Thomas Zachariah Glazer (September 2, 1914 – February 21, 2003) was an American folk singer and songwriter known as a composer of ballads, including "Because All Men Are Brothers", recorded by The Weavers and Peter, Paul and Mary; "Talking Inflation Blues", recorded by Bob Dylan; "The Ballad of FDR" and "A Dollar Ain't A Dollar Anymore". He wrote the lyrics to the songs "Melody of Love" (1954), Their father's record collection influenced Glazer musically, and at school he learned to play the tuba, guitar and bass. At 17, he hitchhiked to New York, where he took night courses to complete his education while working at Macy's during the day. "He wasn't fancy," Seeger reported after his death "He was just straightforward. He had a good sense of humor." They contained songs intended to explain science concepts for young children, all of which were written by Hy Zaret (lyrics) and Lou Singer (music). One of these albums, Space Songs, included the song "Why Does the Sun Shine?" which was later covered by They Might Be Giants.
His greatest commercial success came with his original 1963 recording of the song parody "On Top of Spaghetti" to the tune of "On Top of Old Smoky", which he recorded for Kapp Records with the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus. The song was later included on an LP record that also included such numbers as one of the first cover versions of "Puff, the Magic Dragon", as well as "Battle Hymn of the Children" and other children's songs.
Glazer became ambivalent towards his creation, saying that "I'm standing in line before the Pearly Gates in the musicians' line, in which I stand last. When I'm asked what have I done in music and I say I wrote 'On Top of Spaghetti', I'm told, "Sorry, buster, you can't enter."
Other hits
Glazer also adapted a German folk song, "", into "The Musicians" (also known as "I Am a Fine Musician"), memorably performed in two episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Death
Glazer died at his home in Rochester, New York on February 21, 2003, at the age of 88.