Her use of mu ic from diverse cultures has made her
an important figure in multicultural education. In sup­
port of that identity, "This Is Rhythm" features contem­
por.aTY mul,ticultural. illustrations rendered by Chicago
ar tist Garr ian Manning. They are printed in three pri­
mary colors: red, blue and yellow.
"This Is Rhythm" combines rhythms that occurs natu­
raJly around us, with rhymes, songs and an easy illus­
trated primer on rhythmic instruments - including,
cowbell, woodblock, plate gong, conga drums and others.
For further information, to arrange an interview with
Ella Jenkins or to obtain a review copy of "This Is
Rhythm" contact Eric Nemeyer, Sing Out, Telephone:
610-865-5211.
International Renowned African-Amercian Chil­
dren's Performer sings the song of musical participation.
Did you ever notice how much rhythm is going on
around you-all the time? A heart beating, the wind
blowing, a ' farmer hoeing, a dog's tail wagging the
sounds of cars whizzi ng by on a crowded road? M�t of
us are too busy to care about some of these simple
realities.
But, children are fascinated with these things -
movement, sound and rhythms.
In Ella Jenkins' new book, "This Is Rhythm," she
teaches rhythm by using the very objects that enchant
roung inquisitive minds. What makes the book unique
IS that the rhythm sticks included in the packageencour­
age musical participation. Children can either click the
accompanying rhythm sticks together, or rub the smooth
stick over the flauted (ridged) surface of the other.
There i� also � companion audiocassette tape publish­
ed by Smithsonian Folkways that features Ella Jenkins
reading .and perf?rming, in order, all of the songs and
rhymes Included 10 .the book. This tape can be played to
e,ncourage group sing-alongs and rhythmic participa­
tion.
Recently, the Natural History Museum of the Smith­
sonian cited Ella as a pioneer in early television. Ella
has made innumerable guest appearances on television
inc�uding the PBS programs, Sesame Street, Mr. Roge
. Neighborhood and Barney and Friends. Since her first
television appearances in Chicago in 1956 she has been
performing for children around the world.
AS ONE OF the premier children's music performers
and educators, Ella is best known for her innovative "call
and response" method to actively encourage musical
participation, Her approach, which she believes en­
hances children's growth and learning abilities, debuted
on her classic recording "You'll Sing A Song and I'll Sing
a Song." This album is one of 23 she has recorded for
Smithsonian Folkways, for whom she has become the
best-selling artist during the past 30 years. .
By TUREKA TURK
Mlchig.n Citizen
It's the night all of the hard
work seemingly pays off for a
recording artist. 0, not the
Grammysb auseno allart­
ists get a Grammy night.
Ev ryarti t how v r, gets a
coming ut party, .
efore all of the television
intervi w , newspap r r -
views and pictur s in the
m agazin , m t artists are
peopl still living at home
with mama not believing
they finally got a record deal.
Take hanging ac ,for ex­
ampl .
Th BIg B at recording
duo re r lly young girl
. who shopped the'i r d mo
around for years before get­
tingsigned. Aft r finally get­
ting th deal, the group has
. n preparing to relea a
very r w love s ng album.
Th lf-u led relea is very
pr iou 10 that the two had
their hand 10 1 production
as much p ibl.
And, a their r cord re­
lease party, everyone in at­
tendanc were people who
sat back and watched the
girls from th tim they
struggled until their moment
of truth performing two sin­
gles from their recently re­
leased If-titled album. I
"D , 0 0 those
girls looks familiar," some in­
dustry person c1 aims while
watching the duo perform
" troke You Up." It isn't un­
til later he realizes Cassan­
dra Lucas, half of the group,
tried to' giv him their demo
one year ago. "I slept on it."
Th whole night he hits him-
If in dis lief.
Th r Ie party its If is
Who's Who of th industry
e n fore the girls take toe
stage. On reason is because
these two young women have
managed to get R. Kelly;
van wing, Dave "Jam"
Hall, and v II Hod to
pr u on their al urn.
In f ct, th whol night the
"Stroke You Up" video plays
on wo monitors so as to r -
mind he party-go r who
they are really ther for. It is
mi n ly easy to for t the
main attraction of a record
releas part', amidst verbal
deals and networking, indus­
try people are their to work.
And the artists are there to
be seen,
Yet when Changing Faces
takes the stage, all eyes are
indeed on th e two young
women, giddy with excite­
ment and finding it hard to
k p the two huge smil on
their faces from spreading
even more. They look as if
they just grad�.ated from
high school and are all set for
prom, unseasoned artists
with raw talent.
As soon- as they are done,
the crowd rushes over to con­
gratulate them, I aving little
room for breathing. After a
couple of pictures with people
they will forget tomorrow,
the girls quickly s arch the
mob for the most important
peopl
istants help her search the
crowd whil a sandra
kisses ch ks and igns
promo poster hat were
waving in th air not mor
than fiv minutes ago. And
these are th industry' peo­
ple. "I couldn't do this artist
thing," m n b hind m
ays in b w n m uthfuls of
complim ntary food. "All
the peopl ar fi n f r you
now. But f r your ond
single don't hit, th Y won't
even know you."
Afterwards, in the pr
room, the duo for the
press frenzy whil other art­
ists' wand r about trvi n to
reconn told r lation . Al B.
Sure is smiling as if h s just
given birth and hugs every­
one he hasn' seen, appar­
ently, since his last hit.
Teddy Riley stands in the
middle of th pr room,
con rsing, but waiting for
people to com to him. DJ
Eddi F. app ars much later,
shopping bags in hand, wait­
ing for th whol hing to
over.
The family of the two
"I find my
mother, t hari Rose, the
other half, exclaims excit­
edly. Sam p pIe who have
appointed them lv her as-