WO! Bobby Susser Releases His 25th Album For Children Songwriter, Producer, And Musician Bobby Susser And The Bobby Susser Singers Are Joined By Jazz Singer And Saxophone Virtuoso Paula Atherton For Three Of The 12 Original Songs On His New Album, WO!
BigNews.Biz - Apr 07,2012 - Bobby Susser’s name is synonymous with children’s music, and the exciting, new material on WO! (New Hope Records, April 3, 2012) enhances that association. The twelve-song set delivers an upbeat ambiance with a rollicking spirit, catchy melodies, and danceable rhythms suitable for children. It is a complementary addition to his previous 24 albums, which collectively address most childhood joys, concerns, seasons, and celebrations with a song for each of these occasions.
Susser says the inspiration for WO! was drawn, as usual, from memorable people, emotions, observations, and from a lifetime of experiences.
"I treat all albums pretty much the same. I try to create the songs so they'll be melodic, rhythmic experiences for children, with respect and sincerity. Then, I hope they hear it that way. This album has that additional ingredient that you try to add to each song. Fun! I can feel it. I hope the kids do too. As I finished each track, I was expressing my feelings by shouting out the monosyllable, WO! It felt right."
Susser’s musical arrangements with guitars, horns, whistles, drums, and other instruments on WO! provide an exciting listening experience for children of all ages, although young children are the primary inspiration for most of Susser’s impressive 25-album family music catalog. Susser’s academic pursuits in Communications and Early Childhood Education resulted in an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, laying the foundation for a successful link between education and music-making throughout his career; with over five million albums sold, it is clearly a combination that makes sense to educators and parents alike.
WO! combines playful melodies and rhythms unique to jazz, show-tunes, reggae, and folk/rock genres of the ’50s and ’60s with innovative lyrics and vocal harmonies. A native New Yorker, Susser embraces a youthful spirit and commitment to fun on WO! that transcends eras and specific genre classifications.
Susser, a songwriter, producer, and musician who started out his music career in the legendary Brill Building along with close friends Paul Simon and the late Ellie Greenwich, brings a deep wealth of musical history to his projects without letting it overshadow the simplicity necessary to truly serve a child’s well-being and development of self. Susser’s 40-year commitment to children’s music stems from a passion for creating music that is accessible, engaging and educational -- a kind of edutainment. An endearing thread in Susser’s 250-plus children’s songs is that they speak to all listeners and have lasting learning value.
Education industry professionals commend Susser's contributions to the field of children's music. Regarding WO!, Educational Dealer Magazine writes, "In the past forty years, Bobby Susser has recorded some of the best children's albums, and his work gets better with each one. WO! is no exception. It is his 25th children's album, and his finest to date. WO! should be a favorite, and a sure classic, for children of all ages," while Early Childhood News has written, “Bobby Susser is unlike other children’s musical artists in that he writes for them (the children), not for
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