High energy indie rock for kids & families that promotes reading & writing.

15 MP3 Songs
KIDS/FAMILY: Children's Pop, ROCK: Acoustic

Details:
Grand Prize Winner! (Track #3)- John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Winner (Track #3) - The Lennon Award (chosen by public)

Parents' Choice Award Winner

The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval

Film Advisory Board's Award of Excellence

Winner (Track #6) - Children's Category of West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest


Thaddeus Rex gives kidsâ music a brainy twist.
-Time Out Chicago

Thaddeus Rex covers plenty of ground, with the rockin' title track that features legendary blues pianist Pinetop Perkins and equally legendary blues singer Koko Taylor, the chilled-out organ of "Where Can I Find Green Eggs & Ham?" and the countrified "Dog Without Fur." And what better way to end the album than with a cover of Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4" that includes a jarring vocal version of the sax lines? With his unique voice and eclectic songwriting and selection, Thaddeus Rex delivers an album of music that entire families can enjoy.

-New York Post


Once again Thaddeus Rex hooked our testers with his catchy melodies and lyrics that your listeners really related to. Of course Thaddeus, a previous Seal of Approval winner, knows his way around this audience, obvious to anyone who listens to his songs about dinosaurs and cookies. The music is fun, but also complex enough that adults will find themselves singing along as well. More than one parents admitted that they found themselves driving and singing along, even when their kids weren't in the car! High praise.

-The National Parenting Center



The third album from Thaddeus Rex (formerly of PBS's The Kids Zone) is an intriguing step up from his already-solid past work. The songwriting has gotten more varied and sophisticated, and he's added savvy collaborations with the legendary Koko Taylor and Pinetop Perkins and, maybe a bit more oddly, George Gershwin's son. Rex has a major focus on reading, but is never didactic, instead providing witty and silly straightforward acoustic rock (with blues and country notes). www.thaddeusrex.com

-Little Rock Family


Maybe it's the heavy focus on literacy, but Thaddeus Rex may be the most "indie" sounding kid's act going right now. I hear the best of The Decemberists, The Mountain Goats and a dash of Alec Ounsworth's (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) vocals throughout his inventive, high energy album "Shakin' in Chicago". This comes as a rather substantial surprise considering the presentation (ie: the cover art) is incredibly corny (keep in mind the Joe McDermott record "Everyone Plays Air Guitar" had a similar hurdle to overcome, but did so remarkably). "Shakin' in Chicago" (available 4/1/2008) continues Thaddeus' noble mission of encouraging kids to read, write and be creative. He is the sponsor of a very unique online kid's poetry contest, the winner of which is awarded the chance to co-write a song for a future Thaddeus Rex album. The youngsters who have won in the past receive songwriting credit (and royalties...how cool is that!). "Shakin' in Chicago" features a trio of famous guest artists in the form of Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor and Alan Gershwin (as, that Gershwin family). They all lend their consider talent to this polished and fun children's record. Through is website, liner notes and songs is becomes quite clear that Thaddeus values the role that books and the arts play in the development of our kids into smart, interesting people. I happen to share that passion and belief with him and I'm very grateful for his presence in the kiddie rock world.

-Out with the Kids (blog)


Chicago-based independent children's recording artist Thaddeus Rex has a new collection of lively and entertaining music for young children. "Shakin' In Chicago" is also a kind of musical salute to the Windy City and features a his gifted wordplay combined with the lovely vocals of Koko Taylor, the piano playing artistry of 94-year-old Pinetop, as well as songs which were co-written by Alan Gershwin. The fifteen numbers comprising this beautifully recorded and highly recommended CD album for kids, schools, and community libraries includes Running in the Sun Again; Daddy Lived Inside A Boxcar; I'll Always Follow You; I Still Love Cookies; Don't Know What This Son Is About; Dinosaur Living Inside My head; A Dream of Tucson; Where Can i Find Green Eggs & ham; The Stream; Dog Without Fur; Midway Fair; Pretty Diamond; Dare You; 25 or 6 to 4; and the title piece, Shakin' in Chicago.

-Midwest Book Review

Thaddeus Rex brings his acoustic rock to CD for the third time next month with Shakin' in Chicago, an album mixing Rex's trademark wordplay with contributions from Chicago blues legends Koko Taylor, the âQueen of the Blues,â and Pinetop Perkins, the 94-year-old pianist; plus two tunes by Alan Gershwin, son of famed songwriter George Gershwin. The CD's songs give kids a blueprint for how to construct a life full of art, particularly of the literary kind, while at the same time saluting the Windy City.

-Playthings

Some of the songs on Thaddeus Rexâs latest album, Shakinâ in Chicago, pay tribute to the city the Illinois-born but Indiana-raised childrenâs performer is now based in.

Rexâs upbeat vocals, lyrics and use of childrenâs voices in some songs help signify him as a childrenâs performer. One song has him asking where he can find green eggs and ham, that strange food combination from the Dr. Seuss book.

Musically, however, Rex is an artist the whole family can listen to and enjoy. Described as blending âthe energy of rock with the sensibility of Folk,â Rexâs acoustic rock music is wonderful to listen to. His songs are varied, which help maintain interest and his lyrics are not too cutesy or immature enough to alienate older listeners. Whatâs more, his lyrics support reading books, a source of inspiration for his own songwriting.

-The Celebrity Café

People who are interested in Violent Femmes Monty Python Dr. Seuss should consider this download.