@LychkovIA Ivan- Glad that you stopped by and enjoyed seeing my Handwhistling when I was only 26 years old! David Letterman is only 32 years old there and it was BEFORE he had his own late night Show! Happy New Year!
@Ajohn13 John- Thank you for the comment. I'm so glad that you enjoyed this video. The interview section of the Show is a separate video up here. I was on for a total of ten minutes and treated like royalty. Have a great day.
@wilmahomemademusic Wilma- My Handwhistling is a great novelty musical act and has given me a lot of National exposure. This Show, where I was treated like royalty, was the greatest experience of my life! Glad that you enjoyed watching. Have a great weekend.
@MusicMonsterW I am glad that you got a chance to watch my performance part of my Tonight Show appearance in 1979. The First part of this appearance is up here as well where I am interviewed and I blow into Doc's hands and get a "toot". My other appearance was in 2001 which is up on my Channel page. I also put up Lea and you duet in MY Favorites. Since you get so much traffic through your Channel, could you favorite some of mine and put them up to send people to me? Thanx! Over 40 videos
That was soooo cool Ben! You look fanatsic there,that full head of hair looks great! Letterman is always funny isn't he? When you get on his show that's the big time. It was a beautiful performance my buddy! You nailed it so perfectly,so beautiful and dreamy is the sound of your handwhistling. And it's a great song too,can't go wrong with that. I enjoyed it a lot,you should have seen me smiling the whiole vid. :))) You're a man of many talents and all great! I'm proud to know you buddy. :)))
@cbrb40 Rick, didn't you watch this video a long time ago when we first met? By the way, this is the Tonight Show with David Letterman as the guest host before he had his own Show. Johnny Carson took the night off. Being invited out there by their talent coordinators when they phoned my home made me almost collapse. They asked me to Handwhistle a song for them, and then told me that I would be receiving my First Class airfare tickets. That Show was a lifetime ago, a dream come true!
@HandwhistlerBen Oh yeah I did watch it once long ago,I think it was on another site you showed me. I was happy to see it again. Wow that's cool so Letterman was subbing for Johnny. Those were the days right? ;) I can imagine you were shocked to hear that. haha it's cool that they pay for airfare. It was an awesome night for you my buddy. It's great to watch over and over again. :)) Hey it can happen again for you! :)))
@alainhammond - Thank you for watching Alain. By the way, I have played tennis for over forty years and get great enjoyment out of it. Were you a Champion? Best wishes to you. By the way your hands are so much larger and wider than mine!
Absolutely mesmerizing. I wish I could do that. The only thing I can manage is 1 note...after several attempts and failures of air FX. The only music I can make without an instrument is tapping and whistling. Mind giving me some tips or lessons? =]
@Th3R3M1nd3r If you put Handwhistling videos up on your channel, I can help you correct any problems that are holding you back from playing lots of notes. Have a great day and thank you for commenting on this video.
@HandwhistlerBen Well, first of all, I'm kind of embarrassed to put up any videos of myself, and I mainly do things that can help you remain anonymous. Could you maybe tell me how to always make a note when you try? I kept trying at school today and could not make a single note in 5 minutes. When I finally made a note, it was a pathetic little puff of a low G.
@huffb1 Thanks for asking. The Tonight Show talent coordinators invited me to be on the Show. They read about me in two Philadelphia newspapers where I had given some performances, called my Parent's house, told me to call back, and then told me that I would be receiving my First class airfare tickets, hotel, limo etc. and the date was set. Ten minutes on the top show in the country in 1979! Yes , that was quite a wonderful experience! Have a great day.
@lauredean100 Lauredean- Thank you for taking the time to watch. This was a very magical time in my life. The Tonight Show people saw me featured in two of our Philadelphia Newspapers and they contacted me to be on the Show! I handwhistled over the phone and they said that they would send the First Class Airfare tickets as well as top Hotel reservations, a limo, and I made $448. for being on the Show! Have a great night!
@gfks11 Judie- I was glad that David Letterman was the guest host for Johnny Carson who was only doing four nights a week at the time. The staff back stage told me that Johnny wouldn't have treated me so nice, and would have made fun of me! Enjoy your weekend as well!
@shrodes31 Why are there no handwhistling videos up on your channel? This video from over thirty years ago was lots of fun to do. I have gotten much better since those days and enjoy continuing to push myself to the limit. Thank you for watching and I am glad that you enjoyed this. Have a great night.
@26greenrose I had so much fun being treated like royalty with a full ten minutes on the Show. The Interview part is a separate video up here. Have a great day!
@unsoffiodivita1 I am so glad that you enjoyed this video from over thirty years ago. I have over thirty other Handwhistling videos up here as well as singing, playing my bassoon and clarinet and making music in many other unusual ways. Have a great day!
This really brings back memories for me. I believe you were my music teacher back in Philly in elementary school. I always wondered if you were serious about having been on the tonight show. Guess you were. Good to see you again Mr. Brenner.
@HakWise Please tell me your name and the name of the School where I was your music teacher. I am in my 32nd year of teaching now. All of these years I have told all of my students that they are unique, and that they are one of a kind with lots of talents and abilities. For you to write "there's nobody else like me" about yourself, I guess my words sank in. Please let me hear from you so that you can tell me what you are doing now, and how happy you are with your life.
This really brings back memories for me. I believe you were my music teacher back in Philly in elementary school. I always wondered if you were serious about having been on the tonight show. Guess you were. Good to see you again Mr. Brenner.
all i can say is wow. that is an amazing talent. you held it so gracefully. you have great air control and to do that live on tv shows how great you really are. i am totally impressed. and thats is great you got on the tonigh show. thumbs up my friend
@SmoggMusic I was lucky to be the right place at the right time. I performed so much in Philadelphia that when I did a performance during the Summer of 1979 the newspapers covered my appearance. A copy got out to the talent coordinator and they contacted me. I handwhistled on the phone and they said that I was going to be one. Within a two weeks I had the first class airfare tickets, vouchers for the free two nights in the sheriton universal, limo picks etc. Check out the interview part.
@stewballmax3 To be compared with one of Zamfir's performances now that makes me feel great! My heart and soul went into this performance. i wish that I had more time to play another song. My interview part lasted almost eight minutes with the commercial. The Show was 90 minutes in those days.
Your very good at this now and that was fantastic back then too. I found ur channel through a posted video of Sally's, she is great too like u, and I never knew of this kind of music till now, so thanks for posting & I enjoyed it, have a good evening! -S
@3greatgreyhounds3 Shannon- Yes Sally finally got seen Nationally with great exposure to Handwhistling. My big days were thirty years ago with the Tonight Show, Mike Douglas Show and Evening Magazine showing my feature nationally. I was lucky to be back on the Tonight Show in 2001. Those videos are all up. Sally and I have a different tonal quality in our Handwhistling because she opens her hand to change the pitches. I squeeze my palms together. I play more notes than Sally.
