An Interview with Roy Zimmerman by Erin Nanasi

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I discovered Roy Zimmerman thanks to Facebook. The first time I ever watched “Ted Haggard is Completely Heterosexual,” I laughed until I cried. Roy Zimmerman is my generation’s Tom Lehrer, with a little extra snark thrown in for good measure.

I am thrilled and incredibly honored to present for Mad Mike’s readers my interview with Roy Zimmerman.

1) Tell us about The Starving Ear. I know it’s a reference to a nightclub, but how did you come to incorporate it into your work?

The Starving Ear is my homage to the legendary San Francisco nightclub the hungry i – a flashpoint for the emerging talents of Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, the Kingston Trio, the Limeliters, Nichols and May, even Barbra Streisand. It was a focal point for music and comedy that carried a social message. That club was in one basement on one street, but the Starving Ear follows me everywhere I go, and it lives on YouTube with my songs and interviews I’m doing along the way (Holly Near, Weird Al, Professor Irwin Corey…) and on Twitter and Facebook, of course.

2) You’re frequently compared to Tom Lehrer, and Mr. Lehrer himself has thanked you for “reintroducing literacy to comedy songs.” Do you compare yourself to Tom Lehrer, or anyone else?

I’m always happy when someone draws the Lehrer comparison. It’s always a great compliment because his music meant so much to so many. Every once in a while, I hear Tom’s signature satirical whine in my own vocal. And sometimes I hear George Carlin, and sometimes Brian Wilson, and sometime Jerry Orbach.

3) How did The Foremen come to be, and what led you to embark on a solo career?

I started The Foremen as a way to parody the Folk Era groups – Kingston Trio, Limeliters, Chad Mitchell, etc. This was before the Mighty Wind guys did such a great job of sending up that style. Soon after I formed the group, we were asked to perform at an anti-Gulf-War rally. I wrote a song for that occasion called “Saddam Shame,” and after that, most of what we did was political in nature. Topical songs for external use only. By the time of the ’96 election, and the re-coronation of Bill Clinton, The Foremen had been signed to Warner Records, and had gone farther than I ever imagined the group would go. It was a good time to strike out on my own. I’ve done eight solo CDs since then.

4) You’ve received accolades from Terry Jones, founding member of Monty Python, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Joni Mitchell. Do you still find yourself humbled by the compliments and the praise?

It’s pretty great to be recognized by people whose work I love and respect, that’s for sure. It’s a different feeling, but perhaps just as fulfilling to hear from people after a show that I was able to articulate some of these things in a way that made them laugh AND gave them inspiration.

5) Melanie, your wife, co-writes many of your songs, including “Hope, Struggle and Change”, an extremely moving and wise piece about the emotions behind the Occupy movement. How is it being married to someone as gifted and talented as you? Are there bouts of jealousy coupled with muttering?

I was fortunate, I always say, to have married a visionary. We’re both intensely creative and committed to the material. Sometimes we come at a given subject from very different points of view, but we know that after a (sometimes hilarious) working through, we’ll come up with something that beats what either of us could have done alone.

6) And finally, do you ever plan on releasing a rap album?

I don’t plan on releasing a Rap album, but sometimes these things just happen.

Please visit Roy’s website and share this amazing singer/songwriter with the world. Also take a minute to check out Roy’s new verse to Vote Republican! He and Melanie made a “campaign promise” to perform in all fifty states before the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

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