Without my grandfather there would be no Weird Al
Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:27 am
This is an interesting but true story. Weird Al may have never existed without my grandfather. Well Al would have been born, but Weird Al may have never existed. You see my grandfather is Red Blanchard. Who is Red Blanchard you ask? He was an old radio DJ in LA and SF back in the 50's. He was like Dr. D, way before Dr. D. Until recently I knew very little about my grandfathers career. Anyway, back in the 50's a man named Jim Drake used to send my grandfather records much in the way Al sent his tapes to Dr. D. My grandfather found one of them particularly catchy but felt it was missing something. He added in some sound effects and the song became a hit. The song was a little number called Transfusion, and the artist came up with the stage name of Nervous Norvus. My grandfather added the car crash effects to the song. Norvus idolized him so much he wrote two songs about him, Bully Bully Man, and I Listen to Red in Bed
Flash forward to years later. A young DJ in Los Angeles, Barret Eugene Hansen liked to mix in novelty records into his show. One day he decides to play Transfusion. A fellow DJ says he must be demented to play that record. The name sticks, and Dr. Demento is born. Of course Dr. D provides the inspiration for Al and the rest is history. If it were not for my grandfather who knows what might have happened.
A few years ago as my grandfather was being inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame the presenter remarked that when people asked about Red Blanchard they would always remark "oh he was like Dr. Demento". The presenter then pointed out that Dr. Demento was really just doing Red Blanchard. I knew nothing of this history growing up. All I knew was I really liked listening to Dr. D and I really liked listening to Al. Dare to Be Stupid was the first cassette tape I owned. I also liked a song Dr. D used to play a lot called of course, Transfusion. I never knew it was really my grandfather.
My grandfather turned 90 this year. If anyone is interested they can check out tapes of his old show and also read all about his connection to Nervous Norvous. His website is http://www.redblanchard.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
Flash forward to years later. A young DJ in Los Angeles, Barret Eugene Hansen liked to mix in novelty records into his show. One day he decides to play Transfusion. A fellow DJ says he must be demented to play that record. The name sticks, and Dr. Demento is born. Of course Dr. D provides the inspiration for Al and the rest is history. If it were not for my grandfather who knows what might have happened.
A few years ago as my grandfather was being inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame the presenter remarked that when people asked about Red Blanchard they would always remark "oh he was like Dr. Demento". The presenter then pointed out that Dr. Demento was really just doing Red Blanchard. I knew nothing of this history growing up. All I knew was I really liked listening to Dr. D and I really liked listening to Al. Dare to Be Stupid was the first cassette tape I owned. I also liked a song Dr. D used to play a lot called of course, Transfusion. I never knew it was really my grandfather.
My grandfather turned 90 this year. If anyone is interested they can check out tapes of his old show and also read all about his connection to Nervous Norvous. His website is http://www.redblanchard.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.