@nikkbenhilgar Nikko- I am glad that you enjoyed me handwhistling on the Tonight Show thirty years ago. Yes, I had very long hair and I was only 26 years old on this video. David Letterman, who was guest hosting for Johnny Carson was only 32 and he had all his hair. I belive that David started his own show in 1983. You will find some very interesting music on this Channel if you care to continue looking. Take care.
@ynot92763 Sally Cohn, my friend, just got plenty of fame from making three rounds of it. I'm done with the national shows unless something really interesting comes along. I've had more than a lifetime's worth of great moments!
Oh my gosh!! That was sooooooo awesome!!! :D Have you ever auditioned on America's got Talent or any of those type of shows?! :)))) Let us know if you're going to be on AGT, we'll watch for ya! ;)
@paxter7989 Jill- Thanx for watching and I am so glad that you enjoyed seeing me over thirty years ago doing my Handwhistling. No I am not trying to get on any more Shows. A Handwhistling friend of mine named Sally the Handwhistler is going to be on AGT sometime between now and the end of the Summer. I was on the Tonight Show again in 2001, 30 Seconds to Fame, many clubs and local TV Shows into the end of 2002. I perform for my students at School, and up here in Youtube. Good luck!
@Shabannie - Yes Ellen, it was exciting being invited to be a guest on the Tonight Show. They saw an article about me in our local newspaper. "What kind of fool am I" was written and sung by a Brit named Anthony Newley. Sammy did a much more famous cover of the song. The song untilized my entire two and a half octave Handwhistling range. It was the perfect song. I'm glad that you enjoyed this.
@MANFROMMARS46 I am happy that you stopped by to watch this video. I have a lot of variety up on this Channel. I was exposed to the music of the 1920's, 30's and '40's and all of the sing alongs from 1910 and before as a youngster. "Bird in a gilded cage", "Kind of a girl that men forget", "I don't want to play in your yard", "If you were the only girl in the world and I were the only boy". Caruso, Jerome Kern, Rogers and Hammerstein, Nat, Billie, Ella etc.
I would have lost my mind. Yeah, I read all the great perks you enjoyed throughout the trip. Hope it was a long flight to LA, and not some regional puddle jumper from Bakersfield or Santa Cruz, so you could really enjoy the first class. And it was 1979, they probably brought out a standing rib roast and cherries jubilee! Not like today when you're lucky they look at you.
@GlenShannon I live just outside Philadelphia, so, yes, it was a very long flight. Filet Mignon was the meal, and the service was great. I met a former classmate from my Junior High School days, so we had a great deal of catching up time. Check out the First Part of this Tonight Show video and let me know what you think.
@GlenShannon - I'm glad that you enjoyed my Handwhistling here. By the way, I was very nervous. Back in 1979, this was the Number 1 Show to be on. Now you have Idol and America's Got Talent. I was invited to be a guest on the Show and got paid well for it, including First Class Airfare, Limo, and staying in the best Hotel. Watch the video of the First Part of this Show. Take care.
@ShawnCorytube - Shawn, your Channel is a real blast. When I find the time, I want to watch all of your creations. I am so glad that you enjoyed this video from my very early days-over thirty years ago! Take care.
OMG you can Vibrato with Hand Whistle WTF! LOL how is that possible? I can hand whistle too but never imagine doing it with vibrato. and omg you can hit real high with that hand whistle, its real hard to do that.
@Eyun - Eyun- I'm not sure that my other comment went through since my computer is breaking down. Check out handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, and hamderhamder to hear other great handwhistlers. There are about fifty or more up here on all levels of proficiency. Please put a video of your handwhistling up, and I will help you to make it better. Send the video to me. Take care.
@rolandgladden - Roland- The Tonight Show invited me onto the Show. The First Class Airfare, Limo in Burbank to the top Hotel for two nights, Limo to the Tonight Show Studio and Mike Douglas Studio, being paid $448. for each appearance, and Limo back to the airport. It was a dream come true! Check out Handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, hamderhamder, and Sally the Handwhistler to compare our techniques, tone qualities, musical styles and hand positions. Thank you for commenting!
You get some great range on those hands of yours! I make ocarinas which is actually really very similar to how a handwhistle works in terms of pitch change. The idea of having a vessel that changes size and shape makes for some interesting ideas ;)
I'm glad that you found my Handwhistling interesting. If you want to hear it at its best. listen to "My Funny Valentine", "Crazy" or "Be my love" where I play along with Mario Lanza, trying to hold his phrasing. Thank you for commenting. Take care.
@massieko I somehow missed responding to you directly. I put a comment right below yours. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I am fascinated by those who make their own ocarinas. Handwhistling has always been similar in sound. Peace.
Thank you so much Frank. I had a great deal of fun being on the Tonight Show for a full ten minutues! I was treated like a King. I was 26 and David was 34. This was four years BEFLORE he had his own Show. David and Doc were really nice to me. They paid for the Limo, Hotel, first class airfare and they paid me $448. for the appearance! Check out other Handwhistlers: handsplay, gegegenonewmusic and hamderhamder.
I was 26 and David Letterman was 34. Look at all the hair that David and I had! He was the Guest Host of the Tonight Show because Johnny Carson was taking a night off. David had his own show four years later. Thank you for your comment!
It just takes determination and a great deal of practice. Check out my Handwhistling friends: handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, hamderhamder, and Sally the handwhistler. We all do it differently and get different tonal qualitites. Thank yu for your comment!
You're ALL fantastic! :) I can't even whistle, so it's amazing what you guys can do!
BTW, I had to replace the video you commented on the other day (the Dominic Gaudious live performance in DownTown Disney) with a new edited version. I hate loosing your comment, would you post your comment again on the new version? Cheers!! :)
I commented on your reposted video. Thank you again for appreciating us Handwhistlers. Do you see how handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, hamderhamder and Sally the handwhistler all sound different than me, even though we are all blowing air into our hands? The different hand positions make us all unique! All of us make the World a better place.
Thanks! Sometimes I make changes to a video, but hate replacing when when there are comments posted! :) I wish YouTube can make it possible to replace a video w/out having to delete the whole thing. BlipTV does that, and it's great. I imagine hand whistling is sort of like singing...each individual has a unique voice and style and no two people can sing a song the exact same way. And that makes the world a much more interesting place :)
Suzy- I was only 26 and David was 34, four years before he had his own show. What a nice man he was here. I would greatly appreciate your sending friends of yours to me! I also have singing up here. Check out my version of "Let me try again"
The costs of me performing and the amount of money that I brought in was not making me a living. So I left it as the novelty it was, and performed when the opportunity came along. This is my 32nd year teaching vocal music in the Philadelphia School District. I have been married since 1980, have a daughter and a son, and I have to support them. Thank you for your comments!
