The first time I heard Ella Jenkins sing in that low, storied voice, with a sound as deep as her history is long, with a pretty patina made more beautiful from over five decades of singing for children, I knew I'd found my inspiration. Forget the Wiggles. Forget Barney. Forget Laurie Berkner. Ella is proof that yelling and wiggling isn't always necessary to get a child's attention.Take Ella Fitzgerald's clarity, Billie Holiday's grit and put it on the playground--that's Ella's voice. She'll give you rhymes to remember the names of continents, stories about "rushin' around in Russia," and poems to make roses bloom and teach you Spanish. The self-taught musician was discovered on the street where she performed, and she's proof that a good teacher is always found in the most suprising places. She still tours and performs, too. She'll be 82 this August.
A short, concise Ella bio.
Ella's homepage.
Listen to Ella's music.
1 comment:
She is an inspiration to all of us Early Childhood Music Educators. So glad you acknowledged that on your blog. Please visit our website when you have a moment. I think you would really like our music. It's www.peterandellen.com. Go well and safely:).
Ellen Allard
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