Parenting in a Pandemic - Fun Songs for Families and Kids

A collection of children's songs (meant for kids) by African American artists.

Children's songs by Black Artists

Kids' radio picks favorite songs of 2020

Children's Album GRAMMY nominees 2022

A playlist of fun songs to brighten even the baddest day.

Please support these artists by buying their music:
Artists (in alphabetical order):

123 Andres
Ants Ants Ants
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Tim Kubart
Lisa Loeb
Sara Lovell
Red Yarn
Justin Roberts
Suzi Shelton
Kira Willey

Bad Day Playlist

Tasty songs of thanks from some of the top artists in family music.

Songs of Thanks #Gratefulness

A short list of children's music produced by key players in the family music scene.

Producers featured:
Liam Davis
Dominic Fallacaro
Dean Jones
Rodney Whittenberg

Artists featured:
Ants on a Log
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer 
Dog on Fleas
The Lucky Band (Lucky Diaz)
The Okee Dokee Brothers
Red Yarn
Justin Roberts
Brady Rymer

Kids music grows up Playlist

Sunny new songs from some of the top artists in family music, for your summer 2019 travels!

Artists featured include:
123 Andres - www.123andres.com
Ants on a Log - www.antsonalogmusic.com
Brady Rymer - www.bradyrymer.com
The Lucky Band - www.luckydiazmusic.com
Story Pirates - www.storypirates.com
Jessa Campbell &  the Saplings - www.jessacampbellsaplings.com
Johnette & Scott - www.johnetteandscott.com
Sean McCollough - www.seanmccollough.com

Family road trip playlist summer 2019

A playlist of songs from artists performing at the 1st annual Building Bridges Family Music Festival at the Portland Children's Museum, September 21 and 22, 2019: https://www.portlandcm.org/festival

Building Bridges Family Music Festival

Trick or treat! Smell my feet! Here's a fun #partyplaylist for young ghouls and gourds. Featured artists are:

Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke - www.keywilde.com
Jessa Campbell and the Saplings - www.jessacampbellsaplings.com
Justin Roberts - www.justinrobertsmusic.com
Trout Fishing in America - www.troutmusic.com
The Lucky Band - www.luckydiazmusic.com
Ants Ants Ants - www.antsantsants.com
Katherine Dines - www.hunktabunkta.com
Lisa Loeb - www.lisaloeb.com
Koo Koo Kanga Roo - www.kookookangaroo.com
Sara Lovell - www.saralovell.com
Renee & Friends - www.reneeandfriends.com

Halloween songs - spooky and not so

The first three tracks from Justin Roberts Recess. Available now on Compact Disc. Includes a Pop Up Robot and special secret website access. Also available on iTunes. No Pop Up included.

recess

A spooky-fun new song by Trout Fishing in America from their album "Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers"
C. 2013 Ezra Idlet and Keith Grimmwood
Learn more at http://www.troutmusic.com

Trout Music Store

Boo! by Trout Fishing in America

A song celebrating Halloween by Key Wilde & Mr Clarke

Halloween

GRAMMY winner Bill Harley invites kids to keep germs to themselves this holiday season. Stay healthy with Bill Harley http://www.billharley.com 



WashYourHands by Bill Harley

I Must Be a Genius by Dog on Fleas

A Massive Reggae track from Asheba's 3rd CD "Children are the Sunshine". recorded at Dancin Dread  Studio by Junior Ibo Joseph.

ALL AROUND THE KITCHEN

"Gather Round" Renee and Friends featuring Lisa Loeb

Home is the follow-up album from Tim Kubart and his band of Space Cadets to their full-length debut Anthems for Adventure. With sing-along choruses, joyful pop hooks, and lyrics for the ears of all ages, Tim and special guests sing about all new adventures: the kind you can find in your home and in your heart, with your friends and with your family, in the little moments we live every day.

Better (feat. Laurie Berkner)

Hebbie Jeebies

Check out some songs from the Ants on a Log debut album! On "You Could Draw the Album Art!" kids (and their adults) can literally draw the album art! Each song comes with its very own coloring book page inside the album.

Songs, Many Songs

WELCOME TO THE VILLAGE!
AARON NIGEL SMITH is an award winning musician and educator with the simple mission of inspiring kids and families to sing, dance, play and learn together. Welcome to the Village features ONE WORLD CHORUS, over 300 children from across the United States and Kenya. Parents and kids alike will love this eclectic mix of hip original tunes and fun new arrangements of classics. Proceeds from the sale of this CD with go to the Cura Rotary Home in Kenya!

