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Al Yankovic was born Alfred Matthew Yankovic on October 23, 1959 at 1:56pm. He was born in the Downy hospital, near Lynwood California, where he grew up. On October 22, 1966, (right before Al's seventh birthday) a door-to-door accordion salesman came to Al's door. Nick and Mary (Al's Parents) decided that their boy would play the accordion. Al enjoyed the accordion, but mastered it in 3 years and decided to quit lessons. His High School was right across the street from his house. Al's parents were protective when it came to school. For example: when Al was in P.E. his mom would watch him through binoculars just to make sure the other kids weren't playing to rough with him. Al was a straight "A" student and graduated Valedictorian at the age of 16.
He was convinced by a guidence counseler that he should be an archetect. So he went to California Polytec to get a degree in architecture. In College, he was the night shift at the Radio station. Every night he would go to the college radio station and do "The Weird Al Show" on the radio. As Al has said in interviews, he was being a "Dr. Demento" for that part of California, because the Demento show wasn't up there.
In 1979, Al was intrested in The Knack's "My Sharona" and he decided to do "My Bologna." He sent "My Bologna" to the Dr. Demento show, and Dr. Demento played it. It became a huge hit. Later, He was paying attention to Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" and soon turned it into "Another One Rides The Bus." He went to Dr. Demento, and told him he wanted to perform his new song right then. Al was standing there next to a guy named Jon Schwartz, who was doing some songs for Dr. Demento. Jon told Al that he was a professional drummer, and that he would like to help out with performing the new song. Al approved and they performed "Another One Rides The Bus". It became a bigger hit than "My Bologna." Radio Stations all over the world wanted a copy of "Another One Rides The Bus". After that, Jon Shwartz said to Al "Al, that that was a lot of fun and he should start a band." Jon became Al's drummer, and is now known as Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz. Although it is not certain, we believe Al picked the nick name "Bermuda" because his last name sounds like "Shorts." As in Bermuda Shorts.
Now, Al has: (Drums) Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz (http://weirdalexperience.com/jon__bermuda__schwartz), (Bass) Steve Jay (http://weirdalexperience.com/steve_jay), (Guitar) Jim West (http://weirdalexperience.com/jim_west), and (Keybords) Ruben Valtierra (http://weirdalexperience.com/ruben_valtierra). The band's first gig was to open for "Missing Persons." The first show didn't go to well. Throughout the whole show cups, keys, glasses... were being thrown at them. But, they actually went through with the show. After the show, Al was walking back to his car, and is approached by a 12 year old kid. The kid said "Are You Weird Al?" Al said "Yeah." The kid said "You Suck!"
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After that, Al made an album, and it went Gold in the US. Al was waiting for the next pop culture event, and along came Michael Jackson. Al wanted to do a parody of Michael Jackson's hit song "Beat It and turn it into "Eat It". Michael Jackson gave his permission, and Al released "Eat It". After Eat It, Many people thought of Al as "The Eat It Guy." He got a Grammy for "Eat It". The album In 3-D went Gold in Canada, and Platinum in the US.
Once again, Al was waiting for the next pop culture event, he found Madonna. He wanted to do a parody of Madonna's hit song "Like a Virgin" and make it "Like a Surgeon". Madonna gave her permission, and he released it. The third album, Dare To Be Stupid, went Platinum in the US, and Gold in Canada. His Forth album, Polka Party is the worst selling album to date. Al wanted to make a come back, so he went back to parody another one of Michael Jackson's hits, "Bad", and made it "Fat". "Fat" was nominated for a Grammy and won it. The album Even Worse went Platinum in the US, Gold in Canada.
Al thought it would be fun to make a Weird Al movie. He and Jay Levey (his manager), sat down and talked about it. In 1988 he started making the movie, UHF. It starred Al Yankovic (as George), Victoria Jackson (as Teri), Michael Richards (as Stanley), David Bowe (as Bob), Fran Drechsser (as Pamela), and Kevin McCarthy (as R.J. Fletcher). UHF is about a man named George Newman, who is a day dreamer. Which means he loses all of his jobs. His uncle wins a UHF station, and gives it to George. George's opponent has enough money to stop their station. Will George get enough money in time to save the station? Buy UHF to find out. It is on VHS and DVD right now!
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After UHF, he, again was waiting for the next pop culture event, he found Nirvana. He couldn't reach Kurt Cobain for his permission (lead singer of Nirvana), but luckly, Nirvana was playing on Saturday Night Live. Since UHF, he was friends with Victoria Jackson (Saturday Night Live). He asked Victoria if she could but Kurt Cobain on the phone with him, and she did. Al asked Kurt Cobain if he could do a parody of "Smells like Teen Spirt" Kurt said "Yeah thats fine, is it gonna be a song about food?" Al said " No, actually it's gonna be a song about how nobody can understand your lyrics." Kurt said "Well, Okay thats funny." Al's Album Off the Deep End went Gold in the US, and Platium in Canada.
