Chris Sheard – A Childhood Music Memory
Confetti Park
In this childhood music memory, New Orleans musician Chris Sheard recalls going on car rides with the family and only having one cassette tape to listen to, over and over again. One side featured Marvin Gaye, and the other featured Sam Cooke. The family would flip the tape over and over, and Chris learned every single word to every song by heart. Chris ponders how children today have infinite options of music to listen to on demand, via Spotify and other internet apps. While there is amazing access to music for today, has something been lost in the overwhelming options? Chris doesn’t...
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Interview with The Chickadees, young songbirds from Shreveport
Confetti Park
Meet the Chickadees, a trio of young musicians from Shreveport, Louisiana! These sensational ten-year-olds – Posy Harper, Evie Desobry and Ellie Spero – are a breath of fresh air to the local music scene with their infectious energy and impressive talent. Guided by their dedicated teacher, Miss Sandra Odom, the Chickadees are singing and strumming their way into the hearts of audiences. [Katy: I first met the Chickadees at the gravesite of Huddie Ledbetter at our annual Lead Belly Graveside Jam in October 2024, and I’ve been following their band since then. !)] The kids met at...
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Louis Michot - A Childhood Music Memory
Confetti Park
The Cajun fiddler and singer for Lost Bayou Ramblers recalls learning to dance with his cousins while the family band played Louis Michot, a talented fiddler and singer with the Grammy award-winning Cajun band , shared a sweet childhood music memory with Confetti Park. Growing up, Louis would often join his father and uncles' band, Les Frères Michot, in the vibrant dance halls and restaurants of Lafayette. (Randalls, Mulates, Prejeans, etc.) It was there, amidst joyous community gatherings, that Louis learned to dance. He was only six or seven! "I remember taking my cousins' arms,...
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Interview with hrilina ♡ : Water Wonderful World
Confetti Park
A new reading and coloring book about New Orleans’ relationship with water will entertain and educate! Katy recently interviewed hrilina ♡, a rising leader among young New Orleanians, who is proud to announce the release of a unique educational coloring book titled “Water Wonderful World.” Published by , the book explores the relationship we in South Louisiana have with water, particularly in and around New Orleans. hrilina ♡’s vision for this book was to create an engaging and fun experience for kids (and grownups) that teaches about the role of water in New...
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Interview with Arlo McCracken Allen
Confetti Park
At 12 years old, this musician and composer is already active on the local music scene in New Orleans. Katy Hobgood Ray interviews Arlo for Confetti Park. In a recent interview, New Orleans based music prodigy Arlo McCracken Allen shared insights into his musical journey that began at the young age of four when he first sat at a piano. Arlo quickly progressed from playing at home to performing with his dad’s band () and other notable musicians. Arlo plays piano and cello, but he loves electronic music. Influenced by video game music creator Toby Fox, Arlo aspires to compose soundtracks...
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Childhood Music Memory with Scott Durbin
Confetti Park
Music can carry powerful memories and emotions through generations, as Scott Durbin of the Imagination Movers shares with us. Scott, whose grandmother was Native American, recalls participating in powwows at a very young age. His family's tribe would come together to honor their cultural traditions, and music with drumming and dancing was a central component. "I remember being very young, dressed in garb and doing a powwow, and as much as a six year old can intuit a spiritual elevation because of the music and the beat, I knew this was amazing." Through experiencing the resonating drum...
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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!
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
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
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.
info_outlineWelcome to Confetti Park, a place where you can listen to kids music and hear stories, poems, jumprope jingles, and learn about the culture of Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta. I’m Katy Hobgood Ray, your host. In New Orleans we are celebrating our 300th birthday this year. New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Bienville, and the city and Louisiana are known for having unique mix of cultural influences: French, Spanish, African, German, Native America, and many other peoples … that is why we have such unique food and music.
This is a music medley of songs featured on the show this week.
- Give Me A Squeeze Please - Buckwheat Zydeco
- Joke of the Day - 7-8-9
- Swamp Stomp - Angela Mannino
- Whistle While You Work - Louis Armstrong
- Twinkle Twinkle - Ayana of the Renzi Center
- Sharing - a poem by Marcus Page
- Fingers Under the Door - Vivi Melody
- Hide and Seek - Jazzy Ash
- L.O.S.T. - Imagination Movers
- Je Veux Marier - Magnolia Sisters
This episode of Confetti Park begins with a song by Buckwheat Zydeco, a famous zydeco musician. Zydeco is a kind of music that was created in Louisiana, by Cajun French, African and Native American people blending all their sounds. Buck is going to tell us all about a very important instrument of zydeco music….. the accordion.
Then we hear from Angela Mannino with "Swamp Stomp"…. Angela is a New orleans Native who now lives in NY where she is a renowned soprano opera singer… we are lucky to have her singing several great Louisiana kids songs on this album.
We also hear famous jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, performing a song from Disney’s Snow White…. You might remember seven dwarves singing this… "Whistle While You Work."
Ayana, a student at the Shreveport based Renzi Center, and New Orleans poet Marcus Page share their poems, and then we hear a little run of hide and seek songs, beginning with NOLA native Vivi Melody. The Imagination Movers are perhaps Louisiana’s most famous kids music band. Jazzy Ash, who is terrific fun, lives in Los Angeles but spent her childhood summers on the West bank of New Orleans. She plays Dixieland style kids music.
We end with the Magnolia Sisters, a Cajun band from Lafayette Louisiana. "Je Veux Marier," which translates to“I want to marry,” is a fun song to dance to at a Cajun wedding.
Also in this episode of Confetti Park is the storytime feature Louis Lion, When It Gets Dark I May Start Cryin, by Cindy Foust of Monroe, Louisiana. Cindy has a whole Alpha-kidZ children's book series. Each letter of the alphabet gets a feature story and a feature creature who has an adventure… and learns a valuable lesson.
You can listen to all the stories you hear on this radio show on our free Confetti Park podcast. The Confetti Park radio show and podcast is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and Music Rising at Tulane University.
Thanks for listening. Remember to look for the magic in every day!