John Mueller (Buddy Holly) could write a song for you!

Ever wish a great songwriter would write a song just for you?  Wildy's World is partnering with some of the best and brightest Indie songwriters working today to give you this chance as a benefit for The American Cancer Society!  Tonight a new auction has begun on eBay, featuring an original tune per your request from singer/songwriter John Mueller.  Mueller is best known for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in shows such as Winter Dance Party and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, but Mueller is a very accompished songwriter in his own right, with a fine musical ear and a wicked wit. 

The winning bidder will fill out a brief survey telling Mr. Mueller who, what or where they want their song to be about.  John will then interpet the song in his own inimitable style, and record a demo of the song for the winner. 

Check out the John Mueller auction: eBay item # 221039131890. 

And don't forget we also have a song auction running for NYC singer/songwriter Kati Mac.  Check it out:  eBay item #221038586203

We have other great auctions coming up over the next 5 weeks or so from artists such as:

Benjamin Russell * Styx * Jerry Falzone * Mar Harmon (Music With Mar) * Halie Loren * Trout Fishing In America * The Energy Commission * Amos Lee * Marian Call * Lee Alexander * Spike Nicer * Amber & Dagger * Bucket Boys * Andy Hawk & The Train Wreck Endings *  The Spanish Channel    *  The Blisterz * Missed You At The Show * BFF * Jodi Shaw * Joel Dobbins * Skyler * Zak Smith Band * KeyDragon * The Amplifires * The Modern Airline * Randy Stern * Joshua Jesty * Deborah Crooks * Jeff Littman * Shane Lamb * Amanda Belardinelli * These Curious Thoughts * Crown Point Band * Amos Lee * Steve Haggard * James Scott Fant * Beth Whitney * Brother Joscephus * Unique Monique * Pat Flanakin * Brian Pounds *

And, we may still have a few up our sleeves, so stay tuned!  And remember, all proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society through the Relay For Life!

Glenn Colton – Browser The Mouse/The Cyber Safety Collection

Glenn Colton – Browser The Mouse/The Cyber Safety Collection
2010, Glenn Colton

At the beginning of 2010 YouthLight, Inc. published a book entitled Browser The Mouse, written by Constance Hanel, Linda Shields and Barbara Trolley, with illustrations by Brian Caleb Dumm. Browser The Mouse is a story and educational program that helps parents teach kids about safe use of the internet, covering everything from safe behavior, protecting oneself from outside influences and even practicing balance with the use of technology. Glenn Colton was asked to write songs in support of the project, and a five-song CD of Colton penned/performed material accompanies the book. That CD is also available separately under the title The Cyber Safety Collection.

From an educational perspective the book is age appropriate and effective; making what is essentially dry but important material within the framework of Browser's story. Colton's soundtrack is a solid complement to the story, reinforcing the lessons the book teaches with enjoyable songs. "Made A Plan" is done in a gentle pop arrangement and teaches safe practices while using the internet. It's a catchy and informative number. "Ownership - It Belongs To Me" reinforces a sense of responsibility and safety. Colton's crafted a nice, memorable melody here in a sweet ballad-style song. "Use Technology Wisely" is a hip and funky lesson plan that gets jiggy with the bass line; even parents will be bopping along to this one. "Stop, Save & Share" has a Jimmy Buffet feel and provides ample reminder to ensure you don't lose any valuable information. It's a fun tune with a children's chorus helping out at the end. "Everybody Needs Balance" closes out with a 1980's pop song and a message about striking a balance between the use of technology and the other activities of life.

As always Colton is affable and provides an educational and entertaining performance on Browser The Mouse. The book itself is an invaluable resource for parents introducing their kids to the internet, and Colton's songs help make the lesson points more accessible to young children. Both Colton and the authors should be commended for tackling a subject that's vital to the healthy development of children in this day and age while keeping the project both entertaining and educational.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Glenn Colton at http://www.glenncolton.com/.  Browser The Mouse is available from Amazon.com or from YouthLight.com and comes with a CD of five songs.  If you just want the music you can purchase Colton's The Cyber Safety Collection digitally from Amazon.com, CDBaby or iTunes.

