Music Monday - Caroll Spinney

I am thirty-six and a half years old, more or less. I've been a Muppet fan since before I can remember. I do not remember a time when that switch was not flipped into the 'on' position. Finally last Saturday I met a Muppeteer. Not just any old Muppeteer but one of the longest serving ones and, arguably, one of the most popular. I met the man behind Big Bird and Oscar, Caroll Spinney.

I had no great expectations for the experience, just the hopes that I wouldn't make too much of a fool of myself. It worked out great. There was no mad rush for him and I ended up spending an hour or so, off and on, with him and his wife, watching him draw and chatting. It was like meeting an uncle you'd never met before and finding out he's a really neat guy, just like you hoped.

Caroll and his characters go back to the beginning of Sesame Street when things were a bit different. Apparently Oscar hadn't been exposed to his trash for as long and had yet to turn green. But he could sing.





Big Bird was different in those early days as well, a little smaller of head, literally and figuratively. Early on, he was 'younger' and played more as a more learning, simple character than the innocent he would become. Ah, days when words had different meanings and before government cutbacks would eliminate Q and Z from the alphabet...








I love Oscar for many reasons. This song and the thoughts behind it may be most of the reason why.





Mr. Spinney, good health! And have a rotten day! heh heh heh


Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days     Sesame Street: Old School, Vol. 1 (1969-1974)