Al Yankovic, better known as “Weird Al,” is the godfather of the new age musical satires that have swept the nation. Yankovic has become a cult icon in the music world for his ability to parody well-known songs by well-known performers. Despite the fact that many musicians parody popular songs, Yankovic stands out for his lighthearted, non-offensive, and entertaining lyrics. He began satirizing popular songs at a young age, and his ‘gift’ increased exponentially over time, making him one of America’s most well-known parodists. Despite his studies as an architect, designing buildings was never his strong suit. He was a humorist at heart, and in order to pursue his passion, he had to give up his day job.
Childhood and Adolescence of Al Yankovic
The only child of Nick Louis Yankovic and Mary Elizabeth, Al Yankovic was born as Alfred Matthew Yankovic.
When he was seven years old, a salesman offered his parents the option of taking accordion or guitar lessons at a local music school. Yankovic claims that his parents were encouraged by polka star Frank Yankovic (not related) to pursue accordion.
He was a major fan of musicians/comedians like Tom Lehrer, Spike Jones, Allan Sherman, and Stan Freberg when he was a teenager. He was also a major fan of Elton John, who he described as a wonderful inspiration who taught him how to play “rock ‘n roll on the accordion” through his music.
He graduated as valedictorian from Lynwood High School and then went on to study design at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
A Career of Al Yankovic
He became a disc jockey at the university’s radio station, KCPR, in his second year at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
His buddies started calling him ‘Weird Al’ about then. He chose to preserve and utilize the name. In 1978, he released his first single, ‘Take Me Down,’ a parody of the famed tourist attraction ‘Bubblegum Alley.’
In 1979, he released “My Bologna,” a spoof of the band “The Knack’s” song “My Sharona.” He forwarded this recording to a radio presenter named ‘Dr. Demento,’ and it was played and received positive feedback.
On September 14, 1980, he was invited to the Dr. Demento Show, where he performed a live radio performance of ‘Another One Rides the Bus,’ a spoof of Queen’s blockbuster song.
He initially appeared on stage with Dr. Demento in 1981, and his performance at a nightclub in Phoenix, Arizona, delighted the club’s management, Jay Levey, who encouraged him to form his own band.
His band played their first gig on March 31, 1982. He released his debut self-titled album, “Weird Al” Yankovic, in 1983, and his second album, “Weird Al” Yankovic in 3-D,” in 1984.
In 1985, he published his third studio album, which included the popular single “Eat It,” a spoof of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” and in 1986, he released “Polka Party!” which was a flop.
In 1988, he released his fifth album, ‘Even Worse,’ which served as a sort of comeback following the failure of ‘Polka Party!’ In the United States, ‘Even Worse’ became his best-selling record and was awarded Platinum.
He starred in the film ‘UGH,’ which mocked the television and cinema industries, in 1989. The film went on to become a cult classic, but it was a commercial flop.
He continued to release albums, the most of which were commercially successful, and in September 1997, he began hosting a television show called ‘The Weird Al Show.’ That year’s show lasted until December.
‘Running with Scissors’ was released in 1999, while ‘Poodle Hat’ was released in 2003.
‘Straight Outta Lynwood’ was his most recent album, and on June 21, 2011, he released ‘Alpocalypse,’ his thirteenth studio album, in which he ridiculed Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ with his own version, ‘Perform This Way.’
Major Projects of Al Yankovic
Yankovic’s song “Eat It,” a spoof of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” was a tremendous hit, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s still one of his most popular singles.
The single ‘White & Nerdy,’ from the album ‘Straight Outta Lynwood,’ was well received and reached number 9 on the ‘Billboard Hot 100’ charts, making it Yankovic’s highest charting single.
Achievements & Awards of Al Yankovic
In 1984, he won a Grammy Award for the song “Eat It.” On October 19, 1989, the song was certified gold as a parody of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”
Yankovic won a Grammy Award for “Best Concept Music Video” in 1988 for his parody of Michael Jackson’s “Bad.”
His CD “Poodle Hat” earned a Grammy for “Best Comedy Album” in 2003. Along with certain songs, the album includes some of his real home films with his comments on them.
Personal History and Legacy
Yankovic married Suzanne Krajewski in 2001, and their daughter Nina was born the following year.
On April 9, 2004, his parents died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Estimated Net Worth
Weird Al Yankovic is an American singer, songwriter, comedian, actor, and music producer who has a net worth of $20 million.
Trivia
This American singer-songwriter has imitated Michael Jackson the most out of all his spoofs.
This well-known American singer and songwriter, known as the “Master of Musical Parody,” suffered from severe myopia, which he was able to fix with laser eye surgery.