Thank you for watching this video. It was thirty years ago. There are some really great handwhistlers or handflute players up here. Check out handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, Sally the Handwhistler, spitnspike, and my friend Gustav, the handflute player of Denmark. We all do it differently and get different tonal qualitites. I was seen by about thirty million people when I was on this Show.
Thank you Alec! This Tonight Show appearance with David Letterman guest hosting for Johnny Carson was a dream come true. The producers asked me to be on the show!!! Happy Holidays!
Thank you so much for your comment and for putting it up as your favorite on your channel. Yes, I was lucky to be with David and Doc back in the day when all things were meaningful! I had such a great time. Take care.
Good question. I have gotten into a habit of doing that, adding more comments without starting a new sentence. I sometimes use a comma, but in your case, the comment goes off into eternity when I went blank about other things to say. Sorry about not saying really instead of real!
Fantastic Ben, you are so talent,with your whistling, nice choice on standard song too, 5 ***** Thousand stars..Bravo !..Marc Jones..Los Angeles,U.S.A. (Vocalist)
I am glad that you enjoyed my early days of Handwhistling. David was extremely nice, friendly, and helpful before, during and after the Show. It WAS a pleasure meeting and talking with him..... Take care......
You certainly have a talent there, what a performance! Echoing what the other guy said, Id love to see Letterman live someday. Its nice to hear that he was a friendly guy off camera, Ive heard hes a shy and quiet guy off the stage...
Thank you very much for your comment. This was thirty years ago. If you want to hear how much I have improved since then, check out my other videos like "Crazy", "My Funny Valentine", or "Ave Maria". Best of luck to you.....
ive ben practice a lot.. a year ore something like that.. every day.. and then a day.. i started to play songs.. i can play.. the song you played there.. i am getting better and better.. soon i will upload some videos with my talent:)
I look forward to you putting up your Handwhistling videos! I was practicing my Handwhistling for thirteen years, practicing three or more hours every day, doing lots of performances before I was a guest on this Show. You must be a prodigy to be able to play this song after only ONE YEAR.......
Thank you very much for your comment. This clip, as you know, was thirty years ago. Please check out some of my other twenty seven Handwhistling videos up here and see how much I have improved over the years.......
I performed on this show thirty years ago! Are you a Handwhistler also? And your name is Ben, like me? By the way, my Ben is short for Bennett....but I only use it on formal documents....it was my Dad's idea for the name! I would have preferred Benjamin.....Let me know what you are up to......
HEY! I've just been practicing very basic stuff. I'm performing for my christmas concert and maybe a concert in 3 weeks time where i play flight of the bumblebee :)
I just want to be able to hit those high notes like you do. One day... I really hope i will be able to do that :)
Thank you Lar for your comment. I'm glad that you enjoyed my Handwhistling from thirty years ago. Check out my Channel and hear me play "My Funny Valentine" and many other current selections. You have a great talent as well!
Did the microphone on the show remove the shrillness? When you played along with Misuhiros video your highest notes sounded much more shrill than they do on this video, and the highest note you play here in this video is the same note as the highest on your Mitsuhiro video or am I wrong? It's difficult to determine due to the different sound qualities in these two videos. It sounds very strange in this one.
That was a professional microphone on this Show. The Video that was copied many times and then put on DVD within the past two years, had lost some of it's fidelity because of age, almost thirty years, and lots of playing it. My recordings here are with a cheap Logitech Webcam. In reality, my sound is much more like what is on this video, but with a bigger and fuller sound. My high notes are not shrill to the degree that you hear them, it is the webcam.....
What guy are you referring to when you say "this guys great"? Please explain the end of your message too about "some people start like this with the doveXD. What does all this mean? I am a 55 year old Virtuoso Handwhistler, who at 26 had the great honor of performing on this Tonight Show with David Letterman and Doc as Co Hosts for Johnny Carson, who was off that evening. It was the greatest ten minutes of my life!
I am referring to HandwhistlerBen. Well I'll explain what I said in the last part. I started off practicing this for like a year ago and after a day or something i could do a bird sound on my hands.. And I wish to be as great as you one day.. Now I have started practicing again and I can play soundtracks from Nintendo.. but such quality in the sound I never heard... This really brings me to myself.. by the way are there any tips you can give me for handwhistling? I would appreciate that..
I can do so much more as a Hanodwhistler than back in those days...I had only been Handwhistling for sixteen years back then....I picked this song because of the funny title, and it let me go from my lowest note to my highest note.....two notes shy of three octaves...
Simply amazing. I am almost at a loss for words, which is rare for me. *Smile* That was beautiful. By the way, you remind me of the guy who played opposite Barbara Streisand in "What's up Doc?"
I am so glad that you enjoyed watching this video from thirty years ago!!! It was a great deal of fun to do, and the Tonight Show contacted me, to be on the Show!!! Happy New Year!!!!!
This was a LONG TIME ago! I was twenty six, Letterman was 34. The Tonight Show contacted me to be on this Show. I was flown First Class, a limo met me at the airport to take me to the Sheriton Universal in Burbank, and all my other travels, and I was paid $448. I was the right place at the right time, with the right ability.... Best of luck to you!
It always amazes me to see people who were on these shows way back then suddenly appearing on Youtube with the video of their old appearences. Thanks for sharing this with us :)
Thank you for the nice cmment. I am married for twenty eight years with two children, but I am a General Music Teacher, I don't work in a shoe store! That was one of my favorite shows by the way. Do you Handwhistle?
I don't even know how to whistle normally! :p But it does have a nice sound. I try learning other instruments and really love music. It's great hearing you made it a career to teach it. I'd love to make music someday like all the greats of the past. Maybe a song made by handwhistling is in order someday. :)
I teach general classroom music in Philadelphia School District to Kindergarten to eighth graders....I run a thirty two member Choir, teach xylophones, reading music etc. I do handwhistle for my students as well as play my bassoon, clarinet and recorder and keyboard and piano. Merry Christmas....
Nancy- It is rare that someone checks out four of my videos one after the other AND leaves comments. I thank you so much, and I am glad that you appreciate what I do....
Thank you for commenting. There are still people who come up to me and after I handwhistle for them, they say that they remember seeeing this back in 1979.....
I had a full ten minutes on the Show and prior to the Show I had about twenty minutes to talk to David and Doc going over some questions that they might ask. Since David was the Guest Host of this Tonight Show, and it was four years before he had his own Show, he was still a very nice, sincere person, and a pleasure to talk with.
Yes, I was twenty six years old back in 1979 and David Letterman was 34! It was four years BEFORE David had his own Show!! I was flown out First Class, picked up in a limo, put up two nights in the Sheriton Universal in Burbank, taken to the studio by limo, and paid $448. for the appearance. I was one lucky guy at the right place at the right time with the right talent......I am 55 years old not......and have a daughter 22 and a son 16.......
