Ella Jenkins was a singer and songwriter who focused on creating music for children during her entire decades-long career.
- Died: November 9, 2024 (Who else died on November 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Chicago at the age of 100.
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Ella Jenkins’ legacy
Born in St. Louis, Jenkins grew up steeped in the city’s rich musical culture, though she never received a formal music education. She always loved to sing, and her uncle played her the blues and taught her to play the harmonica. Later, she picked up the ukulele, playing by ear throughout her award-winning career.
Jenkins began playing music for children while volunteering at recreation centers and working at a YWCA in Chicago in the early 1950s. Within a few years, she had decided to pursue music full-time, traveling the country to play for children at schools. In 1957, her debut album, “Call-and-Response: Rhythmic Group Singing,” was released, the first in a string of dozens of LPs for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Its title reflected one of Jenkins’ favorite song styles for children, as her call-and-response compositions made it easy for her young audiences to participate in her music.
She also loved recording music of the world for children. Her 1995 album “Multicultural Children’s Songs” was Smithsonian Folkway’s all-time top release, and it remains a favorite in children’s music. Another perennial favorite is “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song.” The title track has been included in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Her most recent recording was 2017’s “Camp Songs with Ella Jenkins and Friends.”
In addition to recording albums and performing in concerts, Jenkins shared her music with children on TV. She appeared on several episodes of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” in the 1970s through ‘90s. She also performed songs on “Sesame Street” and “Barney & Friends.” She performed at the 1996 celebration of the Smithsonian’s 150th anniversary, and in 2004, she was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Notable quote
“I’ve always said children are my favorite people, and that’s because there’s an honesty and a purity, especially in their smiles. If a child really wants to smile, they smile. And their laughter makes you want to laugh inside…. When a child shakes your hand, there’s just a wonderful little warmth that goes along with it. It makes me feel good.” —from a 2011 interview for Dadnabbit
Tributes to Ella Jenkins
Full obituary: The New York Times
