Thaddeus von Clegg
Encyclopedia
Thaddeus von Clegg was an immigrant (to the USA) German
clockmaster who constructed the first kazoo
in the 1840s.
The kazoo
, also called Clegghorn, is based on the African mirliton
, and was a popular African-American folk instrument during the 19th century. The manufactured version we know today was invented in Macon, Georgia
, by an African American
named Alabama Vest, in the 1840s. The first manufactured kazoo was made by Thaddeus Von Clegg, a German clockmaker in Georgia, and the instrument was introduced to the South at the Georgia State Fair
in 1852.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
clockmaster who constructed the first kazoo
Kazoo
The kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when the player vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton, which is a membranophone, a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane."Kazoo" was the name given by...
in the 1840s.
The kazoo
Kazoo
The kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when the player vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton, which is a membranophone, a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane."Kazoo" was the name given by...
, also called Clegghorn, is based on the African mirliton
Mirliton
Mirliton may refer to:*Chayote or mirliton, a pear-shaped vegetable or its vine*Mirliton , a comic book cat character created by Raymond Macherot and Raoul Cauvin*Mirliton, a type of membranophone...
, and was a popular African-American folk instrument during the 19th century. The manufactured version we know today was invented in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, by an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
named Alabama Vest, in the 1840s. The first manufactured kazoo was made by Thaddeus Von Clegg, a German clockmaker in Georgia, and the instrument was introduced to the South at the Georgia State Fair
State fair
A state fair is a competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs....
in 1852.