Leon Redbone
Leon Redbone (born Dickran Gobalian;[2][3] August 26, 1949 – May 30, 2019) was a singer-songwriter and musician specializing in jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley classics. Recognized by his hat (often a Panama hat), dark sunglasses, and black tie, he was born in Cyprus of Armenian ancestry and first appeared on stage in Toronto, Canada, in the early 1970s. He also appeared on film and television in acting and voice-over roles.
This article is about the musician. For other uses, see Redbone.
Leon Redbone
Dickran Gobalian
August 26, 1949[1]
Nicosia, British Cyprus
May 30, 2019 (aged 69)
New Hope, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Musician, singer, songwriter
Guitar, vocals
Late 1960s–2015
In concert, Redbone often employed comedy and demonstrated his guitar-playing skill. His recurrent gags involved the influence of alcohol and claims to that he had written works originating well before he was born. He favored music of the Tin Pan Alley era, circa 1890–1910. He sang the theme to the 1980s television series Mr. Belvedere, and released 18 albums.
Early life[edit]
Redbone was elusive about his origins, and never explained the origin of his stage name.[2] According to a Toronto Star report in the 1980s, he came to Canada in the mid-1960s, and changed his name via the Ontario Change of Name Act.[4] Biographical research published in 2019 corroborated his birth name, and confirmed that his family was of Armenian origin.[2] His parents lived in Jerusalem,[1] but fled in 1948 for Nicosia, Cyprus, where Redbone was born. By 1961, the family had moved to London, England, and by 1965 to Toronto.[2]
Death[edit]
Redbone died on May 30, 2019, from the effects of dementia.[16] At the time he was living in New Hope, Pennsylvania, in hospice care.[8][17] He was survived by his wife Beryl Handler, daughters Blake and Ashley, and three grandchildren.[18]
A statement on Redbone's website noted his death with cheeky humor: "It is with heavy hearts we announce that early this morning, May 30, 2019, Leon Redbone crossed the delta for that beautiful shore at the age of 127. He departed our world with his guitar, his trusty companion Rover, and a simple tip of his hat."[19][20] His longtime publicist Jim Della Croce confirmed that Redbone was actually 69.[8]
Appearances in other media[edit]
One of Redbone's songs, "Seduced", was featured prominently in the 1978 film The Big Fix. He sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Zooey Deschanel over the closing credits of the 2003 film Elf [21] and provided the voice of Leon the Snowman in the film.[22] He performed the theme songs for the TV shows Mr. Belvedere and Harry and the Hendersons.[23]
Redbone appeared regularly on the PBS children's show Between the Lions.[24] On Sesame Street, he sang several songs over film footage, including "Blueberry Mouth", "Have You Ever", and "What Do They Do When They Go Wherever They Go?" He also appeared as Leon in the 1988 film Candy Mountain,[25] and on an episode of the TV show Life Goes On.[26] He narrated the 2011 Emmy Award-winning documentary Remembering the Scranton Sirens, celebrating the exceptional, yet little-known musical legacy of one of the most significant "territory" dance bands in American musical history.[27]
He performed in TV commercials for various companies, including Budweiser beer (where he lay on a surfboard singing "This Bud's for You"[28]), the U.S. automobile brand Chevrolet,[29] All laundry detergent,[30] and InterCity British Rail service (where he sang the song "Relax"[31]). He also lent his voice to an animated caricature of himself in a commercial for Ken-L Ration dog food.[32]
Redbone was the subject of the 2018 short documentary film Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone by Mako Funasaka, Liam Romalis and Jason Charters, produced by Riddle Films.[33]
