Parachute Express

Parachute Express
Genres Children's music: pop, rock, funk, bluegrass, R&B, doo-wop, folk, comedy
Years active 1984[1]-present
Labels Disney Records
Trio Lane Records
Website parachuteexpress.com
Members Donald "Donny" Becker
Janice Hubbard
Stephen Michael Schwartz
Past members Rick Cunha (1984)

Parachute Express is a band of three California-based entertainers who perform, write and produce music for children. Members are Stephen Michael Schwartz, Janice Hubbard and Donny Becker. Parachute Express gained national prominence as recording artists for Gymboree Play & Music, Walt Disney Records, and Trio Lane Records.[2] They sing the theme song to the popular television series Jay Jay The Jet Plane and have been seen on TV shows Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. Rocks and Disney's Kaleidoscope Concerts.[3] Their music is featured in over 550 Gymboree franchises throughout the world, as well as in preschools, daycare centers and diverse informal education programs.[4][5]

Parachute Express created a total of twelve albums to date, selling over half a million units (figure for 2004).[2] In the early 1990s Parachute Express recorded for Walt Disney Records under the Music Box Artist Series.[1] Since 1998 the trio has its own label, Trio Lane Records.[6] Many of their albums have won national awards including NAPPA awards, the Film Advisory Board Award, an Indie Award, a Toy of The Year Award, and several times the Parents' Choice Gold Award.[7]

Their video Come Sing With Us! won the Parents Choice Video Award and an International Monitor Award. They have been voted "Best Group" by the American Academy of Children's Entertainment. Their long list of honors further includes featured performers at the 42nd[8] and 43rd Presidential Inaugural Festivities, performing their "poetic anthem"[9] We The Children. This song was included in the Presidential library by then First Lady Hillary Clinton. They performed half a dozen times at the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn of the White House and continue to perform to date. In 2010 and 2011 Parachute Express toured China, performing in Nanjing, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin,[10] Guangzhou,[11][12] and Shenzhen.[13]

Discography

Albums

Song collections

Singles

Tracks in compilations

Videos

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 "The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 Rees, Brenda (2004-09-16). "How to get The Kids' Reading Room Jumping for Joy.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  3. ↑ "Kaleidoscope concerts". worldcat.org. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  4. ↑ IDEA Health & Fitness: Inspire Kids and Teens to Fitness. San Diego, California: IDEA Health & Fitness Association, 2003, page 24. ISBN 1-887781-30-7. Accessed 2008-09-27.
  5. ↑ McDonald, Margaret Read (2000). "Dancing Tales". Shake-It-Up Tales!. Atlanta, Georgia: August House. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-87483-570-0. Retrieved 2012-10-27. For this I particularly like the song "Tingalayo" as performed by Parachute Express on Shakin' It (Burbank: Walt Disney Records, 1992). I begin by letting the children trot in a circle to the "run little donkey run" refrain. Then, at certain spots in the music, we stop and just shake our hips and dance. It is fun to play the rhythm sticks to this song too.
  6. 1 2 McCormick M: "Parachute Express Is Back." Billboard 110 (39).
  7. ↑ BWW News Desk (23 September 2005). "'It Came From Beyond' Extends at NYMF". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  8. ↑ Wharton D: "H'w'd to Invade D.C. for Inaugural Events." Variety 1993-01-11. Accessed 2008-09-25.
  9. 1 2 Heffly L: "Parachute Express Drops In With ‘Looney’s’ Tunes Kids Will Love." Los Angeles Times 1998-07-23: F49. Accessed 2008-09-24.
  10. ↑ http://www.tianjinwe.com/tianjin/tbbd/201011/t20101103_2340548.html
  11. ↑ "What'sNew". ycwb.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  12. ↑ http://informationtimes.dayoo.com/html/2010-11/03/content_1174969.htm
  13. ↑ http://news.china.com.cn/rollnews/2010-11/03/content_5005212.htm
  14. ↑ Thomas E: "Doctor Looney's Remedy." School Library Journal 81 (2): 82. ISSN 0362-8930.
  15. ↑ "How's This Sound?; Yes, Virginia, There Are CDs That Parents and Kids Can Enjoy". 2003-12-04.
  16. ↑ Levine, Evan (1995-09-27). "'Parachute Express' Doesn't Fly" (review). Chattooga Press. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 6. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
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