Rosenshontz
Encyclopedia
Rosenshontz was a children's music
duo popular in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s. Made up of Gary Rosen and Bill Shontz, the group recorded six albums between 1980 and 1994. Some of their more popular songs included "Share It", "Hugga, Hugga" and "The Best That I Can." By the early 90's they had gone their separate ways and Rosen and Shontz went on to produce several solo albums. The Rosen Family and Bill Shontz continue to perform, albeit separately.
in 1977 and released their first album, Tickles You!, in 1980.
As their popularity grew, they moved from school concerts to larger family shows. Their version of "Teddy Bears' Picnic
" was their first children's music hit. By 1983, the group was famous enough to play the Kennedy Center
in Washington, D.C.
. Five more albums and several videos followed, but the early 1990s recession led to fewer bookings and they parted ways as a duo.
. He and his family continued to tour in a wheelchair van they dubbed "the Fun Bus", taking center stage at Boston’s First Night celebration. Rosen and Shontz performed together for the final time on May 15, 2005 at a celebration of Gary's life and fundraiser. Gary Rosen died on April 14, 2007 at his Brattleboro, Vermont home.
Bill Shontz also released his first solo album, Animal Tales, in 1993, followed by albums in 1997 and 1999. He is on the New England Foundation for the Arts
roster and serves as a spokesman for Earthwatch and Green Up Vermont. He founded and operates Children's Music Hall of Fame, a child-safe and family- and educator-friendly children's music website.
Compilations:
Bill Shontz:
Children's music
Children's music is used here to refer to music composed and performed for children by adults. In European influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has historically held both entertainment...
duo popular in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s. Made up of Gary Rosen and Bill Shontz, the group recorded six albums between 1980 and 1994. Some of their more popular songs included "Share It", "Hugga, Hugga" and "The Best That I Can." By the early 90's they had gone their separate ways and Rosen and Shontz went on to produce several solo albums. The Rosen Family and Bill Shontz continue to perform, albeit separately.
History
Gary Rosen and Bill Shontz met in New York City in the early 1970s and formed the folk-flavored duo Rosenshontz in 1974. Modestly successful as a grown-up act, Rosenshontz got its big break when a kids' song the pair had written was featured on TV's Captain Kangaroo. Now children's entertainers, Rosen and Shontz moved to Brattleboro, VermontBrattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
in 1977 and released their first album, Tickles You!, in 1980.
As their popularity grew, they moved from school concerts to larger family shows. Their version of "Teddy Bears' Picnic
Teddy bears' picnic
"Teddy Bears' Picnic" is a song consisting of a melody by American composer John Walter Bratton, written in 1907, and lyrics added by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy in 1932. It remains popular as a children's song, having been recorded by numerous artists over the decades. Kennedy lived at...
" was their first children's music hit. By 1983, the group was famous enough to play the Kennedy Center
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center located on the Potomac River, adjacent to the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Five more albums and several videos followed, but the early 1990s recession led to fewer bookings and they parted ways as a duo.
Later years
Going solo, Gary Rosen released his first solo album, Tot Rock, in 1993, followed by albums in 1996 and 1999. Twice during the Clinton years he performed at Easter concerts on the White House lawn. In 2005 Rosen announced he was battling Amyotrophic lateral sclerosisAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
. He and his family continued to tour in a wheelchair van they dubbed "the Fun Bus", taking center stage at Boston’s First Night celebration. Rosen and Shontz performed together for the final time on May 15, 2005 at a celebration of Gary's life and fundraiser. Gary Rosen died on April 14, 2007 at his Brattleboro, Vermont home.
Bill Shontz also released his first solo album, Animal Tales, in 1993, followed by albums in 1997 and 1999. He is on the New England Foundation for the Arts
New England Foundation for the Arts
The New England Foundation for the Arts , headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of six not-for-profit regional arts organizations funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and by private foundations, corporations and individuals...
roster and serves as a spokesman for Earthwatch and Green Up Vermont. He founded and operates Children's Music Hall of Fame, a child-safe and family- and educator-friendly children's music website.
Discography
- Tickles You! (RS Records, 1980)
- Share It! (RS Records, 1982)
- It's The Truth! (RS Records, 1984; reissued, Lightyear, 1992)
- Rock 'N Roll Teddy Bear (RS Records, 1986; reissued, Lightyear, 1992)
- Family Vacation (Lightyear Records, 1988)
- Uh-Oh! (Lightyear Records, 1991)
- Greatest Hits (Lightyear Entertainment, 1994)
Compilations:
- Quiet Time (Random House, 1990)
- Sing a Happy Song (Random House, 1990)
- Sing Along: featuring top children's stars with Rick Charette, Henry Cory, Janet & Judy, and Jonathan SproutJonathan SproutJonathan Sprout is a singer, songwriter and recording artist from Pennsylvania, USA. He has released nine albums, the last six of which feature children's music. His two most recent albums feature original songs about specific 'American heroes'. Their titles are American Heroes and More...
(Peter Pan, 1990) - Stories to Remember and Rosenshontz with Phylicia RashadPhylicia RashadPhylicia Rashād is an American Tony Award winning actress and singer, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show....
and Judy CollinsJudy CollinsJudith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
(Lightyear, 1993) - Kids' Rock 'n Roll Party (Lightyear Entertainment, 2004)
Videography
- The Teddy Bears' Picnic (RS Records, 1986)
- The Feel Better Friends with Rosenshontz & Pandy (Golden Book Video, 1988)
- The Teddy Bears' Jamboree (Lightyear Video, 1993)
Solo albums
Gary Rosen:- Tot Rock (Lightyear Records, 1993)
- Cookin' (GMR Records, 1996)
- Teddy Bear's Picnic (GMR Records, 1999)
- Pet Sounds (GMR Records, 2005)
- Gary Rosen Sings a.a. Milne (GMR Records, 2006)
Bill Shontz:
- Animal Tales (Lightyear Entertainment, 1993)
- Teddy Bear's Greatest Hits (Bearpaw Recordings, 1997)
- The day I read a book... (Bearpaw Recordings, 1998)
Awards
- 1994: NAPPA Awards for Children's Music, Early Elementary Category, Rosenshontz Greatest Hits