Glenn Colton - Songs, Smiles & Surprises

Glenn Colton - Songs, Smiles & Surprises
2005/2009, Glenn Colton

Songs, Smiles & Surprises isn't Glenn Colton's greatest hits package, but it certainly comes close. Mr. Ducky Wucky makes an appearance in "Mr. Ducky Wucky's Vacation", and fan favorites such as "Another Brand New Day", "Conga Line Fever", and "Everybody Needs A Hug" are in abundance. Colton also tackles some classic children's songs along the way ("I've Been Working On The Railroad", "Michael Row The Boat Ashore") while continuing to help children relate to the world around them. "Building Bridges" is all about finding ways to overcome the differences between people and learning to live together; a positive life lesson in a comfortable arrangement that the whole family will enjoy.

"The Truth" is a song that teaches about appropriate choices with a little story that shows how the truth can deflate potential conflict. It's a cute setup that places the issue in accessible terms for children but will also be entertaining for the children-at-heart in the audience. "The Three R's" addresses respect, responsibility and really good manners in a fun arrangement that's danceable and very accessible to young listeners. "Down On Grampa's Farm" matches animal names with their sounds in entertaining fashion, while "Welcome To The Show" plays with different musical styles in a number guaranteed to get little (and big) feet moving. As an extra treat, Colton includes two songs here that might a bit more adult oriented. "The Man From Ketchikan" is the heartwarming story of a small-town Alaskan man and the kindness he extended to a stranger while sharing his personal history and that of his town. The song serves as a reminder that small sometimes have the greatest impact. "The Man From Ketchikan" also illustrates that Colton can write serious songs that dwell beyond the realm of children's music. Colton reinforces this knowledge with "Coventry City", the story of a young man who returns home to find that things have changed, and not for the better.

Songs, Smiles & Surprises is vintage Glenn Colton, at his most congenial best across the eighteen songs presented here. The simplicity of arrangement on his songs written for children can't be mistaken for a lack of depth. In fact it is much harder to know when simplicity should reign in music than it is to go all out with each song. Glenn Colton displays both the melodic deftness and quiet confidence in arrangement that marks a great artist. The reactions of kids to his music is proof positive of his ability to convey a message to his audience, and the reactions of the adults in the audience will convince you that this multi-talented performer is doing exactly what he was meant to do: Making the world a brighter place.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Glenn Colton at http://www.glenncolton.com/.  Songs, Smiles & Suprises is available from multiple sources:  Amazon: CD, Amazon: MP3, CDBaby and iTunes. 

Review: Mar Harmon – UnFROGettable

Mar Harmon – UnFROGettable
2009, Music With Mar

Maryann “Mar.” Harmon is the creator of Music With Mar.; a nationally known music education program for children. Harmon has produced music for over twenty-five recordings, winning two Children’s Web Awards and one Silver Parents’ Choice Award. Harmon holds a Bachelors in Music and a Masters in Education (Early Childhood Education), and manages to balance education and musical enjoyment for her fans/students. Harmon’s latest CD, UnFROGettable, continues her efforts to educate and entertain toddlers and their parents with the help of her old friend, Mr. Froggy.

UnFROGettable opens with the title track, a song about Mar Harmon's ever-present sidekick Mr. Froggy. The song is a teaching tool, sort of an extended mnemonic device for learning the alphabet, numbers and colors. Dinosaur Dance teaches movement to little ones with Mar Harmon calling the dance. This is a fun one for the kiddos and secretly fun for the parents as well. Chugga Chugga is another movement song that is bound to get your toddlers involved and will work very well in Music With Mar's class environments. Over In A Place uses a rock guitar driven song to learn about animals and where in the US they come from. Harmon takes an urban turn on Bunny Hop Jump, rapping through a movement tune.

