2020 In Review
Before I launch into my own musical review of 2020 I’d like to thank many of those whom I worked with this year for being incredibility kind and understanding. The challenge of dealing with a family crisis along with trying to work on projects and keep a business going was one of the hardest things I’ve faced. Many of the artists I worked with allowed me the freedom and flexibility to work on their projects and take care of family business. You know who you are!! Thank you for your business and your friendship!
At the end of each year I always do a review of my own accomplishments and what surprised me most was how much I did creatively in 2020 despite the challenges. I’m sure many of you felt the same that time seemed to crawl to a stop. What got me through it all was always trying to do my best under adverse circumstances and the support from my fellow musician friends!
2020 found us all in the position of learning new skills. Especially how to perform live virtually with the emergence of Covid-19. Fortunately for me I had been providing virtual services for quite some time. Many of the people and companies I work with are located a long distance from my studio including both east and west coasts of the USA as well as China, France and India. For years I’ve worked virtually with artists recording and mixing projects. But what was needed now was on a much bigger scale. So the task was to learn many of the new tools and techniques for myself as well as helping others get up and running.
I was asked to participate in a series of workshops with the Children’s Music Network. Along with many talented people I contributed a workshop entitled “Which Platform Is Right For You?” I did a follow up summary of my workshop which you can see here. (NOTE: There have been several updates to these platforms since its posting)
Equipped with some of these new skills I was asked to provide technical assistance for the 2020 Children’s Music Network FUNdraiser “Kids Music Mashup.” A mix of live performances and videos resulting in a continuous 6 hour LIVE event. It was a bit daunting but we pulled it off and with style! Thanks to everyone involved especially the hosts Val Smalkin, Matt Fernald and “Miss Carole” Stephens. You guys were great!! You can view the opening segment for which I created the music and video.
Later that year I was also asked to provide technical direction for many of the events during the Children’s Music Network annual conference. Definitely an amazing team effort and many attendees were grateful and surprised how much the virtual conference allowed them to not only enjoy some great music and workshops, but gather and feel a sense of belonging. Well done everyone.
One of the highlights for me personally and creatively was being asked to produce a music segment for the Magic Penny honoring Mr. Fred Rogers. I arranged and recorded the iconic song “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.” After completing the recording we sent out the instrumental for fellow members to record their own vocals and video. Couldn’t have done it without Val Smalkin who helped a lot with organizing, coordination and decision making. Thanks Val!
You can imagine it’s quite a task to mix together a variety of vocal recordings in different formats and styles let alone edit that into a video. But I was very gratified with the result and hope others were as well. And yes that’s me playing the piano!
Speaking of videos, I worked with many on creating some fun new videos. Working with Scott and Beth Bierko I created two videos for some fun and timely songs. Here is one entitled “Cover Your Cough.”
Along with these I worked closely with my good friend and colleague Katherine Dines on several videos. The most recent is one of her most requested songs “Mashed Potatoes.”
As well I produced a video for the song “Forever Evergreen” from her award winning album “Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Holidays” which I also performed on and produced.
That brings us to one of the best things to happen this year and that’s Katherine Dines‘ album “Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Holidays” being awarded a Parents’ Choice Gold! We worked long and hard on this production! So nice to know all our efforts were rewarded with such an honor.
https://soundcloud.com/katherine-dines/sets/joy
https://www.parentschoice.org/product/hunk-ta-bunk-ta-holidays/
And that wasn’t the only honor in 2020. Another great album I had the honor of producing also won a Parents’ Choice Award as well. Cynthia Dougherty’s debut album “A High Brow Affair.” If you haven’t heard it do yourself a favor and give it a listen! A lovely blend of styles and songs.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJFWe9NOTysVN7zu6RefJ7Q
https://www.parentschoice.org/product/a-high-brow-affair/
I’ve collaborated more in 2020 than any other year and what an experience working with so many talented people! In 2019 and into 2020 I was hired to record music for one of the largest children’s YouTube channels. With the help of songwriter Marla Lewis, singer Amy Moser, members of the Stacey Peasley family (a trio of great young voices), Barbara Silberg and the West Los Angeles Children’s Choir and Cynthia Dougherty, I was able to record some fun amazing songs that were put to animation and have garnered over 300 million views on YouTube!
