HandwhistlerBen- First part Tonight Show 1979

[PhilippineJeann]

This is very funny and cool vid my friend Ben....This is real pro Ben....

[HandwhistlerBen]

@PhilippineJeann Jeann- I really enjoyed your latest TV video.Your voice was amazing when I first heard you years ago, and it beyond outstanding now! I'm glad that you enjoyed my appearance on the Top Show in the USA back in 1979 that all the Stars were on when they made it in Show Business. I was lucky that I was a highly professional and unique human interest story They contacted me and invited me onto the Show. They flew me out First class to California, limo and Hotel and $448. for Show.

[albrenza]

You are just so amazing Ben! ;D

[HandwhistlerBen]

@albrenza Lea- This was a lifetime ago! I was only 26 here. I was totally on my own answering questions, there were no cue cards. I was scared to death. I was told to say that I handwhistled for a living, though. Glad that you enjoyed this. I hope that it cheered you up, especially when I blew into Doc's hands and got a toot. Doc Sevrensen is one of the top three trumpet players in the World from the past 100 years.

[deezynar]

That is so cool. Doc was getting into it.

[HandwhistlerBen]

@deezynar Did I miss responding to you? If I did not respond two months ago I am sorry. I really appreciate it that you not only took the time to watch this video, but left a nice comment. The Tonight Show Part 2 is also up here where I play "What kind of fool am I" with the Show's band pianist. I wish you and your family well in 2011.

[Greatwomengirls]

awww,,, how mean, cudn't afford an instrument... LOL??? he recently got caught in a scandal wasn't he?

[HandwhistlerBen]

@Greatwomengirls Yes ZinniA, David Letterman cheated on his wife with young women who worked on his Show. The great golfer Tiger Woods did the same thing and he is now going through a divorce. What he did makes no sense to me. The sound is just like an ocarina, not a flute or recorder which I know now. How did you like me blowing into Doc's hands and getting a toot? That was a great moment in my life. Doc is one of the five greatest trumpet players who ever lived!

[Greatwomengirls]

hahahaha..... u seemed like a celebrity, i'm so happy for you!!!! why didn't u pursue ur career in music, u had the talent n the skills, what happened?

[HandwhistlerBen]

@Greatwomengirls Are you kidding? I have taught vocal/general music in the Philadelphia School District for thirty one years. I have passed on all of my musical expertise to my students in grades K-8. One of my students who I taught twenty years ago just emailed me on one of my videos asking me how I was doing. He did very well with his life. He served two tours of duty in the Navy in Iraq and was married with a two year old daughter! I hear from former students all the time.

[SmoggMusic]

this is so wonderful. this is a great achievement. that is such a hard thing to learn. not really much to go off of to learn. congrats !!

[HandwhistlerBen]

@SmoggMusic Sammy- This was fun to do, although I was extremely nervous. David went over some of the types of questions he was going to ask. I had to answer the question with my mind racing. I just kept telling myself this is my only big break and I have to keep my composure. That crazy remark just came out about that "really get off on it". The audience was mine from that moment on. I had a full ten minutes on the Show because it was an hour and a half show back then.

[3greatgreyhounds3]

Wow that was cool that you were so young and got to be on his show! :O ! and $448 dollars I wonder how much u get paid now for something similar?! :) This is cool. -Shannon

[HandwhistlerBen]

@3greatgreyhounds3 Shannon- This was the Tonight Show. David Letterman was the Guest host for Johnny Carson who was only working four days a week at the time. Union scale pay for being on these Shows is now at least twelve hundred to fifteen hundred dollars. It depends on the act. I had performed all over Philadelphia from 1974 up until the Tonight Show was given an article about me at one of my concerts and they contacted me. I Handwhistled over the phone and they said that they wanted me

[davidroguemusic]

that was great to see....awesome....5 stars!

[HandwhistlerBen]

Thank you for stopping by.....I am so glad that you enjoyed this old video! You get to see David guest hosting for Johnny Carson four years before there was Late Night with David Letterman! I am sorry for all of the bad publicity he is getting now..... He was a really nice person when I was on this Show......

[tea73]

This was great, Ben! Love the 'do too!!!

[HandwhistlerBen]

Glad that you enjoyed this! How about all of Letterman's hair.....he was only 34....four years BEFORE he had his own show! This was all Before home computers, we sent Telex which was before Fax machines....everything was typed and sent by mail....and lots of phone calls.... It was a different era......

[GD29]

@HandwhistlerBen three years before he had "late night" to correct you....if this clip is from 79 and "late night" started in 82, that would make it three years.....and i know letterman was born in 47 so he must have been around 32 years old at the time...i don't think 34 came til after his morning show was cancelled...

[HandwhistlerBen]

@GD29 I stand corrected. Over the years, I mixed the dates up. It appears now that David is only six years older than me, not eight. I have not performed in public since 2002 except in front of my music classes or concerts. I have taught General Music in the School District of Philadelphia for over thirty years. My second time on the Tonight Show was in 2001 with Leno, 30 seconds to fame, Clubs and local TV Shows. I am content now. The Tonight Show saw a newspaper article about me in 1979

[HandwhistlerBen]

@GD29 I was invited on the Tonight Show with Letterman in 1979. They contacted my Parents from information about my College that was in the Philadelphia Inquirer. I was asked to call them, Handwhistle over the phone, and they told me that I was going to be on and that my First Class Airline Tickets would be coming with a schedule about the Limo, Hotel, rehearsal and that I would be paid $448. for my ten minute appearance. I was very lucky!

