Recognized for more than twenty-three years by those in the know for his intelligent, compelling music for children, Parents' Choice®, NAPPA, and ASCAP award-winning musician Vincent Nunes is excited to share his seventh album, Smart Songs for Active Children, with families around the world.
Often compared to kids' music legends such as Raffi, Vincent Nunes has, since 1991, quietly forged a musical path that reflects his commitment to early childhood learning and deep respect for children's innate intelligence.
Keeping his focus on the children, Vincent Nunes has not actively promoted his musical work, yet praise has rolled in from media outlets such as South Forida Parenting, which declared, "For parents and kids up to age 7 or so who never heard of Vincent, you're missing something." Wrote
Minnesota Parent, "It's refreshing to listen to a children's recording artist who isn't dashing out a new release every year or two -- the extra time and care come through in the quality and variety of the music."
One of Vincent Nunes' proudest roles is that of father to two very accomplished daughters, one of whom is YouTube sensation and "Internet darling" Julia Nunes. Julia, who recently appeared on the Conan O'Brien Show, took time from an active touring schedule to sing with her dad on Smart Songs for Active Children. "Washboard Dave" Paprocki, a street busker, adds his wonderful, quirky rhythms to half the album's tracks, playing tin can, wooden shoe, soda bottle, bundt pan, and vintage washboard. Percussionist Emmet Basha enhanced his standard drum set with udu, jembe, conga, and other African drums to add an international sound. Vincent Nunes not only sings on Smart Songs for Active Children, he also plays piano, B-3 organ, bass, acoustic guitar, and accordion, an instrument he found to be "far more difficult than I imagined!"
Smart Songs for Active Children kicks off with a song co-written by children, "House of Love," whose open structure allows kids to add their own activity ideas as they listen and sing along. With a classic R&B vibe, "No One's Going to Keep Me Down" is a bluesy number built around affirmations. "They Speak Spanish" presents a lesson in geography and cultural diversity, as the song travels, accompanied by a Latin rhythm, to every country where Spanish is spoken while reminding listeners that in Brazil, the language is Portuguese. There's even a song with seven different rhythms and tempos, "Manuel the Great," written especially to help kids become aware of contrasting musical patterns and styles.
The son of a Portuguese musician who was a well-known composer of fado music, Vincent Nunes grew up in a bilingual household in Ludlow, Massachusetts but didn't learn much Portuguese because his dad wanted him to assimilate into U.S. culture. Vincent has been a keyboard player and back-up vocalist with many bands since junior high school, and he helped finance his college education by playing in the Millard Fillmore Memorial Band. He also played keyboards with the psychedelic punk rockers The Chesterfield Kings and co-founded the Public Market Band, which covered American standards. While music was always his first love, Vincent Nunes earned a law degree, and, following graduation from Syracuse University
College of Law and admission to the New York State bar, he began a legal career with a Wall Street firm. After the birth of his first daughter, he left that position in order to be able to spend more time with his family and, in addition to his children's music activities, he now works as an attorney and litigator in Rochester, New York.
Smart Songs for Active Children is available for purchase via the online store at http://www.vincentnunes.com
Check out Vincent Nunes' website at www.vincentnunes.com.
