"The inspiration for my music comes from the things my and other kids say or do and my experience as a Mom."
When Jeanie B! had her two sons around the turn of the century, she found that a lot of the available children's music was very primitive sounding, stripped down. In her experience, kids love rock 'n' roll. They love to dance and laugh. She wanted to provide her kids with music that they could all enjoy together. She then put her adult music career on hold to focus on providing songs for her children. When her youngest son (at age 3) started a bedtime game where he would give her a topic and then ask her to sing a song about it, the songs just started pouring out of her. And from her folk/rock roots, Jeanie B! and The Jelly Beans were born.
Solo or with her amazing band The Jelly Beans, Jeanie B! has been packing venues in and around Chicago. From Nevin's in Evanston to FitzGerald's in Oak Park, they come in large numbers to dance and enjoy this engaging performer.
"I try to engage children on many levels with my music. Many of my songs are just plain fun ("The Bootay Dance", "Nose Bubbles"), but I also try to teach the kids about themselves and the world ("Five Fingers", "Colorblind", "The Tooth Fairy Rap"). Of course, I can't help writing love songs from this Mommy's heart ("Superhero", "I Love You Song")".
The Jelly Beans consist of 4 seasoned pros hailing from such bands as Dolly Varden, The Honeybees and Angel Paint. The mostly female group features Jeanie B! on lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitar; Lisa Crowe on bass guitar and harmony vocals; Theresa Drda on drums, Mark Braun on electric & acoustic guitar, mandolin, and pedal steel; and finally Jeanie B!'s husband and musical partner of 3 decades — Jay Bonansinga on harmonica. Jay also helps demonstrate the many silly dance moves that accompany many of Jeanie's songs! The kids love seeing a group of people who look like their parents playing Rock 'n' Roll!
The live show is something to behold: Jeanie B! dances, marches and even invites the little audience members on stage to sing with her on their own microphones. The kids (and adults) are involved in most of the songs with movements or dancing or singing of some kind. Jeanie gets down on the floor with them to shake her feet in the air when counting all ten toes during "Five Fingers", and nobody can resist doing "The Bootay Dance"! For parents who don't get to go out to live music concerts much anymore, this is a great way to satisfy their need for a rockin' good time and enjoy quality time with their children! Please check out our shows for photos from our concerts.
I'm A Kid
Mommy Knows Best
Jeanie B and the Jelly Beans's Friend Space (Top 20)
