Whistling

Good, everyday whistling can be heard on "The Andy Griffith Show" theme. Ho-hum. Compared to amateur whistling, virtuoso whistling is as space travel is to a walk down the lane. And, just as whistling seems to be a dwindling pasttime for the average person, there may never be another virtuoso whistler, at least not one to reach fame on record and in popular performances. But whistling is a great art. It shares with singing the direct, completely human qualities of a "built-in" instrument; everyone can relate to it instantly. Virtuoso whistlers also imitate songbirds (bird songs are another music on the wane) to some degree. Whistling is an ancient form of both communication and self-entertainment. But the great whistlers also made music.

The greatest whistler on earth, ever, was blind Fred Lowery (1910-1984), the "King of Whistlers." Born in Palestine, Texas, Lowery lost his vision at age two. At a school for the blind in Austin, Texas in 1929, he met a bird imitator who, along with his piano teacher, encouraged him to whistle. Lowery's career began with radio shows on WFAA in Dallas, followed by four and a half years with Vincent Lopez in New York. This was followed by a stint on the Horace Heidt show, after which he toured solo. He appeared with Steve Allen, Edgar Bergen, Bing Crosby, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Stan Kenton, Vincent Lopez, Ed Sullivan, Paul Whiteman, and others. He wound up whistling gospel (sometimes with bird calls dubbed in) -- to surprisingly great effect.

Muzzy Marcellino was another widely heard whistler, appearing on such shows as "Art Linkletter's House Party" (of which he became musical director) and on records as leader or sideman. ("Ricordate Marcellino" is a tune covered by Renato Corazone and Les Baxter.) Albums featuring a single whistling track are numerous, of course, but it took a Lowery or Marcellino to cause listeners to whistle back at them in amazement. And the most famous, hip, whistled tune of all? Why, the Harlem Globetrotters' version of "Sweet Georgia Brown."