Tag: lead belly

  • Storytime: Little Orphan Annie Ledbetter, the Laughing Dog

    Storytime: Little Orphan Annie Ledbetter, the Laughing Dog

    This is not Annie, but it looks like her. I will try to find a picture of her and share it soon.

    Three friends reminisce about rescuing a dog off a highway on their pilgrimage to Lead Belly’s grave.

    With Ted Lindsay, Katy Hobgood Ray, & David Ray

    It was hot. VERY hot. Dave, Ted and I finally remembered this fact about the day that we rescued Annie Ledbetter off the side of a country highway, because we recalled that the little pads of her paws were burned off by the heat of the asphalt.

    Little Orphan Annie Ledbetter, the Laughing Dog, was a medium sized solid black mutt who had been abandoned on the Blanchard Latex Road in rural Caddo Parish in northwest Louisiana.

    We know she was abandoned because she was running back and forth along the road cut through the rolling piney woods, sticking close to shoulder, waiting and barking, and terrified. We passed her in our truck on our way to visit Lead Belly’s grave, and agreed that were she still there on our way back, we would try to rescue her.

    The headstone for Annie Ledbetter in Shiloh Baptist Church. The woman must have been  loved in her lifetime. And so was the dog who came generations after her.

    We spent some time in the grave yard at Shiloh Baptist Church, looking at the old headstones, including Lead Belly’s grave (a place we all visit several times a year) and noticing all the Ledbetter descendants in that yard. Ted was captivated by a head stone that had the name ‘Annie Ledbetter’ etched upon it. He loved that name.

    We piled back into Dave’s white pickup truck and headed back to Ted’s house in Mooringsport. There was nothing save pine forest, or the occasional dilapidated shack or mobile home every half mile or so.

    We all kept our eye out for the little black dog. As we rounded a gentle bend, we saw her.

    She was there. Sitting on the side of the road. Waiting. For what? For who?

    Dave pulled his truck over and he and Ted and I scrambled out of the car to approach the little black dog.

    She was panicked and terrified, and bared her teeth at us. Yet she wouldn’t run away. You could see she was desperately in need of comfort. She would chase after us a few feet when we would retreat.

    We didn’t give up. We had nothing more pressing on this sunny day than to save this life. We didn’t chase her. We gave her time and space and hung out in the back of the pickup truck and waited for her to get comfortable. The wind blew gently through the tree tops. Cars were few and far between.

    Dave finally got the bright idea to coax her with water. He went to his truck, pulled out a big frisbee and poured in cool liquid from his water bottle. He put it on the ground outside the truck and sat just inside with the door open.

    Ted and I watched from behind the truck as she warily approached the water. She sniffed, and then desperately started drinking. We gingerly approached, and soothingly talked to her. She didn’t run….. She cowered, and then she gave in. She gave herself over to what fate would bring. Ted put his hands gently on her, and next thing you know, he had scooped her up and put her into the back of the truck. We climbed in to sit with her while Dave drove the truck back to Ted’s house.

    She was a lapdog for the rest of the night. Hugs and snuggles and food and water and campfire light and music. A frisky, wiggly, joyful dog emerged from the fearful creature, just like that.

    Little Orphan Annie Ledbetter was full of joy, happy to be alive, happy to be loved.

    She lived out the rest of her happy life with Ted there in those woods.

     

     

  • Music Medley – Beets at the Door

    Music Medley – Beets at the Door

    Beets with facesConfetti 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:
    Woody, Lead Belly & Pete – Ph Fred
    Pig Latin Song – Lead Belly
    Woodpecker – a poem by Nola Frazier
    Lost in the Library – Judy Caplan Ginsburgh
    O’Guillori – Michael Doucet
    This Old Man – The Swing Setters
    Goodbye in the Bayou – Jazzy Ash

    Also featured in this episode, a music memory from Layla Isis and a story called Dixie the Old Dog by Tommie Townsley.

     


    The Confetti Park 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!

    Subscribe on iTunes

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

  • Polly Wolly Wee, the animated music video!

    Polly Wolly Wee, the animated music video!

    One of my favorite songs performed by the Confetti Park Players is “Polly Wolly Wee,” a.k.a. “The Frog Song.” You can hear the song on our first album, and now, you can watch an adorable stop-motion animated music video created by the kids! This was made at the wonderful Mini Art Center in Algiers Point.