AARON NIGEL SMITH
Aaron regularly appears as a musical guest on the Emmy Award Winning PBS Kids' show Between The Lions. His music and movement enrichment program, FUNdamentals Of Music And Movement, serve thousands of children in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Boston, at over 100 schools, centers and daycares.

Grateful

Fanga Alafia

For more than 15 years, Aaron Nigel Smith has worked to educate, entertain and empower youth around the world through music. His latest recording One is a collection of lively, original reggae tunes, along with Jamaican & African folk songs.
 
This eleven track album, out on April 22, 2016, features reggae music icon, Ernie Smith along with appearances by Dubtonic Kru, Ras I, and Grammy Award-winning children’s music performers Father Goose and Tommy Shepherd (Alphabet Rockers). Aaron Nigel Smith shares a message of peace and love for family, neighbors and community with this his 5th album for children. Award-winning reggae music veteran Deleon “Jubba” White, co-produced this special project and helps to bring Aaron’s sound to a new level.

02 - One Ft. Dubtonic Kru & Tommy Shephard

Buy or stream on Amazon Music: http://amzn.to/2cd8DnF

www.lisaloeb.com

Moon Star Pie (It's Gonna be Alright)

Lemonade is like no other Justin Roberts project. A mostly live in the studio recording featuring all acoustic instruments and 12 new original songs. There’s an amazing array of special guests including: Robbie Fulks, John Abbey, Gerald Dowd, Nora O’Connor, Anna Jacobson, Matt Brown, Anna Steinhoff and more! Produced and mixed by Liam Davis.

“After the giant rock of Recess and the thrill of writing my first musical (Hansel & Gretel), I decided I wanted to return to the simplicity of my earliest recordings and capture the sound of folks playing together in a room, no electric guitars, no big drum set, more ukuleles and banjos, cardboard boxes and paint cans for percussion, a warm stand-up bass holding it all together, a few single notes on a piano, maybe the pluck of a cello, and a hand clap or two.

It was fun to take the music in a new and unexpected direction. Like setting up an impromptu lemonade stand and seeing if anyone will show up. I hope you like it and you’ll join us on this journey." – Justin Roberts

Lemonade

Rolling Down The Hill

Rolling Down the Hill

5. "Free To Be" (Song)

How Lucky We Are

This is a selection of contemporary bhangra tracks all sung by women. There are no duets and many wonderful singers are not included. This is not a comprehensive collection. Mixed live in the Bat Cave. Left raw and unmolested; all peaks and valleys intact.

The playlist is up on my blog: http://www.anjaliandthekid.com/theincredibleblog/2016/11/30/make-way-for-punjabane-new-dj-mix-from-the-kid/

Make Way for Punjabane!

Suzi Shelton's Merry Little Holiday Album is a teeny tiny collection of 4 holiday songs and 1 original tune just right for your young (or young at heart) music lover. Produced Featuring Ameilia Robinson from MIl's Trills, percussionist Abby Levin, harmonica player Marcus Milius, and produced by Jeff Kerestes (who also plays ukulele, bass and glockenspeil).  Special guest sleigh bells performed by Dave Mitri.

