You don't have to be from the Big City to love "City Kid!"
NYC singer/songwriter Joanie Leeds, already known for her pop/soul sound in the grownup world, is now making waves in the land of kids’ music. With her music chops and rockin’ debut children’s album, “City Kid”, she is sure to join the ranks of kid-oriented rock 'n' rollers like Laurie Berkner and Dan Zanes.
Currently teaching music at four Manhattan schools, Joanie uses her students as inspiration for her original songs. “With museums, Broadway shows, art exhibits and a melting pot of culture right outside their door, these kids have the world at their fingertips and inspired me to write “City Kid.” After writing a song, I would play it for my music classes, if they liked it, I would play it at one of my birthday party concerts… if THEY liked it, then, it went on the album. Kids are smart. They know good music when they hear it”!
With her many interactive and educational numbers, Joanie opens up the album with an upbeat, Beatlesque welcome song. “This was the first kids song I ever wrote! I knew I wanted to pen a tune where the kids can dance and sing along.” Joanie then goes on mixing genres and styles taking families on a journey through the city. Along the way kids eat “Sushi”, “Ice Cream”, have a “Happy Birthday”, use their imagination on “Pretend”, take public transportation and cabs on “We Wanna Ride” and learn their ABC’s with the harpsichord hit, "Animals at the Central Park Zoo." With witty “Good Ole Days,” moms, dads and grandparents will laugh at the sarcasm and kids and grownups alike will try to keep up on “Tongue Twister.” “City Kid” ends with a lullaby, “My Love” that may even have you shedding a tear or two.
Besides her clever originals, Joanie covers a few songs and makes them her own such as a soulful “You are My Sunshine”, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Our House”, Otis Reddings’ “Happy Song” and her own arrangement of the traditional “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad intertwined with an Israeli folk song “Hinei Rakevet.”
Every song on “City Kid” is masterfully recorded with an excellent backing band and not only does each song sound completely different from the next, but the album as a whole sounds different from anything you’ve heard before. It will surely appeal to both parents and children and turn you into a “City Kid” fan!
Concerts and Birthday parties-
(specializing in ages 1-5) Joanie's concerts and birthday parties are a BLAST! Performing all of your favorite songs along with her original tunes, Joanie will have the crowd singing and dancing! Please visit Joanie's website for more information!
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