Cool Music for Kids NEWS Holiday 2007

With all of the toy safety scares, where can parents turn for fun and nontoxic gift ideas? The moms over at CoolMomPicks offer up a helpful “Safer Toy Guide,” and Joanne and Stephanie at the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio tested their winning toys for safety. Two Boston area moms have created a hit with their ingenious play structure, the Fortamajig, which just won awards from Parents’ Choice, Doctor Toy and Mister Dad.



Once you’ve wrapped the toys, it’s time to think about tunes. Music is truly the gift that keeps on giving. So, for your last minute stocking stuffers, check out your local independent stores. Kids’ music is finally getting some retail distribution. You also have a few days left to shop online at e-tailers like Cdbaby.com, the Pokey Pup, Big Kids and BestChildrensMusic.com. Our pal John Wood has recently launched a fab service at KidzMusic.com where you can hear and purchase hard-to-find tunes by an array of indie kids’ artists.



Looking to support charities that help kids? Check out Portland based Mercy Corps Peter Yarrow’s Operation Respect or the Central Asia Institute.





It’s Grammy Time



The Grammy award nominees have been announced, and Sugar Mountain PR is proud to announce that two of our clients, Buck Howdy and Peter Himmelman are nominees. It’s great to see the Recording Academy recognize singer-songwriters of this caliber. Grammy winners will be announced in Los Angeles on February 10th.





Winter Means a Sprinkling of New Tunes







Ellis Paul, a singer-songwriter who’s been compared variously to Dylan and Morrissey, will release his first family music CD – The Dragonfly Races. With whimsical lyrics and expert musicianship, this sharp collection of tunes will stick with you through the year. This new keepsake CD includes a 24 page colorful book, illustrated by Ellis himself.









Little Monster Records will release Medeski Martin & Wood’s Let’s Go Everywhere on January 8th, and it’s already generating buzz among their many fans. The famed alt-jazz band’s general grooviness is clear on this highly imaginative release. Fans are also excited to hear MMW test their vocal chords. Don’t miss a guest appearance by John Lurie, and discover what a claviola sounds like.