Bobby Susser

Bobby Susser (born July 18 1942) is a multi-award winning, American songwriter and record producer, best known for his young children's music.

Biography

Early life

Born in New York City, to Jewish American parents, (His mother was of Hungarian descent, while his father was of German and Polish descent), Susser grew up in the borough of Queens, New York in the United States, and attended Jamaica High School.He was a baseball pitcher for the ABC Freighters sandlot team, and was honored with a trophy by the New York City Baseball Federation for "Most Valuable Player, 1957." During his high school years he wrote songs for some of his favorite singers such as The Drifters and Dion, but all of his attempts to reach these artists with his material were unsuccessful. However, he continued to write. In 1960, he graduated from high school , and began studying communications at City College, but left after one year.

Career

After producing four single records from 1961 through 1962 with his childhood friend Paul Simon, for a local neighborhood group Tico And The Triumphs, which included Susser's first Billboard Hot 100 chart record "Motorcycle," on Amy Records, he concentrated on writing and producing rhythm and blues songs. In 1963, at age 20, he wrote, produced, and sold the master recording of the song "Kiss Me Now", to the legendary record producer, Phil Spector. Though the song was not a big hit, it was the first release on Spector's new Philles Records subsidiary label, Phi-Dan Records. So, the record, and Susser received a good deal of attention from people in the music industry.

From 1965 through 1973 he wrote and produced songs for Florence DeVore, Sharon Redd, Lily Fields, Mamie Lee, Robert John, and Trini Lopez. It was in 1971 when he wrote and produced the controversial song, "Once You Understand," on Laurie Records, sung by his studio group, Think. After being banned from radio stations in several cities, the anti-drug, novelty song sold 1.2 million records in the United States." ["Billboard" Magazine, March 25, 1972] The song was also a top 5 hit in England and Germany, (and continues to resurface in the hip hop arena, having been sampled by artists, Biz Markie, Acen, 4 Hero, and De La Soul).

Susser started receiving letters from churches, synagogues, and schools inviting him to play his song and talk with teenagers about its topic. This gave him a new direction and purpose that would shape his entire musical career, as well as his future. He started to write and produce songs and activities for children ages 4 through 8. Titles in the 1970s included "Learning Basic Awareness Through Music," "Pre-Physical Education Through Music," "Pre-Square Dance," and "Let's Act As Consumers." He also created the series for young pre-readers, "Doctor Alphabet." More focused, in 1974, he applied and was accepted to Queens College, City University of New York as a communications arts and science major and graduated in 1976, with a B.A., magna cum laude. That same year, Diana Ross recorded "Kiss Me Now", on her second, self titled album.

During the 1980s, he visited schools with his young children's songs. At that same time he also wrote and produced songs with and for the rock n' roll singer KZ Stella. But he left that project to go back full time, to his first love, writing and producing young children's music, as he continued to appear in schools with songs and activities for his very young audience. In 1987, he received an M.A. degree in communications arts and sciences and early childhood education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In 1992, he started his own record company in order to administer the distribution and rights of his recordings, and wrote and produced songs for thematic albums that have become some of the most popular young children's songs and recordings ever used in schools, churches, synagogues, and homes. He created The Bobby Susser Singers and The Bobby Susser Children's Chorus for his series, "Bobby Susser Songs For Children", for ages 2 through 8. Michael Green became his lead male vocalist and Deanna Jones his lead female vocalist for many of the early recordings within this series. By 1998, he broadened his guest list of vocalists, and began working with a greater variety of adult and children singers who have appeared on his song series for young children. He continued to make changes in his personnel of singers and players depending upon the song, style, and subject matter, but without losing his unique, and popular touch that is undoubtedly recognizable in the world of young children's music and songs. In the year of 1999, he went back to visit young children's classrooms and lectured on the subject of young children's songs.

From 2002 through 2004, he wrote, recorded, and added four new collections to his young children's series, (I Need You And You Need Me, Respect And Confidence, Early Learning Sing-Along, and My Day/In Motion And Play), and received the Parents' Choice Award for the first three. In 2005, he received Dr. Toy's/Institute for Childhood Resources 100 Best Children's Products Award, and 10 Best Socially Responsible Products Award, for the fourth collection. In 2006 and 2007, he continued to visit schools, but his appearances were less frequent. He spent a lot of his time working on what he called, "My most personal collection for young children, to date." On June 17, 2008, Susser released the collection of original young children's songs, titled, "All Roads Leads To Home." He said, "I was driven by a long time passion, to write and produce a collection of songs to help young children understand and feel the importance of a happy home and family." ["Educational Dealer" magazine, Fall 2008.] Reviewers called Susser's new work, "A Most Brilliant Collection For Young Children, Parents, And Teachers", [ Amazon.com review, June 26, 2008.] stated, "All Roads Lead To Home is a very solid choice to use with preschoolers, and it's additional song, '70 (Bringin' It Home To You)', for all ages, makes for a wider family appeal [School Library Journal, September, 2008.] and, said, "All Roads Lead To Home is headed for the group of classic and standard young children's recordings." [ Parentguide, Summer,2008.] Again, Susser received Dr. Toy's/Institute for Childhood Resources 100 Best Children's Products Award, and 10 Best Audio-Video Products Award, for his, 2008 "All Roads Leads To Home."

