Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
North o'da border, up Canada way, Mike Whitla has followed up his first fun release, Elephants have Wrinkles, with an exciting amalgam of original tunes and traditional songs of Americana. Whether channeling Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", or "Teddy Bear's Picnic," Whitla's arrangements are sharp, diverse and ready to rock. His musical history is sound and his voice is fresh. Early Morning Knee-Slappin' Tunes has passed the multiple-listening-car-CD-test with flying colors. Look, I still have all my digits! Catch you on the flip side!
John Wood Revue, NAPPA Awards - North American Parenting and Publishing Awards
Here's a local guy who's dug down into the roots of rock and roll to create a recording of songs for kids that takes us well beyond sugar and spice. Early Morning Knee-Slappin' Tunes is a collection of traditional (and a few new) North American songs arranged with originality and performed with passion. Some tracks - like Woodie Guthrie's "Baby Washing Song", with its banjos and harmonized vocals -- sound like they belong on the "Oh Brother Where Are Thou" soundtrack. Others could be mistaken for the Sex Pistols. Whitla's version of "Teddy Bear's Picnic "starts out innocent but evolves into an aggressive, pulsing warning driven by electric guitars and sneering vocals. Great irony and great fun.
There is certainly some sweetness to the album; a few lullabies and guitar instrumentals to calm things down, a very funky version of the "Hokey Pokey" and lots of sing-alongs with actions. Whitla's gravelly, nasally voice (which I like) is softened occasionally with vocal accompaniment by Jessica Vigars. But what really makes Early Morning Knee-Slappin' Tunes stand out is its authenticity. This is a CD made by musicians who really want kids to enjoy this music as much as they do. It is independently produced so the best way to get a copy is on-line at www.deepdownproductions.com.
Deanne Fisher - Toronto City Parent Magazine - Toronto City Parent Magazine
With R&B, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll and reggae arrangements, children's educator and musician Mike Whitla and solid instrumentalists serve up a pleasant mix of traditional, folk and original songs as varied as Woody Guthrie's "Clean-O (The Baby Washing Song)," "Hokey Pokey (Funky)" and Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds."
Lynne Heffley - Los Angeles Times, August 11th, 2005 - LA Times
This cd was given to me for review by the artist recently and I immediately fell in love with it from the beginning of the first song! There are some original songs and some redone songs on there, so there is new mixed in with the old. And some really great renditions of some old familiar tunes! Also, some fantastic songs for getting the little ones moving their bodies! Our favorite is definitely the first song, "Hands Together, Hands Apart", so simple and yet so cute and fun!! I also just really like the sound of Mike's music...I can listen to this even if my daughter isn't in the car! Fun to sing along to and even to just listen!For more info on Mike’s cds, and to hear clips of his songs, visit: This Webpage
Tina Smith - Fresno Family - www.fresnofamily.com
Just try not to sing along to Toronto children's entertainer Mike Whitla and his talented ensemble on this aptly named sophomore release. That's hard to do with Whitla's fresh interpretations of folk classics by Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, along with originals from his popular Rainbow Songs classes.
5 out of 5!!
Samantha Sacks, Today's Parent Magaznie - Today's Parent
Discography
Mike Whitla "Elephants Have Wrinkles" 2000
Mike Whitla "Early Morning Knee-Slappin Tunes" 2005
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Mike Whitla is the pied piper of the toddler set. He spends most of his time singing with children. Mike is the founder and director of Rainbow Songs®, which runs participatory music programs throughout Metropolitan Toronto for kids from birth through 6 years with their parents. As Deanne Fisher writes in Toronto City Parent Magazine, “Oodles of Toronto families have introduced their young children to the joys of music by “Rainbow Songs” classes at various churches and community centres.” Mike is also a Torontobased performer, composer, producer, and teacher drawing on idioms including jazz, classical, Indian, Latin-American, folk, and popular styles.
In 2000 Mike recorded his first CD of music for children, "Elephants Have Wrinkles", which was acclaimed as "a very eclectic selection of traditional, folk, classical and even Klezmer music … to expand [parents’] appreciation of vocal and instrumental music” (TCP Magazine). His recently released CD, "Early Morning Knee-Slappin’ Tunes", is the recipient of both a 2005 Parents’ Choice Award and a 2005 NAPPA Award (National Parenting Publications Awards) as an outstanding children’s recording. John Wood from Kidzmusic.com describes the CD as “an exciting amalgam of original tunes and traditional songs of Americana. Whether channeling Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’, or ‘Teddy Bear's Picnic,’ Whitla's arrangements are sharp, diverse and ready to rock. His musical history is sound and his voice is fresh. "Early Morning Knee-Slappin' Tunes" has passed the multiple-listening-car-CD-test with flying colours.” Tina Smith of Fresno Family says, “Fantastic songs for getting the little ones moving their bodies!” The CD shows, as another reviewer comments, that Mike has “dug down into the roots of rock and roll to create a recording of songs for kids that takes us well beyond sugar and spice. . . . arranged with originality and performed with passion. But what really makes "Early Morning Knee-Slappin' Tunes" stand out is its authenticity. This is a CD made by musicians who really want kids to enjoy this music as much as they do” (TCP Magazine).
Mike has traveled to Japan, Korea, Bali, Republic of Georgia, Turkey, Guatemala, Cuba, and Europe, where he immersed himself in a wide range of musical styles and exposed himself to the instruments and music of very different cultures, all of which he brings to the classroom and performs on his recordings. Mike has a degree in Music from York University, has studied the Orff method of early childhood music education and studied classical guitar at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. He taught music appreciation and exploration classes at the Royal Ontario Museum summer camp, and teaches guitar privately. His studio, Deep Down Productions, specializes in recording and promoting World Music.
Mike has been an inspiration to thousands of adults and children who have experienced his unique approach to learning music. He is also a passionate cyclist, environmentalist, husband and the father of two boys, Jake and Kyle.
For more information on Mike and Rainbow Songs® please visit
www.rainbowsongs.com.
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