Don Music

PERFORMER	Richard Hunt
DEBUT	1974
PATTERN	Orange Gold
DESIGN	Jim Henson

SS50thSpecial-Don — Don in *Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration*

Don Music is an agonized composer who made recurring appearances on Sesame Street, starting in Season 6 (1974).

Don would most always express his bouts of songwriter's block by banging his head on the piano keys in frustration, wailing, "Oh, I'll never get it! Never!" In early sketches featuring the character, Kermit the Frog (in his reporter garb) would visit Don in his studio and assist him in writing a song, which would often be a new spin on a familiar nursery rhyme or public domain song. From the pen of "Don Music and frog" (as phrased by Kermit), a tune like "Mary Had a Little Lamb" would be hashed out and reworked as "Mary Had a Bicycle." When Don was finished writing, he would perform his newest composition, complete with backup singers (often Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats) either appearing out of nowhere or entering through the door to his studio. Don appeared in street scenes as well, where he is shown writing original songs not based on established compositions.

The character was created by David Korr,^[1] who wrote some of the early segments. Don always kept a picture of Sesame Street songwriter and composer Joe Raposo on the wall, while on his piano he often kept a bust of either Ludwig van Beethoven or William Shakespeare. Don also appeared in the View-Master Interactive Vision video Let's Learn to Play Together and the TV special, Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting.

His last new appearance on the show was in Episode 2826, but his segments continued to air as part of new episodes until Season 29 in 1998, where "Whistle, Whistle, Little Bird" was the final Don segment to play in Episode 3701. According to Sesame Street Unpaved, which was published the same year, "The character, played by Richard Hunt, was abandoned because of complaints about his alarming tendencies toward self-inflicted punishment. Apparently, kids were imitating his head-banging at home."

After being absent for over twenty years, Don Music resurfaced in new appearances associated with the show's 50th anniversary, performed by Ryan Dillon. He appeared at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 in the "Sesame Street Puppets Live!" show,^[2] the special Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration^[3] (where host Joseph Gordon-Levitt mistakes him for Guy Smiley), and in the 2019 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He also made a cameo in the 2019 animated music video "Christmas with the Count" (YouTube) and appears as an audience member for The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo. He made his first appearance on the show proper since 1998 in Maggie Rogers' song in Episode 5102 (in a silent background cameo). He later made a speaking cameo in the 2023 special Elmo's Mindfulness Spectacular, trying to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in the Sesame Street Talent Show.

Sketches[]

Picture

Title / First Appearance

Description

"Sesame Street News Flash: Mary Had a Bicycle"
(First: Episode 0698)

Don Music tries to write "Mary Had a Little Lamb," but he can't come up with a word that rhymes with "snow." Kermit suggests that Don try another angle, which leads to Don writing the hit song "Mary Had a Bicycle." Don sings the song, with back-up vocals from the Monotones.

Video: Sing Yourself Silly (beginning cut), Old School: Volume 2

Online: (YouTube)

"Sesame Street News Flash: Yankee Doodle"
(First: Episode 0876)

Kermit helps Don Music finish the "Yankee Doodle" song, then because Don finds the idea of calling feathers macaroni ridiculous, they rewrite it to be a song in which Yankee Doodle stays at home cooking for his pony, puts "fat spaghetti" in a pot and calls it macaroni. Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats then come in and perform the song with Don. Frank Oz puppeteers Little Chrissy and the Lavender Alphabeat,^[4] while Jerry Nelson performs the Green band member.

Video: Old School: Volume 2

"Sesame Street News Flash: Row Your Boat"
(First: Episode 0897)

Kermit reports as Don Music starts to write "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," but gets stuck on the final rhyme, "life is but a...." He gets inspiration when Kermit tells Don it's a treat to watch him perform, so he concludes "life is but a treat." To fit the rhyme change, Don adjusts "stream" to "street," a location which alters the song to "Drive, Drive, Drive Your Car." Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats join Don to sing the finished song. David Korr wrote the altered lyrics to this song while Sam Pottle arranged the music.^[5] Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson provide the voices for the Alphabeats.

Online: (YouTube)

"Sesame Street News Flash: Old MacDonald"
(First: Episode 0923)

Don successfully writes "Old MacDonald" with a little help from Kermit and some barnyard animals. Sam Pottle composed the music for this segment.^[6]

"Sesame Street News Flash: Whistle, Whistle, Little Bird"
(First: Episode 1210)

Don Music tries to write "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." When he can't figure out a final line, Kermit suggests "like a diamond in a pie," suggesting the song be an advertisement. Since stars don't eat, Kermit suggests replacing the star with a bird. They are joined by a country-western band, and Kermit insists on sharing songwriting credit.

Video: 50 Years and Counting

Online: (YouTube)

"Sesame Street News Flash: The Alphabet Song"
(First: Episode 1227)

Kermit the Frog reports on Don Music as he "writes" "The Alphabet Song." Kermit, and a steady assortment of visitors to Don's studio, inspire Don with a casual word every time he forgets a letter. Don finishes the song, and on a cue, Don and the rest sing the finished composition together.

"Sesame Street News Flash: Can You Tell Me How To Get To Yellowstone Park"
(First: Episode 1310)

Don Music tries to write the "Sesame Street Theme" on a stormy night. He succeeds with the help of Kermit and is joined by Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats as he turns the song into "Can You Tell Me How to Get to Yellowstone Park".

Sesame Street Game Show: Mystery Guest
(First: Episode 1447)

Don was a contestant along with Cookie Monster and Sherlock Hemlock in a game show sketch hosted by Guy Smiley. The object of the game was to wear a blindfold and guess who the mystery guest is. The mystery guest was the letter X. Don Music guessed M.

The American Revolution: The Declaration of Independence
(First: Episode 2345)

Don Music plays Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson has trouble getting a replacement quill to finish the Declaration when Mr. Grover misinterprets what he needs bringing a drill, and a chicken named Phil.

Online: (YouTube)