For Your GRAMMY® Consideration for
Best Children’s Album
From the Creators of the Top Kids and Family Podcast
A New Album of Songs Based on Kids’ Stories
Art by Camilla Franklin
Listen to The Strawberry Band
Inspired By Kids. Inspiring Kids.
5-year-old Nathaniel, author of “The Strawberry Band”
Inspired by kids’ stories, the Story Pirates’ fourth full-length album is a hilarious homage to concept albums. Every song on the was inspired by a kid’s idea and composed by the talented musicians on the Story Pirates team, including Brendan O’Grady, Jack Mitchell, Melissa Gordon, Eric Gersen, Monique Moses (Astronomy Club on Netflix), Michael B. Wells, James Harvey, Rachel Wenitsky (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), and Ellen Winter ( 36 Questions Podcast). See the full credits below.
“The Strawberry Band” is a Beatles-esque song based on a story by 5-year-old Nathaniel where a fictional British rock band turns into strawberries whenever they perform, and they reappear throughout the album to avoid a strawberry-eating shark, ending up in a psychedelic freakout. In addition to "The Strawberry Band," listeners can enjoy 9 original musical adaptations of the compelling and hilarious stories by kids about musical cinnamon buns, weird sisters, a wingless fairy, and a dreamy little hedgehog.
Guest vocalists include top Broadway talent like Lilli Cooper, (Tony nominee for “Tootsie”), Eddie Cooper (“Little Shop of Horrors”), Alysha Deslorieux (“Hamilton”), and Stephanie Hsu (“Be More Chill,” “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”).
Videos
“The Strawberry Band,” based on a story by 5-year-old Nathaniel:
“I Have a Cookie (Feat. Eddie Cooper),” based on a story by 7-year-old Natalie:
“Fun Crazy Weird Hair Store,” based on a story by 9-year-old Sylvia:
What People Are Saying
““ The musical arrangements that are presented throughout the story offer plenty for children and grown-ups alike plenty to enjoy. They will in turn, make for a great way for families to bond just over this aspect.”
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““Vibrant and cheerful, The Strawberry Band is a joy to share especially during car trips or stay-at-home fun. Highly recommended. “.
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““Seriously, ‘Blue Night’ is a catchy and surprisingly contemporary sounding song.
It lodged itself in my head after a single listen.“
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““The trippiest...The Story Pirates stretch young minds like taffy and produce songs that are just as tasty.”
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Kid Authors and Original Stories
Click the song to read the author’s original story!
All art by Camilla Franklin
Credits
Recorded July 2019 - October 2020 at the Relic Room in NYC
Executive Produced by Lee Overtree and Benjamin Salka
Produced by Sam Bair, Eric Gersen, Jack Mitchell, and Brendan O’Grady
Engineered & Mixed by Sam Bair
Additional Engineering by Brendan O’Grady
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
Album artwork by Camilla Franklin
1.The Strawberry Band
Written by Brendan O’Grady
Based on a story by Nathaniel,
Associate Produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
2. The Case of the Musical Cinnamon Buns (feat. Alysha Deslorieux)
Written by James Harvey
Based on a story by Hannah, age 12, New Jersey
Produced by Brendan O’Grady
Associate produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
3. Fun Crazy Weird Hair Store
Written by Melissa Gordon
Based on a story by Sylvia, age 9, New Jersey
Produced by Brendan O’Grady
Associate Produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
4. Weird Sisters (feat. Stephanie Hsu)
Written by Monique Moses
Based on a story by Evalea, age 9, Missouri
Produced by Eric Gersen & Brendan O’Grady
Associate Produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
5. Hedgie and the Cloud Kingdom (feat. Lilli Cooper)
Written by Eric Gersen
Based on a story by Naomi, age 9, California
Produced by Eric Gersen
Associate produced by Sam Bair, Jack Mitchell, and Brendan O’Grady
