Tubby the Tuba (song) facts for kids
Tubby the Tuba is a famous song from 1945. It tells the story of a tuba who wants to find his own special melody. Paul Tripp wrote the words, and George Kleinsinger created the music. The first recording in 1946 had Victor Jory telling the story. Later, in 1947, Danny Kaye recorded it, and this version even appeared on his Hans Christian Andersen album. He also recorded a follow-up song called Tubby the Tuba at the Circus.
How Tubby Began
The idea for "Tubby the Tuba" came about during World War II. After Paul Tripp and George Kleinsinger finished performing another song, a tuba player joked, "Hey, tubas can sing too!" This gave Paul Tripp an idea. He decided to write a story about a tuba who felt different and wanted to find his own special tune.
Paul Tripp then worked with George Kleinsinger to turn this story into a song. It became a big hit after the war ended.
Tubby on Screen
The song's success led to animated films. In 1947, George Pal made a short film called Tubby the Tuba using his special Puppetoons animation style. This short film was even nominated for an Oscar!
Later, in 1975, a full-length animated movie about Tubby was made. This film was special because it was one of the first to use computer technology in its animation.
Other Adventures and Recordings
"Tubby the Tuba" became so popular that it led to other stories and songs. Some of these featured other characters from the original story, like Peepo the Piccolo and Celeste.
In 1995, the music group The Manhattan Transfer released an album for children called The Manhattan Transfer Meets Tubby the Tuba. This album included new songs about Tubby's adventures, such as "The Further Adventures of Tubby the Tuba" and "Tubby the Tuba Meets a Jazz Band".
Many famous people have narrated or performed "Tubby the Tuba" over the years:
- In 1958, José Ferrer narrated a version that was nominated for a Grammy Award.
- Mouseketeer Annette Funicello also narrated a version.
- In 1971, Julia Child told the story with the Boston Pops Orchestra, led by Arthur Fiedler.
- In 1996, a new album called Tubby the Tuba and Friends was released. It featured the Radio Orchestra of Bratislava.
- A 2006 album, Play it Happy, included Meredith Vieira as the narrator for "Tubby the Tuba" and "Tubby the Tuba Meets a Jazz Band".
Tubby's Legacy
"Tubby the Tuba" has been translated into more than 30 languages, allowing children all over the world to enjoy the story.
In 2005, the original 1946 recording of "Tubby the Tuba" was added to the National Recording Registry. This means it's considered an important part of American history and culture. In 2006, the original story by Paul Tripp was printed again to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
