say to myself, "Well, I'll really use this instrument." Then as time goes on, I'm like, "Well actually, wait, this sounds pretty cool." Hence the kazoos. I was like, "Kazoos, all right, this will be trumpets, okay?" What respectable man would have a kazoo on his record? Not me. And then, well, skip a couple months ahead, and these kazoos sound fucking awesome, I want to keep this, and I'll have horns doing different parts or doubling the kazoos sometimes.

Read The Whole Article

The Electric Kazoo!

2009-01-20T23:24:00.007-05:00

At NAMM 2009, Kazoobie Kazoos introduced the all-new Electric Kazoo with the genuine "Hummbucker" pickup. This rockin' kazoo was a hit of the show and selected for the "Best of Show" presentation.

Kazoobie Kazoos In The News

2008-09-09T10:36:00.003-05:00

Stephen Murray, 27, is the vice president of operations and one of two full-time employees at Kazoobie Inc., a kazoo factory in Port Richey.

What's it like working at a kazoo factory? And how the heck did one pop up in Pasco County? We just had to ask.

Read The Article

Raison D'Etre = Kazoo Harmony

2008-08-28T12:39:00.002-05:00

Violet Rae Downey, Vickie Ellis, and Roberta Schultz are three women who live to sing together. Described by one critic as “divinely stirring,” their singing seems to define Raison D’Etre. According to Mike Breen of Cincinnati CityBeat, this folk trio offers “some of the finest three-part harmony singing you’ll likely ever hear.”

They also do some great kazoo harmony.

Check Out Raison D'Etre

Kazoos Boost Morale In Iraq

2008-08-18T21:43:00.005-05:00

We got this letter and picture recently:

Hello,
My name is Timothy ###, and I am a soldier in the United States Army. I am currently serving overseas in Iraq. My wife’s cousin knows how much I love Kazoos, so she sent me some great kazoos and a t-shirt. I took the opportunity to start up a kazoo band and got a picture of us in action. Thanks for the great kazoos and for the countless hours of fun they bring! It was a pretty sweet morale booster! Thanks again!

Sincerely,
SGT Timothy ###
418th CA BN
Kirkuk PRT

Kazoobie Kazoos is proud to be a part of boosting the morale of our soldiers in Iraq with our kazoos.

World's Largest Playable Kazoo

2008-08-15T10:07:00.002-05:00

Captain Kazoo has created the World's Largest Playable Kazoo. It's 50" Long, 18" High, and 12" in Diameter. Now mounted in the Kazoo Mobile, this giant kazoo is on display at Captain Kazoo's events.

Captain Kazoo also maintains what is likely the World's Largest Kazoo Collection which is on display in his on line Kazoo Museum.

Teens Set Kazoo Record

2008-07-05T23:05:00.001-05:00

What do you get when you put over 5,000 teens in one city and hand them a kazoo apiece? The ingredients for a world record.

Read Article

Kazoo - What's In The Name?

2008-05-31T10:49:00.004-05:00

NameWire is a blog about product naming written by the folks at Stategic Name Development. They recently posted an article about the name "kazoo."

Outtakes:

The kazoo is, interestingly, the only truly American instrument, leading some to believe it should be our national instrument.
...
I doubt the movement to make the kazoo our national instrument will go anywhere, because the word kazoo is simply too silly. But, on the other hand, its no different than a lot of Web 2.0 names.

NameWire points out the importance of a good product name and makes a business out of helping clients develop great product names.

We at the Kazoobie Kazoos Blog think the word "kazoo" is the perfect word to describe America's unique musical instrument, and we don't think it's a "silly" word at all. At least no more silly than "NameWire." What do you think?

Read The Entire Article

Make The Kazoo America's Official Musical Instrument

Humphrey Lyttelton Goes Out With A Big Kazoo Band

2008-05-13T09:47:00.003-05:00

Humphrey Lyttelton, the jazz trumpeter who became doyen of the double entendre as chairman of the quiz show I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, is to make a bid from beyond the grave to enter the record books as leader of the world’s biggest kazoo band.

