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[[File:Jim-Chrisy.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[File:Jim-Chrisy.jpg|thumb|300px]]
   
'''Little Chrissy''' (occasionally addressed as Chrissy or Chris) is the lead singer and piano player for [[Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats]]. He is voiced by his namesake, [[Christopher Cerf]], who also wrote most of the character's songs. [[Jim Henson]] usually performed the actual puppet until his death in [[1990]].<ref> Cerf, Christopher ''[[Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music]]'' booklet, p. 12</ref> [[Frank Oz]] puppeteered Little Chrissy in a sketch where [[Don Music]] rewrote "[[Yankee Doodle]]".<ref>''[[Pastimes]]'', March 1976 issue, includes a photo of Frank performing Chrissy and the Lavender Alphabeat</ref>
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'''Little Chrissy''' (occasionally addressed as Chrissy or Chris) is the lead singer and piano player for [[Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats]]. He is voiced by his namesake, [[Christopher Cerf]], who also wrote most of the character's songs. [[Jim Henson]] often performed the actual puppet until his death in 1990.<ref> Cerf, Christopher ''[[Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music]]'' booklet, p. 12</ref>
   
Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats first appeared on ''Sesame Street'' in [[1973]], performing the song "[[Count it Higher (song)|Count it Higher]]." Other songs by the band include "[[Exit]]," "[[You're Alive]]," "[[Rock 'N Roll Readers]]," and "[[Cluck Around the Clock]]." Little Chrissy has sometimes been backed by [[Big Jeffy]] (often filling in for the [[Lavender]] Alphabeat) in the songs "[[Gonna Rock You to Sleep]]," "[[I Go to School]]," and "[[Startin' Kindergarten]]." Chrissy and Jeffy have sung with [[Elmo]] on a few occasions, including in [[Episode 2867]] where Elmo substitutes for a sick [[Little Jerry]].
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Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats first appeared on ''Sesame Street'' in [[1973]], performing the song "[[Count it Higher (song)|Count it Higher]]." Other songs by the band include "[[Exit]]," "[[You're Alive]]," "[[Rock 'N Roll Readers]]," and "[[Cluck Around the Clock]]." Little Chrissy has sometimes been backed by [[Big Jeffy]] from [[Little Jerry and the Monotones]] (often filling in for the [[Lavender]] Alphabeat) in the songs "[[Gonna Rock You to Sleep]]," "[[I Go to School]]," and "[[Startin' Kindergarten]]." Chrissy and Jeffy often appeared together in the late 80s/early 90s as a duo in street scenes, including a few numbers with [[Elmo]]. Additionally, Chrissy has also been referenced as a member of [[Little Jerry]]'s band, in [[Episode 2867]] and [[Episode 2972]].
   
Little Chrissy occasionally performed without the Alphabeats, in songs such as "[[Eight Balls of Fur]]," "[[Raise Your Hand (Moss)|Raise Your Hand]]," "[[The Opposite Song]]," and "[[Wet or Dry]]." He also can be seen in the audience of [[The Amazing Mumford|The Amazing Mumford's]] magic act in the storybook, ''[[The Amazing Mumford Presents the Magic Weather Show]]''.
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Little Chrissy occasionally performed without the Alphabeats, in songs such as "[[Eight Balls of Fur]]," "[[Raise Your Hand (Moss)|Raise Your Hand]]," "[[The Opposite Song]]," and "[[Wet or Dry]]."
 
The character's penchant for demolishing pianos from his aggressive playing style was born out of Cerf's reputation for breaking so many pianos in the studio over the years.<ref>''The Atlantic'' [https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/03/friendship-files-sesame-street-songwriters-behind-put-down-duckie/585895/ "The Songsmiths of Sesame Street"] by Julie Beck, March 29, 2019</ref>
 
   
 
His latest appearance to date occurred in [[Season 30 (1998-1999)|Season 30]], acting as piano accompanist to [[Patti LaBelle|Patti LaBelle's]] rendition of "[[Gospel Alphabet]]."
 
