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NO. 485 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
SECONDS TO NONE HIGHLAND PARK NATIVE BEN TATAR TALKS ABOUT HIS LATEST CHILDREN'S ALBUM. BY GREGG SHAPIRO THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Family music (what people of a certain age used to call children’s music) is a growing genre with no end in sight. The thing that makes the music family-friendly is that it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and isn’t as mind-numbing as some of that musical style of the past (I’m talking to you, Barney!), especially on repeat. Highland Park native Ben Tatar is a major player in the scene—one that is especially popular in Chicago and the North Shore. Tatar, an alum of Highland Park High School (class of ‘96), has two family music albums to his name, including the new, aptly titled Seconds. We caught up with Tatar last year at the end of the school day (he’s a music teacher in Long Grove) to talk about his music and his memories of Highland Park. The Chicago area has a long history of producing family music artists, from Ella Jenkins to Ralph Covert (of Ralph’s World). Are you finding a supportive community among other family music creators locally, as well as nationally? That's a great first question. I've always found that to be the case with this music genre. The environment and the community are so supportive. I definitely think that's one of the strengths of that style, and especially in the Chicago area. If we're talking about kids’ music, and giving them that friendly open invitation type of foundation, why not have a supportive atmosphere around it? I remember, before my
Highland Park native Ben Tatar talks about his new album. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETHANY FRITZ
first album came out, more or less making a cold call to Ralph, because he was a big reason for why I got into this genre of music in the first place. Seeing his band performing at Kidzapalooza at Lolla eight, nine years ago, something like that. He invited me over to his studio and I played him some of my music. He was so generous and supporting, giving of his time, giving me some feedback. It's a good atmosphere to be a part of, for sure.
In addition to Covert, would you consider Jenkins to be a musical influence, and are there other family music performers that you look to as muses? Absolutely! I grew up with Ella Jenkins’ music when I was in kindergarten ... first and second grade. That was some of the first music I have a memory of being exposed to. I know, as a Wiggleworms instructor at the Old Town School of Folk Music, she’s celebrated there, constantly. I Continued on PG 6