Musician Of Mystery Leon Redbone Dies

Leon Redbone (Alan Heartfield/Shutterstock.com).jpg

Reclusive and mysterious folk/ragtime performer LEON REDBONE died while in hospice care on THURSDAY, MAY 30th. According to NPR, a news release announcing his death listed REDBONE's age as 127.

Precious little is known about REDBONE's roots, other than he was a Cypriot named DICKRAN GOBALIAN, who emigrated to ONTARIO in the 1960s and changed his name after arriving in CANADA. His career started in TORONTO's folk circuit in the early '70s, armed with only a guitar, playing anything from TIN PAN ALLEY and ragtime to blues and country.

Perhaps he was best known for his persona: REDBONE, with a bushy mustache, always performed in sunglasses and a Panama hat, armed with only a guitar, playing everything from Tin Pan Alley and ragtime to blues and country. Career highlights include two performances on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE during its debut season, singing the theme song for the '80s sitcom MR. BELVEDERE and appearing as "Leon the Snowman" in the film, ELF, in 2003.

REDBONE retired from touring in 2015 due to health concerns. 

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