6. Glowy and the Friend Adventure (feat. Ellen Winter)
Written by Ellen Winter
Based on a story by Clive (9) and Silas (7), California
Produced by Brendan O’Grady
Associate Produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
7. The Strawberry Band (Interlude)
Written by Brendan O’Grady
Based on a story by Nathaniel, age 5, California
Produced by Brendan O’Grady
Associate Produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
8. The Fairy Without Wings
Written by Eric Gersen
Based on a story by Franny, age 6, New York
Produced by Eric Gersen & Brendan O’Grady
Associate Produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
9. The Night I Started Sharing A Room With My Sister
Written by Jack Mitchell & Rachel Wenitsky
Based on a story by Amelia, age 8, Texas
Produced by Brendan O’Grady
Associate Produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
10. Blue Night (feat. Ellen Winter)
Written by Ellen Winter
Based on a story by Monroe, age 6, Minnesota
Produced by Ellen Winter
Associate Produced by Sam Bair, Jack Mitchell, Brendan O’Grady, Aleca Piper, and Nimene Wureh
11.The Strawberry Band (Reprise)
Written by Brendan O’Grady
Based on a story by Nathaniel, age 5, California
Produced by Brendan O’Grady
Associate Produced by Sam Bair, Eric Gersen, and Jack Mitchell
12. I Have A Cookie (feat. Eddie Cooper)
Written by Michael B. Wells
Based on a story by Natalie, age 7, Massachusetts
Produced by Brendan O’Grady
Associate Produced by Sam Bair & Jack Mitchell
Musicians
Brendan O’Grady- bass, keyboards, percussion, addl. beat/synths (1,2,3,6,7,8,9,11,12)
Eric Gersen- beat/synths, keyboards (4,5,8,11)
Jack Mitchell- synths (9)
Amos Rosenstein- guitars (1,2,3,7,8,9,11,12)
Rick Snell- guitars (6,9,12)
Geoff Hartwell- guitar solo (9)
Jon Wert- drums, percussion (1,2,3,7,8,11)
Alex Wyatt- drums, percussion (9,12)
Zachary Eldridge- drums, percussion (6)
Joe Ancowitz- trumpet (1,7,11,12)
Mariel Bildsten- trombone (1,6,7,11,12)
Geoff Countryman- saxophones (1,7,11,12)
Rob Hecht- fiddle (6)
Sasha Ono- cello (6)
Ellen Winter- beat/synths, keyboards (10)
Singers
The Strawberry Band - Peter Russo (Jim/Phil), Brendan O’Grady (Josh/Rambo), Andrew Barbato, Eli Bolin, Austin Sanders
The Case of the Musical Cinnamon Buns (feat. Alysha Deslorieux) - Alysha Deslorieux, Vanessa Magula, and Emily Olcott- (The Cinnamon Buns), James Harvey (narr.), Amelia Hefferon and Austin Sanders (detectives)
The Fun, Crazy, Weird Hair Store - Melissa Gordon (Sylvia), Vanessa Magula (friend) Jamie Watson (store owner), Tara Halpern
Weird Sisters (feat. Stephanie Hsu and Monique Moses) - Stephanie Hsu (Weirder), Monique Moses (Weird), Jamie Watson, Eric Austin, Mike Cabellon,
Hedgie and the Cloud Kingdom (feat. Lilli Cooper) - Lili Cooper (Hedgie), Sam Bair, Eric Gersen, Gaby Hornig, April Lavalle, Vanessa Magula, Brendan O’Grady, Emily Olcott, Lee Overtree, Justin Phillips
Glowy and the Friend Adventure (feat. Ellen Winter) - Ellen Winter (narr.), Anna Marr (Glowy), Dominic Russo (Narwhal), Andrew Barbato, Tara Halpern, April Lavalle, Jamie Watson,
The Strawberry Band (Interlude) - Brendan O’Grady (Josh/Rambo), Peter Russo (Jim/Phil), Meghan O’Neill (videographer), Eli Bolin
The Fairy Without Wings - Vanessa Magula (narr.) ,Jamie Watson (Water Fairy), Melissa Gordon (Sun Fairy), Justin Phillips (Waterfall), Emily Olcott (narr. 2), Alex “Goldie” Golden (narr. 3), Andrew Barbato, Cassidy Layton, Alexandra Nader,
The Night I Started Sharing A Room With My Sister - Rachel Wenitsky (Lisa), Alex “Goldie” Golden, Gaby Hornig, Jack Mitchell, Emily Olcott, Meghan O’Neill (Mom)
Blue Night - Ellen Winter, Nimene Wureh, Alex “Goldie” Golden, Melissa Gordon, Vanessa Magula, Alex Nader, Samya, Chrissy and Kiara Currin.
The Strawberry Band (Reprise) - Peter Russo (Jim/Phil), Brendan O’Grady (Josh/Rambo), Andrew Barbato, Eli Bolin, Austin Sanders
I Have A Cookie (feat. Eddie Cooper) - Eddie Cooper, Alex “Goldie” Golden, Gaby Hornig, April Lavalle, Cassidy Layton, Angelo McDonough, Jack Mitchell, Brendan O’Grady, Jamie Watson
