With her foray into children's music, Amy Lee joins some distinguished Arkansas musical company. To name a few:
• Trout Fishing in America: Ezra Idlet and Keith Grimwood have been around as Trout Fishing in America since 1979. Though the band was formed in Houston, the duo have called Prairie Grove home since 1992. They have recorded 21 albums of folk and children's tunes, including 2013's Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers. They've won Parents Choice awards and have four Grammy nominations for Best Musical Album for Children.
• Johnny Cash: The Dyess native and country legend released The Johnny Cash Children's Album in 1975. The original album featured 11 tracks, most written or co-written by Cash, including "Dinosaur Song," a tribute to dinosaurs and the joys of riding on the back of a stegosaurus, and a cover of "Old Shep," the Red Foley tearjerker about a boy and his doomed dog.
• Colin Brooks: This Little Rock drummer has played in local alt-rock bands Ho-Hum and The Big Cats, among others. But he's also the man behind the kit for Dan Zanes and Friends, the children's group formed by former Del Fuego member Dan Zanes.
• momandpop: This duo features Bobby Matthews of '90s Little Rock punk rock champs Trusty and wife Virginia. The Eureka Springs-based pair have recently released a debut album, momandpop, on Little Rock's Max Recordings label. The high-energy kids' pop is clever and catchy enough to have even the grumpiest adult singing along.
• Polly Hall: The Little Rock native is part of Andrew & Polly, who not only record wacky and eclectic children's music, but also have a podcast for kids. A new album, Ear Snacks: Songs From the Podcast, will be released Friday.
• Louis Jordan: The vibrant and fun-loving Brinkley-born bandleader/singer/saxophonist put his touch on "The Green Grass Grew All Around," a 1912 song written by William Jerome and Harry Von Tilzer that became a children's music staple. Jordan and his band transform the tune into a swinging singalong that's more fun than recess.
-- Sean Clancy
Style on 09/25/2016