Tag: kids

Have you seen the Okra Man?

Photo of Mr. Okra via Flickr Creative Commons

Have you seen the Okra Man around New Orleans?

Mr. Okra is a fruit and vegetable vendor who travels the city of New Orleans vending from his truck. His unmistakable call over his P.A. system—“I have cantaloupes! I have tomatoes!”—can be heard from blocks away, and people await him on their front porches so they can buy their fresh produce for the week. Learn all about Mr. Okra in this article by Ian McNulty for New Orleans Magazine.

The Confetti Park Players are so delighted to feature Mr. Okra on a song on their CD, We’re Going to Confetti Park. More info at confettipark.com/music

This is a traditional adapted by Katy Hobgood Ray and Arthur Robinson (Mr. Okra). The song was produced by Katy and Matt Aguiluz and recorded at Marigny Recording Studio in New Orleans.

Featuring: Scott Albert Johnson, harmonica; Arthur Robinson, vocals; David Rosser, guitar. Kids chorus: Lily Bell, Luna Bell, Elisa McDonald, Charleston McLean, Millie Moffett, Hrilina Ramrakhiani, Sadie Strong, and Virginia Strong.

The Confetti Park Players is an all-ages children’s choir in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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, learn traditional New Orleans songs, and practice the craft of songwriting. The songs we sing are a mixture of fun and whimsical originals by contemporary Louisiana songwriters, classic folk songs, nursery rhymes, jump rope jingles, fairy tales, and natural lore.

Mr. Okra and Katy Ray.
Music Medley: Crawfish Time
Photo of crawfish by Sally Asher

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:
- Get On Board – Buckwheat Zydeco
- High Hopes – Kermit Ruffins
- Crawfish! – Papillon
- Get Along Home, Cindy Cindy – Kandice Chester
- Crawfish Song – Johnette Downing
- Toulouse the Crawfish Hunter – Black Guidry
- Les Tils Yeux Noirs – Nancy Tabb Marcantel
- What Do The DoodleBugs Do? – Ted Lindsay
Buttermilk Drop

In honor of National Donut Day we are sharing this track from the Confetti Park Players‘ upcoming CD! “Buttermilk Drop” – the BEST DONUT IN THE WORLD! ‪#‎nola‬ ‪#‎love‬ ‪#‎NationalDonutDay‬.

This track features Rick G. Nelson, bass; Katy Ray, vocals; Greg Schatz, accordion; Daniele Spadavecchia, guitar; James G. Thornton, trumpet. (Snaps by Katy, Ted Lindsay and Jason Rhein.) Kids chorus: Keller Clark, Elisa McDonald, Charleston McLean, and Millie Moffett.

More about the album We’re Going to Confetti Park….

The first recorded music project from Confetti Park is almost complete! It’s in the mastering phase now, under the listening ears of Bruce Barielle. Engineered by Jason Rhein and Matt Aguiluz at Marigny Recording Studio.

Created by Katy Hobgood Ray, the CD features a chorus of children (the Confetti Park Players) singing about pirates, frogs, snoballs, and Candy Land balls along with a star-studded lineup of musicians (Johnny Vidacovich, Jon-Erik Kellso, Evan Christopher, Matt Perrine, Patti Adams, Beth Patterson, Tom McDermott, Roger Lewis, David Rosser, Brian Coogan, Tim Robertson, and more).

Expected release date of Summer 2015.
Interview: How Jeremy Lyons started singing to kids

In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Ray interviews Jeremy Lyons about how he started playing for kids and what kinds of songs he plays. Jeremy also discusses how much he enjoys the curiosity and interest of little human beings in music.

Jeremy Lyons began his musical career playing in a washboard band on the streets of the French Quarter in the early 1990s. He played in several bands, most notably Jeremy Lyons and the Deltabilly Boys, a group that blended the sounds of rockabilly and New Orleans R&B with Piedmont-style fingerpicking and surf guitar.

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Jeremy and his family (who had evacuated to Baton Rouge to be with his grandparents) lost most of their possessions when their house flooded. He has since permanently relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston.

That’s where Jeremy started playing kids music, using his style he dubs ‘DeltaSilly.’ He now has two CDs for children, Music for Kids and Silly Goose Music.

As a music buff, Jeremy likes to draw from folk songs and the early popular music of America, and he shares fun music history with his little listeners. Jeremy offers a special in-studio performance for Confetti Park—he plays the Woody Guthrie song “Mail Myself to You.”
Storytime: Lousy Liver by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust

Charlie is hungry. He simply can’t wait. What will his dear mother put on his plate? Charlie picks up his fork and stops in midair. Oh, no! On his plate! What is THAT sitting there?”