[Ermengarde11]

Ben, you're amazing!! Gosh this goes way back. I'm sending you some of my videos, I'm sooo glad I checked out your channel!!

[HandwhistlerBen]

Thank you. I have enjoyed the videos on your channel as well.....

[hoffmann9471]

Wow, that´s sooo great !!

You are a star !!!

[HandwhistlerBen]

Not a Star. Just a novelty act done well that the Tonight Show liked in 1979 and 2001 and invited me on as a guest. You, my friend are incredible as a singer!!!

[GD29]

@HandwhistlerBen so how did the tonight show find you? or did you find the tonight show? are you still doing this as public performance today? and were you invited on letterman's show or leno's show in 2001?

[yayiemai]

absolutely unique and amazing...

[HandwhistlerBen]

Thank you for commenting. This is me from 30 years ago. I was very fortunate to be invited to be a guest on this Tonight Show. I really like your videos! There are thirty more of mine up here.....enjoy!

[guitmartiman]

I would liken the sound of your technique more to an ocarina than to a flute or recorder. I have a friend who has perfected playing a thin piece of clear plastic which he places behind his lower lip and blows over the top of it. He calls it a saxophone. I would dearly love to see you two perform a duet!

[HandwhistlerBen]

Yes it is most like the sound of an ocarina. Is your friend up here on Youtube, or can you tell me his website? Did you hear me playing with the virtuoso guitarist from 1975 which is one of the videos on my channel? It is sound only, recorded on a cassette recorder. I think that you will like our "Summertime". It says HandwhistlerBen with Brian Graifman. Let me know what you think.....

[guitmartiman]

No as far as I know, my "sax" playing friend has never uploaded anything to You Tube. I think I did hear you play with the guitarist, but I'll listen again.

[HandwhistlerBen]

Could you put your Sax friend in touch with my channel.... Maybe he will open a channel and put some of his material up......He should really like my lipbuzzing, face drumming etc. in addition to my handwhistling.....

[StrongHeartSoldier]

You nkow dave has a full youtube on his playing if you type in David Letterman "Hand Flute" (Im sure you've seen it) but did you teach him how to do his or what?

[HandwhistlerBen]

No, David learned how to do it when he was in grade school....as he says in that video of him Handwhistling. I am disappointed that he does not mention my name in his video.....

[StrongHeartSoldier]

sorry dude,

but your still like the best hand whistler out their i just learned from my grandfather, the way he taught me makes it unable to move your hands to change notes

[HandwhistlerBen]

I was just the first Handwhistler holding my hands in my special way, to be a guest on the Tonight Show in 1979. There are better Handwhistlers up here on Youtube. Click the yellow video response underneath this video and visit my friend Mitsuhiro Mori doing Handflute playing..... You will be impressed!

[BostromSweden]

Mitsuhiro is the only hand flute player I know that is better than you. I sended a message to him a while ago and asked for hand flute advice but he didn't respond. He never comments hand flute videos here on youtube neither. Do you know if the speaks english?

[hunyghan]

This was fantastic! I found it by accident though...you should label it "with David Letterman", (for more hits).

[HandwhistlerBen]

I appreciate your comment and I am glad tht you enjoyed my early days of Handwhistling. To put Letterman in the heading would just confuse people, but thank you for the suggestion.

Ben

[coolanddark]

wow!your famous!to be on Letterman is a huge honor!i enjoyed this segment,and learned a little more

about handwhistling

[HandwhistlerBen]

This was the Tonight Show and David Letterman was the guest host for Johnny Carson who was off that night. David would not have his own show until 1983, four years after this appearance....Thank you for commenting!

[LaiYouttitham]

I lost my words so amzing!

[HandwhistlerBen]

Thank you for enjoying what I did so long ago! I had only Handwhistled for fourteen years before being invited onto this Tonight Show appearance....

[BostromSweden]

How many dollars have you earned on the handwhistling during these years?

[HandwhistlerBen]

Not much! The Tonight Show people paid for my First Class Airfare in 1979, two nights in the Sheriton Universal in Burbank, a limo to take me from the airport to hotel to studio etc., and they paid me Union scale of $448. for this ten minute appearance. The 2001 Tonight Show, we each got three hundred dollars plus the airfare and hotel. Maybe I have made around two thousand dollars with all of my appearances over the years!!!

[allbu849]

why don't u try goin on the late show with david letterman another time??

[HandwhistlerBen]

None of the Late Night Shows will take me again since I was on the Tonight Show in 2001 with The Three Tendons. Since I am a novelty act, or as they call it, a human interest story, they only do it about every twenty years!

[ripper778]

LOL letterman is so funny.

Unbelievable talent you possess.

Hope your hands are insured.

