John McCusker is a journalist, photographer, historian and a musician from New Orleans. He is the author of Creole Trombone: Kid Ory and the Early Years of Jazz. John shares a music memory from when he was a kid with Confetti Park.
Category: Podcast
-
Music Memory from John McCusker
John McCusker. Photo by Vicky Marshall-Beasley -
Interview: Meet Tommie Townsley
Tommie Townsley, Louisiana children’s author and publisher Tommie Townsley is a Cajun children’s author from Lake Charles, Louisiana. She published her first book, Adolpheaux the Adventurous Dolphin, in 2005, and from that sweet beginning has launched a children’s book empire headquartered in Southwest Louisiana.
In this interview, Tommie talks about her driving mission to get more kids in Louisiana interested in books: “Children are our future. We need to get them reading, especially in our state. We are losing our readers by the fourth grade. So I’m traveling all over the state, and I’m getting new authors on board, to promote reading. We can do that by making it fun to read.”
Tommie is now the author of seven children’s books, all of them charming Cajun animal tales about Louisiana and its unique culture. In addition, Tommie has launched a children’s publishing company called Ally-Gator BookBites, in which she assists authors with publishing services including editorial, layout, illustrations, printing, marketing, distribution, and professional consulting.Tommie is a vital part of the arts and culture scene in Louisiana. She has been an inspiration to children throughout the state with her charming Cajun animal tales. She is also the chairwoman of the Southwest Louisiana Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Guild and a board member for the Children’s Museum of Lake Charles.
Visit Tommie’s website, kidscajuntales.com to learn about Dixie the Old Dog, Amos the Artistic Alligator, Clyde the Cajun Calf, and a number of other animal friends sharing their unique culture.
Listen to Tommie read Amos the Artistic Alligator on Confetti Park!
-
Music Medley “Pirate’s Favorite Letter”
Pitot the Pelican, from the Swamp Quest app 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:
- Sally Brown – Valparaiso Men’s Chorus
- Louis Lafitte – Confetti Park Players
- Drunken Sailor – Jeremy Lyons IN-STUDIO PERFORMANCE
- The Rooster & the Chicken – Kandice Chester
- Circling Alligators – AJ Loria
- Alligator Snap – Johnnete Downing
- Emus – Lightning Bugs
- L’arc en Ciel – Michael Doucet and Family
-
Music Memory from Layla Isis Ellison
Layla Isis Ellison is half of the brother-sister duo Jason & Layla, who write and perform original children’s music. While Layla lives in New York City, where she is a professional dancer, she regularly returns to her home state of Louisiana to perform onstage at children’s festivals. Here, she shares with us a music memory from her own Baton Rouge childhood.
Jason & Layla -
Storytime: Amos the Artistic Alligator by Tommie Townsley
Amos the Artistic Alligator In this episode of Confetti Park, children’s author Tommie Townsley of Lake Charles, Louisiana narrates the story of Amos the Artistic Alligator.
Set in the Atchafalaya swamp, this is the tale of how Amos the alligator tries to outsmart old Mr. Homer, a Cajun trapper, who is looking for the perfect alligator to be placed in the zoo. But Amos and his friends create something that most alligators would never think of, and the surprise adds a cute twist to the story.
Tommie Townsley was born in Sulphur, Louisiana and now lives in Lake Charles. She is Cajun and has written numerous children’s books about Cajun life, many of them about animals.
This narration of Amos the Artistic Alligator is shared here with permission from Tommie Townsley. The book, illustrated by Anne Dentler, is available for purchase on Amazon and at http://kidscajuntales.com/
Tommie is the chairperson of the Southwest Louisiana Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Guild and publisher of Ally-Gator BookBites Publishing House in Lake Charles. Learn about Tommie Townsley and check out her books at http://kidscajuntales.com/
-
Music Medley “Upside Duckie” from Confetti Park
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:
- He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands – Cynthia Girtley
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – Kermit Ruffins
- Roman Candy Man – Confetti Park Players
- Rubber Duckie – Jeremy Lyons
- Birdy Birdy Tweet Tweet – Mr. Chris Alexander
- Walk – Rob Hudak
- Marches des Maries – Renaissance Cadienne
-
Music Memory from Alan Dyson
Alan Dyson is a singer-songwriter, artist, and architect from Shreveport, La. Here is a music memory from his childhood.
