Uncle Robot: Songs for Young Families

About the Artist
1985…an intimate club…a live album. "…Williams sings his song in a warm, sexy, wry tone, in a voice that has felt the influence of everyone from Hank Snow to John Sebastian," writes critic Ken Tucker, now of Entertainment Weekly and radio’s Fresh Air. "First-rate compositions..." And musicians second Tucker’s evaluation countless times over the years, covering Karl Williams’ songs on both major and independent labels.

Fast-forward to late1999 and Williams’ CD-single "To the New Century," a hard-edged anthem featuring toasts in 17 languages, is picked up by radio stations around the world, and the story of the song’s travels appears in Bruce Pollock’s "Working Musicians" (HarperCollins, 2002).

But Karl Williams’ ability as a songwriter has not kept him on any straight-and-narrow. He didn’t get around to trying his hand at writing until 1980 - after spending most of 70s working with kids with cognitive disabilities. And by the late 80s he was beginning to feel as if his life had been cut in two. So he took up a challenge from a noted author and wrote a song especially for Speaking For Ourselves, a "self-advocacy" group - folks with this same disability working for respect and for their civil rights.

When Williams found that his words and music could serve the group's cause, he knew he'd found the way to put his divided life back together. And so Williams began to provide a kind of soundtrack for the daily struggle of those in the movement. Williams’ self-advocacy songs are now regularly performed before national, regional, and local audiences in the US, Canada, and Europe; they’ve been translated, used in books, on websites, in videos, and in plays. And eventually Williams’ efforts were rewarded by critical acclaim outside the movement. RESPECT: SONGS OF THE SELF-ADVOCACY MOVEMENT, the CD Williams produced and recorded with the US national group, was a candidate for Best Contemporary Folk Album in the 1998 Grammy Awards. And since then Williams’ work with the movement has earned him ASCAP Awards two years running.

And although Williams has continued with his popular writing - his songs being picked up by publishers and songpluggers - he’s also followed his interests…and his heart. Williams’ first children's CD, BIG FISH LITTLE FISH, won high praise from both SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, and was added to a program of the Jane Goodall Institute. His second album for kids, UNCLE ROBOT: SONG FOR YOUNG FAMILIES, was released in December 2003.

Karl Williams is multifaceted. He’s published two as-told-to autobiographies with leaders in the self-advocacy movement. His first play - based on one of these works - premiered in November 2003. Also in 2003 a theatre company selected a Williams short story for its Writing Aloud Series. And Williams is now shopping his own autobiographical novel. In fact, SingOut! Magazine’s comment on one of Williams’ early songs might suit the man himself: "Something of a classic…"

Product Description:
A CD for the whole family! With songs that: • delight in the arrival of a baby • celebrate the first Christmas, the first words, the first steps Along with: • a game (the title track) for kids to explore control of their environment • bath-time and potty-training songs • a lullaby • a shoe-tying song • and tunes for grown-ups about that wonderful feeling of. . . just being with kids!

Uncle Robot: Songs for Young Families,Karl Williams,Greene Street Records,Karl Williams sings his easygoing, feel-good songs, with their kid-centric mood and simple philosophy, in a warm tone, in a voice that has felt the influence of everyone from Hank Snow to John Sebastian.

Average customer rating:

Uncle Robot: Songs for Young Families Karl Williams Manufacturer: Greene Street Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0001GDEXI Release Date: 2003-12-16

Tracks:

1. Uncle Robot
2. What Does Daddy Do Down the Barn
3. Katie Did
4. Buddy
5. Rainbow
6. Hanging Round Playing Harmonica
7. Talking To You
8. The Shoe Tying Song
9. Walking In the Fields With
10. Weve Got A New Baby At Our House
11. Bubbles Bubbles Bubbles
12. Annettes Lullaby
13. The La La Song
14. Im Walking
15. I Want My Mommy
16. That Feeling In My Tummy
17. Archibald Elf
18. Babys First Christmas
19. In The Springtime

Album Description

A CD for the whole family! With songs that: • delight in the arrival of a baby • celebrate the first Christmas, the first words, the first steps Along with: • a game (the title track) for kids to explore control of their environment • bath-time and potty-training songs • a lullaby • a shoe-tying song • and tunes for grown-ups about that wonderful feeling of. . . just being with kids!

Music Album:

1. Uncle Wonderful [Import]
2. Under A Big Bright Yellow Umbrella
3. Unsound Vol. 2: Guitars!
4. When The Hurricane Hit
5. World's Greatest Sing-Alongs (karaoke)
6. Yes M'am, Respect for the Elders
7. A Road To Call Your Own
8. Acadie [Limited Edition] [Import]
9. Acousticity-on Tour [Import]
10. Aesop: Alive & Well

Music Album