Lyttelton, who died on Friday aged 86 after heart surgery, equipped every member of the 3,550-strong audience with a kazoo at a live version of the radio programme earlier this month at the Hammersmith Apollo in London and encouraged them to hum into the simple instrument.

Read The Full Article

The everybodyfields Play Kazoo

2008-03-07T20:03:00.003-05:00

Interviewed by Boaz Frankel of Backstage Live, alt-country band the everybodyfields rocked out on kazoo with a unique version of Elton John's Crocodile Rock.

The band is on tour playing some great music. You may have to request a kazoo number.

Check Out The Video

Kazoo Compared To Accordion And Melodica

2008-03-06T19:59:00.003-05:00

Arizona State University's Web Devil news site recently published an article "Unsung Wonders" shining light on the kazoo, the melodica, and the accordion and bemoaning the fact that these instruments are not universally acclaimed.

The kazoo is described as "a popular instrument in kindergarten classrooms." Will the kazoo ever get respect? Writer Lana Burke thinks not.

Kazoo players: band together and bring the kazoo the respect it deserves.

Read The Article

Broome County Celtic Kazoo Band

2008-02-13T10:03:00.007-05:00

Our good friends over at the Broome County Celtic Kazoo Band have a new website. Check it out by clicking HERE. With over 130 members, the BCCKB is one of the most active and accomplished kazoo bands. They proudly use Kazoobie Kazoos. Check out their events page to see if they will be appearing at a parade near you!

THANKS For The Memories

2008-01-03T12:39:00.000-05:00

The Twain Harte Amateur Neighborhood Kazoo Symphony (THANKS) gave its farewell performance this year after being an integral part of the Twain Harte Christmas Parade since the early 1990s.

"We decided it's time for our swan song," said Gary Sipperley, who founded the group with his wife, Sheri Barnett. "We want to quit while it's still fun."

The couple first attended the Twain Harte Parade in 1991.

Read The Story

The Hollow Trees Use Kazoobie Kazoos

2007-12-07T22:51:00.000-05:00

The Hollow Trees are the best folk band "for families" that you have never heard. By "for families" we mean little kids would love it as much as their parents.

Mixing Americana, folk, and pop, The Hollow Trees keep it simple enough for children with the G-rated lyrics. The music, however, is authentic, pure, and as good as anything you'd hear from your grandpa's best bluegrass records.

Quote From Interview:
Everybody loves kazoos! They were quite popular as musical instruments in the 20's, and I think they're due for a comeback. We have a deuling kazoo solo on one of the songs on the new record.

These kazoos are the highest quality made in the USA Kazoobie Kazoos with The Hollow Trees' logo on them. I'm really proud of them.

Read The Article

The Hollow Trees On CD Baby

The Hollow Trees Web Site

Barbara Stewart to Attempt World Record at the Villages, FL

2007-11-27T08:22:00.000-05:00

Kazoo Expert and author of The Complete How to Kazoo to appear at the Villages, FL on December 16th. Read all about it at The Villages Daily Sun website. Find out more about Barabara here www.howtokazoo.com

Kazoos In Holland

2007-11-17T15:17:00.000-05:00

Professor Peter and Doctor Dick are members of the Small Instrument Society in Holland.
They play lots of small instruments including the kazoo.

Note the interesting kazoos in the photos.

We wish much success and growth to our friends in Holland and their small instruments and hope that they are not intimidated by performers with large instruments.

Visit The Small Instrument Society Web Site

Captain Kazooz Kazoo Revue

2007-11-15T15:11:00.000-05:00

Check out Captain Kazoo's videos on YouTube. Not only is he a good friend of Kazoobie Kazoos, but he is also the creator of the only online kazoo museum. You can find his museum at www.captainkazoo.com

Click HERE to see a list of all of his videos.

One Man Kazoo Band

2007-11-05T22:31:00.000-05:00

Recently discovered on YouTube. No information about who it is.

Nice job of using the kazoo and technology to make a whole band.

