Ella Jenkins, ‘First Lady of Children’s Folk Song’, dies at 100

Ella Louise Jenkins, known as the “First Lady of Children’s Folk Song,” died on November 9 at the age of 100.

A visionary in children’s music, Jenkins revolutionized the genre, introducing young audiences to a rich global musical tradition and promoting inclusivity through her songs.

Born in St. Louis on August 6, 1924, Jenkins grew up on Chicago’s South Side, where she was immersed in the sounds of blues, gospel music and local singing games, which inspired her pioneering work in children’s music.

Introduced to the harmonica and the blues by her uncle and drawn to gospel music at nearby churches and performances by artists such as Cab Calloway, Jenkins developed an early passion for multiple musical expressions.

Talking about her early love for music smithsonian magazine “I’ve always loved music,” Jenkins said in 2012. “Even when I was a kid, we sang and made up nursery rhymes in our neighborhood. Being able to sing well and learn songs is very important.

“In the neighborhood where I grew up [in Chicago] There’s also the Regal Theater, which features live entertainment. There were singers and tap dancers – tap dancing really interested me. Soon I asked my mother if I could go to one of the centers and learn tap dancing,” she said, adding that she loved listening to popular singers of the time.

In the early 1950s, Jenkins began serving as program director for the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) before devoting herself entirely to music for young audiences. Her 1957 debut album Call and Response: Rhythmic Group Singingreleased through Folkways Records, contains call-and-response hymns from the United States and Africa, especially suitable for young children.

During her career, Jenkins released 39 albums, including Multicultural Children’s Songs (1995), remains the most popular version in Smithsonian folk recording history. She has performed on all seven continents, sharing and learning about different musical cultures.

Jenkins introduced children to different rhythms and languages ​​through songs such as “You Sing a Song, I Sing a Song,” which is now preserved in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. Her approach embodies a gentle, inclusive approach to issues of self-worth and acceptance.

Her television appearances include mr rogers neighbor, barney and friends and sesame street Extending her reach to millions of children and families. In 2004, Jenkins received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jenkins’ influence extends beyond Grammy nominations and record-breaking sales. She inspired generations of educators, musicians and families to embrace diversity through music. She died peacefully in the harbor at Admiral Lake, a senior facility in Chicago.