Tubby The Tuba - Jose Ferrer

"Tubby the Tuba" is the title of a 1945 song with lyrics written by Paul Tripp and music composed by George Kleinsinger. The original 1946 recording featured Victor Jory's narration. A second recording, released on the Decca label in 1947, was spoken and sung by Danny Kaye. The song traces its origins back to World War II, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. After Tripp and Kleinsinger performed their first musical piece, the tuba player quipped: "You know, tubas can sing, too." With this in mind, Tripp wrote the tale of a tuba who found a melody to play, and the pair then made a song out of it. It was not until the war ended that they finally had a hit with "Tubby". The sales success of the tune prompted George Pal to make a 1947 Puppetoon based on it, which was nominated for a Best Animated Short Oscar. It was followed by a 1975 animated feature, which was the first of its kind to take advantage of computer technology. There have been spinoffs involving two other characters from the song, Peepo the Piccolo and Celeste.[2] The Manhattan Transfer recorded an album featuring the character, their only one for children, in 1995; it contained the three sequel songs called "The Further Adventures of Tubby the Tuba", "Tubby the Tuba Joins the Circus", and Tubby the Tuba Meets a Jazz Band". This recording of "Tubby the Tuba" is the 1958 version narrated by José Ferrer that was nominated for the Best Recording For Children at the 1st Annual Grammy Awards.

[@malcolmdale]

My parents gave me the Danny Kaye Tubby the Tuba record for my 10th birthday present. I loved it then and now I'm 82 and I still love it!

[@corriepitt7630]

A wonderful recording and beautifully read by Jose Ferrer. Thanks for this happy memory. I still remembered much of the words and music after all these years.

[@thehehrarchive1556]

So happy you enjoyed it Corrie, it is a classic piece. 👍

[@WillCWilson]

I can't listen to this without imagining Ben Haramed from Rankin/Bass' The Little Drummer Boy being the one reading it [Jose Ferrer played that character]

[@stephenlang3135]

I wish they would do this at the Henry Wood proms.