Heywood Banks | |
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| Born | Stuart Mitchell (1950-04-01)April 1, 1950 (age 75) |
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| Website | www |
Stuart Mitchell (born April 1, 1950), known professionally asHeywood Banks, is an Americancomedian, and writer and performer of humorous songs.[1][2][3]
In the 1970s and 1980s, Mitchell used to perform under his own name, doing comedy and playing guitar.[1] His wife suggested he develop a few characters after they visited Los Angeles in 1987 and found many other comedians doing similar things as him.[1] He ended up developing the character Heywood Banks and started performing as him in 1987.[1][4]
In 1988, he won the Johnnie Walker Comedy Search national finals, which gave him a television appearance onA&E'sAn Evening at the Improv, aired on October 19, 1988.[5][4] Later the same year, he won theMiller Lite Comedy Search regional finals held inClinton Township, Michigan.[6]
His songs include "Toast", "Fly's Eyes", "Wiper Blades", "Pancreas", "Big Butter Jesus"[7] (a song about theKing of Kings statue), "18 Wheels (on a Big Rig)", "The One Eye Love" & "The Cat Got Dead".[8]
The story of his song "Toast" goes back to around 1986, when he was browsing at a Salvation Army store for props for his act. He bought an old toaster, thinking maybe he would make toast during his act. Later, his wife said she was looking forward to having toast the next morning, and he started improvising a song about toast while playing a bongo.[9]
Heywood frequently appears on the nationally syndicatedradio programThe Bob and Tom Show. His most popular and widely known song is called "Toast", played on a toaster with a pair of forks. Another recurring song that B&T occasionally play is "Trauma to the Groin". Heywood's songs have also been played on theDr. Demento Show.
In 1993, he starred in apilot calledThe Heywood Banks Show, which was aired onWJBK.[10] He played the manager of a trailer park's convenience store called the Toast Basket. He also played a resident at the trailer park named Hyphen (Dash) Ampersand. He performed his song "Toast" on the pilot.[11] Comedy writerB. K. Taylor also appeared on the show.[10]
Banks' "The Revenge Song" (also known as "You Can Be Mean to Me") was performed onAmerican Idol on January 16, 2007, by an "urban Amish"[12] singer called Troy.
Banks is originally fromBirmingham, Michigan.[1] He attendedWestern Michigan University.[4] He lives nearHowell, Michigan.[4]
Mitchell, whose April Fool's birthday makes him 38 today...
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