He's Grrrrreat!

Happy Haunts have materialized all throughout the graveyard in the Haunted Mansion. A few of those spooks make up this iconic scene:

The famous singing busts! As your doom buggy travels through the graveyard, you'll notice these five singing "Grim Grinning Ghosts". Does that bust that has fallen over look familiar? A lot of people think it's Walt Disney, but it's actually Thurl Ravenscroft. You may not know his name, but you certainly know his voice. While he is probably most famous for voicing Kellog's Tony the Tiger ("They're Grrrrreat!"), he also did a lot of work for Disney.

Born in Norfolk, Nebraska in 1914, Thurl decided to move out to Hollywood in 1933. He eventually formed a quartet and became very successful. "The Mellomen" actually backed up the likes of Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley! The group ended up contributing to such Disney films as "Lady and the Tramp", "Alice in Wonderland", and "Cinderella". Thurl also lent his voice to "The Sword in the Stone", "Mary Poppins", and "The Jungle Book" (among others).

Photo From:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenjavier

On top of being, and recording the voice of one of the Haunted Mansion's singing busts, where else can you hear Thurl Ravenscroft in the Disney Parks? How about in It's a Small World, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Country Bear Jamboree! In the Tiki Room, you may recognize his voice as one of your parrot hosts, Fritz. In the Country Bear Jamboree, listen closely to Buff the buffalo. With all of his work for Disney, he was awarded as a Disney Legend in 1995.
Thurl Ravenscroft passed away in 2005 (at the age of 95), but he will certainly be remembered. Be sure to listen for his legendary voice next time you're in a Disney park.