Quick Links
Flowing, wavy dark locks and side-splitting lyrics to songs that you know well... by their original and not side-splitting lyrics. Along with a dash of polka, how else can we best describe the man, the parody legend, the multi-millionaire known as Weird Al Yankovic?
For those looking to break into the music world, you may not think that an accordion is the ticket to a sound success path and honestly, it's probably not but one accordion-yielding man beat the odds and this is his incredible story. Weird Al was born Alfred Yankovic in 1959 in Downey, California. His father is part Yugoslavian and fought in World War II for which he earned two Purple Hearts. The award-winning artist has stated that his father believed that the "key to success" was "doing whatever makes you happy." The Yankovics must have believed that their son's happiness lied in thriving musically because at the tender age of six, they signed him up for music classes and there, he learned to play the accordion.
Paging Dr. Demento
Years of mastering the accordion later and cue to adult Al who penned a funny medley poking fun at his family's car - a Plymouth Belvedere - and "Belvedere Cruisin'" was born. In 1976, popular SoCal radio personality Dr. Demento spoke at Yankovic's school. The then 16-year-old aspiring comedian and singer handed Demento a homemade tape which featured "Belvedere Cruisin'."
Demento was so taken with the cleverness of some of the lyrics that he featured it on his show and this would serve as the launching pad of Yankovic's rise to comedic fame. He would later earn his bachelor's degree in architecture at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and once stated that if Dr. Demento hadn't played his tape on his show, he probably "would have a real job." Can you imagine Architectural Designs by Weird Al?
His Bologna
Speaking of college, Yankovic got a gig at his college's radio station and took on the moniker "Weird Al" which had been used as an insult by some of his fellow college students who found him different. During his senior year of college, "My Sharona" by The Knack was at the top of the charts. He used the restroom across the hall from the college radio station to record his creative interpretation of the song, a diddy he called "My Bologna." He credited the restroom form its acoustic advantage.
Soon after the parody's release, he actually met The Knack at a college performance. When lead singer Doug Fieger learned that Yankovic wrote and sang "My Bolonga", Fieger went to bat for the college kid at Capitol Records and the song was released as a single.
This would start the beginning tradition of Yankovic fostering respectful relationships with the artists whose songs he planned to parody. Legend has it that Michael Jackson thought highly of Yankovic asking for permission before parodying "Bad" (with Yankovic's "Fat") that he provided the comedic singer with the exact subway station that he used for his music video. Yankovic has never accepted fan submissions but when Madonna wondered when he would parody her chart-topping "Like a Virgin" with "Like a Surgeon" word got back to Yankovic and the parody became the one and only song that was inspired by someone other than him.
From 1981 to 1989, Yankovic's unusual brand of pop songs mixed with whip smart funny lyrics earned him a band and a stellar career. Yankovic and his team turned out albums quickly along with music videos with Yankovic's blend of sound effects and mile-a-minute jokes.
Losing The Glasses, Losing The 'Stache
In the early 90's, Yankovic won two Grammy awards. But in 1998, a new Weird Al emerged. He had shed his trademark glasses, thanks to LASIK eye surgery and his typical short curly hairstyle had been replaced by long curly locks. He had also shaved his signature 'stache! Would fans accept this new comedic superstar singer?
The answer is yes because his 2006 album "Straight Outta Lynwood" which featured "White & Nerdy", a parody of Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" became a Billboard Top 100 single, peaking at the #9 spot.
Still Funny After All These Years
In 2011, Weird Al released a version of Lady Gaga's hit "Born This Way" called "Perform This Way." As always, he received permission from the artist before releasing his version but this time he decided to take the respect up a notch and stated that all proceeds from the song and music video would be donated to support the Human Rights Campaign in order to honor the roots of the original song. Yankovic has also been known to give generously to the American Foundation for Equal Rights and the Children's Cancer Association.
In 2018, Yankovic released a song entitled "The Hamilton Polka Online" which was in tribute to the popular "Hamilton" musical.
To date, Weird Al Yankovic's net worth is currently $20 million. Along with his two Grammy awards, a spot at the No. 1 album according to Billboard charts, and millions of fans worldwide, we'd say that Yankovic is pretty happy not to gone down the architect path. As he enters the fourth decade of his inspiring career, fans can do nothing but wait for more fun (as they listen to their old favorites, of course) because Weird Al Yankovic's reign over the comedy-song world isn't over until he says so.
Sources: Forbes.com, wealthygorilla.com, looktothestars.org