    I first heard this cute folk song on a Lead Belly recording. Lead Belly is an important musical influence in my life. I grew up in Shreveport where there is a statue of Huddie Ledbetter standing in front of the public library downtown on Texas Street. I’m part of a group of Louisiana musicians who gather around his grave every October to sing his songs.  This October 2017 will be the 25th year we hold our informal gathering!!! (I joined up around 2000.)

    Lead Belly started singing to children later in his career, so of course I have plumbed his recordings since I myself have become a children’s musician. I have listened to a lot of Lead Belly, but I think I love the Smithsonian Folkways compilation Lead Belly Sings for Children most. His version of “Polly Wolly Wee” has such a pleasant vibe to it. When Lead Belly sings it, he does not have call and response on it,  but that’s what the song creates…. I just can’t help but respond to him and I’ve had a good time re-creating it with the Confetti Park Players!!!

     

  • Music Medley – Up Hill, Down Hill

    Music Medley – Up Hill, Down Hill

    Music medley from Confetti Park - uphill and down hill.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:

    Wake-Y-Up-O – Kevin Griffin
    Birds Birdy, Tweet Tweet – Mr. Christopher
    Bullfrog – Louis Ray
    Jack & Jill – Confetti Park Players
    Skip to My Lou – Swing Setters
    Farm – Imagination Movers
    Summit of Sound – Renzi Center
    When Something is Gnawing You – Hrilina Ramrakhiani
    Old Man – Leadbelly
    A Rum Sum Sum – Judy Caplan Ginsburgh
    Jambalaya (On the Bayou) – Papillon

    Also featured in this episode, a Louisiana folk tale called The Little Louisiana Pine Tree,  a music memory from Shreveport musician Leonard Service, and a poem from Confetti Park Player Hrilina Ramrakhiani.


    The Confetti Park 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!

    Subscribe on iTunes

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

  • Music Medley – Up Hill, Down Hill

    Music Medley – Up Hill, Down Hill

    Music medley from Confetti Park - uphill and down hill.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:

    Wake-Y-Up-O – Kevin Griffin
    Birds Birdy, Tweet Tweet – Mr. Christopher
    Bullfrog – Louis Ray
    Jack & Jill – Confetti Park Players
    Skip to My Lou – Swing Setters
    Farm – Imagination Movers
    Summit of Sound – Renzi Center
    When Something is Gnawing You – Hrilina Ramrakhiani
    Old Man – Leadbelly
    A Rum Sum Sum – Judy Caplan Ginsburgh
    Jambalaya (On the Bayou) – Papillon

    Also featured in this episode, a Louisiana folk tale called The Little Louisiana Pine Tree,  a music memory from Shreveport musician Leonard Service, and a poem from Confetti Park Player Hrilina Ramrakhiani.


    The Confetti Park 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!

    Subscribe on iTunes

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

  • Music Medley: Swamp Fire

    Music Medley: Swamp Fire

    Will-o'-the-wisp and Snake (colour litho); by Hendrich, Hermann (b.1856) (after); colour lithograph; Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; Archives Charmet; German, out of copyright
    Will-o’-the-wisp and Snake by Hendrich, Hermann (b.1856)

    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 musical styles. Songs featured in this episode, in order:

    Also in this episode, a narration of The Fifolet by Johnette Downing, about the Louisiana swamp fire spirit, and a Music Memory from Tom Stagg.


    The Confetti Park 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!

    [dt_sc_button type=”with-icon” link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/confetti-park/id979442391?mt=2″ size=”medium” target=”_blank”]Subscribe on iTunes[/dt_sc_button]

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.

     

  • Music Medley: Swamp Fire

    Music Medley: Swamp Fire

    Will-o'-the-wisp and Snake (colour litho); by Hendrich, Hermann (b.1856) (after); colour lithograph; Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; Archives Charmet; German, out of copyright
    Will-o’-the-wisp and Snake by Hendrich, Hermann (b.1856)

    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 musical styles. Songs featured in this episode, in order:

    Also in this episode, a narration of The Fifolet by Johnette Downing, about the Louisiana swamp fire spirit, and a Music Memory from Tom Stagg.


    The Confetti Park 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!

    [dt_sc_button type=”with-icon” link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/confetti-park/id979442391?mt=2″ size=”medium” target=”_blank”]Subscribe on iTunes[/dt_sc_button]

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, OffBeat magazine and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.