Tag: Candy Land Ball

Candy Land Ball books are being printed

Katy reads the proof of her new children’s book, Candy Land Ball

Friends!!!! We did it! Thank you so much! This morning I reached 100% of my goal to create my newest children’s book, Candy Land Ball. I am so grateful to all of you for your support.

A few weeks ago, I received the proof for the book. They look great! The first shipment of Candy Land Ball books should be arriving any day, and I am having a wonderful time building gifts for the various perks my contributors selected. Everything is on track to be shipped out by the first week of December.

I am so delighted that this book has come to life. It’s originally a song I wrote about the wonderful, magical kid’s ball sponsored by Confetti Kids, a neighborhood nonprofit organization that supports children’s parks and programming. The actual Confetti Park that inspired all of my daydreamy orchestrations for this website, radio show and podcast is the first park created by Confetti Kids!

I’ve been volunteering for this organization for four years. So many of the children I teach in choir, and who play with my son, Louis, are children of Confetti Kids. I love this group, the parents I volunteer with, and the community we are building.

I’m excited to have this book as a permanent dedication to this sweet moment in time, and I’m donating 10% of all transactions from the Indiegogo campaign to Confetti Kids, to go toward more park development for our community.

Again, thank you for everything.
Katy
Update on Indiegogo: Candy Land Ball over 67%

Hi everyone! I am so delighted to report that I have just hit the $2K mark, and am 67% toward my goal for my Indiegogo campaign for my new children’s book, the Candy Land Ball! I am so grateful to the supporters who are making this book a reality. I sincerely hope you are delighted with book, the music, and any other perks you treat yourself to via this campaign!

Sharing this campaign is the next step to making it a success, and I hope you consider sharing the news about the book with your friends and family, young readers and budding musicians. I hope people agree the packages I put together will make wonderful holiday gifts.

The link to share is https://igg.me/at/candylandball/x/11554329
Update on Indiegogo: A tribute to Charles K. Harris, the “King Of The Tear Jerker”

I am pre-selling my new children’s book and song, Candy Land Ball, on Indiegogo. Please consider supporting my campaign at https://igg.me/at/candylandball/x/11554329. Lots of wonderful packages available! Here is an update from the campaign.

Sheet music for “After the Ball” by Charles K. Harris

My song “Candy Land Ball” is definitely not a tear jerker, but it was inspired by one…. I wanted to write a song about the sweetest and most magical children’s ball ever (it’s an annual event hosted by Confetti Kids, Inc. in my New Orleans neighborhood). Of COURSE, it had to be a waltz!

I have always loved ballroom dancing scenes in old movies, and waltzes are a staple of every ball. There are so many gorgeous waltzes, but one that always stands out to me for its fabulous backstory is Charles K. Harris’ “After the Ball.” This is probably the first mega-hit in American music sales….. and it was before recording!

The show debuted at a traveling theater road show in 1892. Charles K. Harris, who couldn’t seem to break into the world of publishing in a traditional manner, decided to pay a singer to perform it on stage. The story goes that after the song was sung, the audience sat in shocked, weeping silence. Then, they leapt to their feet as one and gave a thunderous five-minute long ovation. The singer had to encore the chorus six more times! (Read America’s Musical Life: A History, by Richard Crawford.)

The sheet music for the song “After the Ball” sold in excess of five million copies in the 1890s!

Here is Charles K. Harris himself, performing the sad song about an old man who is informing his young niece about why he never married… for his heart was broken when he saw his sweetheart kissing another at a ball. He spurned her. Many years later, after she had died, he learned that the man she had kissed was her own brother, and the kiss had been an innocent token of affection.

Such drama!

My song, “Candy Land Ball,” is not so sad, but I love the idea of the twist at the end, and so I merged the idea of a ballroom scene, a waltz, and a surprise ending for the very innocent “Candy Land Ball.” This is my tribute to Charles K. Harris.

– Katy
Update on Indiegogo: Candy Land Ball over 30%

I am pre-selling my new children’s book and song, Candy Land Ball, on Indiegogo. Please consider supporting my campaign at https://igg.me/at/candylandball/x/11554329. Lots of wonderful packages available! Here is an update from the campaign.

You guys! THANK YOU! One week in, and I am already over $1000 and over 30% of the way toward my goal! I am so very appreciative of your support. The book will soon be in your hands, and I hope that it makes people happy and feel warm and fuzzy… it’s just perfect for the holiday season.

I have lots of fun back story to share with you about this song and book.

I want to say who is playing on the song version—every single copy of the book will come with a download code for the song. I am indebted to the following amazing musicians who are featured on this recording:

Tom McDermott, piano; Michelle Nelson, background vocals; Rick G. Nelson, strings; Matthew Perrine, tuba. Kids chorus: Elisa McDonald, Charleston McLean, and Hrilina Ramrakhiani.

And, I must give a shoutout to my wonderful mom Janet Hobgood and friend Ted Lindsay, who brainstormed with me on piano while writing this music and crafting the fun lyrics, and to my beautiful cousin Emily Zeisler for transcribing the piano music which is included in this book.

The Candy Land Ball is a family affair!!!

