Mister G (children's performer)

Mister G
Birth name Ben Gundersheimer
Born February 28, 1967
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
United States
Genres Children's music, pop, rock, ska, bossa nova
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist
Instruments Vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo
Years active 2009-present
Labels Coil Records
Website MisterGsongs.com

Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer) is an independent bilingual children's musician. He has released five award winning albums of original music for children, including two bilingual (Spanish/English) albums. His 2012 bilingual release, Chocolalala won a Parents' Choice Gold Award. [1] His CD's have been selected as best children's albums of the year by People Magazine, Parents Magazine,[2] and The Washington Post.[3]


History

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer) is the son of noted children’s book author and illustrator Karen Gundersheimer. After graduation from Amherst College, Ben was awarded the first songwriting scholarship ever given by Berklee College of Music. As an adult-oriented singer/songwriter, he performed and toured internationally. In 2008, Ben enrolled in the Smith College Masters of Education program. For his Master’s thesis, Ben created a unique curriculum to incorporate songwriting into the classroom as a learning tool. Inspired by his 4th grade students (who originally dubbed him ‘Mister G’), he began writing the songs that would comprise his debut family album.

Children’s music

Mister G performing in Mexico.
Mister G performing in Mexico.

The Bossy E is Mister G's latest, literacy-themed album, which features a variety of genres. GRAMMY winning saxophonist Charles Neville (Neville Brothers) and Senegalese talking drum master Massamba Diop (Baaba Maal) both perform on the album.

Prior to "The Bossy E", Mister G release two bilingual albums, "Chocolalala" (2012) and "ABC Fiesta" (2013). Both were inspired by his concert tours throughout Latin America and feature the voices of bilingual families. Chocolalala is the winner of a Parents' Choice Gold Award.[4]

Mister G’s second CD, BUGS, (2011) received awards from the Parents' Choice Foundation [5] and the National Parenting Publications Awards. The album was also chosen as one of the top ten best children’s albums of 2011 by Parents Magazine and People Magazine.

Mister G's 2009 debut children's music release, Pizza for Breakfast, was inspired by his former elementary school students at the Smith College Campus School.

All Mister G albums are written, produced, recorded and mixed by Ben Gundersheimer. Mister G tours internationally, headlining venues such as Symphony Space in New York, The National Zoo in Washington DC, The Hard Rock Cafe in Philadelphia, The Getty Museum in Los Angeles, The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston, among many others. Mister G also regularly conducts artists residencies in schools in the United States and Latin America.

Discography

Albums

Videography

The Bossy E Released 6/2014 Watch
Cocodrilo Released 11/2013 Watch
ABC Fiesta Released 09/2013 Watch
Chocolalala Released 05/2013 Watch
Gonna Take My Hat Released 07/2011 Watch
Vamos A La Playa Released 07/2011 Watch
Mister Chubby Pants Released 09/2010 Watch
Squirrels Released 09/2010 Watch

References

  1. ↑ http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=31022&StepNum=1&award=aw
  2. ↑ http://www.parents.com/fun/entertainment/music/top-childrens-cds-2011/?page=2#page=2
  3. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/kids-music-that-will-take-you-on-a-journey/2012/12/10/6acaff88-3e48-11e2-a2d9-822f58ac9fd5_story.html
  4. ↑ "Chocolalala". Parents-choice.org. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  5. ↑ http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=29759&StepNum=1&award=aw

External links