Wavy Gravy, born Hugh Nanton Romney, was a beat poet in Greenwich Village in the late 1950s, where he hung out with characters such as Paul Krassner, Lenny Bruce, and Bob Dylan. In the 1960s, he began playing the comedian and clown, joining up with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. During the '60s he used comedy as his vehicle for social change, travelling the country to protest the war and focus attention on the problem of poverty. By 1966 he was living on the Hog Farm, and he later achieved fame at Woodstock in 1969, where he served as a sort of master of ceremonies.

The Hog Farmers eventually travelled to Europe and Nepal where they joined with the World Health Organization to form Seva ("service" in sanskrit), an international medical aid organization. Wavy is also active in Camp Winnarainbow, which teaches children circus and performance arts. Wavy has appeared in over a dozen films, and has been featured on three records. At one point, Wavy Gravy's name was in use as a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor.