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Bill Harley's original work combines song and story to paint a vibrant, humorous and meaningful portrait of American life. One of the finest performers for families in the country, he has also authored several plays and children's books. Bill is a regular contributor to public radio programs, including commentaries on NPR's All Things Considered and as host of Vermont Public Radio's Camel's Hump Radio, which focuses on children's literature. His venues include kindergarten classrooms, teacher conferences and concert stages with symphony orchestras. Twice nominated for a Grammy Award, his twenty-five recordings for children, families and adults have garnered numerous national awards. "Like Garrision Keillor and the writers of The Wonder Years, Bill Harley has a knack for nostalgia. This is a rarer talent than you might think. Nostalgia is easy to do poorly---anybody can get a laugh by listing the fads of his youth, now grown trite and ridiculous---but it's almost impossible to do well. Reminiscing about his "60s Indiana childhood on Cool in School, Harley usually manages enough insights to make his memories more than merely cute. At their best, the two stories on Cool are essays on the pitfalls of adolescence. 'Forget That Girl' is redolent of the mid-1960s---its title comes from a Monkees song---and rich with detail. While reliving his own elementary-school heartbreak, Harley takes off on such customs as exchanging I.D. bracelets and the absurdity of sixth-graders going stead. "There was the problem of talking to the person you were going steady with, but I figured I could deal with that..." This is a story of public humiliation, puppy love, and the secrets of being cool. It will make sixth-graders realize that they're not alone in their misery, and it will remind parents that youth is not always carefree. The second story, 'Zanzibar,' takes on the interrelation of homework, procrastination and creativity. Harley tells the story of the first song he ever wrote---in desperation, to hoodwink a teacher into thinking he'd done his homework when he hadn't. And what is art but a charming lie that fools the grown-ups? A-" Entertainment Weekly Check out the artist's website: http://www.billharley.com Track List: 1. Cool in School 2. Forget That Girl 3. Zanzibar Other Genres: |