Thank You for Being You

MADE IN LA
New MUSIC from Latin Grammy and Emmy Award-winners
LUCKY DIAZ and the FAMILY JAM BAND
Available from music retailers everywhere on July 21, 2017
Los Angeles, Summer 2017 – Incubated in the dreamy sunscape of Southern California, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band deliver their most energetic and eclectic album yet, Made in LA. The album, due out on July 21, features a who’s who of the family music scene in Los Angeles, including Genevieve Goings (Choo Choo Soul), Mike Phirman (SiriusXM), Todd McHatton, Andrew & Polly and Mista Cookie Jar.
Made in LA was produced mostly in Los Angeles with scintillating sonic help from Grammy nominee Frances England and Grammy winning producer and multi-instrumentalist Dean Jones. Lucky Diaz, Alisha Gaddis and the band will celebrate with dozens of concerts this summer, kicking off with shows in Beijing, China, New York, the Midwest and at Lollapalooza. In early August, they’ll return to Southern California with performances in Echo Park, the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena and Grand Plaza (Grand Performances) in Los Angeles.
The sights, sounds and tastes of L.A. run throughout these 12 original songs, from “Silver Lake Stairs” to “Echo Park” and “Fiesta de la Brea.” The dreamy optimism of “Magic Believers” gives way to the humorous reality of rush-hour themed “Traffic,” and “When It Rained” will resonate with any listener who’s experienced the recent torrential weather in So Cal.
Upon hearing the album, Kenny Curtis of SiriusXM Kids Place Live exclaimed, “Here’s an album that lives up to its name. It sounds and feels like LA – but never gets too far away from the values that make Lucky and Company such a valued commodity in the kids’ realm. High production values, well-crafted songs, and brilliantly-styled input from some of the most creative kids’ content gurus in the Pacific Time Zone.“. The channel debuted the single “Paletero Man” in late May and featured the band’s songs on a weekend “Cinco de Mayo” special.
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band were crowned the very first U.S. based artists to win a Latin GRAMMY in the Children’s Album category for their album Fantastico. Garnering six Emmy Nominations and one win for their work on the EMMY award winning show “Lishy Lou and Lucky Too,” husband and wife duo Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis have been named “THE face of kindie music” by the Washington Post, “Superstars” by national parenting site Red Tricycle, “The Rolling Stones of Kids Music” by the Style Network, and “The #1 in COOLEST kids music!” by PEOPLE magazine.
As Billboard advises, this is “children’s music you should know. Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s sun-filled pop beats have been featured by NPR’s All Things Considered, NPR Music, Alt Latino, Billboard, USA Today, The New York Times. They and their music have been featured on Univision, NBCUniversal’s Sprout TV, American Airlines and more. Logging hundreds of thousands of miles, sharing the music of their seven albums, and multiple #1 Sirius XM Kids Place Live hits, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band delivers smart, crafty lyrics with irresistibly fresh pop beats. As children’s music nexus Zooglobble states, “It’ll take you all of about 15 minutes to become a fan of Lucky Diaz.”
The band’s interactive, multi-cultural, mixed language and movement based musical performances please both child and adults. Catch their busy summer tour schedule, including sets at Lollapalooza,
at www.luckydiazmusic.com

Magic Believers

The Mixing Bowl

'Red Yarn's Old Barn' is the fifth album by Austin-born, Portland-based family musician Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson). With originals, traditionals & a classic country cover reflecting Furgeson's roots in the Texas Hill Country, 'Red Yarn's Old Barn' tells of an epic barndance where critters of all kinds are welcome. Furgeson co-produced the album with GRAMMY-winner Dean Jones & renowned indie engineer Adam Selzer, with studio sessions in the Hudson Valley, Portland, Austin and beyond. Furgeson & his wife Jessie Eller-Isaacs are backed by a stellar band featuring Jones, Dan Hunt (Neko Case), Annalisa Tornfelt (Black Prairie) & Paul Brainard (M. Ward), with guests like Jenny Conlee (the Decemberists), Justin Lansing (the Okee Dokee Brothers) & Jazzy Ash. With the playful, personal & at times political country-rock songs of 'Old Barn,' Red Yarn creates an inclusive microcosm of the USA. "We'll all feel better if we could all just be together," sings Red Yarn in the opening track, "and there's room here in my Old Barn for you."

Barndance

The Grass Is Always Greener is produced by Greg Mayo and Dan Weiner

co-written by Suzi Shelton + Greg Mayo (ASCAP)along with Dave Mitri

Musicians:
Special guest Tim Kubart - vocals
Steven Salcedo - tenor saxophoneAward-winning children's recording artist Suzi Shelton is getting ready to release her fourth family album this Spring, which is filled with upbeat, inspiring and powerful songs about believing in yourself as well as more whimsical songs about ladybugs and raindrops. Her new musical style is eclectic-pop with a more modern edge and is co-produced by two of her band mates, Greg Mayo (Jon Bon Jovi, Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Dan Weiner (STOMP, America's Got Talent Band). Her new album is all about inclusion and uses socially conscious messages to remind everyone that they can be comfortable in their own skin and express themselves joyously.

Engineered, produced + mixed by Greg Mayo and Dan Weiner at GnM Studios (White Plains, NY) + Pencilworks Studios (Greenpoint, NYC). Mastered by Jonathan Jetter at Right Angle Productions.

Release date: May 11th, 2018

For lyrics, videos and more, please visit suzishelton.com

All other instruments (not listed below) + programming by Greg Mayo and Dan Weiner.