– Katy
Book Signing with The Little Mouse Santi author David Eugene Ray

David Eugene Ray will be selling and signing copies of his award-winning book, The Little Mouse Santi, at the New Orleans Baby & Child Fest on October 1st from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Pontchartrain Center. Look for him at the Confetti Park exhibitor booth. We will also be selling copies of our Parents’ Choice Award-winning CD, We’re Going to Confetti Park!, and taking pre-order for our newest children’s book, Candy Land Ball.

The Little Mouse Santi is a Moonbeam Award winner, a recipient of the prestigious gold Mom’s Choice Award, the coveted Kirkus star and was named one of the Best Books of 2015 by Kirkus Reviews! It was illustrated by Santiago Germano.

Get an autographed copy for a discounted price at the New Orleans Baby & Child Fest, a fantastic annual event offering great deals and family fun for moms and dads, expectant parents, grandparents and children from babies to middle school.

Learn, Shop & Play with 100 vendors from birthing to boutiques to party places. Take a break with your kids in the kids zone with inflatables, face painting, art & lego workshops, photo booth, a toddler play area and more. Learn more at http://www.neworleansbabyfest.com/

Enjoy free shipping & 20% off children’s books and CDs from the Confetti Park workshop, created right here in New Orleans. Use code ‘nolakids’ when you order directly through Confetti Park at confettipark.com/shop.
Media Advisory: New Orleans children’s ball inspires a new book and a song

New Orleans kids’ choir director launches Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for a children’s book and song called “Candy Land Ball”

What: Candy Land Ball, a children’s book (36 pages) about a magical night at the ball, written in rhyming verse and beautifully illustrated by watercolor artist Emanuela Serafina. It comes with piano sheet music and a download code for the song performed by Katy Hobgood Ray & the Confetti Park Players. The book is being pre-sold book on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to cover production and printing costs. The author’s goal is to raise $3000 in pre-sales.

Who: Katy Hobgood Ray, director of New Orleans-based kids’ chorus Confetti Park Players and host of the kids radio show and podcast Confetti Park.

When: The crowdfunding campaign runs from September 25-November 24, 2016. Autographed books and CDs and other perks will be shipped to supporters in the first week of December 2016.

Where: Four special packages are available for sale at https://igg.me/at/candylandball/x/11554329. Packages range from $15-$100, and include perks such as autographed books, CDs, musical toys, and gourmet candy gift baskets.

Why: The Candy Land Ball story book is the follow-up to the recorded song from the Parents’ Choice® Award-winning children’s music album, We’re Going to Confetti Park! featuring Katy Hobgood Ray & the Confetti Park Players. The story was inspired by an annual event that raises funds for parks and children’s programming in Algiers Point for 501(c)3 Confetti Kids, Inc. A portion of proceeds from the campaign will go to Confetti Kids, Inc., an organization for which Katy has volunteered for four years. This is the second children’s book from Confetti Park. The first, The Little Mouse Santi, was named a Best Book of 2015 by Kirkus Reviews and won a Moonbeam Award and Gold Mom’s Choice Award.

Learn more at confettipark.com. Media members, please email for inquiries or call 504-650-1238.
Candy Land Ball – the song!

Enjoy this story and song, “The Candy Land Ball,” which will be on the upcoming children’s CD We’re Going to Confetti Park. The CD features Katy Hobgood Ray & the Confetti Park Players singing fun Louisiana-inspired songs. There are guest performances by many wonderful New Orleans musicians, and a solo by Mr. Okra! More

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“Candy Land Ball” was written by Katy Hobgood Ray, Janet Hobgood & Ted Lindsay. Musicians on this recording: Tom McDermott, piano; Michelle Nelson, background vocals; Rick G. Nelson, strings; Matthew Perrine, tub; Katy Ray, vocals. Kids chorus: Elisa McDonald, Charleston McLean, and Hrilina Ramrakhiani. Watercolor illustrations by Emanuela Serafina.

The Confetti Park Players is an all-ages children’s chorus in New Orleans, free to all kids! Our home base is in Algiers, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Led by songwriter Katy Hobgood Ray, the Confetti Park Players meet weekly to sing, make rhythms, share Louisiana traditions, and practice the craft of songwriting. Learn more

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Candy Land Ball

Last night I dreamed the sweetest dream,

We were smiling one and all

With happy hearts and eager eyes,

We were dressing for the Candy Land Ball

Candy striped suits for the little boys,

With hats and watches and rings

The girls had gowns of taffeta,

White gloves and purses to swing

Winding down candy cane lane,

We approached the great sugar hall

A gingerbread man ushered us in:

“Welcome to the Candy Land Ball!”

Chorus:

The Candy Land Ball, the Candy Land Ball,

Everybody was there

Dancing and laughing in sparkling light,

Music filled the air

Carousel rides and long rainbow slides,

All the fun of the fair

Lollies and sweeties, confection dreams,

Come true at the Candy Land Ball

We danced round the Rock Candy Mountain,

We climbed in the lollipop trees

We drank from root beer fountains,

Dipped our toes in the chocolate seas.

We danced till our eyes grew sleepy,

and long into the night

We found floating beds of marshmallows

stacked with pillows of Turkish Delight

The morning sun is climbing,

I awake from my magical dream.

What’s this? My purse is filled with gumdrops

and your hat with jelly beans

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Tag: Candy Land Ball

New Orleans kids’ choir director launches Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for a children’s book and song called “Candy Land Ball”