How I Got Here: An Introduction

In thinking about ways to:
a) add more content to the site, and
b) avoid doing a lot of the work actually creating that content,

I realized that one thing that really interested me about kids and family musicians was what albums influenced them. So I've set up this occasional series for artists to talk about a particular album that influenced their kids' music work. It doesn't have to be a kids' album, it doesn't have to be an album they even liked -- all it needs to be is an album that had some impact on them as a kids' musician (even if they heard it long before they ever became a "kids' musician," whatever that is).

Hope you enjoy these.

Comments

[deb in sf]

cool idea. A little along the lines of the 'my first album was..." thing you did the other day with weird Al. I, for one, am going to be psyched to read these.

[Ed (Mr. "S")]

When I got my first teaching job I was hired to teach the 4th grade. The day before school started the music teacher retired. Being the only musician on staff I was immediately thrown into the position. Having 24 hours to prepare (with no “kids” music in my repertoire) I went to a local CD shop and bought the only kid themed cassette they had: Tom Paxton’s “Going To the Zoo.” Ten years later every tune on that album holds up. My live band does one cover, a ripping version of the “Ketchup” song. Rocks the house every time. This album is proof that there was cool “kindie” long before the craze! Next to "Exile" it's one of my desert island discs.

[Eric Herman]

Yeah, that is a good album. I used to do "S'pose My Toes Were Noses" at some early shows. And of course that has one of the big kid music hits, "Marvelous Toy". I tend to confuse Tom Paxton and Tom Chapin, though.

[Ed (Mr. "S")]

I've always prefered Paxton. More down to earth old school folkie. I dig Chapin. He's a slammin' guitar player. When I cover him in the classroom it's tough to copy his right hand. Great finger picker.