Biography

Alfred Matthew “Weird Al” Yankovic (born October 23, 1959) is a veteran comedy musician and acclaimed parody artist, record producer, and actor who is known for humorous songs that make light of pop culture.

He also performs original songs that are style pastiches of the work of other acts, as well as polka medleys of several popular songs, most of which feature his trademark accordion.

With over 12 albums, a whole career spanning more than 20 years, and four Grammy awards, Weird Al Yankovic is one of the best-known comedic musical performers in the world.

In total, Al has sold more than 13 million albums, making him the biggest-selling comedy artist in music history.

We wouldn’t have guessed that “Weird Al” Yankovic – who as a shy, accordion-playing teenager, got his start sending in homemade tapes to the Dr. Demento Radio Show (hosted by Barry Hansen)- would go on to become a pop culture icon and the biggest-selling comedy recording artist of all time, with classic song and music video parodies such as Eat It, Like a Surgeon, Smells Like Nirvana, Amish Paradise, White & Nerdy, and Word Crimes.

Weird Al Yankovic
Weird Al Yankovic: History, Bio, Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Alfred Matthew “Weird Al” Yankovic
Stage Name:	Weird Al Yankovic
Born:	23 October 1959 (age 64 years old)
Place of Birth:	Downey, California, United States
Nationality:	American
Parents:	Nick Yankovic, Mary Yankovic
Children:	Nina Yankovic
Height:	1.83 m
Siblings:	Nina Yankovic
Wife • Spouse:	Suzanne Yankovic (m. 2001)
Girlfriend • Partner:	N/A
Occupation:	Musician • Actor
Net Worth:	US$20 million

Early Life

Weird Al Yankovic was born to Mary Elizabeth (Vivalda) and Nick Louis Yankovic.

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His father was of Yugoslavian descent and had moved to California after serving in World War II.

His mother was half Italian and half English. Weird Al Yankovic, therefore, is of Yugoslavian, Italian, and English descent.

Weird Al Yankovic got his first accordion lesson on October 22, 1966, one day before his seventh birthday.
He first took up the accordion when a salesman came around to solicit business for a music school.

As a child and young teen, Weird Al Yankovic watched a lot of television, which inspired his career. He also became a fan of musicians and comedians like Allan Sherman and Spike Jones.

Education

Weird Al Yankovic attended Lynwood High School, where he graduated as valedictorian (when he was just 16). After that, he attended the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo to study architecture, where he graduated with honours.

At Cal Poly, Al had a radio show and earned the nickname “Weird Al“.

Career

In high school, Weird Al Yankovic was a part-time accordion teacher and occasional accordion repo-man. After graduating from college, Al decided that architecture was not for him, so he worked for a few years in the mailroom and later at a desk job for a large radio syndication company in Culver City, California.

Although Weird Al Yankovic had sent tapes to Dr. Demento in the past, at Cal Poly, he recorded his first actual published piece, a parody of the popular My Sharona by The Knack, called My Bologna.

Weird Al Yankovic added New York Times bestselling author to his resumé in 2011 with the release of his children’s book, When I Grow Up (HarperCollins), followed two years later by My New Teacher and Me!

2012 saw the release of Weird Al: The Book (Abrams), an illustrated hardcover on Weird Al Yankovic‘s life and career, and in 2015, Weird Al Yankovic became not only MAD Magazine‘s cover boy but the first guest editor in their 63-year history.

Discography

Studio albums

• “Weird Al” Yankovic (1983)
• “Weird Al” Yankovic in 3-D (1984)
• Dare to Be Stupid (1985)
• Polka Party! (1986)
• Even Worse (1988)
• UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff (1989)
• Off the Deep End (1992)
• Alapalooza (1993)
• Bad Hair Day (1996)
• Running with Scissors (1999)
• Poodle Hat (2003)
• Straight Outta Lynwood (2006)
• Alpocalypse (2011)
• Mandatory Fun (2014)

Social Media

Weird Al Yankovic is often praised for his excellent use of social media and has garnered lots of followers on youtube, Instagram and Twitter.

• “Weird Al” Yankovic – Instagram
• Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) | Twitter
• alyankovic – YouTube

Personal Life

Weird Al Yankovic became a vegetarian in 1992 after he read a copy of the 1987 John Robbins book Diet for a New America, which he said: “made a very compelling argument for a strict vegetarian diet”.

In stark contrast to his stage persona, Weird Al Yankovicc is known by friends and associates to be polite, shy, and introverted, even among family. In addition, he is a Christian, and his religious upbringing is reflected in his abstinence from profanity, alcohol, and drugs.

Weird Al Yankovic married Suzanne Krajewski on 10 February 2001. The couple has a daughter, Nina Yankovic, who was born on February 11, 2003.

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On April 9, 2004, Weird Al Yankovic‘s parents were found dead at their home in Fallbrook, California, the victims of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from their fireplace. Hours after his wife notified him of this, he decided to go on with his concert in Appleton, Wisconsin.

He later said, “Since my music had helped many of my fans through tough times, maybe it would work for me as well … it would at least give me a break from sobbing all the time.”

Net Worth

According to some sources, Weird Al Yankovic‘s net worth is estimated to be about US$20 million.