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==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
*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>.
 
*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>.
*A [[AM Monsters|monster]] similar to Little Chrissy was part of the [[The Frazzletones|backup vocals]] in the song "[[Frazzle]]".
+
*A [[AM Monsters|monster]] similar to Little Chrissy was part of the [[The Frazzletones|backup vocals]] in the song "[[Frazzle (song)|Frazzle]]".
 
*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>
 
*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>
   

Revision as of 03:42, 4 November 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].
  • A monster similar to Little Chrissy was part of the backup vocals in the song "Frazzle".
  • 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