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Music Medley: Okra Man

Confetti Park

Release Date: 02/24/2018

Storytime: The Mardi Gras Tree by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust show art Storytime: The Mardi Gras Tree by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust

Confetti Park

Happy Mardi Gras, everybody! Wherever you’re watching the parades– whether it’s out in the parishes, Slidell, Metairie or along beautiful St. Charles Avenue–chances are you will need some shade and respite after a long day of truck floats. Find a tree, have a rest, look around, and enjoy the show. And keep your eyes peeled for the Mardi Gras trees! You know the ones… they glitter like rainbows, dedicated as bead catchers by the people passing by. In this episode of Confetti Park, we hear the whimsical tale of by . “Laissez bon temps rouler! – let the good times roll!...

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Steve Scaffidi on why authors should self-publish their books—and advice on how to do it! show art Steve Scaffidi on why authors should self-publish their books—and advice on how to do it!

Confetti Park

In this episode of Confetti Park, we connect with the creative mind of Steven Scaffidi, a veteran of the entertainment industry.

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Storytime: Can We Take A Road Trip? By Papa Dude show art Storytime: Can We Take A Road Trip? By Papa Dude

Confetti Park

Summertime means road trips! In this episode of Confetti Park, we take a road trip with Papa Dude and his best friend Charlie Crab. They take us on a trip across America, and we get visit some of the most interesting and fun places the continental United States has to offer.

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Valerie James Abbott on the shocking realization that her two-year-old had hearing loss show art Valerie James Abbott on the shocking realization that her two-year-old had hearing loss

Confetti Park

In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Hobgood Ray interviews Valerie James Abbott, a mother whose journey with her own daughter's hearing loss inspired a children's book called Padapillo.

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Storytime – Padapillo by  Valerie James Abbott show art Storytime – Padapillo by Valerie James Abbott

Confetti Park

In this episode of Confetti Park, we hear the children’s book Padapillo narrated by the author, Valerie James Abbott. Based on the true life events of the author and her family, Padapillo is the story of a family discovering the hearing loss of a child.

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Why He Carried the Turkey by James Baldwin show art Why He Carried the Turkey by James Baldwin

Confetti Park

A story of kindness and civility and humility for Thanksgiving Day

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Storytime: The Loup Garoup show art Storytime: The Loup Garoup

Confetti Park

In this episode of Confetti Park Storytime, Kathleen Welch shares with us the legend of the Loup Garoup as found in Acadiana French-Canadian, Acadian, and Franco-American folklore.

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Confetti Park Storytime: Le Lutin show art Confetti Park Storytime: Le Lutin

Confetti Park

In this episode of Confetti Park Storytime, we hear about Le Lutin, a fairytale figure and a trickster spirit! Contributor Kathleen Welch shares some of the legends about this hobgoblin who has a knack for pranking.

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Rosemary The Garden Fairy: The Early Bird show art Rosemary The Garden Fairy: The Early Bird

Confetti Park

For people who like watch birds, the early birder catches the bird!

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Confetti Park Storytime: Lucky Enough by Dr. Chris Yandle show art Confetti Park Storytime: Lucky Enough by Dr. Chris Yandle

Confetti Park

Narration by the author of a dad's daily notes of encouragement and life lessons to his daughter

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More Episodes

Hi everyone,

Here is another music medley from Confetti Park. And in this episode, you will hear lots of songs about fresh fruits and vegetables. In the radio version of this program, we listen to a story about our recently departed dear Mr. Okra. (You can listen to the story here: Mr. Okra Sells Fresh Fruits and Vegetables by Lashon Daley)

Mr. Okra passed away this week, and he was one of the last of the New Orleans street vendors. Mr. Okra sold fresh fruits and vegetables from a brightly painted pickup truck that traveled slowly throughout New Orleans’ neighborhoods. His voice rang out over his loudspeaker affixed to the roof of the truck: “I have oranges! I have bananas!” When people heard him coming, they could step out their door and buy their fresh produce for the week.

The Confetti Park Players are so fortunate and grateful to have had Mr. Okra sing with us on our first album. He recorded a special song with us. You can listen to the entire track.

Now for the full playlist of this episode:

First up is one of my favorite tunes, that first came out in 1984 and is surely as classic a Louisiana song as any. I tell you what, I defy anyone of any age, kids or adult, to listen to the song and not feel like a kid when the chorus comes on. This particular version features two patriarchs of Louisiana culture……Doug Kershaw and Fats Domino. This song is Don’t Mess with My Toot Toot.

We will also here Satisfied ‘n Tickled Too, by Jeremy Lyons from his Silly Goose Music CD, which features more beautiful Americana classics created with children in mind. There is a beautiful Cajun lullaby called Raisins & Almonds sung by Nancy Tabb Marcantel, and Watermelon Time, by Ted Lindsay of Mooringsport, La., leading the Confetti Park Players in an homage to ripe summer fruit.

Then we hear a trio of songs about bananas……

  • Oh Dego – Leroy Etienne of St. Martinville as featured on the National Park Service’s Songs Of The Lower Mississippi Delta.
  • Anna Banana – Johnette Downing of New Orleans, pied piper of Louisiana
  • Yes We Have No Bananas – the fabulous Louis Prima

Kids, go check out Mr. Louis Prima on YouTube… he is a jazz trumpeter from New Orleans who had the energy of a kid, and a style like no one else.

Well, we’ve talked about banana, watermelon and other fruits. And so now We play Mr. Okra, singing a song in his own voice. Mr. Okra…. we love you. We will miss your call. Thank you for sharing your voice with us, for sharing good food with us, and for making the world a better place.

Support for Confetti Park comes from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and Music Rising at Tulane University.