Album Notes

Based in Hamilton, Ontario, TURKEY Rhubarb is Dale Behnke (mandolin), Gerry Dion (guitar) and Paul Fralick (guitar). They sing in English, French and Spanish; and perform traditional children's songs from North America, Mexico, Antigua, England, Scotland and Ireland.

Songs such as 'Saturday Night' and 'Three Fine Mice' (from their first album, "TURKEY Rhubarb") and 'Chee Chee Cha' and 'Tell my Ma' (from their newer release, "Hello out there!") have 'crossover' appeal because they are enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Dale, Gerry and Paul are great believers in the value of diversity and singing in different languages is their way of supporting this. They bring a fun approach to traditional folk tunes.

In Gerry's words, the songs are unvarnished: they stand as they are and everyone can respond as they wish. Dale says that the band is three seasoned guys who have not lost their love of music. And in Paul's words, the band brings a profound respect and interest in children to every performance.

The band has been together for about 14 years; between them, they represent about 140 years of music experience. TURKEY Rhubarb has played over 200 concerts for children in the last 5 years, everywhere from the McMichael Gallery and the Toronto Library system to the Burlington Museum, the Métis Women's Conference and Hamilton's Festival of Friends.

Dale, Gerry and Paul became TURKEY Rhubarb with their self-titled 1998 release (re-issued in 2003). Audiences always comment on their harmonies, multilingual tunes (English, French and Spanish) and Dale's mandolin solos.

Known affectionately as 'tukie woobab' by one of their new fans, these children's entertainers are gaining a wide following throughout Ontario. They have performed from Windsor to Montreal; from Niagara to Huntsville.

QUOTES ABOUT TURKEY Rhubarb's MUSIC

Here is what the kids say about the new album, "Hello out there!":

"I love 'The Hockey Song' and I play it over and over"

"Our whole family can't wait til the chorus comes in 'Abiyoyo' and we can sing along again"

"'Chee Chee Cha' is so much fun and really goofy"


Parents and children have also commented about the first album, "TURKEY Rhubarb":

The 'Car Song' by Woody Guthrie is by far the most popular and children often comment on the funny sound the car makes.

One grandparent told the band about one of her grandkids singing 'Wallflowers' as he went to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

One of the band's best fans who is now 6 years old was a toddler when the first album was released. He learned to say the line from 'Wallflowers', "Paul Fralick's house" as "paw fala how" and still calls Paul, "Paul Fralick" to this day.


At some of their gigs, parents will comment on their enjoyment at hearing the historical background to the tunes.

Others have said the band should be on television!


TURKEY Rhubarb's music is for dancing, clapping and singing along. Their harmonies, humour and sense of fun are worth a listen!