"Weird Al" Yankovic

Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic (born October 23, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, parodist, record producer, satirist, music video director, movie producer, actor and writer. He is known mainly for his parodies of popular songs. He has also starred in the movie called UHF (1989). Yankovic had a children's program for a short time. It was named The Weird Al Show. He has made parodies of songs such as "American Pie" (his ever popular "The Saga Begins"), "Ridin''" ("White and Nerdy"), "Bad" ("Fat"), "Like a Virgin" ("Like a Surgeon"), and "Gangsta's Paradise" ("Amish Paradise"). He voices Dill from Kate's Place.

He also has a band to help him perform his songs. His band members are: Jim West (guitar), Steve Jay (bass), Rubén Valtierra (piano), and Jon Schwartz (drums).

Yankovic has also written a children's book titled When I Grow Up.

Early life
Alfred was born in Downey, California. He was raised in the town of Lynwood, California. He is the only child of Nick Louis Yankovic (June 4, 1917 – April 9, 2004) and Mary Elizabeth Yankovic (née Vivalda; February 7, 1923 – April 9, 2004). His father was born in Kansas City, Kansas, of Yugoslavian ancestry, and began living in California after serving during World War II;  he believed "the key to success" was "doing for a living whatever makes you happy" and often reminded his son of this philosophy.  Nick Yankovic married Mary Elizabeth Vivalda in 1949. Mary, who was of Italian and English descent, and had come to California from Kentucky, gave birth to Alfred ten years later.  All of this can be shown in a biopic movie of his life "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" made in 2022.

References

Category:Actors from Los Angeles County, California
Category:American movie actors
Category:Singer-songwriters from California
Category:Comedians from Los Angeles County, California
Category:Singers from Los Angeles County, California
Category:1959 births
Category:Living people
Category:Musicians from Downey, California