What happens when two children's entertainers, one from the East Coast and one from the West Coast, get together?
Daryl Robb, a long-time Squamish resident who was born in New Brunswick, and performance partner Crystal Mann from Nova Scotia answered that question by forming On The Back Porch.
And it seems important people are taking notice. The duo on Friday (Jan. 27) was nominated for Children's Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards (ECMA). The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony on April 15 in Moncton, N.B.
"The whole experience has been humbling as this is the first CD we have done together as On The Back Porch," Robb said.
In the summer of 2011, the two friends and long-time children's entertainers decided to create On The Back Porch to re-create the art of storytelling with a 21st-century twist.
The CD, titled "Tales Tall and True," features energetic songs that have kids dancing and singing along as well as stories of the Canadian prime ministers MacDonald and Laurier.
Other stories include a horse that swam seven miles to get home, tales of mythical creatures, Johnny Appleseed and the inspiring story of Kate Shelley, a young Iowa teenager who saved a passenger train from crashing into a river.
Recording the CD at Sound and Soul Studios in Squamish and Blue Newt Music, N.S., Robb and Mann were joined by special guests - Leroy The Lobster, Diggy The Blue Iguana, James Beak (Double "O" Penguin) and Nimala The Slender Loris.
Robb has spent the past 11 years with his show, Down By The Docks (a 2007 ECMA nominee and 2006 Children's Music Web finalist) travelling across Canada, parts of the U.S. and the Cayman Islands performing at libraries, schools, festivals and other events. He's currently producing two TV pilots for children, Down By The Docks and On The Back Porch, which inspired the recording of "Tales Tall and True." Previously, Down By The Docks was a Squamish-based community TV show that was available on many stations across North America.
The CD is available through CD Baby, Outbound Music, live concerts and digital downloads are available through many sources such ITunes, Amazon, Napster, Last.fm and many more.
For more information on Robb, visit www.downbythedocks.com.