As far as your problem with blowing air into your hands harder or softer.... you have to move your palms closer at the same time to make higher pitches, and make the palms further apart to make the lower tones.....
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment Tamara. This video is from 1979. If you have time, please check out and comment on my more current Handwhistling videos. I am curious if you see how much more I can do since the old days......
Hi there Ben, thanks for the lovely reply! Of course I would love to check out some more of your videos! I will head over now and have a listen! Lots of Love, Tamara xx
I do squeeze the palms of my Hands closer togehter for the high notes as I also adjust the airstream to support the notes. Watch the first video that I put up, "Mr. Lonely". My son used the camcorder on the first four and he did some closeups of my Hands. You can see them moving, as in many of my other videos. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.....
Thank you for commenting. I had been handwhistling over three hours a day for thirteen years before I was invited onto the Tonight Show in 1979. Now after over forty three years of playing, I have achieved even more techniques as seen in my other thirty videos up here.
Thank you for commenting! I am glad that you said one of the best, because there are some very fine Handwhistlers up here who do it differently than I do. You do realize that I am just blowing AIR down the thumb knuckles of my sealed hands to make the toot sound, then squeeze to make higher notes, right?
I hope that you do join WhistlersNet, since it is so great to share with one another, as well as learn how to get better. Thank you for taking the time to comment and I am glad that you enjoyed my handwhistling.
The whole effect is that I make my Handwhistling sound like a "real" instrument as people listen when not seeing me do it. A great deal of very hard work has gone into it!
Yes, I was lucky that the Tonight Show contacted me and invited me to be a guest on this show. David Letterman did NOT have his own show yet. He was the guest host of the Tonight Show since Johnny Carson was taking a night off. Thank you for commenting...
It is so great to see your history. Your whistling is very heartfelt.
LychkovIA 1 month ago
@LychkovIA Ivan- Glad that you stopped by and enjoyed seeing my Handwhistling when I was only 26 years old! David Letterman is only 32 years old there and it was BEFORE he had his own late night Show! Happy New Year!
HandwhistlerBen 1 month ago
Wow Ben, that was great. That must have been so exciting. Great performance.
Ajohn13 6 months ago
@Ajohn13 John- Thank you for the comment. I'm so glad that you enjoyed this video. The interview section of the Show is a separate video up here. I was on for a total of ten minutes and treated like royalty. Have a great day.
HandwhistlerBen 6 months ago
You're a great artist I find it really great, that you can make music with your hands
:0) greetings wilma
wilmahomemademusic 8 months ago
@wilmahomemademusic Wilma- My Handwhistling is a great novelty musical act and has given me a lot of National exposure. This Show, where I was treated like royalty, was the greatest experience of my life! Glad that you enjoyed watching. Have a great weekend.
HandwhistlerBen 8 months ago
Ben that was absolutely amazing, what a great talent you are! I am so proud to be your friend! ;D
albrenza 11 months ago
That was amazing. Wow, so cool. A really incredible performance! Thanks for posting your Tonight Show appearances!
MusicMonsterW 11 months ago
@MusicMonsterW I am glad that you got a chance to watch my performance part of my Tonight Show appearance in 1979. The First part of this appearance is up here as well where I am interviewed and I blow into Doc's hands and get a "toot". My other appearance was in 2001 which is up on my Channel page. I also put up Lea and you duet in MY Favorites. Since you get so much traffic through your Channel, could you favorite some of mine and put them up to send people to me? Thanx! Over 40 videos
HandwhistlerBen 11 months ago
That was soooo cool Ben! You look fanatsic there,that full head of hair looks great! Letterman is always funny isn't he? When you get on his show that's the big time. It was a beautiful performance my buddy! You nailed it so perfectly,so beautiful and dreamy is the sound of your handwhistling. And it's a great song too,can't go wrong with that. I enjoyed it a lot,you should have seen me smiling the whiole vid. :))) You're a man of many talents and all great! I'm proud to know you buddy. :)))
cbrb40 1 year ago
@cbrb40 Rick, didn't you watch this video a long time ago when we first met? By the way, this is the Tonight Show with David Letterman as the guest host before he had his own Show. Johnny Carson took the night off. Being invited out there by their talent coordinators when they phoned my home made me almost collapse. They asked me to Handwhistle a song for them, and then told me that I would be receiving my First Class airfare tickets. That Show was a lifetime ago, a dream come true!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago 2
@HandwhistlerBen Oh yeah I did watch it once long ago,I think it was on another site you showed me. I was happy to see it again. Wow that's cool so Letterman was subbing for Johnny. Those were the days right? ;) I can imagine you were shocked to hear that. haha it's cool that they pay for airfare. It was an awesome night for you my buddy. It's great to watch over and over again. :)) Hey it can happen again for you! :)))
cbrb40 1 year ago
@alainhammond - Thank you for watching Alain. By the way, I have played tennis for over forty years and get great enjoyment out of it. Were you a Champion? Best wishes to you. By the way your hands are so much larger and wider than mine!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
Hi Ben,
This was a really great performance....
But I would have been really nervous to appear on TV like that.
Excellent = 5***** : )
Regards!
+++ Helen +++
IamHelenKeller 1 year ago
Absolutely mesmerizing. I wish I could do that. The only thing I can manage is 1 note...after several attempts and failures of air FX. The only music I can make without an instrument is tapping and whistling. Mind giving me some tips or lessons? =]
~Ben
Th3R3M1nd3r 1 year ago
@Th3R3M1nd3r If you put Handwhistling videos up on your channel, I can help you correct any problems that are holding you back from playing lots of notes. Have a great day and thank you for commenting on this video.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
@HandwhistlerBen Well, first of all, I'm kind of embarrassed to put up any videos of myself, and I mainly do things that can help you remain anonymous. Could you maybe tell me how to always make a note when you try? I kept trying at school today and could not make a single note in 5 minutes. When I finally made a note, it was a pathetic little puff of a low G.
~Ben
Th3R3M1nd3r 1 year ago
what was it like to be on the Tonight show?
huffb1 1 year ago
@huffb1 Thanks for asking. The Tonight Show talent coordinators invited me to be on the Show. They read about me in two Philadelphia newspapers where I had given some performances, called my Parent's house, told me to call back, and then told me that I would be receiving my First class airfare tickets, hotel, limo etc. and the date was set. Ten minutes on the top show in the country in 1979! Yes , that was quite a wonderful experience! Have a great day.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
Brilent fantastic performance
thanks Judie for sharing
lauredean100 1 year ago
@lauredean100 Lauredean- Thank you for taking the time to watch. This was a very magical time in my life. The Tonight Show people saw me featured in two of our Philadelphia Newspapers and they contacted me to be on the Show! I handwhistled over the phone and they said that they would send the First Class Airfare tickets as well as top Hotel reservations, a limo, and I made $448. for being on the Show! Have a great night!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
What a performance at great Letterman...wonderful BEN!!!
