Mouth Sounds and Imitations
Irwin has a unique ability to make an extremely wide variety of sounds with his mouth, whether he is imitating the voices of others, musical instruments or the sounds found in everyday life. Utilizing these vocalizations in both storytelling and musical performances, he has been called "a veritable master of sound effects and voices" and a "virtual sound factory".
In storytelling, he is best known for his "old lady characterizations" as he recounts tales of Marguerite and her friends, giving each a distinct voice that, with just a few words, can convey a great deal about that character’s personality. Irwin's storytelling albums showcase a wide variety of sound effects as well, ranging from the annoying musical ring of a cell phone to the low bellow of a fog horn. In his musical performances, the instruments he imitates include electric guitar, trumpet and tuba, leading Irwin to note, "The closest thing I have to a keyboard player is my face".
Additionally, he is an extraordinary whistler, able to make sounds on both inhalation and exhalation, which allows him to whistle without pausing for about one and a half minutes. The Beacon, the student newspaper for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, recounted a portion of Irwin’s performance:
'Someone ask me if I smoke,' said Irwin. The audience complied. Then he whistled without taking a breath for over a minute. After which he answered with a sly 'No.'
Ironically, a quote by Irwin--"Don’t be afraid to be amazing"—appeared on The United Pro Choice Smokers Rights Newsletter Issue #178.
Read more about this topic: Andy Offutt Irwin
Famous quotes containing the words mouth, sounds and/or imitations:
“Between my chin and throat
his mouth slipped over and over.
Still between my arm and shoulder,
I feel the brush of his hair.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)
“Why is it that reality, when set down untransposed in a book, sounds false?”
—Simone Weil (1909–1943)
“That man’s best works should be such bungling imitations of Nature’s infinite perfection, matters not much; but that he should make himself an imitation, this is the fact which Nature moans over, and deprecates beseechingly. Be spontaneous, be truthful, be free, and thus be individuals! is the song she sings through warbling birds, and whispering pines, and roaring waves, and screeching winds.”
—Lydia M. Child (1802–1880)