Tiny Tim (born Herbert B. Khaury; April 12, 1932 – November 30, 1996) was an American singer, ukulele player, and musical archivist.[1] He is best remembered for his rendition of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” sung in a high falsetto/vibrato voice.
Tiny Tim was born in Manhattan, New York City on April 12, 1932. His mother was Tillie (née Staff), a garment worker, who was the daughter of a rabbi. She had immigrated from Brest-Litovsk as a teen in 1914. Tiny’s father, Butros Khaury, a textile worker, was from Beirut, Lebanon and his father was a Maronite Christian priest.[3][4][5]
In a 1968 interview on The Tonight Show, he described the discovery of his ability to sing in an upper register in 1952: “I was listening to the radio and singing along; as I was singing I said ‘Gee, it’s strange. I can go up high as well.'” He then entered a local talent show and sang “You Are My Sunshine” in his newly discovered falsetto. Although he stood 6 ft 1 in (185 cm),[7] he started using the stage name Tiny Tim in 1963 at the suggestion of his manager George King.