Keeping America Humming

One Woman's Crusade To Promote The Humble Kazoo

(CBS)  The kazoo. It's uniquely American - cheap and easy - the most democratic of instruments ... anyone can play it.

"It is said that pigs might be able to learn how, if they could be persuaded to kazoo before they eat it."

So says Barbara Stewart, who is - believe it or not - a kazoo virtuoso. She spoke to CBS Sunday Morning's Bill Geist about her beloved instrument.

"No, the thing about the kazoo is there’s really no wrong way to play it. There are wrong times to play it."

When asked by Geist if this was a concession on her part that the kazoo can be annoying, she answered, "Oh, absolutely!"

Nevertheless, Stewart is the kazoo's staunchest supporter, calling it a misunderstood instrument.

"Oh, it’s clearly been the object of derision and scorn," Stewart says, "Mostly out of ignorance."

She's a kazoo activist, really trying to make the kazoo America's official national instrument.

"We have been turned down by everybody, or at least ignored. President Nixon and Carter ... So there’s bipartisan ignorance."

Barbara may be the perfect spokesperson for this offbeat instrument: She is a classically trained musician.

She wrote the book on kazoos and has one of her kazoos in the Smithsonian Institution. She's played classical kazoo in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. And she trains new kazooist recruits wherever she goes.

As kazoodom's ambassador, Barbara shows up wherever kazooists congregate.

Recently in Harlem, where they were trying to set a new record for the world's largest kazoo band, 2,147 kazooists showed up! But that didn't beat the record of 2,600 set in Rochester, New York, Barbara's hometown.

But according to Barbara, that was okay.

"It's all part of a mission to make the kazoo the national instrument and keep America humming."

Barbara was there, too, when the Original Kazoo Company of Eden, New York recently celebrated its 100th anniversary &#-151; a veritable kazoo Woodstock.

Here they still make metal kazoos the old fashioned way, except for those little membranes that go in the top.

"The animal membranes went out of fashion. They were made out of sheep gut," Stewart told Sunday Morning. "And the condom companies put them out of business and raised the price so high, so now we make them out of paper, the same kind used in candy boxes so the saliva doesn’t disintegrate it."

Karen Smith runs the Kazoo Shop, and she's curator of the Kazoo Museum's historically significant kazoo collection. She showed Geist one of the very first kazoos as well as a 24-karat gold plated kazoo that must have been designed for formal kazooing occasions.

"We have families that will come and generations that are passing down the tradition," Smith told Geist. "And schools that will bring entire classes so that, you know, boys and girls who have never seen a kazoo before are being exposed to kazoos. And thereby I hope that’s gonna perpetuate kazooing."

Barbara Stewart pushes on, trying to gain respect for the kazoo and maybe even give it a touch of class.

It remains unclear, however, from audience comments after a classical kazoo concert at the Eastman School of Music, just how well she is succeeding. One listener called the music "so exciting, it thrills you from the bottom of your feet and never moves above the ankle," while another said that the highlight of the concert ... was its ending.

But another, perhaps more receptive audience member said that, "Tt brought the kazoo to a new level. A very classical level, if that can happen."

Barbara Stewart, for one, believes it can.

[avache1]

It takes years for accomplished musicians to learn their craft. In many cases more time than it takes to become a doctor or lawyer. However,most accomplished instrumentalists spend their careers in total anonymity. Then here comes Bill Geist doing a story on national television about some woman who plays the Kazoo. Nice going Bill. Once again the media proves that talent and ability are unimportant and completely ignored in this country.

[rgoldstein31]

I had to laugh when you said a "Woodstock of kazoos" A million to one chance kazoo recording of my friend in a crowd at Woodstock made it on to the soundtrack & might be the most sold kazoo recording. You could never find it on the album without guidance...Roger G

[anneo2]

Geist''s bit on the Kazoo was great but we Red Hatters are disappointed that he left out one very important fact. The Kazoo is the Official Instrument of the Red Hat Society. We Red Hat Ladies enjoy a good time and we put our kazoos to good use when we are happy or sad. Queen Mum AnnieO AKA Virginia Daugherty, Foxy Ladies Red Hat Chapter, Delaware, OH

[mgreer8]

I love the kazoo too! I am still using the one I had as a kid. (no doubt sheep gut membrane!)I have carried a kazoo in my purse for years, always ready when music is required. I use the kazoo in my fifth grade classroom on a regular basis to sing various songs. I missed the program this morning but enjoyed reading about Stewart and her efforts. It gave me the bright idea to buy enough kazoos for all my students and to get together a kazoo band for my school''s Festival of Talents evening!

[dickswart]

No mention of Bob Burns, The Arkansas Traveller, and his Bazooka!

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0122589/bio

[dickswart]

No mention of Bob Burns, The Arkansas Traveller, and his Bazooka!

