Leon Redbone will perform at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. (Provided) Leon Redbone will brings his signature interpretations of ear­ly 20thcentury music, including jazz and blues standards and Tin Pan Alley classics, to Chandler Music Hall in Randolph, Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Hidden behind sunglasses and wearing his trademark Panama hat and bow tie, Redbone has entertained audiences for more than 30 years in performances that blend expert musicianship, performance art reminiscent of vaudeville, and comedy. He has released approximately 15 albums and earned a sizable cult following.

Redbone is nothing if not mysterious. Born Dickran Gobalian, he moved to Canada in the mid-1960s, but from where is unclear. His reluctance to discuss his past has led to speculation that “Leon Redbone” was an alternative identity for another performer. The two most commonly mentioned are Frank Zappa and Andy Kaufman, both of whom Redbone has outlived.

Once settled in Canada, he changed his name and began performing in Toronto-area nightclubs and folk music festivals in the 1970s. Bob Dylan was so impressed by his performance at the Mariposa Folk Festival that he mentioned it in a Rolling Stone interview. This led to a feature article in the magazine, a year before he had a recording contract. His first album, “On the Track,” was released by Warner Bros. Records in 1975.

Redbone made his network debut on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in 1976, where he showcased his famous version of “Walkin’ Stick.” In a decade typified by amplified arena rock, Redbone’s intimate low-key delivery was a powerful antidote. He was a semi-regular musical guest on the show until the early 1980s. Following that gig, he became a frequent guest on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” in the 1980s and 90s.

Since then, Redbone has had many opportunities to insert himself into pop culture. In 2003, he appeared as a wise, animated snowman opposite Will Ferrell in “Elf,” and his duet with star Zooey Deschanel on the seasonal standard “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” served as the picture’s theme song. He has appeared in television commercials and in comic strips such as “The Far Side.”

Redbone performed the TV title tunes for “Mr. Belvedere” and “Harry and the Hendersons,” and had a memorable guest role as a quixotic, guitar-wielding guardian on ABC’s critically acclaimed series “Life Goes On.” New York choreographer Eliot Feld recently created the ballets Mr. XYZ, featuring Mikhail Bary­shnikov, and Paper Tiger, which were woven around Redbone’s signature songs.

If there is one common element to Leon Redbone’s diverse music, it’s his mastery of his acoustic guitar. It is easy to get lost in his stage exploits and overlook what a truly fine player he is—finger­picking with a ragtime bounce or gracefully jumping between chords.

Redbone’s performance at Chandler has sponsorship support from Gifford Medical Center and The Point. Tickets can be ordered online at www.chandler-arts.org or by calling the box office weekdays between 3-6 p.m. at 728-6464. Chandler Music Hall is physically accessible.

Patrons interested in using Chandler’s new assisted listening system supported by donations from Vermont Lions Charities are encouraged to indicate that when ticket reservations are made and to arrive with sufficient time to get properly set up.