The kazoo is an under - appreciated tool . To remedy that fact , buff from across America have united to lionize National Kazoo Day , a day when the lowly hum instrument can lastly meet the acknowledgment it deserves . Here are a few fascinating points in the history of the great melodious equalizer .
The history of the kazoo is a turn convoluted , as the actual date of its existence is up for debate . African tribes had used similar vibrating , voice - altering tool for ceremonial purpose for hundreds of years before the instrument was introduced in America . But these animal - hide - covered instruments still do n’t quite qualify as a kazoo .
The most popular beginning account says that these African instruments serve for the inspiration for the kazoo , which was introduced by an African - American nominate Alabama Vest in 1840 . The original prototype was created for him by German clockmaker Thaddeus Von Clegg . Vest then demo the kazoo at the 1852 Georgia State Fair , calling it the “ Down - South Submarine . ” At the fair , Emil Sorg fleck the kazoo and ferment with Vest to put together a aggregate - output version that was n’t free for another half a one C .
The trouble with this storey is that there is no actual documentation associating either Vest or Sorg with the invention of the instrument . That does n’t mean it ’s not at least partially genuine , but if it is , it ’s impossible to say which part are fact or fable . It certainly seems weird that something so simple-minded would take over fifty yr to get in mass output .
The first documented conception of the kazoo occurred when Warren Herbert Frost applied for a letters patent in 1883 . But this version was not the simple sauceboat - shaped creation we all acknowledge and make out ( that ’s it above ) . Indeed , it was n’t until 1902 before this more classic version was patent by Mr. George D. Smith .
Within a few decades of Smith ’s letters patent , a numeral of new factory were in operation , pumping out metal kazoos for the muckle . One of those mill is even still in business today , make the instruments ( almost ) the exact same way they did when the manufactory opened in 1916 . Kazoo rooter can even natter the factory , now calledThe Kazoo Factory and Museum .
The kazoo promptly became popular in America , nickname the “ most popular ” instrument in the world as just about anyone can pick one up and play it the right way away . A routine of blue devils , jazz , vaudeville and Bluegrass Region bit worked the instrument into their repertory , and a kazoo can be see on a record for the first clip on the Original Dixieland Jazz Band recording of “ Crazy Blues , ” taped in 1921 . While it ’s more low-spirited pitch than we ’re used to see the instrument played , you may hear the kazoo unaccompanied around the 2:00 mark .
The Mound City Blue Blowers were one of the most notable bands to incorporate kazoo into their euphony , achieving quite a few hits in the 1920s . Non - kazoo operating members of their band played a wax - paper - covered comb , a banjo , a suitcase play with whiskbrooms and a guitar .
The Mills Brothers , a vocal group who later operate on to commemorate over 2000 songs and release three golden records , even started out as a music hall act playing kazoo together . They might not have made it big with the kazoo , but they may not have made it anywhere if they did n’t begin out play the instrument together .
After a myopic time , though , the instrument lost its popularity among professional musicians , who recognized its serious limitations . A few decennium after it achieved mainstream success , the cat’s-paw was for the most part restricted to amateurs and drollery acts .
Even so , it has still find its place in the fine artistic creation community here and there . For example , Frank Loesser incorporate the musical instrument into the orchestra score for his 1961 musicalHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying . The kazoo is played during a view in an executive washroom , where it ’s supposed to sound like an electric razor that fall out to shave in sentence to the music . If you do n’t want to watch the whole clip above , just skip to 3:39 to get a line the kazoo .
A decennium later , kazoo made their biggest German mark thanks to David Bedford ’s avant - garde pieceWith 100 Kazoos . In this 1971 functioning , the hearing member were provided kazoos , which allowed them to flirt along with the professional instrumental ensemble .
More splendidly , The Beatles use kazoos in their song “ Lovely Rita ” and Jimi Hendrix used the instrument in his birdcall “ Crosstown Traffic ” to help accentuate the blown - out speaker sound he was look for . Frank Zappa was also a fan , incorporate the sound whenever he wanted to summate a comedic tactile sensation to his strain .
Barbara Stewart was one of the most famed kazooists of the last hundred years . She started out as a classically trained singer and then moved on to form a quartet called “ Kazoophony . ” Ms. Stewart may be the only person on land to be considered a “ kazoo virtuoso , ” and appeared at such locus as the Carnegie Hall andThe Tonight Show . In fact , if you want to improve your kazooing , you might require to check out Stewart ’s books , The Complete How to KazooandHow to Kazoo .
Ms. Stewart passed aside in September 2011 , but before she died , she did make one last contribution to the art of kazoo playing . On March 14 , 2011 , she execute the consultation of Royal Albert Hall in a performance that wear the Guinness World Record for Largest Kazoo Ensemble , with an amazing 3,910 participants . It ’s not the most symmetrical song you ’ll ever hear , but for having almost 4,000 musician , it ’s still pretty impressive .
While the instrument may never get the realization of the guitar , the tuba or the violin , the kazoo is still the only instrument just about anyone can learn aright off the cricket bat .
One final note , for those who just ca n’t get enough kazoo account , The Kazoo Museum in Beaufort , South Carolina is a dandy place to visit as it sport one of the big kazoo collections in the world , along with a variety of entropy on the tool ’s fascinating chronicle .
