Album Notes

Kids' music for all! A smart and raucous delight, the kind of sonic adventure that ranks up there with Marlo Thomas' classic "Free to Be You and Me," Harry Nilsson's "The Point" and anything from the Muppets in their heyday. ~ LOS ANGELES TIMES

The critically acclaimed debut children’s CD, “GWENDOLYN AND THE GOOD TIME GANG” won Los Angeles based songwriter Gwendolyn Sanford an ever-widening base of young fans (and their parents). It’s been reported even her sophomore holiday release “‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE ROCKIN’” enjoys year-round play! “GET UP & DANCE!” rocked your socks off and got your feet moving. Now, get ready to put your hands together for the band’s fourth album CLAP YOUR HANDS, a perfect soundtrack to any playground in the neighborhood.

Some songs may send you to a special place in music history. “Clap Your Hands” and “Smile Smile” capture the mood of Motown… Tunes like “Alright, Okay, Just Fine” and “Litterbug” set you swinging like in the days of Louis Prima… “Evens and Odds” recalls Credence Clearwater or Tom Petty… Whatever your pleasure, Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang add their own distinct flavor to children’s music. Fun, friendly and totally hummable tunes for anyone on the playground.

With the success of her first children’s song "Freedom of the Heart (Ooodily Ooodily)" in the independent film Chuck and Buck, a friend suggested to Gwendolyn that she create more songs for kids. She imagined what kind of music she'd like to hear if she were four again and out came the nutty, irresistibly playful tunes of Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang. She donated a 5 song CD to preschools around her Silverlake neighborhood and thus created a bit of a cult following. The feedback was positive – the songs were infectious! And the demand for a full album was undeniable.

After completing and releasing the debut album on their Whispersquish label, Gwendolyn and her producing partner, Brandon Jay recruited their favorite musician friends to perform the songs live. While much of the band’s popularity is due to west coast performances at various street fairs, family festivals, record stores, celebrity birthday parties and even the occasional nightclub, their wide spanning press coverage hasn't hurt any. After full page features in the Los Angeles Times as well as the New York Times, it was no surprise when Entertainment Weekly coined it “as good as tot-rock gets” and awarded the CD the only “A” in the music reviews section of the September 12, 2003 issue; People love this band's sound. It gives families the opportunity to finally agree on what's being played in the car! Gwendolyn has since created and produced music videos which have aired on NOGGIN (Nickelodeon’s preschool channel), released a concert DVD “Live In Grandma’s Living Room!”, and a holiday album “‘Tis The Season To Be Rockin’” (featuring classic and original songs for Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa). She’s captivated larger audiences acting as MC for America's Family Expo, Kidsfaire and performed alongside Grammy Award winning artist Ella Jenkins and Jane’s Addiction’s own Perry Farrell on Lollapalooza’s Kidzapalooza stage in Chicago, IL. Gwendolyn dedicated her third CD “GET UP & DANCE” to peace and enjoyed taking the band on an East Coast tour in 2007. CLAP YOUR HANDS was recorded while Gwendolyn was pregnant with her first child.

A long-time performing artist herself, the creation of Gwendolyn And The Good Time Gang awoke in Gwendolyn a passion for inspiring, entertaining, & educating young children (she is also a Certified Children’s Yoga Instructor). With a sponsorship from First Act, the leading manufacturer of musical instruments for children, Gwendolyn hopes to inspire kids at an early age to pick up an instrument, create music and put on a show themselves!

A bonus: songs are performed in a manner parents can also enjoy! Whatever age you are, Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang is sure to put a smile on your face. ☺

Visit us at www.gwendolynandthegoodtimegang.com