Other contributions and accolades

He has also written, produced, performed, and contributed the official theme song "Bikewell Bear And St. Jude," for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital . Billboard Magazine said that "Bobby Susser is unusually prolific and consistently does excellent work." ["Billboard" Magazine, March 23, 1996] Manhattan School of Music has stated, "Bobby Susser has the rare ability to return to childhood at will." [In a class introduction by John Abbott at the Manhattan School of Music, 1994.] "Early Childhood News" says, "Bobby Susser is unlike other children's musical artists in that he writes for them, not for himself." ["Early Childhood News" magazine, Editor, Fall 1996]

As a writer, Bobby Susser wrote

• the educational paper "Implications of Rearing and Educating Children," 1975 and 1976;
• "The Lollipop Music Theory," 2003 (found on his web site and Dr. Toy's web site - "see external links");
• "Choosing Songs for Children," 2004 (found on his web site);
• and activities, purpose and parent/teacher notes for every title in the series "Bobby Susser Songs for Children."

Personal life

Susser is a long time resident of Long Island and lives by the bay with his wife, Jan , who is a school teacher. Susser has one married son, two married daughters, and seven grandchildren. He loves baseball and watches the New York Yankees whenever he can.

Discography

In 1998 Ben E. King (Stand By Me) sang the songs on Bobby Susser's album titled "I Have Songs In My Pocket."

Most popular children's albums

We Are Better Together (Produced And Written, 1994)

The Album For All Seasons (Produced And Written, 1995)

Wiggle Wiggle and Other Exercises (Produced And Written, 1996). Often referred to as "the benchmark collection of young children's exercise songs." [Amazon.com review, October 23, 2005.]

Animals At The Zoo (Produced And Written, 1997)

I Have Songs In My Pocket (Produced And Written, 1998)

I Need You And You Need Me (Produced And Written, 2002)

Respect And Confidence (Produced And Written, 2002)

Early Learning Sing-Along (Produced And Written, 2003)

My Day/In Motion And Play (Produced And Written, 2004)

All Roads Lead To Home (Produced and Written, 2008). Includes the song, 70 (Bringin' It Home To You).

Other albums

Encounter (Produced And Written, 1972)

Learning Basic Awareness Through Music (Produced And Written, 1972)

Pre-Physical Education Through Music (Produced And Written, 1972)

Pre-Square Dance Music (Produced And Written, 1972)

Let's Act (Produced And Written, 1972)

Pre-Driver's Education Through Music (Produced And Written, 1973)

Learning Responsibility Through Music (Produced And Written, 1973)

Let's Act As Consumers (Produced And Written, 1973)

Think America (Produced And Written, 1973)

Motivating Thought Processes Through Music (Produced And Written, 1973)

Doctor Alphabet (Produced And Written, 1974)

Growing Up With A Song (Produced And Written, 1992)

Songs For Your Day (Produced And Written, 1992)

Everybody Needs Somebody (Produced And Written, 1993)

ingles

• I Don't Believe Them, Tico And The Triumphs (Produced, 1961)
• Motorcycle, Tico And The Triumphs (Produced, 1961)
• Wildflower, Tico And The Triumphs (Produced, 1962)
• Express Train, Tico And The Triumphs (Produced, 1962)
• Kiss Me Now, Florence DeVore (Produced And Written, 1965)
• We're Not Old Enough, Florence DeVore (Produced And Written, 1965)
• The Guy Next Door, Florence DeVore (Produced And Written, 1966)
• That Tangerine, The Troys (Written, 1966)
• Up To Now, Trini Lopez (Written, 1967)
• Gotta Fit You Into My Life, The Troys (Written, 1967)
• I Can Feel Him Slipping Away, Mamie Lee (Written, 1967)
• Half As Much, Sharon Redd (Produced, 1968)
• Do You Want Me?, Sharon Redd (Produced And Written, 1968)
• I've Got A Feeling, Sharon Redd (Produced And Written, 1968)
• Since I Lost You, Sharon Redd (Produced And Written, 1968)
• Once You Understand, Think (Produced And Written, 1971)
• It's Not The World, It's The People, Think (Produced And Written, 1972)
• He Doesn't Love You, Florence DeVore (Produced And Written, 1972)
• He's Got The Money Bags, Florence DeVore (Produced And Written, 1972)
• It Takes A Lot Of Love To Love Me, Florence DeVore (Produced And Written, 1973)
• Look Out, Florence DeVore (Produced And Written, 1973)
• You Can Make Me Love You, KZ Stella (Produced And Written, 1982)
• Valerie, KZ Stella (Produced And Written, 1982)
• Crazy Nights, KZ Stella (Produced And Written, 1983)
• Crystal Eyes, KZ Stella (Produced And Written, 1983)

Awards

• Parents' Choice Award (4 times) for his ongoing series "Bobby Susser Songs For Children."
• "Early Childhood News" Directors' Choice Award (6 times)
• Dr. Toy's/Institute for Childhood Resources Best Children's Vacation Products Award (2 times), 100 Best Children's Products Award (4 times), 10 Best Audio-Video Products Award (3 times), Best Classic Products Award (2 times), 10 Best Socially Responsible Products Award (2 times)

Quotes

"Only one person gets a chance to be Elvis."

"A friend is someone you know everything about, and you like him anyway."

"Some adults have accused me of simply repeating myself. But, I am certain that you can never get to the chorus too soon, nor can you sing the chorus too often in a young children's song, that is, if it's a good one. And so, I'll continue to repeat myself for as often as the children like."

"All Roads Lead To Home."

References

External links

* [http://www.bobbysusser.com Official website for Bobby Susser]
* [http://www.parentschoice.org Parents' Choice]
* [http://www.drtoy.com Dr. Toy/Institute for Childhood Resources]
* [http://www.myspace.com/bobbysusser Bobby Susser] at MySpace