Children’s Musician to Present a Concert for All Ages

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama School of Music’s Celebrity Series will host a concert for all ages with children’s musician Justin Robert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in the concert hall of the Moody Music Building on The University of Alabama campus.

Roberts is considered to be one of the all-stars of the indie family music scene. He and his band mates, The Not Ready for Naptime Players, dish out unexpectedly intelligent and whimsical rock music for kids and their parents.

Roberts’ music has been compared to Elvis Costello, the Fountains of Wayne, Paul Simon and Nick Lowe. He has played at New York’s Symphony Space, Washington D.C.’s National Geographic Live!, Los Angeles’ Getty Museum, Seattle’s Moore Theater and Chicago’s Lollapalooza and Ravinia festivals.

Although Roberts began his music career in the Minneapolis-based indie-rock band Pimentos for Gus, he didn’t get his big break until he started teaching as a Montessori preschool teacher and began writing and singing songs for his students.

The kids’ positive response to Roberts’ music inspired him to record a CD and send it to close friends as holiday gifts. One of the gift recipients was Liam Davis, a college pal and music producer, who suggested that they record the songs professionally. In 1998, Justin released his first CD, “Great Big Sun,” and the critics took note. Sesame Street Parents Magazine named the collection its “Best Music Gift of the Year.”

Since then Roberts has garnered kudos and raves from national media including The New York Times, Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly, the Chicago Tribune, who said “As a kids’ performer, Roberts is in a league of his own,” and People magazine who said, “On your feet fun and laugh-out-loud funny.”

Roberts has won numerous accolades for his CDs including four Parents’ Choice Gold awards, Parents Choice 25 Best Children’s CD of the Past 25 Years, #1 Children’s CD of 2006 Fids and Kamily Poll, and three Amazon.com Top 10 Children’s CDs of the Year.

The Celebrity Series, which has been bringing world-renowned musicians to Tuscaloosa since 1988, is sponsored by UA’s College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Music. Single ticket prices are $22 and $15 for general admissions and $7 for students. This concert is free for children under five. For tickets, phone 205/348-7111 or visit www.music.ua.edu for more information.

UA’s School of Music is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the “USA Today” Academic All American Teams.