A 'Giant' among us

Lynbrook resident plays bass guitar in Grammy-winning band 'They Might be Giants'

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From Captain Kangaroo to Ray Romano, Lynbrook has been a breeding ground for star entertainers, and They Might Be Giants bass guitarist Danny Weinkauf adds to the list. Weinkauf and his Grammy-winning band mates will be performing at the Paramount in Huntington on March 22.

Weinkauf, who describes himself as a “very happy full-time musician,” and the band are on a 60-week, worldwide tour, including the U.S., Canada, Australia and Europe. “We haven’t played on Long Island in a while,” he said, “so I’m looking forward to that.”

They Might Be Giants is an American alternative band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During their early years, Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Its current members include Flansburgh, Linnell, Marty Beller — who attended Baldwin High School — Dan Miller and Weinkauf.

The group is best known for its unconventional and experimental style of music. It found success on the modern rock charts, but more recently it has delved into children’s music, and recorded theme music for several TV programs and films.

TMBG has released 15 studio albums. “Flood” has been certified platinum, and three albums of children’s music, “Here Come the ABCs,” “Here Come the 123s” and “Here Comes Science,” have all been certified gold. The band has won two Grammys, one in 2002 for the song “Boss of Me,” which was the theme song for the TV show “Malcolm in the Middle.” The group won a second Grammy in 2009 for “Here Come the 123s.” In all, it has sold more than 4 million records.

A musical start in Lynbrook


Weinkauf, a 1982 graduate of Lynbrook High School, attributes much of his love of music to his former chemistry teacher, Dr. Santo Barbarino, who died last August while serving as the school district’s superintendent.

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