Music can carry powerful memories and emotions through generations, as Scott Durbin of the Imagination Movers shares with us.
Scott, whose grandmother was Native American, recalls participating in powwows at a very young age. His family’s tribe would come together to honor their cultural traditions, and music with drumming and dancing was a central component.
“I remember being very young, dressed in garb and doing a powwow, and as much as a six year old can intuit a spiritual elevation because of the music and the beat, I knew this was amazing.”
Through experiencing the resonating drum circles and participating in the spirituality of his ancestral heritage alongside his grandmother and family, he came to know the power of music early. Scott believes this may be his first clear memory of music unlocking a moment of revelation.
Journey into the past with more music memories brought to you by Confetti Park.
More holiday music, stories and songs for you and your family to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the culture and holiday spirit I’m sharing from Louisiana, the Mississippi Delta, and beyond.
The Confetti Park radio show is a weekly 30-minute program that streams online and airs in cities across the United States, made available for free to all community radio stations on the Pacifica Network. We’re going to enjoy the music of the season all this month—Christmas carols, and Hanukkah songs of light, as well as sweet stories to make you smile. Thanks for joining me, your host, Katy Hobgood Ray!
“The holiday season is lots of fun, we celebrate when the year is done, Come together now everyone—It’s Christmas! An Hanukkah, too! Well, happy Kwanzaa! Season’s Greetings to you!” —the Imagination Movers
All about the music
On this episode, “Pizza on Earth,”we start off with the high energy Imagination Movers, with some of their original Christmas music! “It’s Christmas!”—and Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and Children’s Day.
This is followed by “Burn Little Candles,” a song of Hanukkah by Judy Caplan Ginsburgh of Alexandria, La. Judy is a rabbi, in addition to a prolific children’s musician and educator.
There is lots of Cajun Christmas music in this episode—enjoy Belton Richard, Harry Fontenot, and Robert Kingrob Harris, all with delightful performances of classics.
And you’ll also hear the inimitable Vince Vance and his Valiants, and their unique version of “Winter Wonderland,” sousaphonist Matt Perrine with a rousing “Sleigh Ride,” and the great Louis Armstrong with “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?”
Also featured in this episode is Confetti Park Storytime with Justin Wilson, a beloved Cajun chef, comedian, and storyteller. This Louisiana legend, who passed away several years ago, is emerging for a new generation, as his music and stories have been digitized and re-released, and a new food products line of spices, pickles, and more is available in stores and online. Thank you to the estate of Justin Wilson for contributing to Confetti Park.
Ahoy!!!! Welcome to Confetti Park, a magical place full of music and stories for children. Aye, You’ll hear lots of songs from the Mississippi delta and beyond as we hear an amazing variety of American music for scurvy buccaneers! This week we are celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day! It’s held on September 19… avast… that’s right around the corner!
Here are some songs of the piratical nature for ye to enjoy:
Sensible Life of a Pirate – Imagination Movers
Talk Like a Pirate – Jake & the NeverLand Pirates
Watch out for the Pirates – Confetti Park Players
Down by the Bay – Andrew Best
A Sailor Went to Sea – Johnette Downing
Allons a Lafayette – Feufollet
The Big Blue Sea – Danny O’Flaherty and Khaetidawne Quirk
Sri Lanka Fisherman’s Chant – Katherine Dines
In this episode, first we have that grand kids band, the Imagination Movers of New Orleans, with “Sensible Life of a Pirate.” And then a sensible lesson in Pirate talk for ya, as featured on that brigand show, Jake & the Never Land Pirates. How about those Confetti Park Players, the cutest pirates in all the land, with Watch out for the Pirates! (Enjoy this music video featuring the Confetti Park Players and the NOLA Pyrate Society, shot on location in Pirate’s Alley in the French quarters of New Orleans.)
Sea Shanties
Argh, Mateys I hope you enjoy the song about sailors, too, by Louisiana pied piper Johnette Downing, and the camp favorite “Down by the Bay” by Memphis children’s performer Andrew Best.
Then we go dancing, “Allons a Lafayette,” by the Cajun band Feufollet, who started performing together as young buccaneers and are still traveling the high seas today. We also hear a song about that Big Blue Sea from Danny O’Flaherty, an Irishman who relocated to New Orleans (as many a good pirate will do), and then the beautiful “Sri Lanka Fisherman’s Chant,” performed by Katherine Dines, a fine fellow of the Children’s Music Network.
