Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim was the stage name of Herbert Khaury, an American singer, musician, and music archivist best known for his ukulele performances and falsetto singing.

Tiny Tim was the stage name of American singer and musician Herbert Khaury, known for his ukulele performances and falsetto singing. He became widely known in the late 1960s for his version of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips."

What it is

Tiny Tim was the professional name of Herbert Khaury, a New York-born performer who built a career around a signature falsetto voice and ukulele accompaniment. He emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene and reached a national audience through television in the 1960s, most famously on The Ed Sullivan Show. His repertoire focused on early 20th-century popular songs, delivered with an eccentric stage presence that made him a memorable cult figure.

Why it matters

Tiny Tim remains a reference point in popular music and novelty performance, illustrating the breadth of American pop culture that reached Canadian audiences through television and recordings. His blend of vintage songs, unusual vocal style, and ukulele playing influenced later artists and persists as a touchstone for mid-20th-century television and musical eccentricity. This cultural ubiquity keeps his name familiar even decades after his peak.

Key details

Born Herbert Khaury in Manhattan on 12 April 1932, he began performing in the 1950s. His breakthrough came in 1968 with a hit version of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" and frequent TV appearances. He continued performing into the 1990s, and died on 30 November 1996 in Minneapolis after collapsing during a show. His signature instrument was the ukulele, and his falsetto voice defined his sound.