All songs written by Suzi Shelton except the following:
“Ladybugs,” traditional; arrangement + additional lyrics by Suzi Shelton + Greg Mayo “The Grass Is Always Greener,” co-written by Suzi Shelton + Greg Mayo along with Dave Mitri 
“Blue Fin” co-written by Suzi Shelton, Greg Mayo + Cole Iturregui-Shirley 
“River Come Down” traditional (inspired by The Jolly Boys/Mento Music); arrangement + additional lyrics by Suzi Shelton
“We Shall Walk” written by Emma Mitri

Copyright 2018 SuziMusic (ASCAP). Warning: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Release date:
11 May 2018
Show less

The Grass Is Always Greener (with Tim Kubart)

Brand New Day

An audio journey through Folkways and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1948-2018, compiled by our Curator and Senior Archivist Jeff Place, it features 70 important releases in the history of the company.

https://folkways.si.edu/70stories

44 Ella Jenkins - Miss Mary Mack

Tim Kubart's Building Blocks, the follow up to his Grammy award winning album HOME, is a pop celebration all about growing our circle of care. As we grow so does our capacity to care, to our family, our pets, our neighbors, and our communities, both locally and globally. Building Blocks is about watching our hearts grow as we do.

Building Blocks

Block Party (feat. Genevieve Goings, Carly Ciarrocchi, and Drue Davis)

It's the perfect soundtrack to Halloween. From the brand new Justin Roberts CD, Jungle Gym, released June 2010.


"Even though summer is just beginning, I can't stop listening to the instant Halloween classic 'Trick or Treat.'" - Stefan Shepherd, NPR "All Things Considered"

Trick or Treat

20th Anniversary Concert

Freight Train (Live / 1978)

Under the Big Umbrella
Music by Brady Rymer Lyrics by Brady and Bridget Rymer
© 2018 Bangin’ Out A Melody Music

Key of Eb
Verse & Chorus Chords: Eb, Bb, F, Gm, Eb, Bb, F, Bb

Eb                         Bb
Hello, bonjour, hola, shalom
F                              Gm
Konichiwa, ciao, bella
Eb                                  Bb
The whole world is saying, hi
F                                Bb
Under the big umbrella

I smell pizza, with peperoni 
And lots of mozzarella
C’mon along & meet me here
Under the big umbrella

Under the big, under the big, under the big umbrella
Under the big, under the big, under the big umbrella

I met a lady, I met a baby
I met a real nice fella
All kinds of friendly folks 
Under the big umbrella

We do the Tango, we do the Mambo
We do the Tarantella
We’ll dance the night away
Under the big umbrella

CHORUS

We love to sing, with the band 
Or maybe a cappella
Come on along and sing a song
Under the big umbrella

I feel loved, I feel happy
I just want to tell ya
We can be our beautiful selves
Under the big umbrella

CHORUS
Come on under – there’s room for everyone!

Brady: Bass, acoustic guitars, Nashville tuned guitar, electric guitars, lead and backing vocals, synthesizer, drum and percussion programming
Bill Holloman: Baritone, tenor saxophones, trombone, trumpet
Mrs. Kennedy’s choir class: backing vocals 
Mixed by Dan Myers and Brady Rymer at Dirt Floor Studios, Denville, NJ

Under the Big Umbrella

Under The Big Umbrella

Carsick

Sun characteristics Song!

Foot-tapping sing-a-longs, whimsical storytelling and soaring harmonies enchant young audiences through weaving the wonders of nature with original folk tunes. Banjo playing moles and singing trees shine a light on the drippy Pacific Northwest.

How I Love You Sun

Our Salmon Life Cycle Song! 

Foot-tapping sing-a-longs, whimsical storytelling and soaring harmonies enchant young audiences through weaving the wonders of nature with original folk tunes. Banjo playing moles and singing trees shine a light on the drippy Pacific Northwest.

Can You Feel It

Dance, Robot. Dance!

"When I am overwhelmed, I can meditate - knowin’ my pain might not go away. it’s mine to feel, I can love it anyway" - This song honors the self-care that kids can take on to navigate oppression and belonging. 

THE STORY
A family asked us to write a song that reflects the tool kit that kids really need everyday, stating that some of the experiences and emotions our trans kids go through are beyond their years (4-10 years old) - and that they needed to hear all the ways they can take care of themselves. This issue is not unique to the trans community of kids; kids who are not supported by our schools and systems all require extra coping skills for adequate self-love and self-care. This song is for all of us. The featured vocalists are SO fresh, Yiann has an incredible style and they were proud to come to the studio to be featured in verse 1. Verse 2 features Rei Matsuno, a high school student (who identifies as trans/non-binary) whose musicality was such a match for the tune. Bay Area and activist music fans will recognize the backing vocals of Jennifer Johns, who has always been on the forefront of social justice movements with her voice, spirit and presence.
CREDITS
Featuring Yiann and Rei Matsuno. Written by Kaitlin McGaw (Letter Kay ASCAP), Tommy Shepherd (Felonious Music ASCAP),  Derrick Okoth (All Family No Friends/This All We Got Music BMI).
Produced by D.O. Speaks & Street Symphony. Vocals produced and arranged by Jeff Kolhede. Guest Vocals: Yiann, Rei Matsuno, Tommy Shepherd III, Aris Wong. Lead Vocals: Kaitlin McGaw, Tommy Shepherd. Backing Vocals: Lillian Ellis, Maya Fleming, Jennifer Johns, Kali de Jesus. Trumpet: Harlow Carpenter. DJ: Wonway Posibul. Recorded at Zoo Labs, Oakland with engineer Jeff Kolhede.

