Bobby Susser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bobby Susser
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Howard Susser |
| Born | July 18, 1942 |
| Origin | New York, New York, United States |
| Died | September 15, 2020 |
| Genres | Children's music, rhythm and blues, novelty songs, pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer, performer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1962–2020 |
| Labels | Amy Records, United Artists Records, Veep Records, Laurie Records, Susser Records, New Hope Records, Smithsonian Folkways, The Bobby Susser Music Group, Inc. |
Bobby Susser (born Robert Howard Susser, July 18, 1942 – September 15, 2020) was an American songwriter, record producer, and performer. He was most famous for his songs for young children. He received a special "Distinguished Alumni Award" from Teachers College, Columbia University for his life's work.
Bobby Susser sold over 5 million children's albums during his career.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Dreams
Bobby Susser was born in New York City in 1942. He grew up in Queens and went to Jamaica High School. He was a talented baseball pitcher and was even named "Most Valuable Player" in a New York City baseball league in 1957.
During high school, Bobby loved writing songs for his favorite artists like Dion and The Drifters. At first, he couldn't get his songs to them. But many years later, in 1998, Ben E. King, the lead singer of The Drifters, recorded a whole album of Bobby's children's songs called "I Have Songs In My Pocket".
Bobby went to Queens College, City University of New York and earned a degree in communications. He later got a master's degree in communications and early childhood education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He also served in the United States Army in 1961.
Music in the 1960s and 1970s
In the early 1960s, Bobby worked with his childhood friend Paul Simon (from the famous duo Simon & Garfunkel). They produced four songs for a group called Tico and The Triumphs. One of these songs, "Motorcycle," even made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart!
Bobby then focused on writing and producing rhythm and blues songs. He spent a lot of time in New York's famous Brill Building, trying to get his songs recorded by popular artists. In 1963, he wrote and produced "Kiss Me Now" for Florence DeVore. This song was the first release on a new record label started by the famous producer Phil Spector.
From 1965 to 1973, Bobby continued to write and produce songs for many artists. In 1971, he wrote and produced a song called "Once You Understand" for his studio group, Think. This song had a strong anti-drug message. Even though some radio stations didn't play it, it sold over 1.4 million copies in the United States! Later, other artists like Biz Markie and De La Soul used parts of this song in their own music.
After the success of "Once You Understand," Bobby started getting letters from schools and churches. They invited him to play his song and talk to teenagers about its message. This inspired him to start writing and producing songs and activities specifically for young children, ages 4 to 8. He named his new series "Bobby Susser Songs For Children."
Focus on Children's Music
Throughout the 1980s, Bobby visited schools, sharing his children's songs and activities. He also formed a pop group called The Bobby Susser Generation, but he soon returned to his passion for children's music.
In 1991, he started his own record company, "New Hope Records." This company helped distribute and sell his recordings. By 1996, his songs became very popular in day care centers, schools, and homes. He created "The Bobby Susser Singers" and "The Bobby Susser Children's Chorus" to perform his songs. He also had a cartoon picture of himself made for his "Bobby Susser Songs For Children" series.
In the late 1990s, Bobby started working with more singers, both adults and children. He also visited classrooms and gave talks about children's songs.
New Albums and Awards in the 2000s
From 2002 to 2004, Bobby added four new collections to his children's series: I Need You and You Need Me, Respect and Confidence, Early Learning Sing-Along, and My Day/In Motion and Play. The first three of these albums won a Parents' Choice Award!
In 2008, he released All Roads Leads To Home, another collection of children's songs. Reviewers praised it, saying it was a "very solid choice" for preschoolers and "headed for the group of classic and standard young children's recordings."
By February 2009, Bobby's children's series had sold over 5 million albums! In September 2009, he released AMERICA: An Album For All Ages. This album won Dr. Toy's Best Audio-Video-CD Product Award for 2009 and was called "An American Treasure Of Songs."
2010 to 2015: Tours and More Awards
In April 2010, AMERICA: An Album For All Ages won another Parents' Choice Award.
In 2011, Bobby started a library tour, visiting children's libraries across the United States. He planned for it to be an "ongoing tour" where he would continue to write and record new songs. However, he had to stop touring due to a neck and back injury.
Even with his injury, Bobby returned to the recording studio. By the end of 2011, he finished his 25th album for children, titled WO!.
The album was released in April 2012 and received great reviews. School Library Journal said Bobby "has outdone himself."
In April 2013, Bobby received the "2013 Distinguished Alumni Award" from Teachers College, Columbia University for his life's work. His name was even carved into the main hallway of the college! In his speech, he said he loved "teaching children through songs, in addition to entertaining."
In June 2014, Bobby, along with other producers, won an Independent Music Award for an album called "ACTION MOVES PEOPLE." The money from this album helps a charity called MOVE THIS WORLD, which uses creative movement to help solve problems and reduce violence around the world.
In June 2015, Bobby was honored at the Josephine Foundation's annual dinner for his lifetime of work. This foundation supports children in arts and sports. He also received special awards from the New York City Council, the New York State Senate, and the United States Congress.
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (2016–2017)
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, a group that helps preserve and share music from all over the world, bought Bobby's "New Hope Records" music catalog for young children. A 12-album set called "Bobby Susser Songs for Children" was released online in September 2016. It featured Bobby's music from 1994 to 2012.