Just AMAZING!!
I wish you a good day and fine start in the weekend in advance....cheers....Judie:-)
gfks11 1 year ago
@gfks11 Judie- I was glad that David Letterman was the guest host for Johnny Carson who was only doing four nights a week at the time. The staff back stage told me that Johnny wouldn't have treated me so nice, and would have made fun of me! Enjoy your weekend as well!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
I thought I was the best in the world at this.... its safe to say I'm not on your level. I need to get some lessons
shrodes31 1 year ago
@shrodes31 Why are there no handwhistling videos up on your channel? This video from over thirty years ago was lots of fun to do. I have gotten much better since those days and enjoy continuing to push myself to the limit. Thank you for watching and I am glad that you enjoyed this. Have a great night.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
brilliant
fredorulz1 1 year ago
@fredorulz1 Dave- I'm glad that you enjoyed it! Have a great night.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
Wow you are ALOT better than Sally Cohn.
JerFhilm 1 year ago
@JerFhilm Sally is a good friend of mine, so I left a response on your Channel Comment area.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
@26greenrose I had so much fun being treated like royalty with a full ten minutes on the Show. The Interview part is a separate video up here. Have a great day!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
@unsoffiodivita1 I am so glad that you enjoyed this video from over thirty years ago. I have over thirty other Handwhistling videos up here as well as singing, playing my bassoon and clarinet and making music in many other unusual ways. Have a great day!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
This really brings back memories for me. I believe you were my music teacher back in Philly in elementary school. I always wondered if you were serious about having been on the tonight show. Guess you were. Good to see you again Mr. Brenner.
P.S. "1, 8 . .there's nobody else like me."
HakWise 1 year ago
@HakWise Please tell me your name and the name of the School where I was your music teacher. I am in my 32nd year of teaching now. All of these years I have told all of my students that they are unique, and that they are one of a kind with lots of talents and abilities. For you to write "there's nobody else like me" about yourself, I guess my words sank in. Please let me hear from you so that you can tell me what you are doing now, and how happy you are with your life.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
This really brings back memories for me. I believe you were my music teacher back in Philly in elementary school. I always wondered if you were serious about having been on the tonight show. Guess you were. Good to see you again Mr. Brenner.
P.S. "1, 8 . .there's nobody else like me."
HakWise 1 year ago
all i can say is wow. that is an amazing talent. you held it so gracefully. you have great air control and to do that live on tv shows how great you really are. i am totally impressed. and thats is great you got on the tonigh show. thumbs up my friend
SmoggMusic 1 year ago
@SmoggMusic I was lucky to be the right place at the right time. I performed so much in Philadelphia that when I did a performance during the Summer of 1979 the newspapers covered my appearance. A copy got out to the talent coordinator and they contacted me. I handwhistled on the phone and they said that I was going to be one. Within a two weeks I had the first class airfare tickets, vouchers for the free two nights in the sheriton universal, limo picks etc. Check out the interview part.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
This is equal to if not superior to Zamfir's performance of "The Lonely Shepherd" showcased upon his legendary pan flute!!
stewballmax3 1 year ago
@stewballmax3 To be compared with one of Zamfir's performances now that makes me feel great! My heart and soul went into this performance. i wish that I had more time to play another song. My interview part lasted almost eight minutes with the commercial. The Show was 90 minutes in those days.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
Your very good at this now and that was fantastic back then too. I found ur channel through a posted video of Sally's, she is great too like u, and I never knew of this kind of music till now, so thanks for posting & I enjoyed it, have a good evening! -S
3greatgreyhounds3 1 year ago 2
@3greatgreyhounds3 Shannon- Yes Sally finally got seen Nationally with great exposure to Handwhistling. My big days were thirty years ago with the Tonight Show, Mike Douglas Show and Evening Magazine showing my feature nationally. I was lucky to be back on the Tonight Show in 2001. Those videos are all up. Sally and I have a different tonal quality in our Handwhistling because she opens her hand to change the pitches. I squeeze my palms together. I play more notes than Sally.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago 2
@HandwhistlerBen Sally and I have been good friends for ten years. She is a wonderful person and fellow Handwhistler.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
DAMN! He's so good!
nikkbenhilgar 1 year ago
@nikkbenhilgar Nikko- I am glad that you enjoyed me handwhistling on the Tonight Show thirty years ago. Yes, I had very long hair and I was only 26 years old on this video. David Letterman, who was guest hosting for Johnny Carson was only 32 and he had all his hair. I belive that David started his own show in 1983. You will find some very interesting music on this Channel if you care to continue looking. Take care.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago 2
Wow!!!!!!!! That is so cool! you should do AGT!
ynot92763 1 year ago
@ynot92763 Sally Cohn, my friend, just got plenty of fame from making three rounds of it. I'm done with the national shows unless something really interesting comes along. I've had more than a lifetime's worth of great moments!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago 2
Oh my gosh!! That was sooooooo awesome!!! :D Have you ever auditioned on America's got Talent or any of those type of shows?! :)))) Let us know if you're going to be on AGT, we'll watch for ya! ;)
paxter7989 1 year ago
@paxter7989 Jill- Thanx for watching and I am so glad that you enjoyed seeing me over thirty years ago doing my Handwhistling. No I am not trying to get on any more Shows. A Handwhistling friend of mine named Sally the Handwhistler is going to be on AGT sometime between now and the end of the Summer. I was on the Tonight Show again in 2001, 30 Seconds to Fame, many clubs and local TV Shows into the end of 2002. I perform for my students at School, and up here in Youtube. Good luck!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
I think that Sammy Davis Jr. sang this song too. How exciting to be on the Tonight show!
-------------Ellen
Shabannie 1 year ago
@Shabannie - Yes Ellen, it was exciting being invited to be a guest on the Tonight Show. They saw an article about me in our local newspaper. "What kind of fool am I" was written and sung by a Brit named Anthony Newley. Sammy did a much more famous cover of the song. The song untilized my entire two and a half octave Handwhistling range. It was the perfect song. I'm glad that you enjoyed this.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
@HandwhistlerBen You should do some other Newley songs Do You Mind, Why, Pop Goes the Weasel, Strawberry Fair,
MANFROMMARS46 1 year ago
@MANFROMMARS46 I am happy that you stopped by to watch this video. I have a lot of variety up on this Channel. I was exposed to the music of the 1920's, 30's and '40's and all of the sing alongs from 1910 and before as a youngster. "Bird in a gilded cage", "Kind of a girl that men forget", "I don't want to play in your yard", "If you were the only girl in the world and I were the only boy". Caruso, Jerome Kern, Rogers and Hammerstein, Nat, Billie, Ella etc.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
I would have lost my mind. Yeah, I read all the great perks you enjoyed throughout the trip. Hope it was a long flight to LA, and not some regional puddle jumper from Bakersfield or Santa Cruz, so you could really enjoy the first class. And it was 1979, they probably brought out a standing rib roast and cherries jubilee! Not like today when you're lucky they look at you.
