Justin Roberts (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Justin Roberts
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Roberts performing in 2007
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| Years active | 1991–present |
Justin Roberts is an American singer and songwriter. He is famous for creating music especially for children. He performs with his band, the Not Ready for Naptime Players. Justin Roberts' albums have been nominated for a Grammy Award multiple times. His album Jungle Gym was nominated in 2010. Recess was nominated in 2013, and Lemonade was nominated in 2017. His album Wild Life also received a nomination in 2021.
Justin Roberts released a Greatest Hits album in August 2016. He also released a new album of acoustic songs in October 2016. This album featured another musician named Robbie Fulks.
Contents
Justin Roberts' Early Life and Music Journey
Justin Roberts was born in Des Moines, Iowa. When he was a child, he loved music and sang in different groups. He went to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. There, he was part of a male singing group called the Kokosingers.
Forming His First Band
In 1988, while at college, Justin Roberts started an indie-folk band. It was called Pimentos For Gus. He formed it with his friends Mike Merz and Tracy Spuehler. After graduating in 1992, the band moved to Minneapolis. They became quite popular in the indie music scene there during the 1990s.
Becoming a Children's Music Star
In 1992, Justin Roberts also started working as a Montessori preschool teacher. This is where he discovered his passion for children's music. He began writing and singing songs for his young students. The kids loved his music right away!
When Pimentos For Gus broke up in 1996, Justin moved to Chicago. He sent a tape of his children's songs to his college friend, Liam Davis, as a Christmas gift. Liam, who was a music producer, thought the songs were great. He suggested they record them properly. In 1997, Justin Roberts decided to focus completely on children's music. He recorded his first album, Great Big Sun.
Growing Popularity
After Great Big Sun was released in 1997, music critics noticed Justin Roberts. His music was compared to famous artists like Elvis Costello and Paul Simon. By 2001, Justin was performing music full-time. His shows started selling out, and his fame grew. He has performed at many famous places and festivals. These include NYC's Symphony Space, Lollapalooza, and Chicago's Ravinia Festival.
Justin Roberts' Music Albums
Justin Roberts has released many albums throughout his career.
Albums with Pimentos For Gus
- Musica Psycoustica (1993)
- The 17-Minute Workout EP (1995)
- East of Sweden (1996)
Solo Album
- Bright Becomes Blue (1999)
Children's Albums
- Great Big Sun (1997)
- Yellow Bus (2001)
- Not Naptime (2003)
- Way Out (2004)
- Why Not Sea Monsters? Songs From The New Testament (2004)
- Why Not Sea Monsters? Songs From The Hebrew Scriptures (2006)
- Meltdown! (2006)
- Pop Fly (2008)
- Jungle Gym (2010)
- Lullaby (2012)
- Recess (2013)
- Greatest Hits (2016)
- Lemonade (2016)
- Wild Life (2020)
- Space Cadet (2022)
Awards and Recognitions
Justin Roberts has won many awards for his children's music.
- He has won eight National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA).
- He has also won eight Parents' Choice Gold Awards.
His album Not Naptime was listed as one of the 25 best children's CDs of the past 25 years by Parents' Choice. Jungle Gym was named the top children's CD of 2010 by MetroKids. Several of his albums, including Meltdown, Pop Fly, and Jungle Gym, were chosen as the "Number One Children's CD of the Year" by Fids and Kamily.
Justin Roberts' albums have been on Amazon's "Top 10 Children's CDs of the Year" list four times. Meltdown was even highlighted as an example of the "Best Children's Music of the Past 30 Years" by Time Out NY Kids.
Grammy Nominations
Justin Roberts has been nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Children's Music Album multiple times:
- Jungle Gym was nominated in 2010.
- Recess was nominated in 2013.
- Lemonade was nominated in 2017.
- Wild Life was nominated in 2021.