His latest appearance to date occurred in [[Season 30 (1998-1999)|Season 30]], acting as piano accompanist to [[Patti LaBelle|Patti LaBelle's]] rendition of "[[Gospel Alphabet]]."
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==Notes==
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*Besides Henson, other performers who have puppeteered Little Chrissy include [[Frank Oz]] in [[Sesame Street News Flash#yankeedoodle|a sketch]] where [[Don Music]] rewrote "[[Yankee Doodle]],"<ref>''[[Pastimes]]'', March 1976 issue, includes a photo of Frank performing Chrissy and the Lavender Alphabeat</ref> [[Richard Hunt]] in "Rock 'N Roll Readers,"<ref name=trusted>Documents provided by [[Thread:253692|trusted source]]</ref> and [[Kevin Clash]] in "Eight Balls Of Fur"<ref name=trusted>Documents provided by [[Thread:253692|trusted source]]</ref>, "Cluck Around the Clock" and "Gospel Alphabet"<ref name="dabruzzo">Stephanie D'Abruzzo on Twitter, [https://twitter.com/dabruzzotweets/status/1074998689360420865 December 18, 2018 tweet]</ref>.
 
* In "Eight Balls of Fur," Little Chrissy demolishes his piano from aggressively playing it. This was a reference to Cerf's reputation for breaking so many pianos in the studio over the years.<ref>''The Atlantic'' [https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/03/friendship-files-sesame-street-songwriters-behind-put-down-duckie/585895/ "The Songsmiths of Sesame Street"] by Julie Beck, March 29, 2019</ref>
   
 
==Episodic appearances==
 
==Episodic appearances==
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*[[Episode 2867]]
 
*[[Episode 2867]]
 
*[[Episode 2972]]
 
*[[Episode 2972]]
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==Book appearances==
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* ''[[See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Smell No Evil]]'' (1975)
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* ''[[The Sesame Street Dictionary]]'' (1980)
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* ''[[Fooled You, Bert!]]'' (1981)
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*''[[The Amazing Mumford Presents the Magic Weather Show]]'' (1981)
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* ''[[Sesame Street coloring books|Trace &amp; Color Alphabet]]'' (1984)
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* ''[[Count to Ten]]'' (1986)
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* ''[[Just Like Ernie]]'' (1988)
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* ''[[Sesame Street Lift-and-Peek Party!]]'' (1998)
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 23:28, 7 July 2020

Chrissy
PERFORMER Christopher Cerf voice
  Jim Henson puppeteer
DEBUT 1973
PATTERN Fat Blue
Jim-Chrisy

Little Chrissy (occasionally addressed as Chrissy or Chris) is the lead singer and piano player for Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats. He is voiced by his namesake, Christopher Cerf, who also wrote most of the character's songs. Jim Henson often performed the actual puppet until his death in 1990.[1]

Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats first appeared on Sesame Street in 1973, performing the song "Count it Higher." Other songs by the band include "Exit," "You're Alive," "Rock 'N Roll Readers," and "Cluck Around the Clock." Little Chrissy has sometimes been backed by Big Jeffy from Little Jerry and the Monotones (often filling in for the Lavender Alphabeat) in the songs "Gonna Rock You to Sleep," "I Go to School," and "Startin' Kindergarten." Chrissy and Jeffy often appeared together in the late 80s/early 90s as a duo in street scenes, including a few numbers with Elmo. Additionally, Chrissy has also been referenced as a member of Little Jerry's band, in Episode 2867 and Episode 2972.

Little Chrissy occasionally performed without the Alphabeats, in songs such as "Eight Balls of Fur," "Raise Your Hand," "The Opposite Song," and "Wet or Dry."

His latest appearance to date occurred in Season 30, acting as piano accompanist to Patti LaBelle's rendition of "Gospel Alphabet."

Notes

  • Besides Henson, other performers who have puppeteered Little Chrissy include Frank Oz in a sketch where Don Music rewrote "Yankee Doodle,"[2] Richard Hunt in "Rock 'N Roll Readers,"[3] and Kevin Clash in "Eight Balls Of Fur"[3], "Cluck Around the Clock" and "Gospel Alphabet"[4].
  • In "Eight Balls of Fur," Little Chrissy demolishes his piano from aggressively playing it. This was a reference to Cerf's reputation for breaking so many pianos in the studio over the years.[5]

Episodic appearances

Book appearances

See also

Sources

  1. Cerf, Christopher Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music booklet, p. 12
  2. Pastimes, March 1976 issue, includes a photo of Frank performing Chrissy and the Lavender Alphabeat
  3. 3.0 3.1 Documents provided by trusted source
  4. Stephanie D'Abruzzo on Twitter, December 18, 2018 tweet
  5. The Atlantic "The Songsmiths of Sesame Street" by Julie Beck, March 29, 2019