April 14, 2026 ⢠8 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi Elliott the morning.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hey Elliott, It's Chris Alman, the champion whistler. How are you?
How are you? I'm doing great, excellent, excellent.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Can I first, can I apologize to you?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Feel free?
Speaker 3 (00:14):
I'm sorry that the obviously you were the national anthem
performer at the Orioles game on Saturday night, which we've
now determined odd choice on bringing your dog to the
park night.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
But that's fine, that's not you.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
You just showed up and did your gig and they
talked about how and by the way, and I'm sure
you know this. Your clip from Saturday night has gone
viral everywhere, like it is all over the place.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Of you doing it. I feel horrible.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
A that I was not familiar with with with you
being in the Hall of Fame, and B I wasn't
familiar with the fact that you've done this at Orioles
games before.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, don't feel horrible because it's you know, the whistling
is a little quirky, it's a little unusual, you know,
I take it seriously. I've been I'm sixty three years old.
I've been whistling since I was five. But you know,
there's a small group of us who are very serious
about it. I've whistled in the Oval Office of the President.
I've whistled symphony orchestra's. I even whistled Happy Birthday seven
(01:16):
hundred times a year. But it's a little it's still
a little quirky and so but we're trying to get
the word out because whistling is happy and joyous, and
we're trying to get more people to do it.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I will say this now that you say that, I
don't think I've ever whistled and not been Oh. The
British whistle when they're angry, like if there's a bad
call at Wimbledon, though, But I'm with you. Other than that, yeah,
like you only whistle for good things. Can I ask
what symphony did you, pardon me, perform with?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I performed with the National Symphony Orchestra at the US Capitol,
and I actually taught sixty five thousand people how to
whistle a song. I've whistled with the Oh my Gosh,
the Chamber Orchestra, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, he lost, Colinas Orchestra,
(02:08):
the McLean.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Okay, all right, now we're bragging. Now we're brad, We're
now we're bragging.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
All right, where did you?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Where did you whistle? In the Oval Office?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
So for George W. Bush, So I was a staffer
kind of in his orbit, but i'd never met him.
And then this is totally freaky. I whistle Happy Birthday
at a party for Andy card who was his then
chief of staff. He then goes to Mitch Daniels, who
was the head of Officer Management Budget, who is my boss,
and says that whistler is a pretty freaky guy, but
(02:41):
I loved it. Then Andy Carr tells the President, and
the President says, get that guy over here. So I
was summoned to the Oval Office with fifteen minutes. Notice
this is back in two thousand and one, and I
spent twenty minutes in the Oval with the President just
whistling various songs, talking about life.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
And so was he like shouting out request, hey fella whistle.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well you know, well we're funny about it, is, I
said to him, you know, we chatted for a minute
and then I said, well, he said whistle for me.
You know, it was my first like direct presidential command.
And I said, well, what kind of music do you like?
And he said not bock.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So he's very.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Specific about not liking box, so I so I then
whistled a whole bunch of songs. I did in the
Mood by Glenn Miller, the Lone Ranger songs, and then
and then Mitch and I did Dueling Banjos. We did
a duet o Man oh Man. I topped it off
(03:41):
with the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which seemed like
an appropriate song to whistle for a president who was
about to go to war. Actually, and yeah, so that
was an amazing experience. And then, since since your listeners
are in DC, you will especially appreciate this, I whistled
at the top of the Washington Monument on the outside
(04:04):
and did Yankee Doodle Dandy. Now you might say, how
is that even humanly possible?
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Do you stick your head out through the observation window?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
No? Even better, I'm probably one of the few humans
has ever been up there, because remember the earthquake in
twenty eleven. Yeah, sure, all right, So my then boss
is David Rubinstein, who happens to be the owner of
the Orioles. Right, so David paid half of the repair
of the Washington Monument.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I remember that, And like guys were having the scale
on the outside of the monumental like I can't remember
if it was to check for cracks or something exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
So they put up the scaffolding. And I'm a PR guy.
That's I do have a day job. Keep that in mind.
So I'm a PR guy. So I would drive by
the monument every day and I saw like the scaffolding
going up and up and up and and then I said, heck,
we should do a photo shoot at the top. So
I convinced the National Park Service and then I convinced
David to do this. So we climbed five hundred and
(05:02):
fifty five feet to the top of the monument. And
then while I was up there, David said, you should
whistle a song because no one's ever done that before.
So I whistled you, thank you do, Little Dandy, And anyway,
that was very freaky awesome.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
That's great. Hey, couple last questions for you.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Number One, you said you've been whistling since you were
five years old. Is that is that early developmentally to
be able to whistle?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's probably on the early side, but you know, be mindful.
