Together We Sing A Song For You Ella Jenkins

Ella Jenkins was the ultimate pioneer. Dubbed the first lady of children’s music, her  contributions to the genre and the world will stand the test of time. This week, Ella passed away at the age of 100 leaving a legacy of riches in song and spirit for the world to enjoy in perpetuity. We have written about this amazing legend several times and now re-purpose our writings in her honor. Together, we sing a song for Ella in tribute to a life well lived.

GRAMMY® Award-winner Ella Jenkins was an incredible women trailblazer who paved an inspiring path for women and children around the globe. She leaves a trail filled with determination, passion, inspiration and success.

This children’s music legend is dubbed internationally as the First Lady of Children’s Music for a multi-colored rainbow of fabulous reasons. Performing and working with children on seven continents for over four decades, Ella’s songs transcend cultural barriers. It’s quite well known that she loves sharing what she’s learned from children of one culture with children of another culture. Using music from these diverse cultures — whether it’s a ukulele, a harmonica, guitar, kaluba drum or maracas (the list is endless) — Ella Jenkins always encouraged active participation from her young fans.

There are no language barriers for Ella and her listeners as she ensures that they are a part of her multilingual, multicultural journey. Her playful and captivating songs have a larger impact than simply crossing barriers. Her pleasing melodies and simplistic lyrics help children appreciate themselves and understand others.

Ella has released 40 albums and two videos on Smithsonian Folkways record label since her first recoring in 1957. Her classic You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song is the best-selling record in the history of Folkways Records. Her many guest TV and film appearances include NBC’s “Today Show,” CNN’s “Showbiz Today,” “Barney and Friends,” “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” and films as “Sesame Street.”

Ella Jenkins has Socially Sparked® our lives for five decades. As the first artist to ever trailblaze a career in the field of children’s music, Ella has been recognized by ASCAP, the Library of Congress and by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences with a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award.  A documentary about Ella Jenkins life and work is in the works “Ella Jenkins: We’ll Sing A Song Together.”

We thank Ella for her countless contributions to our lives and sing her praises in song together forever. We are forever Socially Sparked! tweet us @sosparkednews & @asparks01.