 |
||||
Hi friends Summer’s here Ð that’s okay with me. I visited my last school of the year last week, and even though I’m busy through most of June, something in me is telling me to slow down. I’m trying to get my sailboat in the water, and checking to make sure the bees have enough room for honey. And trying to do less. Fat chance. The past six months have been a whirlwind of activity and I am looking around for someone to blame. Winning a Grammy might have been enough, but I had a very full performance schedule Ð out to the West three times and conferences, school, and library shows from Bakersfield, CA to Rehoboth, MA (1 mile from my house!) |
||||
I Wanna Play |
||||
I Wanna Play, my new album of songs, is out and has gotten great reviews Ð and a Parent’s Choice Gold Award. The song “I Wanna Play” won second prize in the International Songwriting Competition in their children’s category, including a great prize Ð a free microphone, thirty sets of guitar strings. I mean A REAL PRIZE! The song “At Your Library” is being used by school and public libraries across the country in videos and promotional campaigns. You can get the CD here. |
 |
|||
"We'll Build a School" |
||||
I spent a lot of time this spring working with fourth graders at Paul Cuffee School, in Providence, RI, where I’ve been an artist-in-residence for four years. With the students, I wrote a musical, “We’ll Build a School” about Paul Cuffee’s decision to build a school in his hometown (Westport, MA) in the early 1800’s, when townspeople wouldn’t let his children study with theirs. (Paul Cuffee was an African-American/Wampanoag Quaker sea captain (pshew!) Ð and quite an individual) We gave two performances - it was a reminder to me of how song and story can pull a school and community together. The kids were great, and boy, I was relieved when it was finished- as all producers and directors are. I’ll put some pictures up on the web page so you can see some of the show. |
||||
Montana Public Television |
||||
In June, I filmed two family shows for a possible PBS special. We’re just beginning to look at the raw footage to see what we have. Debbie, Michele and I had a great time in Missoula with the public radio and television folks, and have hopes of a great TV show and DVD coming out of the work. The audiences were really wonderful.
|
||||
Performance Workshop |
||||
I’ll be doing a three day performance workshop in August (16-19). If you’re a storyteller or solo performer looking for some feedback on your work, click here to learn more or go to www.billharley.com/workshopsummer2007.asp There are still a few spaces left. |
||||
Books |
||||
Marcus Zusak’s book, The Book Thief, had both Debbie and me spellbound. Marketed as a young adult novel, it’s really more than that Ð a chilling and moving account of a girl in Nazi Germany Ð narrated by a very surprising character. Two librarians have told me it’s the best book they ever read. Pretty high praise! I was also entranced by Brian Selznicks great work of creativity Ð his illustrated novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret Ð for upper elementary and middle schoolers on up. It’s really beautiful. Robbing the Bees, by Holley Bishop is a great general interest book about bees and beekeeping (I’m still kind of partial to Sue Hubbell’s A Book of Bees). I am currently reading, and laughing out loud, at Absurdistan, by Gary Shteyngart. Really, really funny Ð pretty racy, too, so forewarned is forearmed. Also, I’m rereading essays by one of my favorite writers, Albert Camus. And I loved David Maraniss’s biography of Roberto Clemente (Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero). Books
Debbie's enjoyed recently include:
And she adds: "I’m also REALLY enjoying going through various magazines and cookbooks looking for great summer food. We’re members of a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and each week we get to cook with the bounty that our farmers deliver...very exciting!" Let us know what’s good out there; email Michele@billharley.com
|
||||
From the Office |
|||
Wacka Wacka Woo coming to CD |
|||
 |
We are happy to announce that Bill's story and song recording Wacka Wacka Woo will be available on CD in the very near future. This recording was first released in 1995 and won several awards including a Parents' Choice Silver Honor and a Storytelling World Award. This is the last recording in Bill's Children's catalog to be transfered from cassette only to CD. We will send out an announcement to our email list when this title is available for sale and of course we'll have a mention on our website. |
||
Bill is on the air |
|||
| After our visit to Montana and to "The Pea Green Boat" we wanted to make sure that you all knew about all of the wonderful radio shows out there that play Bill's music and stories on a regular basis. Sadly, there are some areas that don't have a show dedicated to playing incredible music for families, but thanks to the internet you can listen to a lot of shows online. There are also a few programs that are web exclusive, so anyone and everyone can listen. And if you have XM Satellite Radio they have a station just for kids! Check out our list of radio programs that play Bill. As always, if you know of a show that should be playing Bill or that is playing Bill and isnt' on our list, drop us a line: Michele@billharley.com | |||