This episode’s Storytime feature is a delightful piratical tale from Bill Harley, the “Ballad of Dirty Joe.”
I hope ye join me again — yer Mate Katy Hobgood Ray — for more wonderful children’s music from Confetti Park…. and remember to look for the magic in every day!
More about Confetti Park
The Confetti Park radio show streams online and airs in cities across the United States, made available to all community radio stations on the Pacifica Network. Check to see if your local community radio station carries it, and ask! Support for Confetti Park comes from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and Music Rising at Tulane University.
Welcome to Confetti Park, a radio show out of New Orleans, Louisiana. We play lots of songs and stories from the Bayou State and from the Mississippi Delta region. This is a music medley of songs, poems, and jump rope jingles featured on a recent episode.
This episode, “Cows Go Moo,” the show begins with a song showcasing the Louisiana state bird, the state insect, the state flower… and so on. This is “Louisiana’s Alphabet Song,” featuring Kristen Cole and Daniel Morgan. The old nursery rhyme favorite “Itsy Bitsy Spider” is performed by Jeremy Lyons, from his DeltaBilly style Silly Goose Music. And PhFred leads a group with Rock Paper Scissors. What a great song!
Who doesn’t love a Silly Song performed by New Orleans kids’ favorite, Johnette Downing? Sing along and play along with “Do Your Ears Hang Low?” You’ll hear “Lovely Little Ladybug” performed by the Confetti Park Players, a kids chorus in New Orleans, and “Kukuriku, the Rooster’s Song,” sung by Judy Caplan Gibsburgh of Alexandria, La. Rabbi Judy has been performing music for kids since the 1980s! Check out her website at judymusic.com
Other songs featured: a hand-clapping version of the Sunday school classic “This Little Light of Mine,” by New Orleans trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and his children; the Imagination Movers with “Warehouse Mouse” and “When You’re in Love, You’ll Understand” featuring Jim Cummings, who played Ray, the lightning bug of the Princess & the Frog…. a beautiful Disney movie set in the swamps of Louisiana.
Sprinkled throughout are many terrific poems by Louisiana creators, of all ages. Also featured on this episode is a Music Memory from trombonist David Phy and a folk tale called the Beaver’s Tale of Greed, narrated by Iran Martin of Bossier City.
The Confetti Park radio show streams online and airs in cities across the United States, made available to all community radio stations on the Pacifica Network. Check to see if your local community radio station carries it, and ask! Support for Confetti Park comes from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and Music Rising at Tulane University.
Welcome to Confetti Park, a place where you can listen to kids music and hear stories, poems, jumprope jingles, and learn about the culture of Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta. I’m Katy Hobgood Ray, your host. In New Orleans we are celebrating our 300th birthday this year. New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Bienville, and the city and Louisiana are known for having a unique mix of cultural influences: French, Spanish, African, German, Native American, and many other peoples … that is why we have such unique food and music.
This is a music medley of songs featured on the show this week.
Give Me A Squeeze Please – Buckwheat Zydeco
Joke of the Day – 7-8-9
Swamp Stomp – Angela Mannino
Whistle While You Work – Louis Armstrong
Twinkle Twinkle – Ayana of the Renzi Center
Sharing – a poem by Marcus Page
Fingers Under the Door – Vivi Melody
Hide and Seek – Jazzy Ash
L.O.S.T. – Imagination Movers
Je Veux Marier – Magnolia Sisters
This episode of Confetti Park begins with a song by Buckwheat Zydeco, a famous zydeco musician. Zydeco is a kind of music that was created in Louisiana, by Cajun French, African and Native American people blending all their sounds. Buck is going to tell us all about a very important instrument of zydeco music….. the accordion.
Then we hear from Angela Mannino with “Swamp Stomp”…. Angela is a New orleans Native who now lives in NY where she is a renowned soprano opera singer… we are lucky to have her singing several great Louisiana kids songs on this album.
We also hear famous jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, performing a song from Disney’s Snow White…. You might remember seven dwarves singing this… “Whistle While You Work.”