I wasn't very good, and you know, I really got
good in my teens because I whistled every day, you know,
two hours every day while delivering newspapers on Long Island.
And yeah, and then I just kept getting better, you know.
So you developed your range, different techniques, your repertoire to
(05:47):
be able to whistle all these different things. And then
when Rubenstein bought the Orioles, because I had already whistled
a few times at the Nationals, and the Learner family
thinks whistling's cool, I guess, so they let me whistle
at the Orioles. This is my third time. This one
has gone like like multiple platinum. It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, this one took off. This one really took off. Hey,
you said, you do like you? You?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
You you were teaching people how to whistle. Are there
a lot of people that have no idea how to whistle?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
But you teach them.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
How to Well, I'll clarify quickly. So I taught them.
So I whistled a piece with the symphony, and then
I taught the audience of that song. So but I
but I can teach people and have taught people how
to actually whistle. You know. I'll have an adult who
will say I've tried to whistle my whole life, And
(06:38):
then I will try to teach them, and sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. It's somewhat of a genetic
phenomenon I've long believed, and it's it's basically lips tongue
air and you have to get the three variables working together.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Right, That makes sense.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
And then last thing, I hate to be so bold,
but would you would you? Would you whistle something on
as as we as we finish our conversation.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Sure, I'll do Yankee Doodle Danny. It's a song everyone knows.
Here we go, dude.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
That's fantastic. That's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
All right.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Two things, I'm gonna put you on hold. I must
have your phone number. I don't know when I need
a whistler, but you're my guy.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
You are one hundred percent my guy.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
And I don't know if you want it in Camo
or black, but I got an Elliott the Morning.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Hoodie for you.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Oh wow, that is awesome. Let's go with black.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Perfect, It's consider it yours, Chris. It's a pleasure. Thank you, my.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Friend, Thank you, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
And uh, and the last thing, I'll plug my book.
I wrote a book called Find Your Whistle, which is
on Amazon, and it's all about how to find your
simple gift in life and make your little slice of
the world a better place. And my gift is whistling,
and your gift is talking and entertaining, so that everyone
(08:18):
has a gift.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Chris, you're a great person. I appreciate it. Hold tight
one second for me, Hold on one second. That's awesome. Okay,
that's awesome. Now Hoby's going to be pissed that I.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Did have.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Now, so does.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Does your wife have any upcoming events at wolf Trap
Animal Rescue?
Speaker 1 (08:36):
We could provide the entertainment
Hi Elliott the morning.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hey Elliott, It's Chris Alman, the champion whistler. How are you?
How are you? I'm doing great, excellent, excellent.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Can I first, can I apologize to you?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Feel free?
Speaker 3 (00:14):
I'm sorry that the obviously you were the national anthem
performer at the Orioles game on Saturday night, which we've
now determined odd choice on bringing your dog to the
park night.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
But that's fine, that's not you.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
You just showed up and did your gig and they
talked about how and by the way, and I'm sure
you know this. Your clip from Saturday night has gone
viral everywhere, like it is all over the place.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Of you doing it. I feel horrible.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
A that I was not familiar with with with you
being in the Hall of Fame, and B I wasn't
familiar with the fact that you've done this at Orioles
games before.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, don't feel horrible because it's you know, the whistling
is a little quirky, it's a little unusual, you know,
I take it seriously. I've been I'm sixty three years old.
I've been whistling since I was five. But you know,
there's a small group of us who are very serious
about it. I've whistled in the Oval Office of the President.
I've whistled symphony orchestra's. I even whistled Happy Birthday seven
(01:16):
hundred times a year. But it's a little it's still
a little quirky and so but we're trying to get
the word out because whistling is happy and joyous, and
we're trying to get more people to do it.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I will say this now that you say that, I
don't think I've ever whistled and not been Oh. The
British whistle when they're angry, like if there's a bad
call at Wimbledon, though, But I'm with you. Other than that, yeah,
like you only whistle for good things. Can I ask
what symphony did you, pardon me, perform with?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I performed with the National Symphony Orchestra at the US Capitol,
and I actually taught sixty five thousand people how to
whistle a song. I've whistled with the Oh my Gosh,
the Chamber Orchestra, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, he lost, Colinas Orchestra,
(02:08):
the McLean.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Okay, all right, now we're bragging. Now we're brad, We're
now we're bragging.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
All right, where did you?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Where did you whistle? In the Oval Office?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
So for George W. Bush, So I was a staffer
kind of in his orbit, but i'd never met him.
