 leon redbone (born dickran gobalian, august 26, 1949) is a singer and guitarist specializing in interpretations of early 20th-century music, including jazz and blues standards and tin pan alley classics. recognized for his trademark panama hat, dark sunglasses, and black tie, redbone first appeared on stage in toronto, canada in the mid-1970s. redbone has released approximately fifteen albums and earned a sizable cult following. his concerts blend performance, comedy, and skilled instrumentals. recurrent gags involve the influence of alcohol and claiming to have written works originating well before his time. he sang the theme to the television series mr. belvedere. ==early life== according to a toronto star report in the 1980s, his birth name is dickran gobalian, and he came to canada from cyprus in the mid-1960s and changed his name via the ontario change of name act.quill, greg. "redbone careful to preserve the mystery." toronto star (the star.com) 13 june 2007. however, an article about producer john h. hammond in a 1973 issue of the canadian jazz magazine coda states that he was a native of philadelphia who moved to toronto: "sitting next to hammond was a young white musician named leon redbone from philadelphia, but currently residing in toronto". ==career== thumb|left|leon redbone in 2007 at massey hall, toronto, ontario, canada while living in canada in the early 1970s, redbone began performing in public at toronto area nightclubs and folk music festivals. he m
1949_births American_blues_singers American_jazz_guitarists American_jazz_singers American_people_of_Armenian_descent Living_people