Art Paul Schlosser
Encyclopedia
Art Paul Schlosser is a street musician in Madison, Wisconsin
, who plays humorous novelty songs.
, January 4, 1960. He grew up listening to novelty
music like Allen Sherman and Tiny Tim
as well as funny songs by The Beatles
and The Monkees
. When Art was 11, he, his mother, and his sisters moved to Madison, Wisconsin
after his parents got a divorce. As a child in Madison, his mother continued to play weird and funny songs for him, sometimes playing strange sound effects on one recorded player to go with the songs. As a teenager, Art Paul joined a work experience play group that encouraged Art to be creative. In this group, there were a couple of fans of The Beatles
, one of whom encouraged Art Paul to write lyrics. It was from that time on that Art started to write. Art would listen to the Dr Demento radio show as well as other strange records that he discovered at the local library
, and then try to write some lyrics he was inspired to write after listening to the songs.
on State Street, Art Paul tried it out on a warm day late in February 1986 and received a couple of dollars for his effort. Since then Art Paul has been a street musician and busker
as well as an outsider artist on State Street
in Madison
, Wisconsin
.
He usually performs his original songs or parody
s on an acoustic guitar and kazoo
. He also sometimes plays electronic keyboard
or ukulele
.
He is best known for his funny music, especially "Have A Peanut Butter Sandwich", which made the Funny Five of the Dr Demento radio show four times in 2001 and Vote for Me/It's a Joke which was on the Funny Five of the Dr Demento radio in 2003. While he sings mostly humorous songs, Art Paul has also written on the topics of politics
and religion
.
In 2007 Art Paul Schlosser received a Madison Area Music Award for best compilation for his CD Art Paul Schlosser. In 2009 he won two more Madison Area Music Awards for Unique Song ("Have A Peanut Butter Sandwich," the remix version, which was remixed by Animalien) and for Unique Album (Leftovers).
programs, including Greasy Kid Stuff, The Mad Music Hour, Dave's Gone By
and the Dr. Demento
Show, and he has appeared on his own public-access television show
as well as WGN-TV
news
.
On July 30, 2009, Stephen Colbert mentioned Schlosser on the Colbert Report in order to emphasize that any artist can get their songs on iTunes, no matter what the quality of their work may be.
On June 27, 2010, Schlosser appeared on the internet radio show The Bastard Den on Infernal Rock Radio at www.infernalrockradio.com. Art Paul performed a few of his original songs and gave a 15 minute interview.
On June 29, 2010, Schlosser appeared on America's Got Talent
appearing under the name Buddy Holly Cheesehead, singing "Eating Cheese." He was booed off stage almost immediately.
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, who plays humorous novelty songs.
Childhood
Art Paul Schlosser was born born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, January 4, 1960. He grew up listening to novelty
Novelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
music like Allen Sherman and Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim (musician)
Tiny Tim , , born in Manhattan, was an American singer and ukulele player. He was most famous for his rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" sung in a distinctive high falsetto/vibrato voice.-Rise to fame:Born to Lebanese parents in 1932, Khaury displayed musical talent at a very young age...
as well as funny songs by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
. When Art was 11, he, his mother, and his sisters moved to Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
after his parents got a divorce. As a child in Madison, his mother continued to play weird and funny songs for him, sometimes playing strange sound effects on one recorded player to go with the songs. As a teenager, Art Paul joined a work experience play group that encouraged Art to be creative. In this group, there were a couple of fans of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, one of whom encouraged Art Paul to write lyrics. It was from that time on that Art started to write. Art would listen to the Dr Demento radio show as well as other strange records that he discovered at the local library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, and then try to write some lyrics he was inspired to write after listening to the songs.
State Street
Upon discovering that it is legal to buskBusking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
on State Street, Art Paul tried it out on a warm day late in February 1986 and received a couple of dollars for his effort. Since then Art Paul has been a street musician and busker
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
as well as an outsider artist on State Street
State Street (Madison)
State Street is a pedestrian mall located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, United States, near the Wisconsin State Capitol. The road proper extends from the west corner of land comprising the Capitol westward to Lake Street, adjoining the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Madison at Library...
in Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
He usually performs his original songs or parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
s on an acoustic guitar and kazoo
Kazoo
The kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when the player vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton, which is a membranophone, a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane."Kazoo" was the name given by...
. He also sometimes plays electronic keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
or ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
.
He is best known for his funny music, especially "Have A Peanut Butter Sandwich", which made the Funny Five of the Dr Demento radio show four times in 2001 and Vote for Me/It's a Joke which was on the Funny Five of the Dr Demento radio in 2003. While he sings mostly humorous songs, Art Paul has also written on the topics of politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
.
In 2007 Art Paul Schlosser received a Madison Area Music Award for best compilation for his CD Art Paul Schlosser. In 2009 he won two more Madison Area Music Awards for Unique Song ("Have A Peanut Butter Sandwich," the remix version, which was remixed by Animalien) and for Unique Album (Leftovers).
Appearances
Schlosser's music has been played on oddball radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
programs, including Greasy Kid Stuff, The Mad Music Hour, Dave's Gone By
Dave's Gone By
Dave's Gone By is a humorous talk program that currently airs weekly, Saturdays, 10am-1pm, on UNC Radio , the radio station of the University of Northern Colorado. A mix of comedy, talk, music and interviews, the program continues to be produced and hosted by its founder, David Lefkowitz. From...
and the Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
Show, and he has appeared on his own public-access television show
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
as well as WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
.
On July 30, 2009, Stephen Colbert mentioned Schlosser on the Colbert Report in order to emphasize that any artist can get their songs on iTunes, no matter what the quality of their work may be.
On June 27, 2010, Schlosser appeared on the internet radio show The Bastard Den on Infernal Rock Radio at www.infernalrockradio.com. Art Paul performed a few of his original songs and gave a 15 minute interview.
On June 29, 2010, Schlosser appeared on America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
appearing under the name Buddy Holly Cheesehead, singing "Eating Cheese." He was booed off stage almost immediately.