For Al's next album, he did a parody of the Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away" and turned it into "Bedrock Anthem", a song about the Flinstones. The album Alapalooza went Gold in the US and Double Platinum in Canada.
His next Album was called Bad Hair Day. It featured a song by Coolio called "Gangsta's Paradise", and Al made it "Amish Paradise." Al's people told Al that Coolio gave his permission to do the parody. With that information, Al made the song and released it. After he released it, Coolio said that he never gave Al his permission. Al felt bad and wrote a letter to Coolio telling him that there must have been a miscommunication, and that he is very sorry. Al never heard back from Coolio. Bad Hair Day went Platinum in the US and Canada.
Two years after Bad Hair Day, Al got LASIK EYE Surgery, and no longer needs his glasses. He also shaved off his signature mustache. When asked why he changed his appereance Al said "If Madonna can change the way she looks every 5 minutes, I think I should change my look every 20 years." He made his next album Running With Scissors, and it went Platinum in the US and in Canada.
After the great success of Running With Scissors, Al took a four year break. In those four years he:
- Was touring for Touring with Scissors.
- He directed and produced videos for other artists.
- He fell in love, and was married to Suzanne on February 10, 2001.
- Two years later he and Suzanne had a baby girl, and named her Nina (Born February 11, 2003).
Al then released his latest album, Poodle Hat. Poodle Hat has won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album! Unfortunatly, Al's parents, Nick and Mary Yankovic passed away due to carbon monoxide poisioning on April 9, 2004. Though Al was devistated, he continued the Poodle Hat tour, where he was surrounded by loving family, friends and fans.
After Poodle Hat, Al released an album called Straight Outta Lynwood which featured a parody of Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" called "White And Nerdy". Straight Outta Lynwood had it's debut on the Billboard charts at #10 making it Al's first album to debut in the top 10. "White And Nerdy" had it's debut on the Billboard charts at #28 which moved up to #9, making it Al's first single to be in the 10. Straight Outta Lywnood was nominated for a Grammy and was awarded GOLD in the United States. White & Nerdy was certified PLATNIUM as a snigle and GOLD as a ringtone. Al went on the Straight Outta Lynwood Tour in 2007 and 2008. He toured the United States, Canada, Austrailia, and New Zeland.
Al decided to experiment with his new single that would be on the new album. Al wrote a parody of T.I's "Whatever You Like" also called "Whatever You Like." He exclusively released it on iTunes within two weeks after recording in an attempt to stay topical. The day of release, iTunes did not release it. It took a whole 24 hours to finally get Al's "Whatever You Like" released. It is still as of right now available on iTunes.
Al has a degree in architecture. He went to Cal Poly for College. He was playing songs on the Dr. Demento Radio station when he was 17-years-old. Al has made 12 studio albums, and 5 Compilations. He has over 20 Gold and Platinum records in the US, and Canada. Al has been nominated for a Grammy eight times, and won two Grammys. He co-directed, co-wrote, and starred in his movie, UHF. Al does on tours, and is known for his amazing concerts. Al has made 23 music videos. Al is known for his hit songs such as: Eat It (Beat It), Like a Surgeon (Like a Virgin) Fat (Bad) Amish Paradise (Gangsta's Paradise) My Bologna (My Sharona) and. Another One Rides The Bus (Another One Bites The Dust) He writes parodys, and his original songs. He now lives in Hollywood Hills with his wife Suzanne, daughter Nina, and his bird Bo. "Weird Al" Yankovic will always be known as The King Of Parodies.
Quick Facts:
Full name: Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Father's Name: Nick Yankovic
Mother's Name: Mary Yankovic
Mother's Maiden Name: Vivalda
Wife's Name: Suzanne Yankovic
Daughter's Name: Nina Yankovic
Dog's Name: Bela Yankovic
Birds Name: Bo Yankovic
Hero: Dr. Demento
Influences: Allen Sherman, Spike Jones, Stan Freberg
Elementary School: Woodrow Wilson Elementary
Junior High School: Hosler Junior High
High School: Lynwood Senior High (Al graduated as the valedictorian of his class at age 16.)
College: Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California
Height: 6'0
Shoe Size: 10.5
Weight: 170lb
Car: Silver BMW
Addictions: Breathing
If you want to find out more information on Al go to www.weirdal.com . Bermuda/Al always updates it.
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