World Class Children’s Productions & Music

Tony Bennett, Rosie O’Donnell, Kermit The Frog, Elmo, Paddington Bear, Babar...well, what can we say?...Our expert resident, president, composer, producer, Ed Kessel, is a kid at heart! He began dabbling in children’s music when his niece Sarah was born. He wrote her a lullaby entitled, “Carnival Dreamland.” This led to many other children’s projects including a children’s ballet, “The Toy Shop,” which was premiered by the New Philharmonic of New Jersey in 1994. He proudly dedicates it to his two nephews, Sammy and Nathan.

His first commercial success was the Macy’s Paddington Bear national television commercial score, composed by Ed and fellow young-at-heart composer, Marc Hoffman. It was a hit with Macy’s and opened the door to many other children’s commercials, including a national spot for Babar! Recently Ed and composer Manfred Knoop wrote the lyrics and music to a children’s book with CD entitled, “The Laughing Ground.” It is narrated by Stacy Keach and features KidzAmerica, a young group of professional children with Broadway credits. Manfred Knoop teamed up with Ed Kessel and KidzAmerica to record an album entitled, “The Playground” (not to be confused with, “The Laughing Ground”), which features Tony Bennett, Rosie O’Donnell, Kermit the Frog, and Elmo. The CD was released by Columbia Records and was nominated for a Grammy!! Ed and Manfred also directed KidzAmerica on VH1’s “Save The Music,”and “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” Recently, they wrote an arrangement of “America The Beautiful” for Tony Bennett and KidzAmerica, which was performed at the US Open Tennis Tournament, September 10, 2000.

Just because we compose big orchestral works, serious movie scores, and commercials for companies like AT&T, doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy a good kiddie tune! Give us a call for your next fun-filled children’s project!!

Download Sample Children's Music Reel in MP3 Format (4.5 Mb)

KidzAmerica with Tony Bennett at The Hit Factory, NYC

KidzAmerica with Tony Bennett at the US Open