Putumayo World Music founder Dan Storper helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of his world music company by manning its Putumayo Kids music line’s booth at Toy Fair.
“World Sing-Along just came out!” he said, holding up a copy of the 11-track CD compilation of fun and upbeat songs from around the world.
“What’s so nice about international music,” he continued, “is that it allows kids to engage in songs from another city or country even if they don’t know the lyrics or the music, with the extra sensibility of a sing-along.”
Storper pointed to lead track “La Cucaracha,” from El Salvador, by Jorge Anaya, as “a version I always love.” He also cited the Australian folk song classic “Waltzing Matilda,” an aboriginal version of which by Trevor Adamson appeared on the first Putumayo Kids album World Playground. On World Sing-Along, it’s by Fiddlers Green Bush Band.
Another choice cut singled out by Storper is Harry Belafonte’s calypso classic “Jamaica Farewell,” performed here by Dan Zanes and Angelique Kidjo. But he gave special mention to the closing “Around The World,” from the album Music For The World by Pihcintu Multinational Children’s Chorus.
“They’re a girls chorus of immigrant kids in Portland, Maine, whose parents are from war-torn countries,” said Storper. “It’s a nice way to close the album.”
Putumayo World Music is contributing $5,000 from sales of World Sing-Along through October, 2014 to Population Services International in support of its Five & Alive campaign to ensure that all children have a healthy start to life, no matter where they’re born.
Meanwhile, the Putumayo Kids booth also highlighted another new title, Cowboy Playground, featuring country-and-western classics from the likes of Riders In The Sky, Ian Tyson and Peter Rowan & Don Edwards.
[The Examiner has written liner notes on Putumayo CDs.]
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