richard hunt he was one of the main guys with jim henson. he started doing it and doing this cave man voice. and the head writer of sesame street said what is he doing? and richard... i was in the room by myself the richard threw the puppet at me. and said come up with a voice. i said, hello, this is elmo. he said, okay fine. he took me into the producer of the show, lisa simon. she said i don't care if you don't want to do it. he can do it. that's how i got it. by default. >> jon: an inspiring story of genius and talent. i knew immediately. >> the rest is history. >> jon: history. being elmo currently playing in new york. it opens in other select cities nationwide. kevin, great to see you.

richard hunt he was one of the main guys with jim henson. he started doing it and doing this cave man voice. and the head writer of sesame street said what is he doing? and richard... i was in the room by myself the richard threw the puppet at me. and said come up with a voice. i said, hello, this is elmo. he said, okay fine. he took me into the producer of the show, lisa simon. she said i don't care if you don't want to do it. he can do it. that's how i got it. by default. >> jon: an inspiring story of genius and talent. i knew immediately. >> the rest is history. >> jon: history. being elmo currently playing in new york. it opens in other select cities nationwide. kevin, great to see you. we're going to head on into the interview. evan, sandy . . . evan .. what pushed you toward the explorer? it was less expensive. better technology inside. there was stuff that we have in our car that i didn't even know existed. how does your music gear fit in there? it fits perfectly. i mean, i got a keyboard, acoustic guitar, merchandise, cds to sell and

richard main jim henson. he and doing this cave and the head writer ofe doing? the myself the and said come up with a hello he said, okay fhe show simon. don't care if you don't want to do it. he can do it. that's how i got it. by default. >> jon: an inspiring st genius and tan i knew immediately. >> the rest is history. >> jon: history. being elmo currently playing in new cities hame on you.

. >> reporter: at loneonly 18 inc he stands tall in the pantheon of jim henson's muppet creations.one is for me. >> noses, mustaches. >> hello, how are you. >> reporter: kevin maintains the henson legacy. that's what's inside of elmo's arms. beads. perhaps the only regret for a man who entertained the world's children is that his own child after his divorce felt neglected. she actually came to you and said, dad, you need to pay attention to me. >> yeah, a child can do that to new a second. and she did and we're the better for it. >> reporter: yet the hours are still belong at public events kevin makes sure elmo greets nearly each and every child. >> knock, knock. >> who's there. >> kangaroo. >> kangaroo here. >> kangaroo -- peanut butter and jelly sandwich. >> elmo has no idea what she just said but elmo loves her. >> reporter: elmo loves everyone which is why perhaps everyone loves elmo. for "nightline" i'm juju chang in new york. >> elmo and kevin but you won't see him will be on "good morning america" tomorrow. something to look forward to. our thanks to juju and coming up next,

that is harry belafonte on the muppet show performing "turn the world around" that was reportedly jim henson's moments of my life. jim said i'd like to do something out of the african mythology and we'd like to make these puppets and we wrote the song for that show and when we performed it, not only did it turn out quite well but the most repeated segment of all of the muppet shows and they sang it at his eulogy at church and it was a fulfilling moment. >> one of the extraordinary things you took part in is the we are the world song with michael jackson. funny enough, when we talked about calypso before the break, it wasn't until michael jackson's "thriller that an album stayed longer on the charts. >> i remember they said michael jackson's just broke the record. >> were you happy or furious? >> happy. >> i would have been furious. >> unless you are smitten with extreme greed, to be on for the charts over 137 weeks. >> that's amazing. >> 137 weeks. >> tell me about michael jackson. what was your view of him? >> like many, i was certainly in awe of his great gift and his talent. i always looked

. >>> let's answer the trivia question, which of jim henson's muppets was first to become a regular onational television, rowlf the dog he was created for a dog food commercial. >> i did not know that. >>> these dogs are so so cute. >> they are here is a look at the 5 day forecast, great dog walking weather past today, sunshine

at only 18 inches, elmo stands tall in the pantheon of jim henson's muppet creations.unny. noses. >> mustaches. >> reporter: kevin maintains the henson legacy. >> that's what's inside of elmo's arms. beads. >> reporter: perhaps the only regret for a man who has entertained the world's children, is that his own child, after his divorce, felt neglected. she came to you and said, dad, you need to pay attention to me? >> yeah. a child can do that in a second. bring you right back down. >> reporter: yeah. >> and she did. and we're the better for it. >> reporter: and yet, the hours are still long. at public events, kevin makes sure elmo speaks to nearly each and every child. >> knock, knock. >> who is there? >> kangaroo. >> kangaroo who? >> kangaroo is eating the rhino with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. >> elmo has no idea what she just say. but elmo loves her. >> reporter: elmo loves everyone. can i tell you, run, don't walk, to "being elmo." it just opened in theaters. it's the darling of the film festivals. including at sundance. >> i just asked you, is it appropria