- Bobs and Lolo
-
Bobs and Lolo 
Bobs and Lolo: Robyn Hardy (left), Lorraine Pond (right)Background information Origin Vancouver, BC Genres Children's Music Years active 2003–present Labels Independent Website www.bobsandlolo.com Bobs and Lolo is a Vancouver-based children's music duo consisting of Robyn Hardy (Bobs), and Lorraine Pond (Lolo).
Originally formed in 2003, Bobs and Lolo gained initial success by performing at the Vancouver Aquarium where Pond worked as an environmental educator. They recorded their first album, Sea Notes, in 2004, which had an marine-based theme and introduced children to ocean life. Their second album, Musical Adventures (2006), features songs about healthy living, conserving wildlife and going green. In 2007, they released On Your Feet - A Musical Adventures DVD, which features 10 songs and full-length music videos from their second album, Musical Adventures. Their most recent album, Action Packed (2008) features upbeat songs with kid-friendly analogies, and is dedicated to kids with action-packed lives.
Bobs and Lolo have won numerous awards, including a 2007 Parents' Choice Award: Silver Honour Award for Musical Adventures,[1] a 2008 Parents’ Choice Award for On Your Feet,[2] a 2008 Children’s Music Web Award for On Your Feet,[3] a 2009 Parents’ Choice Gold Award for Action Packed,[4] a 2009 Canadian Indie Award Nomination for Favourite Children’s Artist,[5] and more recently, at the Western Canadian Music Awards, for Children’s Recording of the Year for Action Packed.[6]
Beginning in 2010, Bobs and Lolo music videos have aired regularly on Treehouse TV across Canada.
Contents
Early history
Pre-Bobs and Lolo
Robyn Hardy and Lorraine Pond met in Girl Guides when they were both 8 years old, and grew up together in Nanaimo, where their love of the natural world was encouraged by their proximity to the Pacific Ocean and coastal rainforest on Vancouver Island. They parted ways soon after meeting, but reconnected in high school with a shared love of nature and an enjoyment for teaching children. Music was also a constant; they both took piano lessons from the same teacher as children, and also were in the school choir and an a cappella ensemble.
After graduating high school, Pond moved to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she received a Bachelor of Human Kinetics degree, after which she started working at the Vancouver Aquarium. Hardy moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria, where she received a Bachelor of Arts, with an honours degree majoring in linguistics. After finishing her degree, Hardy then studied at UBC and received a Bachelor of Education degree. She then started teaching in the local school district.[7]
Formation and early success
In 2003, Pond was working as an environmental educator at the Vancouver Aquarium, and Hardy working as a elementary school teacher in Vancouver, when they had a conversation about using music to educate and teach. Their conversation inspired them to write their first few songs, among them "See a Sea Lion" and "I Wish I Was a Jellyfish". They decided the name for their duo should be "Bobs and Lolo", from nicknames they had in high school.
Soon they started to perform their songs in front of friends, at parties, and almost anywhere someone would let them play. They got positive reception, so Pond approached the Vancouver Aquarium where she worked about doing a musical show for children that would educate them about the marine environment. The aquarium agreed, and gave Bobs and Lolo their first steady show, essentially launching their career.[8]
Musical career
Sea Notes (2004)
After receiving great reviews for their early performances at the aquarium, they began performing at schools, and private and community events around Vancouver. With popularity spreading rapidly in the community, they decided to record their first album.
In 2004 they recorded their debut album, entitled Sea Notes, based entirely on ocean-related material. The album consisted of completely original compositions, composed to introduce kids to a diversity of marine life.
In an attempt to make children’s music more popular with other ages (especially parents), Bobs and Lolo composed the songs for Sea Notes in a wide range of genres, such as jazz, rock, blues and pop. This proved to be a success with parents, who were happy to finally have children’s music they could enjoy listening to with their kids, later proven with numerous Parents' Choice awards.
The album was very popular. In the first three years, Sea Notes sold over 6,000 copies; almost unheard of for an independent music release.[9]
In April 2009, Bobs and Lolo announced the re-packaging of Sea Notes in eco-friendly materials, including packaging printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified stock, vegetable-based inks, waterless printing technology, and 100% recyclable CD trays.[10]
Musical Adventures (2006)
Nearly two years after the release of their debut album, Bobs and Lolo began recording their second album, Musical Adventures, released in 2006. This album had the themes of healthy living, conserving wildlife and going green, marking the duo’s first departure from ocean-based lyrics. They did, however, keep with their successful musical style employed in Sea Notes; composing songs in various genres with kid-oriented lyrics.