I Do Like To Sing is the sort of song that causes parents to bang their heads against walls repeatedly until it's over. Harmon repeats the same phrases over and over to a recognizable melody until it's either you or the CD. Join In The Game is another movement song, this time delivered in Reggae style. A Child In A Circle is an interactive game set to music to help toddlers learn to identify with another. Keep in mind there's nothing overtly original going on here; it's a classic mix of play and educational music for toddlers but works well for the kiddos. Harmon takes on a version of This Is The Way on the way to I Can Count And Sing, which is fairly self-explanatory (and sung to the tune of B-I-N-G-O). Looby Loo is another one of those children's song most everyone is familiar with and it's offered here with a Cajun flavor. Name Song Games is self-explanatory, and I've Been Working on The Railroad is done in a quasi-electronic arrangement that's more Casio than Techno. My Teddy Bear is a great bonding song for the kiddos and leads into I Love You All The Time, a song with sweet sentiment that offers the same ideas as several dozen children's board books you can buy.

UnFROGettable is decent, although after hearing a number of Mar Harmon's CDs, it is quite possible that some of the spark that drove her early recordings has mellowed with time. The material offered here will likely play well with young ones, and Harmon occasionally captures the spirit of her earlier recordings, but there's also a certain blandness that sets in that just isn't quite overwhelmed by the diversity in musical styles. UnFROGettable is a good listen for the kiddies, but not Harmon's best.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Mar Harmon at http://www.musicwithmar.com/. You can purchase UnFROGettable in her online store.

Review: Mar Harmon - Mr. Froggy's Friends' ABCs

Mar Harmon - Mr. Froggy's Friends' ABCs
2007, Music With Mar

Maryann “Mar.” Harmon is the creator of Music With Mar.; a nationally known music education program for children. Harmon has produced music for over twenty-five recordings, winning two Children’s Web Awards and one Silver Parents’ Choice Award. Harmon holds a Bachelors in Music and a Masters in Education (Early Childhood Education), and manages to balance education and musical enjoyment for her fans/students. Harmon’s latest CD, Mr. Froggy’s Friends’ ABCs continues in the same vein Harmon has followed since her debut in 1993.

Mr. Froggy's Friends' ABCs opens with the title track, capitalizing on the mascot of Music With Mar's shows, Mr. Froggy. Mar explores the alphabet using children’s' names and mnemonic devices to help your young one remember their ABC's. Up next is Green, Yellow, Red, a cute song that helps teach the meaning of the light colors in a traffic light. From having seen it live I can say this is a particular favorite of Mar's fans. Brush Your Teeth is a tutorial set to a catchy rock arrangement that will be fun for both parents and little ones. The song provides a fun teaching moment from parent to child that has both educational and social value.

Mar. puts her own spin on Old McDonald, injecting a little more action and her trademark sense of humor into the mix for a fun listen/play along song. Five Hip Hoppy Frogs is a counting song that was a big hit with the kids when we saw her live. Set to a mild hip-hop beat, Five Hip Hoppy Frogs is a fresh approach that the kids will love. Tell Me The Word is a teaching song about objects in the sky that seems to play well with the kiddos, and Colors helps to learn primary and secondary colors in a fun music setting. Five Monkeys Swinging In A Tree was one of the real crowd favorites when we saw her live show. The song features a message on how to act that is as apt for adults as for their children, and also features Mar's monkey squeal, which you really have to hear to believe. Mar closes out with Watch The Monkey That Moves, a funky action song that will get your kids moving around (and you too!).

Mar Harmon has been doing Music With Mar shows since her debut album in 1993. There are a number of local classes in various parts of the country these days (particularly in Western New York). If you get a chance to check out one of the classes with your little one(s), they're a treat. But the CDs are great listening for the kids and provide a great opportunity for interactive learning between parent and child or for playgroups. In a market glutted with children's albums, Mar Harmon rises with the cream on Mr. Froggy's Friends' ABCs. Check it out.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Mar Harmon at http://www.musicwithmar.com/. You can purchase Mr. Froggy’s Friends’ ABCs in her store.