written by Patrick DeVuono and Darlene Koldenhoven

produced by Andre Fischer

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It’s (still) June 19th, 2021 as of constructing this page as well, and

time to do but one more birthday tribute—though this time not

for a particular artist/singer. In this case, the birthday belongs to

America’s (and the rest of the world’s) most famous fat orange cat

in history. His name is Garfield.

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Created by Muncie, Indiana’s Jim (James Robert) Davis, Garfield was “born” in the funnies—following a shorter-lived Jim Davis comic strip about insects—on June 19th, 1978... a Monday, ironically enough. What does everyone know about Garfield? He loves lasagna and hates Mondays. His defining traits.

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Readers of the strip fell in quick and easy love with Garfield for not only his humor, but the effortless ability to live vicariously through him. Except for the quality of being shaped like a blimp... Garfield could eat anything he wanted, as much as he wanted, sleep for days at a time, and say (or think, rather) exactly what was on his mind, without apology or pressure of consequence. Who wouldn’t love that?

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Jim never expected the monumental, worldwide success that would come from this little strip. He was a cartoonist from the midwest—talented, but modest. Garfield debuted in 41 papers in ’78, at which time Jim was pleased to land the publishing deal, with United Feature Syndicate. He thought if he was really

fortunate, Garfield might actually get a TV special one day. What Jim may not have expected was for it to only take four years.

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Technically, Garfield’s television debut was in 1980, on a CBS series called The Fantastic Funnies. By 1982, the strip’s exposure had grown to over 1,000 papers, and become the most beloved comic strip in America. The deal was made with CBS, and on October 25th, 1982, the zaftig feline was featured in his first TV special, Here Comes Garfield. The cat himself was voiced by the late, iconic Lorenzo Music, who became the voice of Garfield for almost the next two decades, until we lost him in 2001.

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Jim wrote all the Garfield TV specials. By the time we reached the dozenth one—and the year 1991—the cartoon series, Garfield And Friends, had been on for three seasons. Jim didn’t have time to write the animated series, so he left that to Mark Evanier. In May ’91, the twelfth and final special premiered: Garfield Gets A Life. It featured the song I’m cataloguing on this page: “Monday Morning Blues” by B.B. King (the King of the genre himself)—subtitled “Blues For Mr. G.”

 

Since the specials started, Jim and his friend, music composer, singer and voice actress Desirée Goyette agreed that in terms of music, Garfield’s lazy, laid-back and sarcastic personality was suited well by rhythm and blues, and so it was the main style of music the specials boasted. The cartoon series G&F was geared toward children, as reflected by its music and other elements. I acquired a good-quality recording of “Monday Morning Blues” here on the Garfield special “soundtrack” Am I Cool Or What? which came out a bit later in ’91. I believe about four songs on that album, including this one, were used in the specials, the rest being musically and lyrically inspired by the fat cat’s vain and cynical, yet warm and charming persona. Just listen to “Monday Morning Blues”’ lyrics for a handful of classic Garfield-isms and poster captions.

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When it was time for Garfield: The Movie to hit theaters in 2004, it was arranged to premiere nation-wide just before the fat cat’s birthday, on June 11th. Two years later, the sequel, A Tail Of Two Kitties, followed suit and began playing on June 16th, 2006.

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Today, 6/19/21, may be a Saturday, but a Monday-themed song couldn’t be more appropriate for the fat cat’s birthday tribute. Not counting the original ’78 date, five of Garfield’s birthdays (1989, 1995, 2000, 2006 and 2017) have fallen on Mondays. Ah, inevitability. Happy (43rd (!!)) Birthday, big fella.

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Have notes to add? Let me know!

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YT:

full version

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Garfield’s official website