Album Notes

For over twenty years the husband-and-wife duo of Tom Callinan and Ann Shapiro, accompanied by a wide variety of wind, string, and percussion instruments, has performed participatory family-oriented songs and stories throughout the northeastern U.S. - and beyond.

As folksingers, songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, and storytellers, Mr. Callinan and Ms. Shapiro appear as either solo artists or in-tandem. Featured tellers at the 1999 National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, Tom and Ann's tales are embellished with humor, music, sound-effects, and audience involvement. Their knack for blending their extensive repertoire of songs and stories with an impressive array of musical instruments makes singing-along, hand clapping and toe-tapping irresistible.

With a repertoire spanning traditional, contemporary, and original folk material, Tom and Ann employ a warm and inviting performing style, which quickly involves their audiences with catchy choruses and other forms of participation. Depending on the demographics of their audiences, Tom and Ann's presentations can include camp songs and play-party games for young audiences, "Gay 90's" songs and novelty selections for seniors, and everything in-between. Both entertaining and informative, their participatory programs appeal to audiences of all ages.

To date, Callinan and Shapiro have recorded six albums as a duo, and many others as solo artists and in varying combinations with other performers. Since 1982 they have co-owned and operated Crackerbarrel Entertainments, providing enrichment programming for audiences as diverse as nursery schools through nursing homes. Tom and Ann are listed in the Connecticut Commission on the Arts' Directory of Performing Artists and Master Teaching Artists. Qualifying Connecticut and New England non-profit sponsors may be eligible to apply for fee subsidies.

QUOTES...

"Callinan and Shapiro's lyrics ... are as direct and uncompromising as their vocals, covering gardens and garbage, "Pollution" and "Mother Ocean"." - Catherine Cella, BILLBOARD

"Connecticut's troubadours celebrate the family." - Carolyn Caprioglio, THE MIDDLETOWN PRESS, Middletown, CT

"Couple's homespun music mixes humor with message." - Claudia Van Nes, THE HARTFORD COURANT

"...warm and homey ..." - Claudia Van Nes, THE HARTFORD COURANT