Two of my favorites are entitled “Many Hands” and “Bath Time Club.”
Another wonderful music project was working with David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans when they asked me to record and produce a song of Jenny’s entitled “Be Who You Are.” Julie Be of Ants on a Log has put together a Trans & Nonbinary Kids Mix recording, and we are honored that it includes Two of a Kind’s recording of Jenny’s song “Be Who You Are.” It is such a powerful and important collection of songs, including music from Alphabet Rockers, Totally Knuts, Ryan Cassata, Ants on a Log, Vivek Shraya, Evan Greer, Taina Asili, Salem Corwin, Beppie, Star Amerasu, Chana Rothman, Alastair Moock, Shawnee, Be Steadwell, The Okee Dokee Brothers, Queer Kid Stuff, Two of a Kind, Cathy Fink, StormMiguel Florez, Emily Joy Goldberg. and Jennifer Angelina Petro.
The project was featured in an NPR segment with Jenny’s song leading off the interview.
You can hear the whole project at Ants On A Log Bandcamp site.
https://antsonalog.bandcamp.com/album/trans-nonbinary-kids-mix
Not only have I had the pleasure of working with Stacey Peasley’s talented children, I’ve had the honor of working on several of Stacey’s own songs!! Such a wonderful songwriter and performer. Hard to pick out just one BUT here are a few I recorded and produced.
“Bundle Up”
https://staceypeasley.bandcamp.com/track/bundle-up
“Spring is in the Air”
https://staceypeasley.bandcamp.com/track/spring-is-in-the-air-2
When I spoke earlier about producing albums with artists virtually for years, I immediately think of an artist I’ve had the pleasure of working with for many years. Cheryl Procaccini from Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders. I’ve produced many of Cheryl’s award winning albums all of which are a combination of great songwriting and vocals as well as a mission to focus on the needs of our oceans, animals and environment. All of which are a passion of my own. In 2020 I produced “Spider Song.” We actually recorded the vocal with Cheryl’s own recording system while I ran the session virtually from my studio.
And speaking of recording virtually, Katherine Dines was asked by Latin Grammy winner Ben Gundersheimer, aka “Mr G” to record some harmonies for his 2020 album “Children of the World.” Again, using Katherine’s recording system and my studio we worked virtually and recorded some nice vocal harmonies for the song “Seeds of Shalom”. The album is a wonderful collection of songs created by a large musical community of talented people. Thanks Ben for having us along for the ride!
https://mistergsongs.com/childrenoftheworld/
Katherine and I also produced our first Hilltown Family Variety Show in 2020. With the theme “Earth Day” we were Guest DJs playing a nice collection of songs from colleagues and friends as well a few of our own songs.
https://hilltownfamilies.org/2020/04/18/hfvs-434/?v=7516fd43adaa
What I cherish most about 2020 is working with old friends and making new ones!! Working with Jackson Gillman on a new wonderful collection of songs and stories yet to be released as well as a new album from Wiley and Debbie Rankin. Through the Hilltown Family Variety Show I found the music of Kelli Caldwell aka “Kelli Welli.” When I heard her song “Little Ray of Sunshine” I knew she was someone I wanted to work with.
We’ve already dipped our toes in on one song which is still in progress and we hope to collaborate more in the New Year.
I even found time somehow in 2020 to do a few songs of my own! When I was experimenting with doing my own Facebook live events I found that there were families out there still listening to my songs! Which prompted me after several years to start performing and songwriting again. The result were these videos.
I hope to continue to work with talented people in the New Year creating music, videos, websites and who knows what more?! Thank you all for the opportunity to bring quality children’s music to the world.
I’ll wrap up with a message of gratitude for those people who have given me the pleasure of working with them creatively and to those in our community who work hard to keep us safe. Let me end with a video that I was asked to co-produce with award winning artist Patricia Shih. A concert of gratitude!!
