Kids Get The Blues Too, Blues For Beginners

Kids Get The Blues Too/

Blues For Beginners

Live at Diamond Bar Library

Brother Yusef "Children's Performer"

I began my music career playing the Blues in bars, coffee houses, restaurants and festivals. I never imagined myself performing Blues for little kids. An invitation to perform at my daughter's day care spawned for me a new career ; "Brother Yusef, Children's Performer". After the success of my day care debut I created a musical program called "Kids Get the Blues Too/Blues For Beginners". My performances offered a Blues twist to some old children's classics. Songs like "3 Little Monkeys", "This Old Man" and" "Hey Diddle Diddle", take on new life.

I still perform at the usual place like bars, coffee houses, restaurants and festivals, but these days I can also be found playing the blues at schools, libraries and day cares.

The Program

Kids get the Blues too/Blues for Beginners is a program created by Blues musician Brother Yusef for the purpose of introducing young children to the early African American tradition of the Blues. Through dancing, singing, and audience participation, children and adults will discover the many expressions of the Blues. Brother Yusef will touch on the early history of instrument making, vocal styles such as call and response and musical styles such as spirituals, work songs and songs just for fun. He will also talk about the influence Blues has in contemporary music. The program concludes with everyone grabbing an instrument and participating in a grand jam session.