Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic was born in Downey and raised in Lynwood, California. He is the only child of Nick and Mary Yankovic (née Vivalda). Mr. Yankovic’s lifelong interest in music began following music lessons at a local music school that his parents purchased from a door-to-door salesman traveling through Lynwood. He was the valedictorian of his senior class and still has the program from his 1976 Lynwood High School commencement ceremony featuring his speech, The Future: Its Price. Mr. Yankovic was active in extracurricular programs, including the National Forensic League, a play based upon the film Rebel Without a Cause, the yearbook (for which he wrote most of the captions), and the Volcano Worshippers club, which, he has stated, did absolutely nothing except allow members to have an extra picture of themselves in the yearbook. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo earning a degree in architecture.

Weird Al Yankovic is a singer, songwriter, parodist, record producer, satirist, actor, music video director, film producer, and author. He has sold more than 12 million albums including four gold and six platinum records. His first top ten Billboard album was Straight Outta Lynwood. Mr. Yankovic has earned four Grammy Awards and an additional 11 nominations.