A documentary celebrating the life and work of pioneering children's performer Ella Jenkins! Chicago, Illinois, United StatesFilm
"We need this movie. It has to be done."
- WCIU-TV
Ella Jenkins celebrated her 90th birthday on August 6th!
If you are interested in making a significant,
tax-deductible contribution to Ella Jenkins:
We'll Sing a Song Together for a credited
consideration, (e.g. Executive Producer,) please contact
our production team via email
atproduction@singasongtogether.com for information.
We'll Sing a Song Together
Many remember Ella as
the occasional shining face on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Others know Ella from her decades on the road performing at community
centers, libraries and in concert halls. Still more have learned and
sung Ella’s chants in their homes and classrooms.
Those who have had the pleasure of enjoying Ella’s performances in person know that she enchants her often very young audiences with captivating songs, rhythms and rhymes. Always stressing participation, Ella has opened the door to music for tens of thousands, if not millions of children, as well as their parents, grandparents and teachers.
Without advertising corny novelties or bowing to maudlin trends, Ella Jenkins has built a singular career of her own, largely on her own terms. Despite garnering great popularity amongst several generations of music fans, Ella has overcome serious obstacles of race, gender, and hardship in order to become the beloved performer she is today. And she’s had a pretty interesting time doing it.
Like many of her folk music-making contemporaries, Ella Jenkins' life runs parallel to many of the most important events in modern American history.Ella Jenkins: We'll Sing a Song Together will frame our collective history in her voice, with her music, and through her unparalleled experiences.
With your support through this campaign, we can make Ella Jenkins: We'll Sing a Song Together the definitive portrait of one of the leading, if overlooked figures in American music. We hope you'll help us bring it to the screen.
The First Lady of Children's Music
Known internationally as The First Lady of Children's Music,
Ella has been performing and recording her original songs for nearly
60 years! With 40 releases to her credit on the Smithsonian Folkways label, Ella has stood
peer-to-peer with the likes of Pete Seeger, Odetta and Freedom Singer
and Sweet Honey in the Rock founder Bernice Johnson Reagon. Quite
arguably the first artist to ever trailblaze a career in the now vast
field of children's music, she has been recognized by ASCAP, the
Library of Congress, and with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Did You Feed My Cow?
In addition to providing downloads and DVDs of the finished film
to our donors, we are also very excited to present some exclusive
thank you gifts available only through this fundraising effort.
Check our facebook page and twitter feed to see the current contest for exclusive and autographed items for our backers. There's always a contest running!
Among the premiums we’re offering are an exclusive t-shirt created specifically for this campaign, an Official Ella Jenkins Hohner Harmonica, and a very special V.I.P. tour of the offices and archives of Smithsonian Folkways in Washington, D.C.
We also have some special items that will be autographed by Ella includingvintage LPs and a ukulele generously donated by Rhythm Band Instruments.
We’re also very excited to offer many selections from Ella’s vast musical catalog on CD and album download, which have been generously donated by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the nonprofit record label of the National Museum and home to Ella’s recorded output since 1957.
Album download options include:
Call and Response - Ella's first album, released on Folkways in 1957
A Long Time to Freedom - An overlooked gem for adults and older children from 1969
Jambo - One of Ella's best-loved albums from 1974
Early, Early Childhood Songs - Songs for young children and their families from 1982
Multicultural Children's Songs - A very popular favorite from 1995
You can see all of the thank you gift options in the panel on the right, and a few photos of the anticipated premiums by clicking on the Gallery tab above. We encourage you to pledge for yourself, as well as for the old and new Ella fans in your life!
