Kazoo

It is a type of mirliton (which itself is a membranophone), one of a class of instruments which modifies its player's voice by way of a vibrating membrane of goldbeater's skin or material with similar characteristics.

[citation needed] Simple membrane instruments played by vocalizing, such as the onion flute, have existed since at least the 16th century.

[3] In North East England and South Wales, kazoos play an important role in juvenile jazz bands.

[12] Trombonist-vocalist Jack Fulton played it on Whiteman's recording of Vilia (1931) and Frankie Trumbauer's Medley of Isham Jones Dance Hits (1932).

In Frank Loesser's score for the 1961 Broadway musical comedy How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, several kazoos produce the effect of electric razors used in the executive washroom during a dance reprise of the ballad I Believe in You.

In 1961, Del Shannon's "So Long Baby" issued on Big Top Records featured a kazoo on the instrumental break.

In the song "Crosstown Traffic" from the album Electric Ladyland, Jimi Hendrix used a comb-and-paper instrument to accompany the guitar and accentuate a blown-out speaker sound.

[3][16] Kazoo playing parodied the sound of a military brass band in the Pink Floyd song "Corporal Clegg".

[17] In the McGuinness Flint recording When I'm Dead and Gone, Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle play kazoos in harmony during the instrumental break.

The New Seekers' live track (Ever Since You Told Me That You Loved Me) I'm A Nut features a kazoo solo by singer Eve Graham.

[3][18] The soundtrack of the film Chicken Run, released in 2000 and composed by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams, makes use of kazoos in several pieces.

[20] The Ukrainian polka band Los Colorados released a cover of Rammstein song "Du Hast", which features a kazoo.

[22] On August 9, 2010, the San Francisco Giants hosted a Jerry Garcia tribute night, in which an ensemble of an estimated 9,000 kazooists played "Take Me Out to the Ball Game.

A metal kazoo
Other examples of kazoos
Machines at the Kazoo Factory and Museum
Kazoo manufacturing steps