From virtually the outset of her folksinging career, Ella Jenkins stood at the forefront of children's music, establishing herself as one of the few musicians in the genre whose charms extended beyond her young target audience into the realm of adults and educators. Born in St. Louis but raised in Chicago, Jenkins began singing professionally in... [+] Read More

From virtually the outset of her folksinging career, Ella Jenkins stood at the forefront of children's music, establishing herself as one of the few musicians in the genre whose charms extended beyond her young target audience into the realm of adults and educators. Born in St. Louis but raised in Chicago, Jenkins began singing professionally in 1956. Over the course of two books, several videos, and numerous albums, she educated children about everything from reading to geography to dance, and over time she even began teaching their instructors as well -- through her famous Adventures in Rhythm workshops, Jenkins demonstrated new group-vocalizing and rhythm-building methods to music teachers. And as the times changed, Jenkins changed with them; by the 1990s, her repertoire included up-to-the-minute songs on topics like multi-culturalism and the environment. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide [-] Hide

A dynamic pop trio, Parachute Express was the first children's group to get real exposure through a non-broadcast medium. The group's original songs and upbeat tempos set the stage for the Gymboree preschool classes, and made Donny Becker, Janice Hubbard, and Stephen Michael Schwartz very well-known long before they began marketing their songs.... [+] Read More

A dynamic pop trio, Parachute Express was the first children's group to get real exposure through a non-broadcast medium. The group's original songs and upbeat tempos set the stage for the Gymboree preschool classes, and made Donny Becker, Janice Hubbard, and Stephen Michael Schwartz very well-known long before they began marketing their songs.

Donny Becker graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz and became a co-director of a Montessori school there. He and his wife, Adrian, became owners of a Gymboree franchise and began building that business. But Becker found that the Gymboree preschool gym classes lacked an important element -- music. With his close friends Stephen Michael Schwartz and Janice Hubbard, Becker formed Parachute Express. The group's music became an essential part of every Gymboree class in the nation.

Parachute Express began marketing their music through the Gymboree classes and, later, through the Gymboree retail outlets. Their first release, Feel the Music, was snapped up, as were several that followed. The group was named one of 1990's "Superstars of Children's Music."

In 1991, Parachute Express signed on as featured artists in Walt Disney Records' ill-fated "Music Box Series." The group produced Happy To Be Here and began touring across the country. Their song "Polka Dots, Checks, and Stripes" was made into a highly successful short video, and garnered a coveted spot on Nickelodeon's Nick Junior Rocks.

In 1995, Parachute Express formed their own record company, and returned to their primary form of marketing on the Gymboree retail shelves. They released Who's Got a Hug, filled with original, active songs such as "Too Happy To Sit" and "Jump in the Middle." In a span of a few short years, Gymboree catered to an entirely new preschool audience, and Parachute Express gained a new audience as well. ~ P.J. Swift, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Children's music was revolutionized by the recordings of Egypt-born and British Columbia-based singer-songwriter Raffi. Although he launched his musical career as a Dylan and Joni Mitchell-inspired singer-songwriter, Raffi had his greatest success when he directed his performances and recordings to youngsters during the 1980s. Raffi's albums of... [+] Read More

Children's music was revolutionized by the recordings of Egypt-born and British Columbia-based singer-songwriter Raffi. Although he launched his musical career as a Dylan and Joni Mitchell-inspired singer-songwriter, Raffi had his greatest success when he directed his performances and recordings to youngsters during the 1980s. Raffi's albums of children's music have sold more than eight million copies worldwide and have led to him being called, "The Bruce Springsteen of the younger set".

The son of a well-known portrait photographer and amateur accordion player, Raffi's earliest dreams were of teaching history. Inspired by the popularity of American folk music, Raffi acquired a guitar while in high school. Although he attended the University of Toronto for a couple of years, he dropped out to pursue a full-time career in music. After sharpening his skills in Toronto's folk music clubs and coffeehouses, Raffi turned to children's music at the suggestion of his mother-in-law, who requested that he write and record songs for youngsters at the pre-school she ran. Taught songs by his wife, Debi Pike, a kindergarten teacher, Raffi produced a tape that was so strong that copies were requested by other schools. Borrowing four thousand dollars from a local bank, Raffi recorded his debut album, Singable Songs For The Very Young, in a small, basement, recording studio. Although it sold well, the album became a major success after being up for distribution by A&M.

Raffi continued to focus on children's music throughout the late-1970s and 1980s. Although he recorded an adult-oriented album, Love Light, in 1977, Raffi turned his total attention to the younger set the following year. In 1983, Raffi received the prestigious Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian award, for the work with children.

After taking a year off from performing, in 1989, Raffi re-invented himself as a "eco-troubadour", performing songs about the environment for adults as well as youngsters upon his return. An album of ecologically-minded songs, Evergreen Everblue, was released in 1990.

In Februrary 1996, the Rounder record label announced that they had reached an agreement with Raffi to reissue his first eleven albums. The first release, The Singable Songs Collection, united Raffi's first three albums.

Raffi, whose music blends folk, reggae, ragtime, gospel, jazz, country and calypso influences, has remained faithful to his non-commercial approach. Accompanied by the Rise And Shine Band, which features Dennis Pendrith (bass), Bucky Berger (drums), Nancy Walker (keyboards) and Mitch Lewis (guitar), Raffi has refused to play in theaters larger than 3,000 seats with ticket prices no more than $8.50. Although he's turned down all commercial endorsements, Raffi has allowed Crown Publishing to produce a series of illustrated books based on his best-known songs.

Raffi has produced two videotapes of his performances -- A Young Children's Concert With Raffi in 1985 and Raffi and the Rise and Shine Band in 1988. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide [-] Hide

The younger brother of the late Harry Chapin, singer/songwriter Tom Chapin carried on his sibling's legacy admirably, becoming a popular children's entertainer. The son of jazz drummer Jim Chapin, he was born in New York City in 1945; he and his brothers performed music together regularly during their adolescence, later earning acclaim on the... [+] Read More

The younger brother of the late Harry Chapin, singer/songwriter Tom Chapin carried on his sibling's legacy admirably, becoming a popular children's entertainer. The son of jazz drummer Jim Chapin, he was born in New York City in 1945; he and his brothers performed music together regularly during their adolescence, later earning acclaim on the Greenwich Village club circuit. The Chapin Brothers band dissolved during in 1964, when Tom left the country; upon returning a decade later, he issued the 1976 solo LP Life Is Like That. In 1979, he released Mother Earth, the first of his many children's recordings; in the years to follow, Chapin moved back and forth between music for adults and kids, and for five years also hosted the children's TV series Make a Wish. Among his many albums are In the City of Mercy (1982), Family Tree (1988), Moonboat (1989), This Pretty Planet (1992), Billy the Squid (1992), Zag Zig (1994) and Common Ground (2001). Razor & Tie released his 17th album, Some Assembly Required, in 2005. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide [-] Hide