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0122589/bio

[jelberfeld]

So many great kazoo players, and so little time to give them the credit they all deserve. Jim Kweskin''s Jug Band had some great kazoo playing, too. Rather than complain about those left out, we should be grateful that the kazoo received national attention, even for a short while. For the whiners and complainers out there: Get a sense of humor. It takes a lifetime of effort to learn to do ANY worthwhile job well. Appreciate the fact that one talented lady had the skills to write some books, to perform and record some songs, and to bring some joy to your Sunday morning.

[jcprager]

The kazoo is perhaps the only musical instrument that can be played non-mechanically, that is, it can be played only with the mind and vocal chords. AVache1 is wrong in that the kazoo also requires musical talent and ability. Any instrument played without talent and ability produces only sound, not music. I''d rather listen to a kazoo than a bagpipe any day.

[pdoyle78]

I think the story was great, and that some of the other comments are missing the point. IT IS NOT A SERIOUS STORY!!! It is meant to be humorous. And by the way, Ms. Stewart is an accomplished musician. She is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. The story was light and refreshing. Well done Sunday Morning!!!

[jomegat2]

All good classical kazoo players are totally unstrung. The same can be said about all bad classical kazoo players also. Ms. Stewart is to to be commended for her dedication, breath control, and good vibrations. And, mostly, for her incredible sense of creative good humor!

[shafree]

And to think, they laughed at Beethoven & he didn''t laugh back!

[normgoldblat]

The Kazoo is greatest underappreciated musical instrument in the world. I have been playing it since I was a kid. Thanks CBS for sharing it''s pleasures with us and thank you Ms. Stewart for your heroic effors (and effective)efforts.

[fspoto]

In response to jelberfeld above and defense of CBS, the Kazoo is uniquely American, physically and in spirit. It represents the American Dream! Any one can enjoy it Its inclusion today speaks to its entertainment value as Musical Underdog. THE KAZOO SHOULD BE OUR NATIONAL INSTRUMENT. A young salesman won a $200,000.00 grand prize on a talent search recently with a dreadfully bad performance of a truncated version of Nessun Dorma because he had no chance and was willing to risk ridicule to fulfill a dream. That was entertaining to current audiences and judges. Think of the artists who could further their careers with that money. The young man planned to fix his teeth with the booty.
Throughout sports, the arts and all marketing today, it''s the entertainment value, which sets the standard for visibility.

[shellbell84-2009]

I''ve been to the Kazoo Factory. My grandmother lived in Eden, NY, and it was always a special treat to go to the Kazoo Factory when I visited her. What sweet memories, and what a fun story.

[shellbell84-2009]

I''ve been to the Kazoo Factory. My grandmother lived in Eden, NY, and it was always a special treat to go to the Kazoo Factory when I visited her. What sweet memories, and what a fun story.

[goldnkazoo]

BEING THE LEADER OF THE GOLDNKAZOO TRIO( TONY & ANDY)
I WAS DISSAPOINTED IN THE LIMITED TIME GIVEN TO THE PERFORMAERS AT THE KAZOO FACTORY 100TH ANNIVERSY BAND CONTEST. THE FIRST PLACE WINNERS THE LOVE, NY KAZOOERS WERE VERY SWEET. AND EVEN THOUGH WE ARRIVED IN THE PTCRUISER DA KAZOO MOBIL, NOTHING WAS SHOWN OF THE VARGAS PINUP 1943 ESQUIRE CENTERFOL WITH THE GOLDNKAZOO LOGO. WE HAD FUN AND ARE ENJOYING THE 24 KARET GOLD DIPPED KAZOOS WE WON. HERE IS TO 100 YEAR OF KAZOOING AND TO 100 MORE! GEO MAC [e-mail] MCGLAUGHLIN, RETIRED USAF CAPT/RETIRED ST OF NY SOCIAL WORKER WITH TONY GUGINO & MOOSE ANDY MAGNOLIA IN HARMONY.

[miscahel]

I have received the book by barbara stewart as a gift and have been trying to become proficient (it is easy till you try to sound good enough to preform) watching her on tv explaining and telling with great humor about the kazoo was a joy and give me exactly what I needed the confirmation that the kazoo can be taken seriously but should be approached with humor

[miscahel]

I have received the book by barbara stewart as a gift and have been trying to become proficient (it is easy till you try to sound good enough to preform) watching her on tv explaining and telling with great humor about the kazoo was a joy and give me exactly what I needed the confirmation that the kazoo can be taken seriously but should be approached with humor

[kermit79-2009]

I loved this story. I am the Drum Major for my towns Lions Club Kazoo Band. We have a blast performing. I realise that we may not be 2,600 member band but we are happy with the 20 that are members. It would be awesome to have Ms. Stewart perform with us. Thank Sunday Morning!!!