GlenShannon 1 year ago
@GlenShannon I live just outside Philadelphia, so, yes, it was a very long flight. Filet Mignon was the meal, and the service was great. I met a former classmate from my Junior High School days, so we had a great deal of catching up time. Check out the First Part of this Tonight Show video and let me know what you think.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
What a priceless memento to have in your life!!!!! And you didn't crack up from nerves either, to deliver an outstanding performance.
GlenShannon 1 year ago
@GlenShannon - I'm glad that you enjoyed my Handwhistling here. By the way, I was very nervous. Back in 1979, this was the Number 1 Show to be on. Now you have Idol and America's Got Talent. I was invited to be a guest on the Show and got paid well for it, including First Class Airfare, Limo, and staying in the best Hotel. Watch the video of the First Part of this Show. Take care.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
Very cool sir!!!~
ShawnCorytube 1 year ago
@ShawnCorytube - Shawn, your Channel is a real blast. When I find the time, I want to watch all of your creations. I am so glad that you enjoyed this video from my very early days-over thirty years ago! Take care.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
OMG you can Vibrato with Hand Whistle WTF! LOL how is that possible? I can hand whistle too but never imagine doing it with vibrato. and omg you can hit real high with that hand whistle, its real hard to do that.
Eyun 1 year ago
@Eyun - Eyun- I'm not sure that my other comment went through since my computer is breaking down. Check out handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, and hamderhamder to hear other great handwhistlers. There are about fifty or more up here on all levels of proficiency. Please put a video of your handwhistling up, and I will help you to make it better. Send the video to me. Take care.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
Awesome, Great show Ben! Wow~ "Ben Brenner, Ladies and Gentlemen!" *****
rolandgladden 1 year ago
@rolandgladden - Roland- The Tonight Show invited me onto the Show. The First Class Airfare, Limo in Burbank to the top Hotel for two nights, Limo to the Tonight Show Studio and Mike Douglas Studio, being paid $448. for each appearance, and Limo back to the airport. It was a dream come true! Check out Handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, hamderhamder, and Sally the Handwhistler to compare our techniques, tone qualities, musical styles and hand positions. Thank you for commenting!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
You get some great range on those hands of yours! I make ocarinas which is actually really very similar to how a handwhistle works in terms of pitch change. The idea of having a vessel that changes size and shape makes for some interesting ideas ;)
massieko 1 year ago
I'm glad that you found my Handwhistling interesting. If you want to hear it at its best. listen to "My Funny Valentine", "Crazy" or "Be my love" where I play along with Mario Lanza, trying to hold his phrasing. Thank you for commenting. Take care.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
@massieko - Thank you for your wonderful comment. Glad that you enjoyed this video. Take care.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
@massieko I somehow missed responding to you directly. I put a comment right below yours. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I am fascinated by those who make their own ocarinas. Handwhistling has always been similar in sound. Peace.
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
Fantastic, you´re great. I cannot handwhistle, no idea how it works, but it´s a great fun to listen to (and to watch ;-))
Frank
LONGWINDING 2 years ago
Thank you so much Frank. I had a great deal of fun being on the Tonight Show for a full ten minutues! I was treated like a King. I was 26 and David was 34. This was four years BEFLORE he had his own Show. David and Doc were really nice to me. They paid for the Limo, Hotel, first class airfare and they paid me $448. for the appearance! Check out other Handwhistlers: handsplay, gegegenonewmusic and hamderhamder.
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
I was not born, or just yet !! Excellent !!!
modhaimelamusique 2 years ago
I was 26 and David Letterman was 34. Look at all the hair that David and I had! He was the Guest Host of the Tonight Show because Johnny Carson was taking a night off. David had his own show four years later. Thank you for your comment!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
@modhaimelamusique - Modh- Thank you for leaving a comment here on this video. I'm so glad that you enjoyed watching me from so many years ago!
HandwhistlerBen 1 year ago
That is absolute talent!!! :)
TravelingTidbits 2 years ago
It just takes determination and a great deal of practice. Check out my Handwhistling friends: handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, hamderhamder, and Sally the handwhistler. We all do it differently and get different tonal qualitites. Thank yu for your comment!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
You're ALL fantastic! :) I can't even whistle, so it's amazing what you guys can do!
BTW, I had to replace the video you commented on the other day (the Dominic Gaudious live performance in DownTown Disney) with a new edited version. I hate loosing your comment, would you post your comment again on the new version? Cheers!! :)
TravelingTidbits 2 years ago
I commented on your reposted video. Thank you again for appreciating us Handwhistlers. Do you see how handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, hamderhamder and Sally the handwhistler all sound different than me, even though we are all blowing air into our hands? The different hand positions make us all unique! All of us make the World a better place.
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Thanks! Sometimes I make changes to a video, but hate replacing when when there are comments posted! :) I wish YouTube can make it possible to replace a video w/out having to delete the whole thing. BlipTV does that, and it's great. I imagine hand whistling is sort of like singing...each individual has a unique voice and style and no two people can sing a song the exact same way. And that makes the world a much more interesting place :)
TravelingTidbits 2 years ago
Exactly! We are all worth listening to for the musical enjoyment.
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
This was one of the greatest mements in my life. I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
What can I say.... just WOW! 5* of course!!
MariahVerHoef 2 years ago
Suzy- I was only 26 and David was 34, four years before he had his own show. What a nice man he was here. I would greatly appreciate your sending friends of yours to me! I also have singing up here. Check out my version of "Let me try again"
Thank you again for your kindness.
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Ben this is just the most beautiful thing I have ever heard :) :)
You are an amazing man Ben and you looked great then and you still look great :)Very handsome indeed :)
Millions of Australian stars coming your way Ben :)
Hugs
Suzy xxxx
DollyAU 2 years ago
wonderful!! great talent.
TinaLaMartina 2 years ago
Glad that you enjoyed this. What a wonderful song and great voice I just listened to on your Site. I have subscribed!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
I'm glad that you enjoyed watching this old video. Seasons Greetings!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
yeah i just cant believe that that was u why didnt stay like playing on tv
noracool10 2 years ago
The costs of me performing and the amount of money that I brought in was not making me a living. So I left it as the novelty it was, and performed when the opportunity came along. This is my 32nd year teaching vocal music in the Philadelphia School District. I have been married since 1980, have a daughter and a son, and I have to support them. Thank you for your comments!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Comment removed
noracool10 2 years ago
wow that cool
noracool10 2 years ago
OMG Its Mr. Brenner. You were my favorite music teacher in elementary school
jennjenn1549 2 years ago
Thank you for your comment. Did you enjoy this video?
