Al Simmons (musician)
Encyclopedia
Al Simmons is a Canadian children's performer from Winnipeg
, Manitoba
. He began performing in the 1970s and later made guest appearances on Fred Penner
's television show as well as Sesame Street
. He tours regularly across Canada
and the United States
. He has recorded numerous albums for children and won a Juno Award
in 1993.
Simmons worked as a gas jockey
, steelworker and clerk before becoming an entertainer. He started performing in amateur shows and volunteering his services for benefit concerts. He formed a comedy/rock band called Out to Lunch and then a comedy/folk band, Kornstalk, before venturing out on his own again as a musician and prop comic. His best known act was the Human Juke Box: “two bits a laff.”
Simmons has released three CDs, "Something’s Fishy at Camp Wiganishie," "Celery Stalks at Midnight," and "The Truck I Bought From Moe," each of which won Parents’ Choice honours and were nominated for Juno awards. "Celery Stalks," an ode to vaudeville, won the 1995 Juno Award for Best Children’s Album. His illustrated children's book “Counting Feathers” was short-listed for the McNally-Robinson Book of the Year in 1997. He received a Cable Ace Award nomination for his music video “I Collect Rocks,” which is also the title track of his DVD.
Al married Barbara Freundl in 1976. They have three sons, Karl, Will, and Brad.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He began performing in the 1970s and later made guest appearances on Fred Penner
Fred Penner
Frederick Ralph Cornelius Penner, is a Canadian children's entertainer who gives appearances throughout North America. His television show, Fred Penner's Place, aired on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1997. It was co-produced by Nickelodeon in 1989 and 1990.Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
's television show as well as Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
. He tours regularly across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He has recorded numerous albums for children and won a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
in 1993.
Simmons worked as a gas jockey
Gas jockey
A gas jockey, or gas station attendant, is someone who works at a full service gas station performing services other than working the register. Their jobs include pumping gas, wiping windshields, checking your oil, and in the past, cranking your car to get it started...
, steelworker and clerk before becoming an entertainer. He started performing in amateur shows and volunteering his services for benefit concerts. He formed a comedy/rock band called Out to Lunch and then a comedy/folk band, Kornstalk, before venturing out on his own again as a musician and prop comic. His best known act was the Human Juke Box: “two bits a laff.”
Simmons has released three CDs, "Something’s Fishy at Camp Wiganishie," "Celery Stalks at Midnight," and "The Truck I Bought From Moe," each of which won Parents’ Choice honours and were nominated for Juno awards. "Celery Stalks," an ode to vaudeville, won the 1995 Juno Award for Best Children’s Album. His illustrated children's book “Counting Feathers” was short-listed for the McNally-Robinson Book of the Year in 1997. He received a Cable Ace Award nomination for his music video “I Collect Rocks,” which is also the title track of his DVD.
Al married Barbara Freundl in 1976. They have three sons, Karl, Will, and Brad.