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The band evolved from recurring [[Anything Muppet]] hippies that appeared in Muppet inserts, often in musical numbers, as early as [[Season 1 (1969-1970)|Season 1]]. As with the nature of Anything Muppets, the physical puppets, clothes and facial features were often interchanged. One example is an insert with [[Grover]] on the word "exit," which sees the [[Green]] AM that would become Little Jerry {{medialink|filename=BlackhairedJerry.jpg|text= with black hair}} rather than red. {{first|0210}} |
The band evolved from recurring [[Anything Muppet]] hippies that appeared in Muppet inserts, often in musical numbers, as early as [[Season 1 (1969-1970)|Season 1]]. As with the nature of Anything Muppets, the physical puppets, clothes and facial features were often interchanged. One example is an insert with [[Grover]] on the word "exit," which sees the [[Green]] AM that would become Little Jerry {{medialink|filename=BlackhairedJerry.jpg|text= with black hair}} rather than red. {{first|0210}} |
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| − | The name "Little Jerry and the Monotones" |
+ | The first appearances of the name "Little Jerry and the Monotones" include a verbal mention in [[Episode 0216]], and on [[The Official Sesame Street 2 Book-and-Record Album|the second ''Sesame Street'' cast album]]. From there, the band members became personalities named after their primary performers; Little Jerry is named after [[Jerry Nelson]], Big Jeffy after [[Jeff Moss]], Chrissy after [[Christopher Cerf]], and Rockin' Richard after [[Richard Hunt]]. The members are introduced individually by name in the song "[[Four (song)|Four]]." On occasion, the names and voices for the back-up singers have been swapped. |
The band usually consisted of a quartet, but later appearances switched the line up of members, including an extra unnamed [[Purple]] Anything Muppet in the song "[[Body Rhythms]]." In their appearance in [[Episode 2452]] (1988), the group was reduced to a trio, consisting of Little Jerry, Big Jeffy, and another [[Fat Blue]] AM performed by Richard Hunt. At this point, the group's previous hippie attire were replaced with more contemporary, yet still flashy clothes. A drawing of the members as they appear in this episode can also be spotted in a framed photo in [[Jackman Wolf]]'s studio in the 1990 video ''[[Rock & Roll]]''. In addition, the entire original group (complete with hippie garb) appear near the end of the video reprising their hit song "[[Telephone Rock]]." [[Little Chrissy]] of [[Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats|the Alphabeats]] has also been referenced as a member of the band in [[Episode 2867]] and [[Episode 2972]]. |
The band usually consisted of a quartet, but later appearances switched the line up of members, including an extra unnamed [[Purple]] Anything Muppet in the song "[[Body Rhythms]]." In their appearance in [[Episode 2452]] (1988), the group was reduced to a trio, consisting of Little Jerry, Big Jeffy, and another [[Fat Blue]] AM performed by Richard Hunt. At this point, the group's previous hippie attire were replaced with more contemporary, yet still flashy clothes. A drawing of the members as they appear in this episode can also be spotted in a framed photo in [[Jackman Wolf]]'s studio in the 1990 video ''[[Rock & Roll]]''. In addition, the entire original group (complete with hippie garb) appear near the end of the video reprising their hit song "[[Telephone Rock]]." [[Little Chrissy]] of [[Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats|the Alphabeats]] has also been referenced as a member of the band in [[Episode 2867]] and [[Episode 2972]]. |
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Revision as of 22:18, 17 October 2019
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| DEBUT | 1971 |
The group's only single, "Mad"/"Sad".
Little Jerry and the Monotones pose for closing shot of "Proud."
The last shot of the band in a 2000 episode.
Little Jerry and the Monotones are a rock group on Sesame Street that first appeared in Season 2.
The members of the band were Little Jerry as the frontman, backed by Big Jeffy along with Lavender and Pumpkin Anything Muppets, usually known as Chrissy and Rockin' Richard.
The band evolved from recurring Anything Muppet hippies that appeared in Muppet inserts, often in musical numbers, as early as Season 1. As with the nature of Anything Muppets, the physical puppets, clothes and facial features were often interchanged. One example is an insert with Grover on the word "exit," which sees the Green AM that would become Little Jerry Template:Medialink rather than red. (First: Episode 0210)
The first appearances of the name "Little Jerry and the Monotones" include a verbal mention in Episode 0216, and on the second Sesame Street cast album. From there, the band members became personalities named after their primary performers; Little Jerry is named after Jerry Nelson, Big Jeffy after Jeff Moss, Chrissy after Christopher Cerf, and Rockin' Richard after Richard Hunt. The members are introduced individually by name in the song "Four." On occasion, the names and voices for the back-up singers have been swapped.
The band usually consisted of a quartet, but later appearances switched the line up of members, including an extra unnamed Purple Anything Muppet in the song "Body Rhythms." In their appearance in Episode 2452 (1988), the group was reduced to a trio, consisting of Little Jerry, Big Jeffy, and another Fat Blue AM performed by Richard Hunt. At this point, the group's previous hippie attire were replaced with more contemporary, yet still flashy clothes. A drawing of the members as they appear in this episode can also be spotted in a framed photo in Jackman Wolf's studio in the 1990 video Rock & Roll. In addition, the entire original group (complete with hippie garb) appear near the end of the video reprising their hit song "Telephone Rock." Little Chrissy of the Alphabeats has also been referenced as a member of the band in Episode 2867 and Episode 2972.
After ten years of absence, in Sesame Street Episode 3898 (2000), the group made a comeback appearance in a concert to perform "When You Move the Mouse." The group again is pared down to three members; with a Lavender member in an Elvis-like pompadour, named "Richie," playing the guitar.
Though the band members have been mostly consistent, their performers have occasionally varied, especially prior to Chris Cerf and Richard Hunt joining the show. The song "Surprise!" features an early iteration of the group; with a black-haired Lavender AM singing for Little Jerry, and Joe Raposo and Caroll Spinney providing backup vocals. Similarly, Thad Mumford supplied backup Monotone vocals for the song "With Every Beat of My Heart."
In one early appearance, the Monotones unenthusiastically assist Grover in demonstrating the word "Walk" (First: Episode 0221), where all members have a different performer than their usual primary ones. Here, Jerry Nelson performs Big Jeffy, Caroll Spinney perform the Lavender and Pumpkin AMs, and Fran Brill performs Little Jerry.
The Monotones (without Little Jerry, but Nelson can still be heard providing backing vocals) also sang back-up for Don Music, in the song "Mary Had a Bicycle."
Notes
- In addition to usually providing two of the back-up vocals, Jeff Moss and Christopher Cerf wrote most of the group's songs.
Songs
Book Appearences
- Big Bird's Busy Book (1975)
- The Sesame Street Library Volume 9 (1978)
- The Sesame Street Dictionary (1980)