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Yes the video was great. You're very talented!!!
jennjenn1549 2 years ago
Wow! Wonderful.
reecia1 2 years ago
Thank you for watching this video. It was thirty years ago. There are some really great handwhistlers or handflute players up here. Check out handsplay, gegegenonewmusic, Sally the Handwhistler, spitnspike, and my friend Gustav, the handflute player of Denmark. We all do it differently and get different tonal qualitites. I was seen by about thirty million people when I was on this Show.
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Mythical ! You've been at Letterman show ! How cool ! You have a nice natural musical quality ! my 5 stars for you ^_^
ALEClovesGENIALMUSIC 2 years ago
Thank you Alec! This Tonight Show appearance with David Letterman guest hosting for Johnny Carson was a dream come true. The producers asked me to be on the show!!! Happy Holidays!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Thank you so much for your comment and for putting it up as your favorite on your channel. Yes, I was lucky to be with David and Doc back in the day when all things were meaningful! I had such a great time. Take care.
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
This is such a classic in so many ways!
FauxConnoisseur 2 years ago
You seem like a nice young man, Jackson, so it is only natural to say "Sorry".
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Good question. I have gotten into a habit of doing that, adding more comments without starting a new sentence. I sometimes use a comma, but in your case, the comment goes off into eternity when I went blank about other things to say. Sorry about not saying really instead of real!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
I real appreciate your taking the time to watch this video and comment. Take care.....
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
It sounds like a real musical instrument, not just air and hands lol!
imalittlemidget 2 years ago
Thank you so much for appreciating how hard I had to work thirty years ago and now to produce this highest quality music.
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Handwhistles is the correct term. I am blowing AIR into my Hands....the toot sound bounces out......Thank you for stopping by.....
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
wow i cant even make tht noise its hard to do
jzlACoSTE 2 years ago
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I am glad that you enjoyed my Handwhistling!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Hello, this is amazing, really !
I whistle every day and also use the technique you show here but uhm... I wish I was only 1/5 so good !
Sharkie
metalmarkholland 2 years ago
Fantastic Ben, you are so talent,with your whistling, nice choice on standard song too, 5 ***** Thousand stars..Bravo !..Marc Jones..Los Angeles,U.S.A. (Vocalist)
glennmach 2 years ago
One of my dreams is to meet david letterman, he's just so funny. great tune by the way.
WOGI5M 2 years ago
I am glad that you enjoyed my early days of Handwhistling. David was extremely nice, friendly, and helpful before, during and after the Show. It WAS a pleasure meeting and talking with him..... Take care......
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
You certainly have a talent there, what a performance! Echoing what the other guy said, Id love to see Letterman live someday. Its nice to hear that he was a friendly guy off camera, Ive heard hes a shy and quiet guy off the stage...
jimmbo13 2 years ago
Thank you very much for your comment. This was thirty years ago. If you want to hear how much I have improved since then, check out my other videos like "Crazy", "My Funny Valentine", or "Ave Maria". Best of luck to you.....
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Wauw. You are really good. How do you do those high notes?
jernfuglen 2 years ago
Thank you for subscribing. As you know from Gustav, your Handwhistling great in Denmark, all it takes is practice, and lots of it! Take care.....
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
this doesnt look that hard :P
juliethebully 2 years ago
It isn't hard, it just takes practice. Good luck!
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
ive ben practice a lot.. a year ore something like that.. every day.. and then a day.. i started to play songs.. i can play.. the song you played there.. i am getting better and better.. soon i will upload some videos with my talent:)
adilonzo 2 years ago
I look forward to you putting up your Handwhistling videos! I was practicing my Handwhistling for thirteen years, practicing three or more hours every day, doing lots of performances before I was a guest on this Show. You must be a prodigy to be able to play this song after only ONE YEAR.......
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Thank you very much for your comment. This clip, as you know, was thirty years ago. Please check out some of my other twenty seven Handwhistling videos up here and see how much I have improved over the years.......
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
Ben you're awesome
asbani991 2 years ago
Hey Ben :] watching your videos has really helped me in my schools music recital! Thanks a bunch
SirPwnsalotz 2 years ago
BEN!! Watching this gives me my drive. I'm so ready to play this for my school's lunchtime concert one day.
-Bennett(:P)
BBoyPure 2 years ago
I performed on this show thirty years ago! Are you a Handwhistler also? And your name is Ben, like me? By the way, my Ben is short for Bennett....but I only use it on formal documents....it was my Dad's idea for the name! I would have preferred Benjamin.....Let me know what you are up to......
HandwhistlerBen 2 years ago
HEY! I've just been practicing very basic stuff. I'm performing for my christmas concert and maybe a concert in 3 weeks time where i play flight of the bumblebee :)
I just want to be able to hit those high notes like you do. One day... I really hope i will be able to do that :)
I've been handwhistling for 1month btw lol.
BBoyPure 2 years ago
Cool video Ben! And a great fun talent! All my best!
Lar
JazzEthics 3 years ago
Thank you Lar for your comment. I'm glad that you enjoyed my Handwhistling from thirty years ago. Check out my Channel and hear me play "My Funny Valentine" and many other current selections. You have a great talent as well!
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
I used my friend's account to reply to you. This was very interesting. I will tell others to visit your sites.
-- Nakia Jenkins from Thurgood Marshall School
gridebrougham 2 years ago
Did the microphone on the show remove the shrillness? When you played along with Misuhiros video your highest notes sounded much more shrill than they do on this video, and the highest note you play here in this video is the same note as the highest on your Mitsuhiro video or am I wrong? It's difficult to determine due to the different sound qualities in these two videos. It sounds very strange in this one.
BostromSweden 3 years ago
That was a professional microphone on this Show. The Video that was copied many times and then put on DVD within the past two years, had lost some of it's fidelity because of age, almost thirty years, and lots of playing it. My recordings here are with a cheap Logitech Webcam. In reality, my sound is much more like what is on this video, but with a bigger and fuller sound. My high notes are not shrill to the degree that you hear them, it is the webcam.....
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
this guys great.. then to think some people start like this with the doveXD
omejep 3 years ago
What guy are you referring to when you say "this guys great"? Please explain the end of your message too about "some people start like this with the doveXD. What does all this mean? I am a 55 year old Virtuoso Handwhistler, who at 26 had the great honor of performing on this Tonight Show with David Letterman and Doc as Co Hosts for Johnny Carson, who was off that evening. It was the greatest ten minutes of my life!
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
I am referring to HandwhistlerBen. Well I'll explain what I said in the last part. I started off practicing this for like a year ago and after a day or something i could do a bird sound on my hands.. And I wish to be as great as you one day.. Now I have started practicing again and I can play soundtracks from Nintendo.. but such quality in the sound I never heard... This really brings me to myself.. by the way are there any tips you can give me for handwhistling? I would appreciate that..
omejep 3 years ago
Simply beautiful!
guitmartiman 3 years ago
I can do so much more as a Hanodwhistler than back in those days...I had only been Handwhistling for sixteen years back then....I picked this song because of the funny title, and it let me go from my lowest note to my highest note.....two notes shy of three octaves...