Alan Dyson -
Storytime: Why the Oyster has the Pearl by Johnette Downing
Why the Oyster has the Pearl by Johnette Downing Award-winning Louisiana children’s musician and author Johnette Downing shares with Confetti Park this marvelous trickster tale about generosity.
A long time ago, the Oyster was not only generous and kind; he was also the keeper of all the gems in the world. Whenever any type of creature would come to him in need, the Oyster would share his jewels without hesitation. One day, a very greedy snake hatches a plan to shift the balance of wealth in the sea. But he’s in for a surprise when he tests the limits of the Oyster’s generosity.
This narration is available on her Reading Rocks CD, and in book form by Pelican Publishing.
Audio used by permission.
-
Johnette Downing at Jazz Fest!
Johnette Downing In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Ray interviews Johnette Downing, award-winning children’s musician and author. Through her books and songs, Johnette shares Louisiana culture with kids around the world.
Johnette will be appearing at Jazz Fest this year; it is her 23rd year at the fest! You can see her at the kids tent on Sunday, May 3, 2015, at 12:40-1:40 p.m. Calendar
(She also performs at the New Orleans Jazz Historical National Park Visitor’s Center at 11 a.m. on May 1.)
In this interview Johnette discusses how she came to play children’s music, and how the jazz sounds of New Orleans inspired her as a child. As an adult, she got to record a CD of children’s songs with Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which she considers one of her crowing achievements.
She also discusses the importance of parents enjoying music and dancing with their children. Jazz Fest is great for that!!!
-
Music Medley “Darn, Spider” from Confetti Park
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:
- Confetti Park – Confetti Park Players
- Okra Man – Mr. Okra & Confetti Park Players
- Playing Possum – Johnette Downing
- Itsy Bitsy Spider – Jeremy Lyons
- Days of the Week – Jason & Layla
- Ol’ Blue – Jimmy Cousins
- Aveine, Aveine – Renaissance Cadienne
- Buttermilk Drop – Confetti Park Players
- Zydeco Gris Gris Rap – Michael Doucet
- Evangeline – Feufollet
- When I See an Elephant Fly – Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes.
- How is the Housecat – Schazty
-
Storytime: The Little Mouse Santi by David Eugene Ray
New Orleans author David Eugene Ray narrates his adorable story The Little Mouse Santi, which received a Kirkus star.
The little mouse Santi may be small, but he has a big dream. This beautifully illustrated story explores one of the most important aspects of a child’s life, the search for identity. Santi wants to be a cat, and even though all the other mice laugh at him, he follows his dream. This timeless story ends with a whimsical twist: Santi learns a valuable lesson about self-determination and also learns he is not the only dreamer!
The gentle and lovely illustrations in The Little Mouse Santi, by Santiago Germano, are not to be missed! Order the book at https://confettipark.com/santi/ or at Amazon.
BONUS: This podcast concludes with a song called “Dream Big, Little Santi” composed by David Ray and Katy Hobgood Ray.
-
Music Medley “Pudding” from Confetti Park
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:
This Little Light of Mine – Ingrid Lucia
Wake-Y-Up-O – Kevin Griffin
“A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track” – Confetti Park Players
Spoonbread – Lil Band of Gold
Noce A Josephine – Renaissance Cadienne
Puddin Man – Ph Fred
She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain – Jeremy Lyons
ABC et 123 – Michael Doucet and Family
Musique a Bouce – Renaissance Cadienne ftg. Beth Patterson
“Apple on a Stick” – Confetti Park Players
Zipa Dee Do Da – Ivan Neville’s Dumpstafunk
