“Tomorrow’s Children with Pete Seeger and The Rivertown Kids and Friends” has received the Grammy for Best Musical Album For Children. Comedian Kathy Griffin presented the award today during the 53rd Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony.
“This pilot project shows that if we engage young people, they will do great things,” said Jeff Rumpf, Clearwater’s executive director. “The song and spirit come through in this album and show other kids that you can change the world – if you care enough and sing for what is right!”
Pete Seeger, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater founder and a major force behind the folk revolution, continues to be an influence promoting social consciousness through his indefatigable active role in music. Seeger has always loved to sing with children and this comes through in his performance with these school kids from his hometown of Beacon, NY.
Seeger was quoted in Sunday evening’s Times Herald Record as saying “I never thought in a million years we’d win a Grammy.” This is the third Grammy win for Seeger, after winning in 1996 for the album “PETE” for Best Traditional Folk Album and in 2009 for the album “At 89” which also won for Best Traditional Folk Album.
The Rivertown Kids began when Tery Udell, a teacher at J.V. Forrestal Elementary School in Beacon brought then Clearwater educator, Dan Einbender into her fourth grade classroom to teach songs to the children. The kids began learning songs on their own and wrote new songs, some of which are featured on the CD “Tomorrow’s Children.” The album also carries the message that greener, more open-minded values are essential to the success of our future and the legacy that we are leaving for our youth. On this album, Pete accompanies on banjo as the children address environmental issues affecting their community and their world as they “sing out for justice and equality.” The group, still based in Beacon, began as a Clearwater project and has taken off with its own wings under the excellent leadership of Udell.
Seeger, as always, serves in the role of bringing together his neighbors to appreciate their past and insure that the following generations carry on the unifying power and spirit of music. He encourages people to sing with children, and pass on their own songs and stories to the next generation.
Clearwater congratulates Pete Seeger, David Bernz, Dan Einbender, Tery Udell, Travis Jeffrey Jeff Haynes, and the Rivertown Kids on this tremendous recognition.
The Grammy’s are the only peer-presented award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.
