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How did LollipopRock get started? LollipopRock is the creation of three generations: Deborah Hunter, her daughter Kim Soltero, and Kim's young son Will. When Will was a baby, Kim and Deborah began making up lyrics to songs they heard in the car to entertain Will. They had a blast doing it; Will loved it and wanted to hear the songs again and again; and the concept of LollipopRock was born. Should I try this at home? Maybe not. We have to admit that once we decided to create a CD, we approached three very special people with all the know-how we lacked - James Jernigan (Deborah's brother and an experienced video and television producer), Thom Watson (who arranged for the rights to the original songs), and DeDe Vogt (studio producer). All believed in the project from the beginning and contributed their own ideas to make the CD great. So what makes your children's CD different from others? First and foremost, the music will be recognized by mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, and even by great-grandparents who will have the pleasure of introducing these great sounds to their own special kids. Music from rock and roll hits of the 50's through the 90's with new kid-friendly lyrics sung by kids who are fresh and natural is a winning combination for the entire family. The lyrics are friendly, fun (and funny) and gently educational. An added bonus - the art work and packaging are very cute! How did you find the singers and musicians? DeDe, a long-standing member of Atlanta's music community, (currently with her band, Cowboy Envy) used her extensive contacts with local musicians to find children with fresh and distinctive voices. None of the children are professionals although all are interested in singing. DeDe worked with them to create a sense of fun in the studio that shines through on each track. In fact, Will, who provided background vocals for some of the songs, had so much fun he didn't want to stop! DeDe also used local musicians, including herself, who came into the studio and really got into the rock and roll spirit with music that worked for each singer's voice. The musicians have worked on projects with award-winning Georgia artists such as the Indigo Girls and REM. Tell me a bit more about the creative geniuses behind the project? Deborah is the proud mom of Kim, her fellow lyric adaptor, and nana of Will and Michael. Growing up, Deborah was fortunate to have many wonderful musicians in her life, including her father and brother. Deborah and Kim have had incredible fun creating LollipopRock and hope to carry on their family's musical tradition by adapting some of their favorite oldies with new lyrics. Kim is the (very tired) mother of Will and Michael. She has been involved in musical theater, singing, and writing for most of her life. One of her earliest memories is playing album after album with her mom Deborah while singing at the top of their lungs and dancing around the living room. She hopes that LollipopRock will continue that legacy for her own kids as well as encourage other families to share the joy and fun of music with one another. Will is four years old and enjoys soccer, baseball, being a big brother - and, of course, music. He is very excited to be on LollipopRock's first CD, but doesn't quite understand why everyone doesn't know the words yet. He wants to know when we'll be making the next CD so he can get back into the studio! James Jernigan is the owner of 1-800-TV-CREWS, a national video production company, and a documentary film producer. He is also a very clever guy, as evidenced by the creation of the unused (but not easily discarded) album title "LollipopRock: If you could take the music of the oldies and change the lyrics for kids and find some cute kids to sing them, this is what you'd have!" Thom Watson is a stage actor, film coordinator, and for the past ten years has consulted national media producers through his business Media Music Supervision & Licensing in Atlanta. Thom has provided production or music services for projects released through Dream Works, MGM/UA, Hallmark, Warner Brothers Television, TNT Original Productions, CBS, and numerous independent productions including the Peabody Award-winning radio series Will the Circle be Unbroken? and the PBS series Senior Year. He is a member of NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) and is the licensing administrator for King Tracks recordings and Lux Nova Press. DeDe Vogt is the owner and engineer of Sound and Fury Studios in Atlanta. She is also a producer, singer, composer and musician with guitar and bass being her primary instruments. She appeared as bassist on two tracks of the Indigo Girls acclaimed first release. LollipopRock is her first children's record, and she says it is perhaps her favorite project of all. Can you tell me something about your singers? Sure, here is some information that some of them wanted to share: Meg Brooks was born and raised in Atlanta. She says that she loves to sing anything and everything, is a fan of old movies and an avid reader. Dot Brantley lives in Atlanta where she is a junior at Woodward Academy. She loves to sing and participates in the school chorus. She also plays softball and likes going to concerts. Ethan Sawyer is a student at Chamblee Middle School. He enjoys playing the violin and singing with the Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde and his church choir. His great passion, though, (some would say obsession) is otters. Who are your musicians? Well, some of them are: As a keyboardist and producer, Brandon Bush has worked with many artists, including Shawn Mullins, John Mayer and Billy Pilgrim. Steve Cunningham is one of Atlanta's most in demand guitarists, playing hundred of live performances and recording sessions every year. He has performed at the World Series and headlined at Caesar's Palace, as well as opening for Jeff Beck, Kool and the Gang, Blondie and The Four Tops. Studio credits include sessions for Coca-Cola, Ford, CNN, Disney, The Cartoon Network, Microsoft, NASCAR, as well as recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra. Steve's second solo CD is due for release this summer, including Steve's own originals along with the music of Thelonious Monk, all performed on electric and acoustic guitars, dobro and lap steel. Jonny Hibbert, saxophonist, has played sax since he was 7 and contends that anyone large enough to reach the keys can learn to play music, no matter what their age. He and his daughter Noel love to go bananas to the songs of LollipopRock! Jonny is developing a TV show for children called "Jig's Field Trip" in which he portrays Jig. A man of many talents, he is also a partner in the Decatur, Georgia law firm of Hibbert and Hamilton. Jonny mixed and released on his label, Hib-Tone, the first singles by R.E.M. "Radio Free Europe/Sitting Still" in 1981. Mark van Allen, pedal steel guitar player, took piano lessons as a kid, and played trumpet, French horn, and guitar in Junior High - but when he heard Buddy Emmon's steel guitar version of "Wichita Lineman," it was all over! He bought his first pedal steel and joined his first band that same day. Twenty-five years and 200 bands later, he's still in love with steel guitar. So far, Mark has played in 48 states and 25 countries. Besides pedal steel, he spends his time on guitar, dobro, lap steel, mandolin, bass, and music production and engineering at his own 24 track studio. His latest recording projects include Buddy Miles, Vassar Clements, Blueground Undergrass, and local Georgia bands Dan K Theory, Calliope Fair, and Shane Bridges. You can reach Mark at Flyingmonkey@mindspring.com and visit his website at www.markvanallen.com . Of course, the incomparable Dede Vogt, our producer. Check out the artist's website: http://www.lollipoprock.com Track List: 1. Squirrels Just Wanna Have Fun 2. Goin' To The Park 3. My New Baby 4. Did You Ever Try to Draw a Straight Line? 5. The Book Song 6. I Can Count 7. Laugh and Play All Day 8. Crawlin' Around 9. What I Like 10. 'Cause I Can Help 11. The Zoo Song 12. My Imagination 13. I Said Thank You 14. Lollipops Suggested CDs:Other Genres: |