SELF-PROCLAIMED TROUBADOUR IS A REAL ENTERTAINER.Byline: - Nancy Hewitt Raffi isn't your typical children's entertainer. In fact, he calls himself a ``troubadour'' instead of an entertainer and has dedicated his career to honoring children. And this year, Raffi received a richly deserved honor: a tribute album. ``Country Goes Raffi'' features some of Raffi's most beloved songs done by mainstream country singers. Asleep at the Wheel performs ``The Bowling Song,'' while Billy Gilman ''This article or section is being rewritten at Billy Gilman (born William Wendell Gilman III May 24, 1988) is a Grammy-nominated country music singer-songwriter. sings about ``Baby Beluga beluga (bəl  `gə) or white whale, small, toothed northern whale, Delphinapterus leucas. The beluga may reach a length of 19 ft (5. .'' ``Blessed Be'' is done by Alison Krauss, and Kathy Mattea Kathy Mattea, full name Kathleen Alice Mattea (born June 21, 1959, in South Charleston, West Virginia), is a female country music and bluegrass performer who often brings celtic sounds to her music, particularly with her release of Love Travels shares ``One Light One Sun.'' Even Raffi contributes ``Blue White Planet'' to the 14-song CD. ``I'm really happy with the album. The artists did a great job. I really love the tone of the album,'' Raffi says. And he didn't mind other artists singing his songs. ``It feels great,'' he says. ``It validates the songs. I am thrilled by the interpretation of the songs.'' In Spring 2002, Raffi will release his 14th album, ``Let's Play,'' in a career that has spanned 25 years. Although he has cut back on touring, he still does an occasional concert in venues that seat 1,500 to 2,000 people. Families are always encouraged to attend a Raffi concert. ``My concerts are like love-ins,'' he says, coining a phrase from the 1960s. ``The children come, loving the songs I do. ``I want the family to experience every song together,'' he continues, ``with the kids dancing in the aisles or sitting on their parents' laps and watching their parents' reaction.'' Raffi's reverence for children is especially refreshing for one who is not a parent. ``Children have this dazzling intelligence,'' he says. ``They are the best of who we are. There is a magical sense about childhood. It's pure love and spontaneous. I love that feeling.'' Last year, Raffi founded the Troubadour troubadour One of a class of lyric poets and poet-musicians, often of knightly rank, that flourished from the 11th through the 13th century, chiefly in Provence and other regions of southern France, northern Spain, and northern Italy. Institute for Child Honoring to help accelerate initiatives and support organizations that promote early child development. But the gentle soul who is the backbone of children's entertainment and causes remains very humble about his longevity in an ever-expanding and diversifying field. ``I'm just gratified grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. that children enjoy my songs,'' he says. ``Raffi Goes Country'' is available for $15.98 on CD or $10.98 cassette through Rounder Records Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts but now based in Burlington, is an independent record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students. : (800) 768-6337 or on the Web: www.rounder.com Be sure to visit Raffi's Web site to learn more about him: www.raffinews.com. WHOLESOME FAMILY FUN: It's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to lace up lace up Verb to fasten (clothes or footwear) with laces Adjective lace-up (of footwear) to be fastened with laces Noun lace-up those ice skates and join other kids and their families on the L.A. Kings Downtown on Ice 50-foot by 90-foot outdoor rink at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or , open through Jan. 21. Today, open skating is from 10 to 11 a.m. Then, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., representatives from radio stations KLAC and Fox Sports AM, the Laker Girls and renowned sportscasters Chick Hearn and Stu Lance and former Laker players will be on hand to greet fans and skaters. Radio Disney will host a Snow Day from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Information: (213) 473-7070. PATRIOTIC TOTS: Kids ages 3 to 7 can now take a musical journey through America and learn what makes a country great and what it means to be an American in the newest video from the Mini Maestro series. ``America the Beautiful'' offers familiar tunes such as ``Yankee Doodle'' and ``America the Beautiful America the Beautiful patriotic song by Katherine Bates glorifying national ideals (1893). [Am. Music: Scholes, 30] See : Song, Patriotic ,'' as well as live-action scenes of real children learning about America. Suggested retail price for the video is $14.95. Order video by phone: (800) 678-5636 or on the Web: www.minimaestro.com. |
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