Paul Simon said, "I’ve known Bobby Susser most of my life. It turned out he was not only a gold glove shortstop but a masterful creator of children’s songs.”
Atesh Sonneborn from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings said, “Bobby Susser’s dozen albums have an engaging sound, a positive vision, and timeless messages.” Bobby planned to keep writing and recording new songs, even while recovering from surgery.
On his 75th birthday in July 2017, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings celebrated by having a sale on all his music. Bobby celebrated by finishing his 26th children's album!
Later Years (2018-2020)
On June 19, 2018, Bobby released his 27th album, called "Green Light." Educational Dealer magazine said the songs were "sprinkled with positive thoughts" and taught lessons in a "friendly and fun-like manner." In September 2018, "Green Light" received a Parents' Choice Award, and in November, it won Dr. Toy's international “Best Pick” award for 2018.
In May 2019, Bobby was getting ready to record his 28th children's album, which he had been working on for six years. He believed it would be his best work yet.
Other Contributions
Bobby Susser wrote, produced, and performed the official theme song "Bikewell Bear And St. Jude" for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Billboard Magazine said that "Bobby Susser is unusually prolific and consistently does excellent work." The Manhattan School of Music stated, "Bobby Susser has the rare ability to return to childhood at will. He is a master at communicating, teaching, entertaining, and stimulating young children through his believable and original songs." Early Childhood News added that Bobby "writes for them (the children), not for himself."
Bobby also wrote several educational papers and notes for his children's song series, including:
- "Implications of Rearing and Educating Children" (1975 and 1976)
- "The Lollipop Music Theory" (2003)
- "Choosing Songs for Children" (2004)
Personal Life
Bobby Susser lived on Long Island with his wife, Jan, who is a school teacher. He had one son, two daughters, and eight grandchildren. He loved baseball and was a fan of the New York Yankees.
Death
Bobby Susser passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, after a few weeks of declining health.
Discography
Selected Children's Albums
- We Are Better Together (1994)
- The Album For All Seasons (1995)
- Wiggle Wiggle and Other Exercises (1996)
- Animals At The Zoo (1997)
- I Have Songs In My Pocket (1998)
- I Need You And You Need Me (2002)
- Respect And Confidence (2002)
- Early Learning Sing-Along (2003)
- My Day/In Motion And Play (2004)
- All Roads Lead To Home (2008)
- AMERICA: An Album For All Ages (2009)
- WO! (2012)
- Green Light (2018)
Other Albums
- Encounter (1971)
- Learning Basic Awareness Through Music (1972)
- Pre-Physical Education Through Music (1972)
- Pre-Square Dance Music (1972)
- Let's Act (1972)
- Pre-Driver's Education Through Music (1973)
- Learning Responsibility Through Music (1973)
- Let's Act As Consumers (1973)
- Motivating Thought Processes Through Music (1973)
- Doctor Alphabet (1974)
- Growing Up With A Song (1992)
- Songs For Your Day (1992)
- Everybody Needs Somebody (1993)
- Action Moves People (2013)
Selected Children's Singles
- Once We Help Each Other, The Bobby Susser Singers (1994)
- Wiggle Wiggle, The Bobby Susser Singers (1996)
- A Trip To The Zoo, The Bobby Susser Singers (1997)
- Baseball, Baseball, The Bobby Susser Singers (1995)
- Any Time Of Day, The Bobby Susser Singers (2013)
- The Wo Wo Song, The Bobby Susser Singers (2013)
- Green Light, The Bobby Susser Singers (2018)
Singles
- I Don't Believe Them, Tico And The Triumphs (1961)
- Motorcycle, Tico And The Triumphs (1961)
- Wildflower, Tico And The Triumphs (1962)
- Express Train, Tico And The Triumphs (1962)
- Cry Lil Boy, Cry, Tico And The Triumphs (1962)
- Get Up And Do The Wobble, Tico And The Triumphs (1962)
- Kiss Me Now, Florence DeVore (1965)
- We're Not Old Enough, Florence DeVore (1965)
- The Guy Next Door, Florence DeVore (1966)
- That Tangerine, The Troys (1966)
- Up To Now, Trini Lopez (1967)
- Gotta Fit You Into My Life, The Troys (1967)
- I Can Feel Him Slipping Away, Mamie Lee (1967)
- Half As Much, Sharon Redd (1968)
- Do You Want Me?, Sharon Redd (1968)
- I've Got A Feeling, Sharon Redd (1968)
- Since I Lost You, Sharon Redd (1968)
- Once You Understand, Think (1971)
- It's Not The World, It's The People, Think (1972)
- He Doesn't Love You, Florence DeVore (1972)
- He's Got The Money Bags, Florence DeVore (1972)
- It Takes A Lot Of Love To Love Me, Florence DeVore (1973)
- Look Out, Florence DeVore (1973)
- All That I Know, The Bobby Susser Generation (1982)
- All Roads Lead To Home, The Bobby Susser Singers (2008)
- America, The Bobby Susser Singers (2009)
- Dancing In The USA, The Bobby Susser Singers (2010)
- Smiling Face, The Bobby Susser Singers (2012)
- Any Time Of Day, The Bobby Susser Singers (2013)
- The Wo Wo Song, The Bobby Susser Singers (2013)
- Green Light, The Bobby Susser Singers (2018)
Images for kids
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Susser in 2017
