Take Me to Your Library by Monty Harper

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"My family is having a blast with melodious Monty and his mischievous metaphors (more nervous than a wiener in a hot dog stand) and we're going to the library more often. Hmmm...What's goin' on here? Is there an infectious 'fun while learning' vibe in that CD signal?" - Dave Kinnoin, Songwizard Records.

"A delightful family CD that both kids and parents can enjoy. Most of the songs celebrate the joy of reading in one way or another, while always shining with Monty's trademark wit, positive energy and upbeat creativity." - Benjamin Bernstein, The BenJammin Examiner.

"Monty Harper's music deserves to be heard beyond the borders of Oklahoma." - Beverly Bixler, School Library Journal

"Harper's enthusiasm is catching." - John Sigwald, Booklist

Awards...

The Take Me to Your Library CD is a recipient of the 2003 Parents' Choice Approved Award

The song "Roundy Round" was winner of a 2001 Children's Music Web Award for best song for young children.

The song "Tropeo the Pirate" was nominated for best song in the children's category of the 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards.

About Monty Harper

"Vibrant images of a child's world are a hallmark of Mr. Harper's work," says Dave Kinnoin of SongWizard Records, "and his prolific playfulness delights the child in all of us." Based in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he lives with his wife and four-year-old daughter, Harper has been writing, recording, and performing songs for kids since 1989.

Harper's fourth and latest recording, The Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD, was captured live in front of audiences in Stillwater, Bartlesville, and Oklahoma City. Harper performed with the "Thrice Upon a Time Band," a rock ensemble he put together solely for the purpose of creating the CD. Band members are John Howk on electric guitar, Cody Byassee on drums, and Bob Moore on bass.

"Well-established 'adult' acts such as They Might Be Giants and Dan Zanes are now 'discovering' that kids like to rock, too," says Harper. "But I've known it all along! With the new CD I'm trying to approach that same boundary between kids' music and pop, but from the other side, as a solo children's artist mixing in a real, live, energetic, rock 'n' roll sound."

Harper began creating music for kids as a way to combine various interests such as writing, music, performance, and working with children. After completing his master's degree in mathematics at Oklahoma State University (just in case) he immediately began to explore the possibility of children's music as a career. A few Barry Louis Polisar records he discovered at the library inspired Harper to forge ahead. "Those records showed me that success can be had making fun music about gross stuff that kids love," says Harper. "That sounded right up my alley."

In the ensuing years, Harper has engaged many thousands of children with his interactive programs at libraries and schools throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. He also teaches songwriting through his workshops and residencies and is one of the most often booked performers on the Oklahoma Arts Council Touring Roster. He has penned many songs for clients such as The Oklahoma Department of Libraries and the LAUSD Nutrition Network. He has collected three Children's Music Web Awards, a Parents' Choice, two Unisong International Song Contest awards, and once landed a song at number one on the MP3.com children's chart. Harper's recordings are available internationally at CDBaby.com, Amazon.com, and iTunes.

Songs from Harper's new CD will feature prominently during his fifteenth summer reading program tour this June and July. He is scheduled to present more than forty programs throughout Oklahoma. An itinerary is available at www.montyharper.com.

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