And then this is totally freaky. I whistle Happy Birthday
at a party for Andy card who was his then
chief of staff. He then goes to Mitch Daniels, who
was the head of Officer Management Budget, who is my boss,
and says that whistler is a pretty freaky guy, but
(02:41):
I loved it. Then Andy Carr tells the President, and
the President says, get that guy over here. So I
was summoned to the Oval Office with fifteen minutes. Notice
this is back in two thousand and one, and I
spent twenty minutes in the Oval with the President just
whistling various songs, talking about life.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
And so was he like shouting out request, hey fella whistle.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well you know, well we're funny about it, is, I
said to him, you know, we chatted for a minute
and then I said, well, he said whistle for me.
You know, it was my first like direct presidential command.
And I said, well, what kind of music do you like?
And he said not bock.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So he's very.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Specific about not liking box, so I so I then
whistled a whole bunch of songs. I did in the
Mood by Glenn Miller, the Lone Ranger songs, and then
and then Mitch and I did Dueling Banjos. We did
a duet o Man oh Man. I topped it off
(03:41):
with the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which seemed like
an appropriate song to whistle for a president who was
about to go to war. Actually, and yeah, so that
was an amazing experience. And then, since since your listeners
are in DC, you will especially appreciate this, I whistled
at the top of the Washington Monument on the outside
(04:04):
and did Yankee Doodle Dandy. Now you might say, how
is that even humanly possible?
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Do you stick your head out through the observation window?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
No? Even better, I'm probably one of the few humans
has ever been up there, because remember the earthquake in
twenty eleven. Yeah, sure, all right, So my then boss
is David Rubinstein, who happens to be the owner of
the Orioles. Right, so David paid half of the repair
of the Washington Monument.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I remember that, And like guys were having the scale
on the outside of the monumental like I can't remember
if it was to check for cracks or something exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
So they put up the scaffolding. And I'm a PR guy.
That's I do have a day job. Keep that in mind.
So I'm a PR guy. So I would drive by
the monument every day and I saw like the scaffolding
going up and up and up and and then I said, heck,
we should do a photo shoot at the top. So
I convinced the National Park Service and then I convinced
David to do this. So we climbed five hundred and
(05:02):
fifty five feet to the top of the monument. And
then while I was up there, David said, you should
whistle a song because no one's ever done that before.
So I whistled you, thank you do, Little Dandy, And anyway,
that was very freaky awesome.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
That's great. Hey, couple last questions for you.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Number One, you said you've been whistling since you were
five years old. Is that is that early developmentally to
be able to whistle?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's probably on the early side, but you know, be mindful.
I wasn't very good, and you know, I really got
good in my teens because I whistled every day, you know,
two hours every day while delivering newspapers on Long Island.
And yeah, and then I just kept getting better, you know.
So you developed your range, different techniques, your repertoire to
(05:47):
be able to whistle all these different things. And then
when Rubenstein bought the Orioles, because I had already whistled
a few times at the Nationals, and the Learner family
thinks whistling's cool, I guess, so they let me whistle
at the Orioles. This is my third time. This one
has gone like like multiple platinum. It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, this one took off. This one really took off. Hey,
you said, you do like you? You?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
You you were teaching people how to whistle. Are there
a lot of people that have no idea how to whistle?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
But you teach them.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
How to Well, I'll clarify quickly. So I taught them.
So I whistled a piece with the symphony, and then
I taught the audience of that song. So but I
but I can teach people and have taught people how
to actually whistle. You know. I'll have an adult who
will say I've tried to whistle my whole life, And
(06:38):
then I will try to teach them, and sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. It's somewhat of a genetic
phenomenon I've long believed, and it's it's basically lips tongue
air and you have to get the three variables working together.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Right, That makes sense.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
And then last thing, I hate to be so bold,
but would you would you? Would you whistle something on
as as we as we finish our conversation.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Sure, I'll do Yankee Doodle Danny. It's a song everyone knows.
Here we go, dude.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
That's fantastic. That's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
All right.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Two things, I'm gonna put you on hold. I must
have your phone number. I don't know when I need
a whistler, but you're my guy.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
You are one hundred percent my guy.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
And I don't know if you want it in Camo
or black, but I got an Elliott the Morning.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Hoodie for you.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Oh wow, that is awesome. Let's go with black.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Perfect, It's consider it yours, Chris. It's a pleasure. Thank you, my.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Friend, Thank you, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
And uh, and the last thing, I'll plug my book.
I wrote a book called Find Your Whistle, which is
on Amazon, and it's all about how to find your
simple gift in life and make your little slice of
the world a better place. And my gift is whistling,
and your gift is talking and entertaining, so that everyone
(08:18):
has a gift.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Chris, you're a great person. I appreciate it. Hold tight
one second for me, Hold on one second. That's awesome. Okay,
that's awesome. Now Hoby's going to be pissed that I.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Did have.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Now, so does.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Does your wife have any upcoming events at wolf Trap
Animal Rescue?
Speaker 1 (08:36):
We could provide the entertainment
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