Parachute Express

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Parachute Express


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Genre = Children's music: pop, rock, bluegrass, R&B, doo-wop, and folk
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Years_active = 1984-present
Label = Disney Records
Gymboree
Trio Lane
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URL = [http://www.parachuteexpress.com parachuteexpress.com]
Current_members = Donny Becker
Janice Hubbard
Stephen Michael Schwartz
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Parachute Express is a group of three California-based entertainers who perform, write and produce music for children. They gained national prominence as recording artists for Gymboree, Walt Disney Records, and Trio Lane Records.Rees B: [http://articles.latimes.com/2004/sep/16/news/wk-kids16 "How to get The Kids’ Reading Room Jumping for Joy."] "Los Angeles Times" 2004-09-16. Accessed 2008-09-25.] They sing the theme song to the popular television series Jay Jay The Jet Plane and have been seen on many television shows including Nickelodeon's "Nick Jr. Rocks". Their music is featured in over 550 Gymboree franchises throughout the world, as well as in preschools, daycare centers and and diverse informal education programs. [IDEA Health & Fitness: " [http://books.google.com/books?id=6ihdGgQB76UC&pg=PA24 Inspire Kids and Teens to Fitness] ". San Diego, California: IDEA Health & Fitness Association, 2003, page 24. ISBN 1887781307. Accessed 2008-09-27.] [McDonald M: " [http://books.google.com/books?id=9kFSJgEhfecC&pg=PA51 Shake-It-Up Tales!] " Atlanta, Georgia: August House, 2000, page 51. ISBN 978-0874835700. Accessed 2008-09-27.]

Parachute Express created a total of twelve albums to date, selling over half a million units (figure for 2004). In the early 1990s Parachute Express recorded for Walt Disney Records under the Music Box Artist Series. Since 1998 the trio has its own label, Trio Lane Records.McCormick M: "Parachute Express Is Back." "Billboard" 110 (39).] Many of their albums have won national awards including NAPPA awards, the Film Advisory Board Award, an Indie Award, a Toy of The Year Award, and the Parents' Choice Gold Award. Their video "Come Sing With Us!" won the Parents Choice Video Award and an International Monitor Award. They have been voted "Best Group" by the American Academy of Children's Entertainment. Their long list of honors further includes featured performers at the 42nd [Wharton D: [http://www.variety.com/article/VR102828.html?categoryid=1000&cs=1 "H'w'd to Invade D.C. for Inaugural Events."] "Variety" 1993-01-11. Accessed 2008-09-25.] and 43rd Presidential Inaugural Festivities, performing their "poetic anthem"Heffly L: [http://articles.latimes.com/1998/jul/23/entertainment/ca-6185 "Parachute Express Drops In With ‘Looney’s’ Tunes Kids Will Love."] "Los Angeles Times" 1998-07-23: F49. Accessed 2008-09-24.] "We The Children". This song was included in the Presidential library by then First Lady Hillary Clinton. They performed half a dozen times at the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn of the White House. Parachute Express perform regularly throughout the United States.

Discography

Albums

* "Shakin' It!" (1984)
* "Sunny Side Up" (1990)
* "Feel the Music" (1991)
* "Circle of Friends" (1991)
* "Over Easy" (1991)
* "Happy to Be Here " (1991)
* "Friends, Forever Friends" (1996)
* "Doctor Looney's Remedy" (1998) [Thomas E: "Doctor Looney's Remedy." "School Library Journal" 81 (2): 82. ISSN 03628930.]
* "Who's Got A Hug?" (1998)
* "Don't Blink" (2005)
* "Gymbo's Play and Pretend Favorites" (200?)
* "It's a Gymboree Party!" (2008)

Collections with other artists

* "Hear and Gone in 60 Seconds" (2003)
* "Songs for Little Boys (2004)
* "Songs for Little Princesses" (2004)
* "Dance Party" (2006)
* "Lullabies" (2006)
* "Classic Animal Songs" (2007)
* "Exercise Party" (2008)
* "Kindergarten Prep" (2008)

Videos

* 1989 - Live In Concert (Gymboree)
* 1995 - Come Sing With Us! (Disney) [Levine E: [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_akEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fT8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4608,4126396 "'Parachute Express' Doesn't Fly."] "Chattooga Press" 1995-09-27: 6. Accessed 2008-09-24.]

Awards

* 1995 - Parents Choice Video Award for "Come Sing With Us!"
* 1995 - International Monitor Award in the category Best Electronic Effects for "Come Sing With Us!"
* 1998 - National Association of Parenting Publications of America (NAPPA) Gold Award for "Doctor Looney's Remedy"
* ???? - Best Group Award by the American Academy of Children's Entertainment
* ???? - Indie Award in the category Best Children's Album for ...
* 2005 - Creative Child Magazine's Toy of the Year Award for "Don't Blink"
* 2005 - NAPPA Gold Award for "Don't Blink"
* 2005 - Parents Choice Gold Award for "Don't Blink"
* 2008 - NAPPA Gold Award for "It's a Gymboree Party"

References and Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.parachuteexpress.com Official website]
* [http://music.msn.com/music/artist/parachute-express/ Parachute Express] on MSN Music