Category: Podcast

Interview: Rich Collins of The Imagination Movers

In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Ray interviews Rich Collins of the Imagination Movers. The Imagination Movers are one of the most famous kids’ music bands in the world, and they hail from New Orleans!

From their website: “In 2003, four New Orleans friends – Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott “Smitty” Smith – had an idea. They thought kids wanted and deserved music that spoke to them, not down to them. So, they started gathering after their kids’ bedtimes to write songs and brainstorm ideas about a children’s television show. Two years later, they had become the latest sensation of their musical city, attracting parents and children alike with an eclectic pop sensibility and lyrical turns about healthy snacks and playing catch and conquering childhood fears of bedtime. Lines to the Movers’ shows stretched for blocks.”

Today, the Imagination Movers are ranked as the No. 1 rated major touring act for families, according to Ticketmaster. They’ve embarked on several world tours, have recorded nine albums, partnered with Disney on an Emmy-winning show, and now, they have another animated show in the works!

Rich is the drummer (and the Scribble Sticks master!) in the television show. In real life, he is a super multi-instrumentalist and a great songwriter. Rich has a recording studio in his house where lots of the group’s brainstorming happens.

Rich is a father of five children, and tells Katy about how the songs he and fellow Movers write are evolving as their kids are growing up. In their newest album just released this year, called Licensed to Move, the songs address such sophisticated topics as line cutters, messy rooms, and fingers coated in snack powder.

Rich points out that this album is also very high energy!

“It is a rowdy record,” he says. “We’ve made probably 190 songs over the last eleven years and I don’t think any collection of music has been this energetic!”

Rich also discusses the animated television show “Super Movers” currently in development with Toronto-based 9 Story Media Group. The series is tentatively scheduled for a 2016 debut.

Listen to the full interview, full of musical treats, on this free podcast.
Music Medley: Stars & Stripes & Crabs
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana. This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- Yankee Doodle – The Swing Setters
- Clickety Clackety Crab – Louisiana Pollywogs
- Mary Don’t You Weep – Renzi Center Kids
- Shopping Song – Schatzy
- Jumpin’ Ollies – Phillip Melancon
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Kermit Ruffins feat. Kaylin Orleans Ruffins
- Renzi House Rhythm –Renzi Center Kids
Storytime: Footprints by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust

Far across the great wide world, where the sun melts into liquid gold, great Buddhas smile in their fancy temples and towering skyscrapers brush the clouds. And in a tiny house in a tiny town lives a tiny girl who dreams of doing something BIG!

Thank you to Melinda Taliancich Falgoust of New Orleans, La. for your wonderful narration of this very powerful story, Footprints, for Confetti Park!

Footprints is an environmental picture book that crosses cultural boundaries and invites readers to follow in young Aiko’s footprints as she journeys through the Japanese countryside and discovers the universal concept that the biggest difference can be made by the smallest hands…or feet! Readers who love Shelley Meyer’s “Where the Buttercups Grow’ and “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss will delight in making “Footprints” part of their personal library.

BUY FOOTPRINTS

Listen to Melinda read another story, Lousy Liver!
Interview: ‘WEEN DREAM founder Kelsey Meeks

‘WEEN DREAM is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that gives free Halloween costumes to children in need. Simple mission—so simple, it’s brilliant!

In this episode of Confetti Park, ‘WEEN DREAM founder and CEO Kelsey Meeks talks to Katy Ray about the spooktacular mission of the New Orleans-based nonprofit that, in just one year, has seen new chapters form in four states.

Kelsey L. Meeks, Founder/CEO of ‘Ween Dream

In 2014 (its first year), the organization gave costumes to 580 kids in need in seven states. This year, they will easily double that number.

Kelsey shares how the idea came about. “I noticed kids in my neighborhood were trick or treating without costumes, and I knew my friends’ children had closets overflowing with costumes, and were outgrowing them every year,” says Kelsey. “So, I thought, certainly there is a way we can share the wealth, and get some of those formerly loved costumes to some kids who would really treasure them.”

For children who need costumes, applications are being accepted through August 21, 2015. Says Kelsey, “We expect to receive over 1,000 applications this year, so apply early!”

For people/organizations who would like to donate costumes to children in need, the ‘WEEN DREAM website has lots of information, including guidelines for donating gently used costumes and more ways to support this terrific organization.
Music Memory from Ted Lindsay

Ted Lindsay is a musician from Moorinsgport, Louisiana. A veteran, gold-record winning songwriter who spent several years in Nashville, Ted is a go-to bass player in north Louisiana today. He regularly performs with blues musicians Buddy Flett and Jerry Beach, and he has been a member of the core band at the legendary Monday Night Blues Jam in Shreveport for over 20 years. Ted is also a longtime member of the Friends of Lead Belly, a group of musicians dedicated to promoting the legacy of Huddie Ledbetter. And he is a teacher at the Renzi Education & Art Center in Shreveport.

Ted shares a music memory with Confetti Park about hearing the Beatles for the first time.
The Little Red Hen sung by Millie Calais Darby

The Little Red Hen, illustrated by Florence White Williams.