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
Simply amazing. I am almost at a loss for words, which is rare for me. *Smile* That was beautiful. By the way, you remind me of the guy who played opposite Barbara Streisand in "What's up Doc?"
btifulwmn 3 years ago
I am so glad that you enjoyed watching this video from thirty years ago!!! It was a great deal of fun to do, and the Tonight Show contacted me, to be on the Show!!! Happy New Year!!!!!
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
O.o....
sooooooooo amazing......
ForbiddingDurian 3 years ago
This was a LONG TIME ago! I was twenty six, Letterman was 34. The Tonight Show contacted me to be on this Show. I was flown First Class, a limo met me at the airport to take me to the Sheriton Universal in Burbank, and all my other travels, and I was paid $448. I was the right place at the right time, with the right ability.... Best of luck to you!
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
It always amazes me to see people who were on these shows way back then suddenly appearing on Youtube with the video of their old appearences. Thanks for sharing this with us :)
shoemanbundy 3 years ago
Thank you for the nice cmment. I am married for twenty eight years with two children, but I am a General Music Teacher, I don't work in a shoe store! That was one of my favorite shows by the way. Do you Handwhistle?
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
I don't even know how to whistle normally! :p But it does have a nice sound. I try learning other instruments and really love music. It's great hearing you made it a career to teach it. I'd love to make music someday like all the greats of the past. Maybe a song made by handwhistling is in order someday. :)
shoemanbundy 3 years ago
I teach general classroom music in Philadelphia School District to Kindergarten to eighth graders....I run a thirty two member Choir, teach xylophones, reading music etc. I do handwhistle for my students as well as play my bassoon, clarinet and recorder and keyboard and piano. Merry Christmas....
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
wow that's awesome!!!!
pony4010 3 years ago
Thank you so much. I am glad that you enjoyed this very old video. Happy Holidays.....
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
FANTASTIC!!!! :-)
nancyleeould 3 years ago
Nancy- It is rare that someone checks out four of my videos one after the other AND leaves comments. I thank you so much, and I am glad that you appreciate what I do....
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
Ben that's wonderful. I think I remember seeing you.
guitaress1 3 years ago
Thank you for commenting. There are still people who come up to me and after I handwhistle for them, they say that they remember seeeing this back in 1979.....
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
WOW nice! how come when I blow harder or lighter the pitch doesnt change..at all
and HOW WAS MEETING DAVID LETTERMAN!?
StrongHeartSoldier 3 years ago
I had a full ten minutes on the Show and prior to the Show I had about twenty minutes to talk to David and Doc going over some questions that they might ask. Since David was the Guest Host of this Tonight Show, and it was four years before he had his own Show, he was still a very nice, sincere person, and a pleasure to talk with.
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
that guy talking to david letterman is really you?!?!
dacrimespot23 3 years ago
Yes, I was twenty six years old back in 1979 and David Letterman was 34! It was four years BEFORE David had his own Show!! I was flown out First Class, picked up in a limo, put up two nights in the Sheriton Universal in Burbank, taken to the studio by limo, and paid $448. for the appearance. I was one lucky guy at the right place at the right time with the right talent......I am 55 years old not......and have a daughter 22 and a son 16.......
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
cool! awesome, thanks for the story great job!
dacrimespot23 3 years ago
As far as your problem with blowing air into your hands harder or softer.... you have to move your palms closer at the same time to make higher pitches, and make the palms further apart to make the lower tones.....
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
so cool. i really like the sound
chocolatelover13 3 years ago
G;ad tjat you enjoyed this video from almost thirty years ago!
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
lol. yea. it was great all the same
chocolatelover13 3 years ago
This is absolutely amazing!! 5 stars and many many more from me!! Love, Tamara xx
RossiSinger 3 years ago
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment Tamara. This video is from 1979. If you have time, please check out and comment on my more current Handwhistling videos. I am curious if you see how much more I can do since the old days......
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
Hi there Ben, thanks for the lovely reply! Of course I would love to check out some more of your videos! I will head over now and have a listen! Lots of Love, Tamara xx
RossiSinger 3 years ago
how did you ajust the pitch without moving your hands?
Voledesoto 3 years ago
I do squeeze the palms of my Hands closer togehter for the high notes as I also adjust the airstream to support the notes. Watch the first video that I put up, "Mr. Lonely". My son used the camcorder on the first four and he did some closeups of my Hands. You can see them moving, as in many of my other videos. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.....
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
amazing INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!
marinogomez619 3 years ago
Thank you for commenting. I had been handwhistling over three hours a day for thirteen years before I was invited onto the Tonight Show in 1979. Now after over forty three years of playing, I have achieved even more techniques as seen in my other thirty videos up here.
Ben
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
Wow! Very nice! I'm loving all the brave whistlers I'm finding on YouTube, and you're one of the best I've heard. Thank you!
johnscottromine 3 years ago
Thank you for commenting! I am glad that you said one of the best, because there are some very fine Handwhistlers up here who do it differently than I do. You do realize that I am just blowing AIR down the thumb knuckles of my sealed hands to make the toot sound, then squeeze to make higher notes, right?
Ben
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
There's ANOTHER human instrument?????? Incredible!! You are a wonderful musician.
Scherzo567 3 years ago
Dear Ben You are fantastic
I saw your videos only now as i found your comment on mine. You are really incredible!
Thanks also for the information on whistlernet
I will be back in september and have a look at it
thanks again elena
esomare 3 years ago
I hope that you do join WhistlersNet, since it is so great to share with one another, as well as learn how to get better. Thank you for taking the time to comment and I am glad that you enjoyed my handwhistling.
Ben
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
Awesome!!...Wow!!...If you didn't know better you would think he's playing an instrument!!..5*****!!!...xoxo
kandixoxo 3 years ago
I am glad that you enjoyed this video!! Thank you for commenting...
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
The whole effect is that I make my Handwhistling sound like a "real" instrument as people listen when not seeing me do it. A great deal of very hard work has gone into it!
Ben
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
That mush be soooo difficult!!!
Many Stars!!!!
DsmB2007 3 years ago
Yes, I was lucky that the Tonight Show contacted me and invited me to be a guest on this show. David Letterman did NOT have his own show yet. He was the guest host of the Tonight Show since Johnny Carson was taking a night off. Thank you for commenting...
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
Thanks Roeleke
Grumpyoldmantrash 3 years ago
Thank you Grumpyoldmantrash for watching my video....
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago
well done sir!i am simply in awe!you have inspired me to take up handwhisting again.thank you!
coolanddark 3 years ago
GREAT! Handwhistling is the wave of the future..... get on board and have fun!
HandwhistlerBen 3 years ago