Shane:)

[HandwhistlerBen]

I was going to have Lloyds of London insure them for fifty thousand dollars as a publicity stunt back in 1978, but it would have cost me four thousand dollars, and the gigs at the Atlantic City Casinos were not coming through. I was practicing over three hours a day at that time! I did make it on to the Mike Douglas Show and Evening Magazine where I was seen Nationally. But steady work was not there for my Handwhistling novelty.

[NYCity99]

Dave was too funny.

Another great video.

We'll be back to watch them all.

My daughter also plays the clarinet.

[HandwhistlerBen]

Dave was a class act back before he had his own Show! He and Doc treated me like royalty. The talent coordinators tracked me down from some performances that I did that got Newspaper coverage. There was no script or monitor for me to read..... I am glad that your daughter is a clarinetist, so that she fully understands what I am doing with he wind to play my Hands, and the principles behind it.

[mettanc]

WOW...u got to meet doc and david. i think david is fantastic, been watching him for many. many moons.

how was it to meet these people? and the whole expereince.?

michael

[HandwhistlerBen]

Fantastic experience! I was only 26, and David was 34 and was guest hosting for Johnny Carson who was off that night. I feel very fortunate.......

[mettanc]

well, i only have 5 songs posted, so take your time going through them. u have heard the songs before.

michael

[HandwhistlerBen]

Michael- I will dive in and take my time listening to your singing videos....

[xeddiemusicx]

You got to play Doc Severinsen's hands! Nobody else in the world can say that they played Doc Severinsen's hands. Not even Doc Severinsen can say that he played Doc Severinsen's hands! :P

I'd like to hear Greensleeves if you still take requests.

[HandwhistlerBen]

You are right there! It was the dream of a lifetime. The opportunity presented itself, and I did it on a whim.....it was not scripted! Just like my saying "I can really get off on it". I took everyone by surprise.

I love Greensleeves, maybe I will put it up for you..... Thank you for commenting....

[MrRedSG]

so you were famous... thats awesome... how come it didnt take off?

[HandwhistlerBen]

My Handwhistling over the past forty two years is just a novelty, even though I do it on a Professional level. I have had lots of appearances and was on the Tonight Show again in 2001. Type in Ben Brenner on Youtube to see the "Behind the Scenes" from that Show.

[MrRedSG]

thats really awesome

[MrRedSG]

i watched it, the Four Squeezins

do you do special requests? XD

John Williams; Star Wars theme... or is that over the line?

[HandwhistlerBen]

Put down four tunes that you would like to hear. If I can, I will put one of them up for you! You could never step over the line with me.....

[MrRedSG]

haha awesome... well what kind of music do you listen to? i listen to mostly metal... but i like some classical (like paganini)

i know its slow... but would do What Child is This/greensleeves? its my favorite christmas song, and one of my favorite celtic tunes

[Alx172]

I must say, the host was rather ignorant at times with his sarcasm.

Sweet talent.

[ScrapperSara]

This is great, Ben. I love this one!!! So funny! Thanks for stopping by to check out my video and the comment! Keep the music coming. P.S. Are your hands insured??? lol!

[HandwhistlerBen]

After this appearance, I almost had my hands insured by Lloyds of London! It would have cost me four thousand a year. Thank goodness I was talked out of it and realized that my Handwhistling would only be a novelty that would be used occasionally.

[ScrapperSara]

I said that in jest, but wow!! Four thousand a year to have your hands insured; crazy! Handwhistling might be a "novelty," but it's a pretty special talent at your level, if you ask me.

[jacktharippares]

wow is that dave ?

[JohnOnTV]

Wow! Very cool, unique, and entertaining!!!

[reddyredd]

Ha Ha, you totally got a great sound out of Doc's hands! (BTW, as I'm sure you all know, Doc said 'talent,' not 'time'). I play some guitar but only know 'chords.' How great that would be to hand-whistle the lead parts!

[HandwhistlerBen]

I Handwhistled with a jazz guitarist during my college years and I have a cassette tape of some of your songs. We did "Summertime", "Sunny", "The Shadow of your smile" and many others. The harmonics of the guitar blend well with Handwhistling.

[centrilius]

My aunt is Cherokee, and she taught me how as well. Small world...

[allogist]

A very fun clip. Thanks, Ben.

[Ferali]

Hehe, that was entertaining :D

So it actually depends a lot on how you blow into the hands. Since Doc had the shape down pretty quick.

[HandwhistlerBen]

Yes, the air must be blown gently into the center of the palms. The hands must be completly sealed.

[reddyredd]

It just occurred to me--wondering if maybe you were just a little bummed at the time that you got the 'guest host.' From what I hear, though, he ended up being a pretty good talk show host himself :} Anyway, how cool that we get a classic bit...from the guy that did it!

[HandwhistlerBen]

I could not have been more pleased to have David as the guest host. He was very easy to get along with, and treated me with respect! He wanted to show me off as much as possible.

[reddyredd]

Right on! Same audience, same viewership, just a little more easy-going (Carson would scare the living crap outta me). Love that '[Basoon] It's a BEAUTIFUL instrument...' Just picturing a solo Basoon tour.