Today is calling for RAIN!  Do you know the tradional song ‘Rain, rain, go away * Come again another day * All the children want to play’?  Here is another verse that you can sing when you are feeling happier about the wet weather: ‘Rain, rain, please don’t go * Stay to help my garden grow * All the children want it so!’  this verse © 2001 D.Carroll

Here is another beautiful spring song….

‘Thought I heard a red-winged blackbird, red-winged blackbird down my road…’  by David Francey © 1999 Laker Music

Do you hear red-winged blackbirds where you live?  They are always making a joyful clatter when spring arrives in my part of the country. 

It was fun to sing David Francey’s wonderful song about red-winged blackbirds for my album Simply Beautiful - with David himself singing harmony!

Click the SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL cover (left) where you can listen to the Carroll/Francey duet of Red-Winged Blackbird and sing along - lyrics privided!

Find out more about Red-Winged Blackbirds at  www.learner.org/jnorth/search/Rwbb.html.

Find out more about David Francey at www.davidfrancey.com.

Photo: Alan D. Wilson - www.naturespicsonline.com  

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Wholenote magazine online review (Oct 1-Nov 7) : “25 years ago musical entertainment for children was almost a Canadian industry. Streaming through the door that was opened by Raffi and blown in by Sharon, Lois and Bram came a whole procession of artists with a whole stack of accompanying record albums. …Debbie Carroll is the equal of the best of them, and continues the tradition of providing high-quality music for young children… one of the most pleasing aspects of this album is the care taken with the musical arrangements, which are sensitive and imaginative but never complicated…. (continued in Reviews)” Terry Robbins 

 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination! Simply Beautiful was nominated for a 2007 Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Children’s Album! This award recognizes solo artists, groups or duos with a repertoire that is obviously directed towards youth. The winners were announced at the Museum of Civilization in Hull, Québec on December 1, 2007.  Congratulations to Pied Pumpkin for their album Pumkids and to all of the award winners and nominees! http://www.canadianfolkmusicawards.ca/

2007 Parent’s Choice Awards (Oct 1-Nov 7) : Simply Beautiful has won a 2007 Parents’ Choice Award! “Parents’ Choice Award winning musicians and storytellers share a common bond; they know what it takes to grab and keep a child’s attention. Those who write original songs and stories deliver intelligent, inventive lyrics; they craft and tell a captivating story, in words and music. They create magical worlds that kids believe – and want to live in – if even for only a few minutes. Their stories and songs may be imaginary; their creativity and talent is anything but. Those who perform traditional songs or stories do so with a fresh approach and a personal imprint. Serious or silly, the material is delivered with a respect for the audience and the medium.” http://www.parents-choice.org/