Georgia STATE FAIR (Macon) - Birthplace of the kazoo

Georgia State Fair - Macon, Georgia, 1852

Birthplace of the kazoo, an ALL-American Instrument

To illustrate the rich cultural and musical heritage of Georgia and the Georgia STATE FAIR, we bring you this story on the history of the kazoo. Michael Brewer at MIT is a kazoo enthusiast; his web site has more information at http://www-math.mit.edu/~brewer/kazoo.html . More links are below.

Who invented the kazoo?

The kazoo is based on the African mirliton, and was a popular African-American folk instrument during the 1800's. The manufactured version we know today was invented in Macon, GA, by an African-American named Alabama Vest, in the 1840's. The first manufactured kazoo was made by Thaddeus Von Clegg, a German clockmaker in Georgia, and the instrument was introduced to the South at the Georgia State Fair in 1852. The kazoo's been around a long time.

What about the rest of the kazoo's history?

It wasn't until the early 1900's that the kazoo went nationwide, when a traveling salesman named Emil Sorg and a New York tool and die maker named Michael McIntyre developed a way to mass-produce metal kazoos. McIntyre teamed up with Harry Richardson in Eden, NY, in 1914 to begin mass producing kazoos. In 1923, McIntyre received a patent on the production kazoo, and the company he founded went on to become the Original American Kazoo Company.

From Kazoo World...: KAZOO FACTS: The Mirliton (KAZOO) appeared in great numbers and in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials throughout Africa as far back as tribal history can trace. The most prevalent style found in many cultures is a hollow tube with a hole in the middle and the open ends covered with animal membrane. Bone, reed, gourds, corn stalks, animal horns and even human skulls were used. The instrument was used to impersonate the voices of the dead, to make terrifying sounds and to bring messages from the spirit world. The "Witch Doctor", enshrouded in ceremonial robes and mask, used the Mirliton to disguise his voice and to intimidate and terrify the people. To reveal the secret of the Mirliton to an outsider, a woman or an uninitiated male tribe member was an offense punishable by death. There is also evidence to indicate that an instrument of this general description has been used since prehistoric times by all cultures around the world to imitate animal sounds and as a means of communication.; The Mirliton (KAZOO) could easily be regarded as mankind's first musical instrument. The KAZOO as we know it today was designed and built by AlabamaVest and Thaddeus Von Clegg in Macon, Georgia in the early 1840's. In 1852 it was exhibited at the Georgia State Fair and was later manufactured under the name, because of its shape, "DOWN SOUTH SUBMARINE". It soon became the favorite of children and street musicians and then found its way into JAZZ, JUG and HILLBILLY bands.; The KAZOO and the SOUSAPHONE are the ONLY 2 ALL AMERICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. A grassroots movement to officially designate the KAZOO as the NATIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES is NOW UNDERWAY ! You can participate by voicing your opinion and VOTING ON THIS SITE ! Simply BECOME A MEMBER OF KAZOOWORLD and send an email with your name & email address to: (captainkazoo@yahoo.com) all information will be held in confidence. Thanks for Viewing & Voting, Captain Kazoo || http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/kazooworld || http://www.captainkazoo.com/