Terry Teene (February 6, 1942 – March 9, 2012)[1] [sometimes alternatively spelled as Terry Teen] was an American musician, vocalist, songwriter, and entertainer, most commonly known for the early 1960s novelty hit "Curse of the Hearse".[2] According to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, he recorded over 300 distinct songs and played on 100 or more released recordings, performing as a "major artist" on 25 of them. He has recorded under 70 names and appeared in over 500 nightclubs, by his own count.
Born Terence Blaine Knutson[1] to Kermit and June Knutson, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States, Terry Teene began taking piano lessons at four years of age and later sang in the high school choir. A local DJ, hearing him sing in church, suggested that he audition to perform on a local television program. He performed on TV for eight weeks in a row and put together the band "Terry and the Pirates".[1]
Of the 300 songs in Teene's discography, "Curse of the Hearse" - a 1961 rock and roll adaptation of "The Hearse Song" - is perhaps his most famous, being played by Dr. Demento on the majority of his Halloween shows. "Pussy Galore" was originally written for the James BondfilmGoldfinger, but was not featured on the film or soundtrack. Other songs include "Happiness Is Coming" (under the name Blaine Bel Aire),[1] "We're Going to Put Iowa on the Map", "Fun to Be With", and "Perfect 36".
Clowningedit
Teene began a second parallel career as a clown. He performed under the names of "ToBo the Clown" and "Clownzo".[1]
Teene was president of the Cavalcade of Clowns, an association of professional clowns and related entertainers, from 1978 through 1980. He also helped edit the Cavalcade of Clowns magazine. He has appeared with Circus Vargas (for six years), Big John Strong Circus, Mexican International Circus, the Safari Circus (as Producing Clown), and the Emmet Kelly Jr. Circus.
Teachingedit
Teene was also a writer and a teacher,[citation needed] who produced three books on clowning and show business.[citation needed] He taught "Clownology" at 'The Business of Show Business,'[citation needed] and held regularly scheduled classes in the clown arts at the Learning Tree in Canoga Park, California, as well as recurring seminars at UCLA.
Deathedit
On March 7, 2012, Teene was severely injured in Tyler, Texas, when the bicycle he was riding struck a tow truck.[3] He died as a result of the accident, on March 9, 2012. He was 70 years old.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdef"The Dead Rock Stars Club - 2012 January To June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
^"Terry Teene". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
^Dean, Kenneth (9 March 2012), "'Clownzo' Critically Hurt In Accident", Tyler Morning Telegraph
Wikinews has related news:
1960s Rockabilly music artist Terry Teen dies aged 70
Wikinews has related news:
Terry Teen, 1960s Rockabilly artist, injured in collision
January 01, 1970
terry, teene, february, 1942, march, 2012, sometimes, alternatively, spelled, terry, teen, american, musician, vocalist, songwriter, entertainer, most, commonly, known, early, 1960s, novelty, curse, hearse, according, rockabilly, hall, fame, recorded, over, di. Terry Teene February 6 1942 March 9 2012 1 sometimes alternatively spelled as Terry Teen was an American musician vocalist songwriter and entertainer most commonly known for the early 1960s novelty hit Curse of the Hearse 2 According to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame he recorded over 300 distinct songs and played on 100 or more released recordings performing as a major artist on 25 of them He has recorded under 70 names and appeared in over 500 nightclubs by his own count Terry TeeneBackground informationBirth nameTerrence Jay KnutsonAlso known as Clownzo Born 1942 02 06 February 6 1942 age 82 Fort Dodge Iowa USDiedMarch 9 2012 2012 03 09 aged 70 Tyler Texas USGenresRock and roll rockabilly country musicYears active1958 2012LabelsWarwick Records Contents 1 Early life 2 Songs 3 Clowning 4 Teaching 5 Death 6 ReferencesEarly life editBorn Terence Blaine Knutson 1 to Kermit and June Knutson in Fort Dodge Iowa United States Terry Teene began taking piano lessons at four years of age and later sang in the high school choir A local DJ hearing him sing in church suggested that he audition to perform on a local television program He performed on TV for eight weeks in a row and put together the band Terry and the Pirates 1 Songs editIn 1959 in Clovis New Mexico he cut recordings of his first two songs Just Wait Til I Get You Alone and Orchids Mean Good bye backed by The Fireballs and produced by Norman Petty These songs were released on a single by Warwick Records Of the 300 songs in Teene s discography Curse of the Hearse a 1961 rock and roll adaptation of The Hearse Song is perhaps his most famous being played by Dr Demento on the majority of his Halloween shows Pussy Galore was originally written for the James Bond film Goldfinger but was not featured on the film or soundtrack Other songs include Happiness Is Coming under the name Blaine Bel Aire 1 We re Going to Put Iowa on the Map Fun to Be With and Perfect 36 Clowning editTeene began a second parallel career as a clown He performed under the names of ToBo the Clown and Clownzo 1 Teene was president of the Cavalcade of Clowns an association of professional clowns and related entertainers from 1978 through 1980 He also helped edit the Cavalcade of Clowns magazine He has appeared with Circus Vargas for six years Big John Strong Circus Mexican International Circus the Safari Circus as Producing Clown and the Emmet Kelly Jr Circus Teaching editTeene was also a writer and a teacher citation needed who produced three books on clowning and show business citation needed He taught Clownology at The Business of Show Business citation needed and held regularly scheduled classes in the clown arts at the Learning Tree in Canoga Park California as well as recurring seminars at UCLA Death editOn March 7 2012 Teene was severely injured in Tyler Texas when the bicycle he was riding struck a tow truck 3 He died as a result of the accident on March 9 2012 He was 70 years old 1 References edit a b c d e f The Dead Rock Stars Club 2012 January To June Thedeadrockstarsclub com Retrieved 19 January 2021 Terry Teene Rockabillyhall com Retrieved 19 January 2021 Dean Kenneth 9 March 2012 Clownzo Critically Hurt In Accident Tyler Morning Telegraph nbsp Wikinews has related news 1960s Rockabilly music artist Terry Teen dies aged 70 nbsp Wikinews has related news Terry Teen 1960s Rockabilly artist injured in collision Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Terry Teene amp oldid 1190092889, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
