Hugh Brannum
Encyclopedia
Hugh Brannum was an American
vocalist, arranger, composer and actor best known for his role as "Mr. Green Jeans" on the children's television show Captain Kangaroo
. During his days with Fred Waring
and his Pennsylvanians, he used his childhood nickname "Lumpy."
in 1910 to a Methodist
minister. He attended Maine Township High School in suburban Chicago where he played sousaphone
in the school's marching band, later learning the bass violin
.
He went to college at University of Redlands
, where he became interested in jazz; after graduation, he played bass in various bands.
, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and joined a Marine band led by Bob Crosby
. After the war, he joined the Four Squires, later moving to Fred Waring
and His Pennsylvanians; Waring's group had a regular radio show, where Hugh met Bob Keeshan
, an employee at the station who would later hire Brannum for Captain Kangaroo.
Before his time on Captain Kangaroo he hosted a local children's TV series called Uncle Lumpy's Cabin, seen weekday mornings on WABC-TV Ch. 7 in New York City
during the 1951 season.
Mr. Green Jeans earned his moniker from his distinctive apparel, a pair of farmer's overalls (later, jeans and a denim jacket) in his signature green
. He was a talented and inquisitive handyman
who provided assistance at the Treasure House. He frequently visited the Captain with the latest addition to his menagerie of zoo
animals.
Aside from Mr. Green Jeans, Brannum played a number of characters on Captain Kangaroo from 1955 to 1984, including The Professor, Greeno The Clown, The Old Folk Singer, and Mr. Bainter the Painter. His role as Mr. Green Jeans was partly based on stories about a farm kid named "Little Orley" that he told with the Fred Waring orchestra, on the radio and on 78-rpm records
under the pseudonym
"Uncle Lumpy". According to Bob Keeshan, Mr. Green Jeans was an extension of Brannum's real personality. The shows were performed before a live audience. During one episode of Captain Kangaroo, a lion cub bit Brannum's finger and drew blood. Brannum stuck his bleeding hand into his pocket and never broke character for the remainder of the episode.
Brannum died of cancer
in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
in 1987.
recordings:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist, arranger, composer and actor best known for his role as "Mr. Green Jeans" on the children's television show Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
. During his days with Fred Waring
Fred Waring
Fredrick Malcolm Waring was a popular musician, bandleader and radio-television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing." He was also a promoter, financial backer and namesake of the Waring Blendor, the first modern electric...
and his Pennsylvanians, he used his childhood nickname "Lumpy."
Early life
Brannum was born in Sandwich, IllinoisSandwich, Illinois
Sandwich is a city in DeKalb, Kendall, and LaSalle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 6,509 at the 2000 census. The 2008 population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau for the city is 7,337.-History:...
in 1910 to a Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
minister. He attended Maine Township High School in suburban Chicago where he played sousaphone
Sousaphone
The sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
in the school's marching band, later learning the bass violin
Bass violin
Bass violin is the generic modern term used to denote various 16th- and 17th-century forms of bass instruments of the violin family. They were the direct ancestor of the modern cello. Bass violins were usually somewhat larger than the modern cello, but tuned the same or sometimes just one step...
.
He went to college at University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
, where he became interested in jazz; after graduation, he played bass in various bands.
Career
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and joined a Marine band led by Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby
George Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
. After the war, he joined the Four Squires, later moving to Fred Waring
Fred Waring
Fredrick Malcolm Waring was a popular musician, bandleader and radio-television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing." He was also a promoter, financial backer and namesake of the Waring Blendor, the first modern electric...
and His Pennsylvanians; Waring's group had a regular radio show, where Hugh met Bob Keeshan
Bob Keeshan
Robert James "Bob" Keeshan was an American television producer and actor. He is most notable as the title character of the children's television program Captain Kangaroo, which became an icon for millions of people during its 30-year run from 1955 to 1984.Keeshan also played the original...
, an employee at the station who would later hire Brannum for Captain Kangaroo.
Before his time on Captain Kangaroo he hosted a local children's TV series called Uncle Lumpy's Cabin, seen weekday mornings on WABC-TV Ch. 7 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
during the 1951 season.
Mr. Green Jeans earned his moniker from his distinctive apparel, a pair of farmer's overalls (later, jeans and a denim jacket) in his signature green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
. He was a talented and inquisitive handyman
Handyman
A handyman is a person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home. These tasks include trade skills, repair work, maintenance work, both interior and exterior, and are sometimes described as "odd jobs", "fix-up tasks", and include light plumbing jobs such as fixing a leaky toilet...
who provided assistance at the Treasure House. He frequently visited the Captain with the latest addition to his menagerie of zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
animals.
Aside from Mr. Green Jeans, Brannum played a number of characters on Captain Kangaroo from 1955 to 1984, including The Professor, Greeno The Clown, The Old Folk Singer, and Mr. Bainter the Painter. His role as Mr. Green Jeans was partly based on stories about a farm kid named "Little Orley" that he told with the Fred Waring orchestra, on the radio and on 78-rpm records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Uncle Lumpy". According to Bob Keeshan, Mr. Green Jeans was an extension of Brannum's real personality. The shows were performed before a live audience. During one episode of Captain Kangaroo, a lion cub bit Brannum's finger and drew blood. Brannum stuck his bleeding hand into his pocket and never broke character for the remainder of the episode.
Brannum died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg is the most populous municipality in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Poconos region of the state. Originally known as "Dansbury", East Stroudsburg was renamed for geographic reasons when the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad opened a...
in 1987.
Popular culture
- A long-running but incorrect rumor claims Brannum was the father of musician Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, apparently because of a Zappa composition titled "Son of Mr. Green Genes" on his 1969 album, Hot RatsHot RatsHot Rats is the second solo album by Frank Zappa. It was released in October 1969. Five of the six songs are instrumental . It was Zappa's first recording project after the dissolution of the original Mothers of Invention...
.
- Mentioned, along with Bob Keeshan, in the Jim Lehrer novel The Phony Marine.
Discography
Soloist and/or Composer and/or Arranger, as Hugh (Lumpy) Brannum, on the following Fred WaringFred Waring
Fredrick Malcolm Waring was a popular musician, bandleader and radio-television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing." He was also a promoter, financial backer and namesake of the Waring Blendor, the first modern electric...
recordings:
- Get Well
- Little Orley and His Coonskin Cap
- Little Orley and His Fly-Frog-Fish Orchestra
- Little Orley and the Cricket
- Little Orley and the Happy Bird
- Little Orley and the Haunted House
- Little Orley and the Little Engine
- Little Orley's Barn Dance
- Little Orley's Big Concert
- Little Orley-His Adventures as a Worm
- Little Orley-His Adventures with Dr. Feather
- Little Orley-His Adventures with the Cloud
- Little Orley-His Adventures with the Parade
- Orley and the Bubble Gum
- Orley and the Bull Fiddle
- Orley and the Ivy
- Orley and the Moon
- Orley and the Pancake
- The Little Rhumba Numba