The Love

Be Strong Feat. Yiann And Rei Matsuno

Celebrate This!

Monster Moves

AVAILABLE 4/17/2020 on CD & Dig

José-Luis Orozco is an internationally acclaimed performer and composer of Spanish and English bilingual children’s music. On ¡Muévete!: Songs for a Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body, Orozco’s humor and skills as a dynamic educator connect us to his world of joy, discovery, and exuberant musical expression. Encouraging young children to move their bodies in joyous ways, ¡Muévete! perfectly complements his Smithsonian Folkways Grammy-nominated album ¡Come Bien! Eat Right!. The eighteen animated, original songs and dances on ¡Muévete! are in Spanish and English, encouraging kids to express themselves through movement and to learn new words as a result. Take a listen, move your body, and have some fun!

¬°Mu√©vete!

José-Luis Orozco - Arriba abajo

If You Want A Song

Music and Lyrics by Joanie Leeds

Rosa Avila- Drums
Lucy Kalantari- Ukelele, Glockenspiel, background vocals
Joanie Leeds- Guitar, lead vocal
Libby Weitnauer- Fiddle
Caylen Bryant- Bass

Grammy Award-winning artist and longtime bassist for They Might Be Giants Danny Weinkauf is back with his 5th album for children and families, Dinosaurs and Metaphors. The album takes listeners through the day with plenty of imagination, humor and clever wordplay.

Themes of these 15 original songs run the gamut of everyday life, from the joy of a lazy Saturday morning to a celebration of Monday. Kids who are enduring a haircut or the hiccups or even bugs on the toilet will find comedic relief here, and they’ll laugh along at the offbeat language lessons of “Your Love Is a Metaphor” or the idea of “Dinosaurs on Roller skates.” The album finishes with a raucous and affirmative rock anthem, “Superstar.”

Tina Kenny Jones of Danny's live act the Red Pants Band performs on several songs, including “Dinosaurs on Roller Skates.” Special guests include Danny’s wife Michelle, his son Kai (known for his peppy vocals on the hit “Champion of the Spelling Bee”), and Britta Phillips (Dean and Britta, Luna, and the voice of Gem cartoon). The eclectic mix of styles and moods of these songs make them an auditory treat for road trips in the family car or to liven up afternoon playdates and parties.

In addition to playing with TMBG (the band is currently touring). Danny continues to write for television shows like “Sesame Street.” The new songs “Your Love Is a Metaphor” and “Superstar” have been spinning regularly on kids’ radio shows including SiriusXM Kids Place Live over the past couple of months. Danny has been writing smart and funny songs for kids for at least a decade. His song “I Am a Paleontologist” was one of the hits off They Might Be Giants’ GRAMMY nominated album Here Comes Science. His previous solo and Red Pants Band albums for kids, No School Today, Red Pants Band, Totally Osome!, and Inside I Shine have all won national recognition and awards from Parents’ Choice, Family Choice, NAPPA, Fids and Kamily, CoolMomPicks, and the International Songwriting Competition. In addition to writing and recording and performing his songs, he has also been a pediatric physical therapist working with autistic children for the past 20 years.

09 A Song that Makes Me Happy

This summer Hip Hop, soul and electronic musician Pierce Freelon releases his debut family album, D.a.D. a 15 song collection inspired by his journey through fatherhood. The eclectic album is a family journal chronicling the life and times of a Black millennial father living in the South.

As a skilled beat maker, Freelon thrives in sampling sounds from his environment and incorporating it into his music. He used this technique to assemble D.a.D like a quilt, stitching it together by voice memo recordings of himself and his children along with melodies and beats that he enhanced with soulful arrangements and honest and playful
lyrics. His messages and themes are relatable and universal but are delivered in a style unique to the artist and his diverse creative circle.

This collection is not available anymore.

Other playlists from Sugar Mountain PR Playlists