After the release of the album, Bobs and Lolo continued to play shows to promote their music. In the year following the release of Musical Adventures, they played over 250 shows all over Canada, from BC to Prince Edward Island. In December 2007 alone they played over 50 shows.[11]
This album also brought Bobs and Lolo their first major award, receiving the 2007 Parents' Choice Award: Silver Honors award.[12] It was also nominated at the 2007 Western Canadian Music Awards for Outstanding Children’s Recording of the Year.
On Your Feet DVD (2007)
After seeing the success of Musical Adventures in 2006, Bobs and Lolo decided to create a DVD of 10 music videos of songs from Musical Adventures and Sea Notes. The DVD, titled On Your Feet (from the title track of Musical Adventures), was released in December 2007.
Each music video is introduced by a short animated title, followed by the introduction of Bobs and Lolo, often with children playing or dancing around them. The videos were shot in and around Vancouver, and all the scenes are either of the spectacular natural scenery, or of colorful indoor sets. Like in their live performances, Bobs and Lolo dressed in identical outfits, with many costume changes.
On Your Feet won Bobs and Lolo a 2008 Parents' Choice Award,[13] and a 2008 Children’s Music Web award: Best DVD for Preschoolers.[14]
Action Packed (2008)
In the fall of 2008, Bobs and Lolo went in to the studio to record their third album. This album, released later in 2008, was titled Action Packed. As the name suggests, this album featured 12 new songs aimed at persuading kids to do actions and behaviors that positively impact themselves and others. The songs had themes such as literacy, healthy eating, fitness and teamwork. Musically, the album stayed on the same track as Sea Notes (2004), and Musical Adventures (2006), complementing the musical styles of the previous albums.
With this album came more awards for Bobs and Lolo. First, they won a 2009 Parents’ Choice Gold Award,[15] followed by a 2009 nomination for Best Children’s Recording of the Year from the Western Canadian Music Alliance (WCMA).[16]
Discography
- Sea Notes (2004)
- Musical Adventures (2006)
- On Your Feet DVD (2007)
- Action Packed (2008)
References
- ^ "Parents' Choice Awards: Audio: Bobs & Lolo - Musical Adventures". http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=21983.
- ^ "Parents' Choice Awards: DVDs: Bobs & Lolo - On Your Feet". http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=23703&StepNum=1&award=aw.
- ^ "Children’s Music Web Awards 2008 Winners". http://www.childrensmusic.org/a2008winners.html.
- ^ http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=26001&StepNum=1&award=aw Parents' Choice Awards: Audio: Action Packed
- ^ "inDiscover.net: The 9th Annual Independent Music Awards". http://indiscover.net/indies.
- ^ "WCMA 2009 Nominees". http://www.westerncanadianmusicawards.ca/2009-artistic-nominees.
- ^ http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bobslolo3
- ^ http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/etoday/story.html?id=34fb8a53-5093-4055-94b9-b08c934171af&k=20270 On your feet for Bobs & Lolo: Canada.com
- ^ http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/artsandentertainment/story.html?id=5164dd6d-217c-4091-976a-2ad6c270167b Bobs and Lolo do it for the kids: Canada.com
- ^ http://bobsandlolo.com/blog/tag/sea-notes-cd/ The Official Blog of Bobs and Lolo: Sea Notes goes GREEN!
- ^ http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/etoday/story.html?id=34fb8a53-5093-4055-94b9-b08c934171af&k=20270 On Your Feet for Bobs & Lolo: Canada.com
- ^ http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=21983 Parent’s Choice Awards: Audio: Bobs & Lolo - Musical Adventures
- ^ http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=23703&StepNum=1&award=aw Parent’s Choice Awards: DVDs: Bobs & Lolo - On Your Feet
- ^ http://bobsandlolo.com/blog/2009/01/bobs-lolo-receive-award-for-popular-dvd/ The Official Blog of Bobs and Lolo: Blog Archive: Bobs & Lolo receive award for popular DVD!
- ^ http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=26001&StepNum=1&award=aw Parent’s Choice Awards: Audio: Action Packed
- ^ http://www.westerncanadianmusicawards.ca/2009-artistic-nominees Western Canadian Music Awards, Festival and Conference: Awards: Artistic Award Nominees
External links
Categories:- Canadian children's musical groups
- Musical groups from Vancouver
- Musical groups established in 2003
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
