Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween
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Released 2022
A 2023 Family Choice Award winner! Johnette Downing stirs a brew of traditional and original slightly spooky, mostly silly Halloween songs for families. For over three decades, Downing has used these songs while teaching and performing early childhood music. The familiar “Five Little Pumpkins,” “Skin and Bones,” and “Dark Dark Night,” are paired with fan favorites such as her originals “Shake Your Skeleton,” “Bat Song,” and “Jumpin’ Jitters.” Joining vocalist, guitarist and ukulele player Johnette Downing on this spine-tingling and toe-bone-rattling album is a cast of exemplary musicians including harmonica player Scott Billington, fiddler Gina Forsyth, accordionist Nathan Williams, guitarist Jake Eckert, keyboardist/organist C. R. Gruver, mandolinist E. J. Ouellette, bassist Lee Allen Zeno, and drummer Doug Belote. A child chorus from Whole Music School invite children to sing along.
This album was generously and partially funded by a grant from Threadhead Cultural Foundation. Thank you Threadhead for your commitment to supporting New Orleans culture bearers.
New Moon
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Released 2020
2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Johnette Downing’s first album for children with then musical partner Richard “Dickie” Knickerbocker titled “New Moon, Tunes for Little Folks,” (1990). Recorded by George Izquerido at Zymondo Studios in Metairie, Louisiana on reel to reel analog (with plenty of the chorus reverb that was popular at that time), this “country for kids” album was never released publicly. Only 100 cassettes were printed, most of which were given to friends and family as gifts.
In 2010, the album was digitized and remastered by David Farrell of Ultrasonic Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana for preservation, but still not released. For the first time ever, we officially release this sweet little historical record of twelve original and traditional songs, with a country twang, for children. We hope you enjoy it.
Swamp Romp
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Released 2019
A 2019 Parents’ Choice Silver Award, a National Parenting Product Award (NAPPA), and a Fids and Kamily Award winner! A Louisiana dance party for children filled with songs that evoke a joie de vivre, a zest for life, this recording offers a mélange of many of the Louisiana roots music styles we love, from the Cajun, zydeco, and swamp pop of South Louisiana; to the rhythm & blues, gospel, jazz, brass band, and street music of New Orleans; to the rock’n’roll of North Louisiana; along with a small side trip to Mississippi. We asked our musician friends who represent the best in each genre to record with us. The result, we hope, is a record that will be enjoyed equally by children, parents, and educators, and maybe even music fans who simply enjoy a good Louisiana tune. From our food to our music to our diverse cultural heritage, we open our hearts, homes, and tables to friends, family, and visitors. So come on in and join the fun. Allons danser! Bailemos! Let’s dance!
Reading Rocks
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Released 2012
Winner of a 2013 Parents' Choice Recommended Award and a Family Choice Award.
From Bluegrass to Rock music, Reading Rocks! is a singing story time gone fun. Featuring songs, finger plays, poems, stories and readings from several of Johnette's beloved picture books, READING ROCKS! is sure to get children rolling into books and rocking into reading!
Boogie Woogie Bugs
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Released 2010
Winner of a “Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award
Spiders and slugs and roaches, oh my! The backyard is buzzing alive with a boogie-woogie jive. Play in the bug band and sing some creepy, crawly and catchy songs about insects. Join Johnette Downing as she sings her catchy songs on this Boogie Woogie Bugs CD!
Dixieland Jazz for Children
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Released 2008
Winner of a “Parents’ Choice Approved Award”
Staying true to her Louisiana musical roots, Johnette collaborates with Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band to introduce children of all ages around the world to the joyful sounds of Dixieland Jazz; the music she heard growing up as a child in New Orleans. Nineteen original songs blend the upbeat, happy sounds of Dixieland Jazz with lyrics for children and their extended families. It is our hope that this authentic and innovative recording for children keeps the tradition alive with a new generation of Jazz lovers.
Fins And Grins
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Released 2006
Winner of a “Parents’ Choice Approved Award” and an “iParenting Media Award.”
Dive into fun with songs from the sea. Learn about seahorses, stingrays, penguins, hermit crab, sharks and more. From the ocean to the bayou, we’ll have a whale of a good time.
Music Time
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Released 2005
Received a rave review from the Grammy Foundation Education Watch, and winner of a Parents' Choice Award, National Parenting Publications Honors Award, 2005 iParenting Media Award, 2005 Family Choice Award and 2005 Family Review Center Award.
Celebrate childhood by spending a day in the life of a child.
The Second Line
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Released 2003
Winner of a National Parenting Publications Award, a Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award, & an iParenting Media Award.
Grab a scarf, turn on Johnette Downing’s The Second Line, and join the parade as we celebrate in a New Orleans’ style Second Line with jazzy scarf activity songs and games. This one of a kind scarf activity recording includes instructional lyrics making it perfect for home (birthday and pajama parties) and school (P.E., music, and dance classes as well as school assemblies).
“In New Orleans, the “second line” refers to the crowd that marches joyfully behind the band during celebrations, often waving scarves or handkerchiefs. The simple lyrics suggest things children can do with scarves.”
— Paul Shackman, American Library Association Booklist
Wild and Woolly Wiggle Songs
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Released 2001
Winner of a 2000 Parents’ Choice Award and a 2000 Parents’ Guide to Children's Media Award.
This animal songs album for children will monkey around in musical fun.
“Distinctive country-flavored vocals and gentle educational touch are Downing’s trademark and here her Louisiana rhythms and creative lyrics give effervescent life to one of the staples of children’s music – animals.”
— Lynne Heffley, The Los Angeles Times
Silly Sing Along
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Released 2001
Winner of a Recommended Parents’ Choice Award and a National Parenting Publications Award.
“To Downing, songs are the toll booths into the world of play, the most important destination for any kid. Silly Sing Along is solidly in the tradition of pioneering kid’s musician Ella Jenkins. For Downing and for Jenkins, music is participation.”
— Michael Tisserand, Gambit Weekly
From The Gumbo Pot
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Released 1998
Winner of a Silver Honors Parents’ Choice Award.
This album is a spicy musical gumbo of Louisiana songs for children.
“The yummy ingredients in this rich musical gumbo include the spicy Louisiana lilt in Johnette Downing’s voice, and irresistible Cajun and Creole rhythms in playfully evocative songs about gators, skeeters, crawfish and the Cajun werewolf the Loup Garou.”
— Lynne Heffley, The Los Angeles Times