Kathy Griffin- From Kazoo Player to Emmy Winner

2007-10-21T10:25:00.000-05:00

Recent Emmy winner Kathy Griffin's career start was on a kazoo. Read more about it from the Sun-Times HERE.

Tenacious D Playing Kazoobie Kazoo

2007-10-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

Check out Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D playing a Kazoobie Kazoo. Our buddy Boaz Frankel of www.clipsandquips.com caught up with the band recently.

Jazz In AZ Jams On Kazoos

2007-10-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Arizona jazz education program "Jazz In AZ" hands out kazoos to fourth and fifth graders at school programs and invites them to improvise along with the quartet.

Listen to an excellent NPR radio story about the program.

Jazz In AZ by Terry Ward For KJZZ

Guinness Book World Record Attempts

2007-10-01T21:16:00.000-05:00

The last few weeks have seen numerous attempts to beat the Guinness Book Of World Records For the World's Largest Kazoo Band.

Past Records:

Quincy Park, IL - 1791 Kazoo Players - June 30, 2004

Rochester, NY - 2679 Kazoo Players - December 31, 2006

Recent Record Attempts:

Harlem, NY - 2147 Kazoo Players - August 2, 2007

Matthews, NC - 2700 Kazoo Players - August 31, 2007

Salem, OR - 2788 Kazoo Players - August 31, 2007

Macon, GA - 2002 Kazoo Players - September 27, 2007

Upcoming Attempts:

Canton, OH - October 5, 2007

Did we miss any?

CBS Sunday Morning - Eye On Kazoos

2007-09-25T11:41:00.000-05:00

On the Sunday, September 23 broadcast of CBS Sunday Morning a very nice feature on kazoos was presented by Bill Geist. The program hosted by Charles Osgood is seen nationwide.

A CBS News web article refers to the broadcast.

Click Here To Read The CBS News Article

Kazoobie Kazoos In The News

2007-08-30T23:29:00.000-05:00

Fox News Tampa Bay recently visited the Kazoobie Kazoos Factory and conducted an interview with Vice President of Operations Stephen Murray. Wow! Kazoos on Fox News!

Check Out The Video

SKYY Challenges Guinness Record

2007-07-25T09:18:00.000-05:00

Denise Wilkinson, Dolores Milligan and Benita Williams, the original female vocalists for the old school R&B group SKYY, are continuing their 25th Anniversary Tour by making History in Harlem.

The three Dunning sisters will attempt to beat the Guinness World RecordTM for the “largest kazoo ensemble” at the Apollo Theater sponsored Summerstage 2007 concert at the Harlem State Office Building on 125th Street, on Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 6:45 PM . The Guinness World RecordTM for the “largest kazoo ensemble” is currently held by the Quincy Park Band and First Bankers Trust Company, and consisted of 1,791 people playing the kazoo for more than 5 minutes at Madison Park, Quincy, Illinois, USA, on June 30, 2004.

Read The Article

Another Article

UPDATE:
Bid to Break Record Falls Short

Read AP News Article

Read New York Daily News Article

Mirlitons of Mirth

2007-05-01T18:58:00.000-05:00

Here is a nice article in the Sarasota, FL, Herald-Tribune, tracing the history of Kazoobie Kazoos.

Read The Article

The Broome County Celtic Kazoos

2007-03-14T21:47:00.000-05:00

A highlight of every St. Patrick's Day Parade in Binghamton, NY, the Broome County Celtic Kazoos numbers over 130 kazoo players with 14 percussionists. The newspaper in Binghamton gave ample credit to the band for entertaining parade watchers.

The Celtic Kazoos practice for over one month leading up to the parade, and they are yearly winners of "First Place For Crowd Enthusiasm" at the parade.

If you are planning a kazoo band for St. Patrick's Day - this is the band to aspire to.

Martha Stewart Kazoos

2007-01-29T10:57:00.000-05:00

In celebration of National Kazoo Day, Martha Stewart played kazoo with "How To Kazoo" author Barbara Stewart (no relation). Everyone in the audience received a free copy of "How To Kazoo" along with a free kazoo.

