Parrots have long captivated humans with their ability to mimic speech and other sounds. Some parrots even seem to dance and sing along to music! This has led to a number of musicians incorporating parrots into their acts over the years. Perhaps the most famous example is the guitar player with a singing parrot sidekick. But who exactly is this musical duo? Let’s take a closer look at the history of performing parrots and their relationships with musicians to solve this mystery.
The Tradition of Performing Parrots
Parrots have been trained to do tricks and perform for audiences for centuries. Records show that as early as the 16th century, parrots were taught to do dances and speak phrases on command in Europe. This practice continued into the 19th and 20th centuries with vaudeville shows and other venues featuring parrots riding bicycles, playing basketball, and more. The most coveted skill was a parrot’s natural vocal mimicry. With proper training, parrots could learn an impressive repertoire of songs, whistles, and spoken phrases. Their human-like voices captivated audiences.
This long history of parrot performers paved the way for musicians to incorporate them into acts, especially in the 1950s and beyond. The most common role for a parrot was repeating a singer’s lyrics or whistling along to instrumentals. In fact, Elvis Presley famously had a singing parrot in the 1970s named Garibaldi that would squawk “Elvis! Let’s rock!” on command. Other musicians with parrot partners during this era included country star Porter Wagoner and jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd.
The Mysterious Guitar Player and Parrot Duo
But arguably the most famous musical parrot act emerged in the late 1960s and 70s. A mysterious guitarist who never revealed his true identity would often busk with his green parrot in New York City’s Greenwich Village. The pair quickly became known for their amusing call-and-response routine. As the guitar player strummed along, the parrot would repeatedly sing a witty phrase like “Braaawk, I’m so pretty!” or “Polly wants a hamburger!”
Early Sightings
According to eyewitness accounts, this guitar-playing busker started appearing with his vocal parrot around 1968. They quickly became neighborhood fixtures in Greenwich Village and developed a cult following. The earliest known interviews describe the man as middle-aged with long, wavy brown hair and John Lennon-style circular glasses. He allegedly called his parrot “Bird” or “Buddy” and refused to give his own name, preferring to remain anonymous.
As the duo’s popularity grew, they began attracting crowds of dozens during their long, improvised sets. The parrot would sit on the man’s shoulder and periodically break into comic songs and phrases while he played blues, folk, and rock riffs. Witnesses recall the distinctly raspy, New York accent of the parrot, who sounded like a feathered Henny Youngman telling one-liners.
Later Sightings
During the 1970s, sightings of the guitar man and his singing parrot became more sporadic. When they did appear, some locals noted subtle changes in their act and appearance. The man now introduced his parrot as “Mingus” and he occasionally incorporated jazz harmonies into his acoustic meanderings. His formerly brown hair had turned silvery gray. Mingus the parrot’s vocals sounded huskier with age, but he still managed to growl out tunes like “How Much is That Birdie in the Window?”
The shifting nature of their act led some to speculate whether the original bird had passed away and been replaced. Others suggested the guitarist was intentionally reinventing his persona. But the man and his parrot remained cagey about their true identities and backstory during interviews. Jaded locals took their purported amnesia with a grain of salt.
Final Sightings and Disappearance
After nearly 15 years of performances, the singing parrot and mystery guitar man gave their final shows in Greenwich Village in the early 1980s. They subsequently disappeared without explanation, having cemented their reputation as one of the neighborhood’s most iconic street performers.
In their last known appearances, the man’s hair had turned snow white and he played with more somber, bluesy undertones. The parrot’s singing was nearly inaudible yet still hinted at his talent. To fans, it seemed like a bittersweet farewell tour. Within a few years, the duo vanished altogether. Some speculated the guitarist had passed away or retired to a quiet life. Others assumed the elderly parrot had died, ending the act.
So what happened to the guitar man with the singing parrot? Had the bird died and been replaced over the years? Or was it multiple musicians using the gimmick of a parrot partner? We may never know the true story behind this mysterious yet memorable musical duo.
Theories on the Guitar Player’s Identity
In the decades since the guitar player and singing parrot disappeared from Greenwich Village, speculation has run rampant about the man’s identity. Some theories include:
Folk Singer Richard Fariña
Some argued the busker was secretly folk icon Richard Fariña, who died in 1966. Supporters of this theory claim he faked his death and adopted the parrot persona. They point to Fariña’s friendship with fellow folkie Bob Dylan and time living in Greenwich Village. However, inconsistencies in the timelines and descriptions make this unlikely.
Lost member of The Byrds
Others hypothesized the guitar player was an anonymous former member of folk rock group The Byrds. Believers suggest he adopted the parrot act after leaving the band to escape fame. Yet no evidence indicates any Byrds members becoming street performers.
Comedian Mitch Hedberg
Given the parrot’s comedic vocals, some speculated the musician was actually future standup comedian Mitch Hedberg. But Hedberg would have been a child during the duo’s peak in the early 1970s, disproving this theory.
Fictional Character
More skeptical fans argue the singing parrot and guitar player were complete fabrications. According to this theory, the story was concocted as a sort of urban legend. However, the extensive documented sightings make this hard to believe.
Unknown Busker
The simplest explanation is that the man truly was an obscure, unknown musician using the parrot act as a gimmick. Supporters of this basic theory point to the limited media coverage and lack of definitive identification of the man. His own reluctance to share biographical details also suggests he was simply an anonymous busker.
The Potential Parrot Species
Assuming the singing parrot was real, what specific species may he have been? A few candidates make sense for a talented, vocalizing pet bird in the 1960s-80s.
Indian Ringneck Parakeet
Also called ringneck parrots, these birds are common pet species. They are known for ability to mimic speech and other sounds. Their natural vocalizations are often rough and gravely. A raspy-voiced Indian ringneck could match eyewitness accounts of the guitar player’s parrot.
Monk Parakeet
Native to South America, monk parakeets are small, green parrots with signature gray breasts. Like Indian ringnecks, they are kept as pets and can learn to mimic human speech. Their high-pitched, nasal voices resemble some descriptions of the singing parrot.
African Grey Parrot
Of all parrot species, the African grey is considered one of the very best talkers. Their renown vocal abilities mean greys were likely candidates for entertainers dating back centuries. An elderly grey parrot would have the deep, gravelly voice noted in later years of the duo’s career.
Greater Hill Myna
Not actually a parrot, mynas are renowned for virtuosic vocal mimicry. Their ability to perfectly imitate sounds makes them a possibility as the mystery guitarist’s sidekick. The only drawback is mynas have more limited vocabularies than parrots.
Yellow-Naped Amazon
Amazons are large, sturdy parrots from Central and South America. While not as refined in mimicry as some species, they are known for loud, excitable speech. A spirited yellow-naped amazon could fit the exuberant personality noted in early years of the singing parrot’s career.
Conclusion
The identity of the 1970s guitar busker with the crooning parrot remains uncertain decades later. Some speculate he was a celebrity in hiding while skeptics insist he was a purely invented character. Regardless, he and his feathered companion left an indelible mark on Greenwich Village lore. This colorful piece of local history continues to captivate the imagination of New Yorkers and parrot enthusiasts alike.
Perhaps the mystery is better left unsolved. The guitar man and his singing parrot live on as urban folk heroes. While we may never know the true human behind the legend, the talented parrot was undoubtedly real. No human vocalist could ever mimic the wit and charm of that raspy, whistling bird. To fans, the playful performances will always represent the best of street culture and human-animal bonds.