A Tiny Tribute

I'm more than just a fan of Tiny Tim's music (which more often featured a rich, expressive baritone than his famous falsetto), I admire the man. I think he personified all the best things about what a life can be. No matter how improbable the circumstances, Tim found a way to live the life he wanted to lead.

He wanted to sing songs from a particular era, a time so far gone that the "oldies" on the oldies stations don't go back that far, and in an era that made The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin household names, somehow Tiny Tim and his ukulele found their own little niche.

He managed to stay upbeat, optimistic, and truthful in a world that can be awfully dark and gloomy. He sang "I believe in tomorrow" without a hint of irony, because for him there was none. He really did believe in tomorrow.

You couldn't laugh at him, you could only laugh with him. Tiny was once asked in an interview, "Don't you ever get tired of singing "Tip Toe Thru The Tulips?"

"Every time I sing that song, people smile," he answered. "Who could get tired of that?"

Tiny Tim remained a free spirit, unbowed and innocent, until the very end. I do not doubt that he is one of God's favorite children, and I wish I was more like him.

(On the internet, the best site for all things Tiny is The Tiny Tim Memorial Site. It's amazingly complete. One of my favorite parts is the interview. It turns out Tim met one of my other favorite musicians, George Harrison!)

Thomas Bryner