The Canadian-American blues artist Leon Redbone was something of an enigma and
during his career it was often speculated as to whether his distinctive stage
persona was simply a different identity created by an existing star, most
notably Frank Zappa or Andy Kaufman. The artist outlived both of these
performers so it can be safely assumed he wasn't their alter ego.
He was born Dickman Gobalian in 1949 and was often evasive when questioned about
his past although it is widely accepted he was of Cypriot origin and his parents
moved to Toronto, Canada in the early 1960s. In the e...