Lousy Liver is an award-winning, deliciously whimsical tale that follows the imagination of a young boy as he devises one wild plan after another to help him avoid the “lousy liver” being served for dinner. Soon, Charlie discovers that something different isn’t always something bad. Buy on Amazon.com

This cute story is narrated by the author, Melinda Taliancich Falgoust, of New Orleans. In addition to being a published author of several books for kids and adults, Melinda is a mom, a Navy veteran, a teacher of drama to young children, and an actor who performs on stage and screen. Learn more about her work on her website.
Storytime: Why the Possum has a Large Grin by Johnette Downing

Why the Possum has a Large Grin

Award-winning Louisiana children’s musician and author Johnette Downing shares with Confetti Park another marvelous trickster tale—this time about a possum! (Also listen to Why the Oyster Has the Pearl.)

When hungry Deer asks Possum how he stays so plump during the long dry season, the sly marsupial gets an idea. It wouldn’t take much for Possum to help Deer; he could just climb that ol’ persimmon tree and knock down the fruit. But Possum is just plain lazy and he’d rather trick Deer into doing the work for both of them. Once Possum decides to take advantage of his starving neighbor they both become marked forever.

This narration of Why the Possum has a Large Grin is available on Johnette Downing’s Reading Rocks CD, and in book form by Pelican Publishing. It is also available for purchase on Amazon.

Audio used by permission.
Music Medley: Songs of Donuts & Brains
Welcome to Confetti Park, a magical playground of music and stories for kids everywhere. What’s unique about these songs, and these stories, is that they all come from Louisiana. This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- If I Only Had a Brain – Paul Sanchez
- Buckwheat Zydeco – Skip to My Lou
- Sue – Michael Doucet
- A Long Time to Come, performed by PH Fred and Friends
- Floating in a Donut Hole – Philip Melancon
- Buttermilk Drop – Confetti Park Players
- Baby You Wait on Your Mama – Alan Dyson
- Music Memory: Jason Rhein
- Renaissance Cadienne – J’ai du bon Tabac
- Storytime: Why the Possum has a Large Grin – Johnette Downing
Confetti Park current broadcast schedule:
- WHIV 102.3 FM in New Orleans every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Listen via Live Stream)
- KSLU 90.9 FM in Hammond every Sunday at 12 p.m. NOON
Music Memory from Jason Rhein

Jason Rhein is the bassist in New Orleans’ acclaimed rock band Rotary Downs, as well as singer-songwriter in the brother-sister children’s group Jason & Layla. Jason is also the owner of Elephant Quilt production studio and a partner at Marigny Recording Studio. Through these entities, Jason has had a major impact on the contemporary sound of New Orleans. Jason shares with us a special music memory from his childhood.
Storytime: Snoballs for All by Alex McConduit

Snoballs for All by Alex McConduit

In this episode of Confetti Park, New Orleans-based children’s author Alex McConduit narrates his adorable story Snoballs for All.

The best part of a hot, humid New Orleans summer is slurping up a big, round, icy-cold, brightly-colored snoball. That’s exactly what Paul wants to do, but he can’t find the snoball festival! He searches all through the city for just one snoball (although two would be better, and three would be best). Where will Paul find snoballs for all?

Snoballs for All is a perfect gift for any Southern kid. We all understand the need for an icy snoball on a hot summer day! Kids from the Confetti Park Players provide the chorus in this narration.

Snoballs for All was illustrated by Paulina Ganucheau. It is available through Pelican Publishing and for sale on Amazon.

Alex is the owner of Big Boot Books and founder of W.R.I.T.E., a youth publishing program that transforms students in New Orleans into published authors.
Music Memory from Rockin Dopsie, Jr.

A music memory from Rockin Dopsie, Jr., zydeco musician, washboard player, singer and lead personality of The Zydeco Twisters. Dopsie, Jr. and his family are carrying on the legacy of their father, famed accordionist Rockin’ Dopsie, Sr., the crowned prince of zydeco. In this music memory, Dopsie, Jr. discusses his earliest influences.

Rockin Dopsie, Jr. Photo by Sally Asher
Music Medley “Baby Astronaut”
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:
- Jack & Jill – Wardell Quezergue
- Cool Man – Los Po-boy-citos
- Jenny Had a Rocket – PH Fred
- Dancing on the Moon – Confetti Park Players
- Radio Controlled Airplanes – Jimmy Cousins
- Airplane – Confetti Park Players
- Red Bird – Leadbelly
- Five Little Butterflies – Johnette Downing
Storytime: The Pea in Peanut Butter by Allyn Stotz

The Pea in Peanut Butter

This week’s featured story is The Pea in Peanut Butter by Allyn Stotz of Baton Rouge.

The Pea in Peanut Butter is the story of little Kailee, who absolutely loves peanut butter and resists other healthful foods. But a bedtime snack turns into a dance party with all of the foods in the kitchen pantry when they come to life. This story teaches young children about the various healthy foods hiding in the pantry.

The book was illustrated by Valerie Bouthyette and was published by FutureWord Publishing. The Pea in Peanut Butter is for sale on Amazon.

Allyn maintains a blog at http://www.allynstotz.blogspot.com/