Ayana, a student at the Shreveport based Renzi Center, and New Orleans poet Marcus Page share their poems, and then we hear a little run of hide and seek songs, beginning with NOLA native Vivi Melody. The Imagination Movers are perhaps Louisiana’s most famous kids music band. Jazzy Ash, who is terrific fun, lives in Los Angeles but spent her childhood summers on the West bank of New Orleans. She plays Dixieland style kids music.
We end with the Magnolia Sisters, a Cajun band from Lafayette Louisiana. “Je Veux Marier,” which translates to“I want to marry,” is a fun song to dance to at a Cajun wedding.
Also in this episode of Confetti Park is the storytime feature Louis Lion, When It Gets Dark I May Start Cryin, by Cindy Foust of Monroe, Louisiana. Cindy has a whole Alpha-kidZ children’s book series. Each letter of the alphabet gets a feature story and a feature creature who has an adventure… and learns a valuable lesson.
Welcome to Confetti Park, a magical show featuring stories and music for children of all ages. I’ve been gathering songs from across my home state of Louisiana and from places around the Mississippi Delta. I just love the variety or music—blues, jazz, country, rock n roll, rap and church music and Cajun, and brass band… there’s a lot to learn and I am still listening and learning every day. I hope you like what I share with you.
This is a music medley of songs featured on the show this week.
Arkansas Tongue Twister – Sunpie Barnes
Joke of the Day: Grizzly Bear & Harp
Salmon Song – Jazzy Ash
Avocado Woo Woo – Tin Men
Daycare – Ph Fred
Days of the Week – Jason & Layla
Louis Ray – ABCs
Five Little Butterflies – Johnette Downing
Curious George Main Theme Song –Dr. John
We’ve Got Each Other –Imagination Movers
We begin with a game song from Arkansas, by Arkansas born New Orleans residentBruce Sunpie Barnes. He is a real forest ranger, and a great musician. You will also hear the wonderful Tin Men of New Orleans, L.A. based Jazzy Ash (who has deep Louisiana roots), and Louisiana pied piper Johnette Downing. There is also a famous song by the famous Dr. John, all about the most famous monkey in the world. And I know you will enjoy brother and sister duo Jason & Layla, who are wonderful artists on their own, and together. (Jason Rhein plays music in Rotary Downs and is one of the owners of Marigny Recording Studio. Layla is a professional belly dancer in NYC. They are originally from Baton Rouge.) And we have a terrific parody song by Ph Fred… “They tried to make me go to daycare, I said ‘No, No, No!’”
We end with a song by the Imagination Movers all about a hurricane evacuation. These are the times when you realize what are truly the most important things in life… HINT: it’s not houses nor possessions. The guys know what’s up in “We’ve Got Each Other.” This song leads us into our storytime feature, Fairweather Friend, by New Orleans poet and storyteller Marcus Page. It is the story of young friends separated because of a hurricane evacuation.
Confetti Park: A music medley of children’s songs from Louisiana
Hi everybody! Enjoy this new medley of family friendly songs created in Louisiana. This episode of Confetti Park, which airs in its entirety on the lucky radio stations listed below, has songs that kids and the grownups will love, that reflect the unique culture of Louisiana and the American South. We’ve got songs about possums, bees, foxes, bubbles, and Cajun prairie trail rides. Listen up!
The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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!
Confetti Park: A music medley of children’s music from Louisiana… dogs!
Smelly pup in a bath from Cartoon Animals Homepage.
We love dogs! This medley of children’s songs showcases the diversity of Louisiana music. And today’s music medley features all songs about dogs! You know what that means…. These are also songs about faithful friends.
Songs featured in this episode, in order:
Three Legged Dog – Imagination Movers
Joke of the Day – Something Smells
My Dog – Johnette Downing
Best Friends – Zachary Richard
BULLFROG – narrated by Louis Ray of the Confetti Park Players
Ol Blue – Jimmy Cousins
About Confetti Park
The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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!
Confetti Park: A music medley of children’s music from Louisiana… lots of variety!
This medley of children’s songs showcases the diversity of Louisiana music. And today’s music medley features songs about frogs, leap frog, the alphabet in French, rocket ships, and more. What a variety from a huge talent pool!
The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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!
Also featured in this episode, a story called Alphonse and the Alligator by Black Guidry and a music memory from Carole Gauthier Lancon.
The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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!
The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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!
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:
And here are Confetti Park Players Eleanor and Manele Anika with their original poems.
The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, 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!
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: