Thurl Ravenscroft (1914-2005) was a voice actor and singer known for his deep bass quality. His singing and speaking vocals graced Disney projects, records, animation (singing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" in How the Grinch Stole Christmas), movie musicals, and commercials (as Tony the Tiger).
As a regular Disney contributor, he was featured on the Disneyland album Rubber Duckie and Other Songs from Sesame Street, covering Sesame Street songs without direct CTW participation. He sang "Bein' Green" as a nameless frog and joined in "I've Got Two."
Ravenscroft's other Disney work includes park attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Country Bear Jamboree, and The Haunted Mansion (voice and projected likeness as the broken bust named Uncle Theodore), in various animated productions (including 101 Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, and Mary Poppins), and theme song and other vocals on Zorro.
His numerous other credits include a lengthy stint as part of the quartet the Mellomen, an earlier stint with The Sportsmen including their earliest Jack Benny appearances, dubbing the character Stewpot in the film South Pacific, and voicing Kirby the gruff vacuum cleaner in The Brave Little Toaster.
References[]
- Ravenscroft's vocals, featured and backing, were heard in multiple tracks lip synced to on Sam and Friends, particularly Spike Jones records, and tracks from Lady and the Tramp (with the rest of the Mellomen, as the pound dogs). Two 1955 songs with his solo vocals, "Dr. Geek" and the B side "I'll Pay as I Go," were transcribed for use on Sam and Friends or other Muppet appearances on June 30, 1955.[1]
- Uncle Deadly, delivering a 2021 Halloween video greeting on social media outlets, briefly complains about being typecast because he looks scary and "have this Ravenscroftian vocal range."[2]
- Muppets Haunted Mansion utilized a voice clip of Ravenscroft from the attraction's Corridor of Doors (referred to as "Who Turned Out the Lights?" in fandom circles) within the scene of Gonzo's approach to Room 999.
Sources[]
- ↑ Shemin, Craig. Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show. p. 242-243
- ↑ @unclebydeadly on Twitter. October 31, 2021
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