It’s been a year! Let’s see if I do a Hallowe’en post this year… for now you’ll have to settle for Jewish novelty songs.
Mickey Katz (June 15, 1909 Cleveland, Ohio - April 30, 1985 Los Angeles, California), was an American comedian and musician who specialized in Jewish humour. This humour most famously translated into a series of LPs of popular songs reinterpreted with a distinctly Yiddish flavour. Most songs were lyrically transformed into what is, for a goy like myself, a largely incomprehensible mix of Yiddish-English.
Like Spike Jones and his City Slickers, Katz capitalised on popular songs, giving them a Yiddish twist. Despite some opposition, and the fact that most of the lyrics were incomprehensible to the majority of Americans, Katz proved incredibly successful during his career.
With albums such as Mish Mosh and The Most Mishige, Katz carved out a niche in Jewish musical comedy that allowed performers such as Allan Sherman to follow.
Mickey Katz - Sixteen Tons
Here’s The Most Mishige, featuring such hits as The Barber of Schlemiel, Knish Doctor, and K Nock Around The Clock. The whole album features, alongside the inventive and humorous lyrics a tight klezmer band that’s able to span musical styles and break into Jewish interludes whenever is needed. Katz’s voice throughout is simply wonderful, and has some serious chops on the clarinet.
Mickey Katz Trivia Time: He was the father of Academy and Tony Award winning actor Joel Grey (famous for playing the Emcee in Cabaret) and grandfather of Dirty Dancing actress Jennifer Grey.
Download HERE (53 mb)
Bonus video: Here’s a clip from Thoroughly Modern Millie with Mickey Katz and his Orchestra backing up Julie Andrews at the most choreographed wedding I’ve ever seen. Katz can be seen on clarinet, when he’s not being blocked by Julie Andrews’ hat or by the remarkably acrobatic Rabbi.