Martha showed style and pizazz and played the "Muffin Man" song with some coaching from professional kazooist Barbara.

The Martha Stewart Show

William Shatner Plays Trombone Kazoo On Boston Legal

2007-01-10T10:08:00.000-05:00

On the January 9, 2007, episode of Boston Legal William Shatner is seen playing Trombone Kazoo.

It made quite a stir in the blogs.

Check out the promo trailer. You can even hear a smidgen of the kazoo sound.

The next morning Kazoobie Kazoos had orders for upwards of 200 of these. Within a week over 300 Trombone Kazoo have been sold. Wow!

Buy A Trombone Kazoo

The Cure Plays Kazoo On MTV Unplugged

2007-01-05T23:51:00.000-05:00

In the early nineties the rock band The Cure performed on MTV's Unplugged. They played kazoos and even hand kazoos out to the audience. They performed the song, "The Walk."

A video has surfaced on YouTube. Thanks to Craig R. for making us aware of this.

Vintage Kazoo Of The WeekNu Kuzu

2007-01-05T23:40:00.000-05:00

The Nu Kuzu is a poorly made by colorful Tin Kazoo. Popular in the late 1930's, they are quite rare and have become favorites of Kazoo Collectors. (Yes, there are kazoo collectors.)

These Nu Kuzu's are found in the collection of Captain Kazoo.

I'm glad to know they are valuable, because I have a few of these stashed away in a box somewhere. Let the bidding begin.

Captain Kazooz Kazoo Museum

Mr. Kazoo at Clips & Quips

2007-01-05T23:24:00.000-05:00

Watch the adventures of Mr. Kazoo at Clips and Quips. Boaz Frankel is a television producer and film producer who interviews celebrities and posts then on this fun web site. See the big stars play kazoo in some of the interviews.

The episodic adventures of Mr. Kazoo follow the daily trials and tribulations of a young kazoo making it's way in the city. It's very funny and deserves to be on Saturday Night Live.

Visit The Clips and Quips Web Site

Visit The Mr. Kazoo Page

Rochester, NY, Makes A Big Kazoo Band

2007-01-01T10:55:00.000-05:00

A slew of kazooers massed on East Main for a Camp Good Days and Special Times fund-raiser, trying to beat the Guinness record for the world's largest kazoo ensemble at 1,791. The sound of "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and other tunes on kazoos echoed off downtown buildings for five minutes. Organizers said they beat the record with 2,679 players.

The Democrat and Chronicle

Camp Good Days

We May Claim The Record

Band Of The WeekKAZOO

2006-12-22T19:53:00.000-05:00

Well, maybe not really a band (no tour schedule) but more of an indie music studio project formed by "Munk Marvelous." Still there's a great logo, a MySpace site and some very interesting tracks featuring layers of kazoo and percussion ("homemade drums and various other household objects").

Check out Heartbreaker, Beat It (eerily sounds like Michael Jackson himself is kazooing the melody), Ironing Maiden, and Roxanne - instrumental covers of some great songs in a style reminiscent of the Temple City Kazoo Orchestra.

Hailing from Van Nuys, CA, KAZOO is showing the world that the kazoo rocks. I'm hoping they get picked up for some major label distribution and maybe a tour with Weird Al.

Feel The Buzz
Check Out KAZOO On MySpace

Vintage Kazoo Of The Week1939 New York World's Fair Kazoo

2006-12-22T19:29:00.000-05:00

As a weekly feature we'll spotlight some of the great vintage kazoos (at least until we run out of great vintage kazoos). This week it's the 1939 New York World's Fair Kazoo produced as a souvenir of that auspicious event.

Manufactured by The Original American Kazoo Company in Eden, NY, it is known as the "Trylon and Perisphere" Kazoo, because it resembled the famous structures at the Fair.

A smaller round kazoo was also produced as a souvenir, but this one is cooler. In fact, one of these vintage kazoos appeared on eBay and failed to sell at nearly $250.00.

Special Thanks to Captain Kazoo and His
"Captain Kazooz Kazoo Museum."

Gene Shalit Picks "How To Kazoo" Top Ten Holiday Book

2006-12-21T15:44:00.000-05:00

Today show commentator Gene Shalit picked Barbara Stewart's, The Complete How To Kazoo, as one of his Top Ten Holiday Books for family gift giving. Gene even gave us a little kazoo playing on national television. And you can't have too much kazoo playing on national television.

Thanks, Gene and Happy Holidays to everyone at the Today Show on NBC.

Read The Whole List and View the Video

Andy Rooney Gets A "Professional" Kazoo

2006-12-19T16:10:00.000-05:00

Andy Rooney likes to talk about stuff. Everyday stuff. On December 10, 2006, Andy talked about all of the "junk" he receives in the mail. So much junk. Poor Andy.

Along with a copy of Barbara Stewart's new book, The Complete How To Kazoo, Andy got a "professional" quality kazoo. "I wouldn't want an amateur-quality kazoo." he reflected.

Now I don't want to delve into a deep philosophical discussion about what constitutes "professional" or "amateur" when it comes to kazoos, but let's just say that quality comes down to the player. Just having a "professional" quality kazoo doesn't make one a professional player any more than having "professional" quality eyebrows makes one a professional commentator.

Although you'd have to say that Andy's got "professional" quality eyebrows.

Read The Report and View The Video Over At CBS.com
(Warning: This link crashed my FireFox, so you should probably use IE.)

Band Of The Week The Two Man Gentlemen Band

2006-12-16T10:46:00.000-05:00

With toe-tapping rhythms, uproarious lyrics, impeccably tailored outfits, and perfectly charming manners; The Two Man Gentlemen Band is nothing if not fun! Whether they're performing in a city park, on a subway platform, in a lively pub, or a quiet listening room, the unstoppable duo of Andy Bean and Fuller Condon always gets the audience smiling.

The Gentlemen combine jug-band, swing, country, dixieland, bluegrass, gospel, jazz, and old-time styles to create a two-man sound that is all their own. Unwilling to confine themselves to one genre, The Gentlemen describe their style simply as "Good-Time Music." The band’s shows are rowdy, interactive affairs. The Gentlemen travel with huge boxes of kazoos, which they distribute for free at every performance. Audiences are encouraged to kazoo and sing along as much as possible.

Band Web Site

My Space

Resident Leads Kazoo Players With Plunger

2006-12-16T10:28:00.000-05:00

The Seal Beach, California, Christmas Parade featured more than 70 youth groups, drill teams and marching bands. But for many spectators who attended, the main attraction of the night was that shirtless man holding up a toilet plunger and leading a group of kazoo players.

“He’s a character,” said Stan Anderson, parade organizing committee member.

Anderson was referring to Michael Brief, leader of the Almost Famous Seal Beach Kazoo Marching Society Band.

For more than 20 years, Brief has led a group of 20-30 white-clad kazoo players in the annual parade. The bandleader himself marches down the parade route shirtless, wearing pink tuxedo tails, a white bowtie, white shorts, white gloves and pink sneakers. For a baton, he waves around a toilet plunger.

http://www.gazettes.com/kazooband11302006.html

Organizing A Kazoo Christmas

2006-12-15T21:05:00.000-05:00

Is there any benefit to 60 people performing Christmas music on kazoos? That's the fundraising question those wacky "It's a Kazoo Christmas" creators Rob Radencic and Jennea Stewart are hoping to answer.

The friends, along with a handful of volunteers, are trying to round up enough musicians willing and able to perform Christmas carols in perfect harmony over the bustle of holiday shopping at downtown's Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Read The Full Artical In The Oregonian

It's A Kazoo Christmas Web Site

The All New Kazoobie Kazoos Blog

2006-12-15T20:40:00.000-05:00

Keep up with the Kazoobie Kazoos news and news about kazoos from all over the world.