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| PERFORMER | Christopher Cerf voice |
| Jim Henson puppeteer | |
| DEBUT | 1973 |
| PATTERN | Fat Blue |
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.[1] Frank Oz puppeteered Little Chrissy in a sketch where Don Music rewrote "Yankee Doodle".[2]
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 (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.
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." He also can be seen in the audience of The Amazing Mumford's magic act in the storybook, The Amazing Mumford Presents the Magic Weather Show.
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.[3]
His latest appearance to date occurred in Season 30, acting as piano accompanist to Patti LaBelle's rendition of "Gospel Alphabet."
Episodic appearances
See also
- Chrissy (member of Little Jerry and the Monotones)
Sources
- ↑ Cerf, Christopher Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music booklet, p. 12
- ↑ Pastimes, March 1976 issue, includes a photo of Frank performing Chrissy and the Lavender Alphabeat
- ↑ The Atlantic "The Songsmiths of Sesame Street" by Julie Beck, March 29, 2019