The Accordion That Started It All

Picture a nerdy kid in Lynwood, California, 1960s, hunched over an accordion in his bedroom. Alfred Matthew Yankovic—Al to his pals—is seven, his curly hair a mess, squeezing out polkas while classmates play ball. His parents, Nick and Mary, snag that accordion from a door-to-door salesman, thinking it beats drums for noise. Al’s a brain—valedictorian at 16—but it’s 1976 when the spark hits: he mails a tape of “Belvedere Cruisin’” to Dr. Demento’s radio show from Cal Poly. It airs, and Al’s hooked. Music’s not about glory; it’s about laughs, a geek’s rebellion in song.

The Boy from Lynwood: A Biography

Born October 23, 1959, in Downey, California, Al grew up in Lynwood, an only child to Nick, a WWII vet turned medic, and Mary, a stenographer with a quick wit. Music was oddball fuel—Spike Jones, Allan Sherman on the hi-fi. Al was shy, a straight-A kid who skipped grades, graduating high school at 16. Architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo beckoned, but radio gigs and coffeehouse sets pulled harder.

Life’s been steady. Al married Suzanne Krajewski in 2001, a marketing exec he met through friends; their daughter, Nina, arrived in 2003. At 65, he’s a vegan, bespectacled icon—curly mane tamed, still grinning like a kid with a kazoo.

The Career That Turned Pop Upside Down

Weird Al’s no band man—he’s a solo act, backed by The Weird Al Band: Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz (drums, since ’80), Jim “Kimo” West (guitar), Steve Jay (bass), and Ruben Valtierra (keys, since ’91). His 1983 debut, Weird Al Yankovic, birthed “Ricky,” a Toni Basil spoof. In 3-D (1984) cracked the Top 20 with “Eat It,” his Michael Jackson twist. No side bands—Al’s the engine, parodying hits with artist blessings (mostly).

Albums like Dare to Be Stupid (1985), Even Worse (1988), and Mandatory Fun (2014)—his first No. 1—kept him rolling. Tours? The Strings Attached (2019) symphony run dazzled. TV? The Weird Al Show (1997), a CBS flop, still cults; he’s voiced The Simpsons, BoJack Horseman. Film? UHF (1989), his cult classic, plus Tapeheads (1988) cameos. Pals like Michael Jackson (who loved “Eat It”) and Coolio (who didn’t, at first) spice his tale. Awards: five Grammys (Eat It, Poodle Hat, Mandatory Fun), a 2018 Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

The Hits That Define Him

• “Eat It” (1984) – Al’s Michael Jackson parody, penned solo, hit No. 12.
• “Amish Paradise” (1996) – Al spoofed Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” No. 53, a comedic coup.
• “White & Nerdy” (2006) – Al’s Chamillionaire riff, co-written with Krayzie Bone, peaked at No. 9.
• “Smells Like Nirvana” (1992) – Al’s Nirvana send-up, solo-written, reached No. 35.

Controversy in the Punchline

Al’s stirred pots, mostly by accident. In 1996, “Amish Paradise” dropped before Coolio greenlit it—Coolio fumed, Al apologized, royalties flowed. Lady Gaga’s camp nixed “Perform This Way” in 2011; Al leaked it, fans rallied, Gaga relented—peace made. His 1985 Prince snub—refused parodies—stung Al, who quipped, “I’m still waiting.” Clean-cut Al dodges tabloids, but his polka medleys rile purists who cry “gimmick.” He laughs: “It’s all in fun.”

A Night of Accordion Glory

Let’s hit July 27, 2018, at the Greek Theatre, LA—Al’s Walk of Fame eve. He’s mid-“Mandatory Fun” tour, 5,000 fans roaring. “White & Nerdy” kicks off, Al in a Segway, nerd glasses fogged. Mid-set, he unveils a 20-minute polka mashup—Madonna, Bieber, twisted into accordion chaos. A fan tosses a rubber chicken; Al catches it, plays it like a horn, crowd loses it. “Dare to Be Stupid” closes with a Devo hat and confetti cannons—he’s drenched, beaming. “This is my circus,” he yells. It’s peak Weird Al: absurd, joyous, a night fans still meme.