Millie Calais Darby, of Cecilia, La., sings for Confetti Park Storytime!

She shares with us her beautiful rendition of The Little Red Hen, an old folk tale known by children of countless generations. It’s a sweet moral tale about what happens when you don’t step up to hard work and help your friends in need.

When the little red hen finds a grain of wheat, she gives her barnyard friends many opportunities to help her plant, thresh, mill, and bake it into bread. But they won’t help her. Of course, they want to eat the delicious bread when it’s all baked up into warm goodness!

What do you think will happen?
Music Medley: Pelican’s Bill
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.

This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- Swamp Stompin’ – Luther Kent (Wardell Quezergue)
- Mardi Gras Mambo – Renzi Center kids
- Pontchy Pelican – Angela Mannino
- Zydeco Extravaganza – Terrance Simien
- Poem by Hrilina Ramrakhiani
- Polly Wolly Wee – Huddie Ledbetter
- Polly Wolly Wee – Katy Ray and the Confetti Park Players
- Feliciana LeRoux – Johnette Downing
- St. Anne Reel – Renaissance Cadienne
The Confetti Park podcast, hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!
Storytime: Kyser the Singing Schnauzer by Tommie Townsley

Meet Kyser, a dog who loves to sing! Author Tommie Townsley of Lake Charles, La., narrates this fun tale written in rhyme, inspired by her own dear pet. Apparently, the real-life Kyser really can sing!

The picture book is available through Tommie’s company, Kid’s Kajun Tales and Ally-Gator Book Bites. Written for 3-6 year olds, it is written in rhyme and rhythm.

Kyser says, “Sing along with me, and you will see, it is so much fun, and when you are done—YOU CAN READ!”
Music Memory from Charles Hudson

Charles Hudson on trumpet. Photo by Sally Asher

Charles Hudson is a trumpet player who plays mostly zydeco music(!). He is associated with the “royal family” of zydeco, as a regular band member of Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and The Zydeco Twisters. Being part of this act, Hudson not only has terrific musical chops, but high energy and dancing skills, too. (Rockin’ Dopsie is often compared to James Brown.)

Charles shares an early memory of how he got his start playing the horn as a kid. “I marched in every parade with the Stardusters Drum and Bugle Corps out of St. Bernard Parish,” says Charles.

Learn all about this storied drum and bugle corps that was based out of Arabi at http://www.louisianadrumcorps.org/stardusters/.
How to talk to your kids about human trafficking, by Stephanie Hepburn

Conversation With My Daughter About Human Trafficking by Stephanie Hepburn

This is a special edition of Confetti Park.

Stephanie Hepburn is a writer living in Louisiana. She is a weekly and monthly contributing writer to the New Orleans Times-Picayune and regularly contributes to other news outlets. Her most recent book, Human Trafficking Around the World: Hidden in Plain Sight, was released by Columbia University Press in June 2013.

Stephanie is an advocate for her fellow human beings, and works to help others not only through journalism, but also through activism and entrepreneurism. She recently founded Good Cloth, an ethical online clothing shop, as her way to make change in the garment industry and spread awareness on the topic of labor exploitation in a positive way.

Stephanie is the mother of two children, and has given much thought to how to talk about the difficult topic of human trafficking with kids.

We want to believe that trafficking can’t happen where we live, but it can and it does because it happens everywhere. Traffickers go to the same places we do, I tell her. They go where there are a lot of people like malls, schools, buses and train stations, and they use Facebook and other Internet sites to try to meet the people they will hurt. They can use classmates at school to recruit and find people to traffic. My daughter is little and this seems unreal, but it happens and we need to talk about it.

Stephanie has created this piece, Conversation With My Daughter About Human Trafficking, for Confetti Park (it also appeared in Huffington Post). You can download the eBook for free this week from Amazon.com.

If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center toll-free at 1-888-373-7888.
Storytime: Pink Hair by Gypsy Damaris Boston

Today’s featured children’s story is called Pink Hair, written by Gypsy Damaris Boston of Shreveport (and Ida). Her daughter, Janet Damaris Boston, also from Shreveport, is narrating this story. Pink Hair is a the true account of what happened to Janet as a little girl!

Janet gets herself into a delightful predicament when her hair turns pink! But her delight turns to dismay when some grown ups laugh at her.

Why do people think it is funny if you are different and don’t look like everyone else?
Music Memory from Ben Schenck

Panorama Jazz Band photo by Greg Miles

Ben Schenck is the recognizable face of the Panorama Jazz Band (and Panorama Brass Band). Tall, lanky, wielding his clarinet like a snake charmer, Schenck leads his vivacious troupes through the streets of New Orleans and on stages around the world. Their music is celebratory and joyful, drawing from New Orleans jazz, the tropical rhythms of the Caribbean and the exotic melodies of Eastern Europe.

In this episode of Confetti Park, Ben vividly recalls the elation of encountering a brass band during a parade when he was just a wee lad.

Thank you, Ben, for sharing this beautiful childhood music memory.