Mr. Whitekeys obit

Mr. Whitekeys, famous Alaskan entertainer, dies at 79

Mr. Whitekeys — aka Douglas Haggar — was famous for music, comedy, writing and performances where he skewed politicos and well known Alaskans

 

He was not on the list.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Mr. Whitekeys, whose legal name was Douglas Haggar, has died.

He was 79.

“We leave you with what Mr. Whitekeys said at the end of every show: live a life filled with peace, love, and Spam; do something to make the word a better place; and be sure to tip your waitress,” friends wrote on his official Facebook page, Mr. Whitekeys presents: The Whalefat Follies.

His wife, Judith, confirmed his death Monday afternoon.

Longtime friend and artist Duke Russell wrote in an email, “I admired his wit and wisdom. He contributed greatly in identifying the life up here that so many reality shows miss.”

For years Mr. Whitekeys entertained Alaskans with his music, comedy, writing and performances where politicos and well-known Alaskans would be skewered during his performances.

Mr. Whitekeys moved to Alaska and immediately “began playing piano in sleazy bars,” according to his write up on the University of Alaska, Anchorage website.

“He has described his chosen profession as ‘mouthing off and making snotty comments,’ and his writings have appeared in an Anchorage Daily News column, Alaska Bizarre—a comedy print version of The Whale Fat Follies, humorous contributions to The Alaska Almanac, a monthly column in Alaska Magazine, and weekly satirical newscast commentary on Anchorage’s KTUU-TV.”

From 1980 to 2006, Mr. Whitekeys owned and operated The Fly By Night Club in Anchorage’s Spenard neighborhood. It was celebrated as a mecca for “Spam, Booze, Rhythm, and Blues”.

“If you would like make a donation in his memory, some of the groups he supported and fundraised for over the years include Audubon Society, Food Bank of Alaska, and Great Land Trust. Or he would love it if you helped his Spenard neighbor Duke Russell in his Herculean efforts to feed Anchorage’s homeless,” friends wrote on Facebook.