Randy Kaplan 2010

Kaplan blends American Roots, Folk, Alternative, Pop, Tin Pan Alley gems, Broadway numbers, and even Delta Blues songs into wild, live shows featuring everything from all-time classics covers like "Charlie Brown" and "Move It On Over" to original songs about spotless ladybugs, rare insects, and exotic fruit.

"One of the most exciting newcomers to kids' music since Dan Zanes." - Parenting Magazine

"Roots rocker Randy Kaplan is one of those happy-they-exist people you can't quite tell is playing kids' music. And yet he is." - New York Magazine

Performance playlist:

My Little Laugh
Mosquito Song
The Kid Is All Id
Tomorrow
Is She a Girl or Is She a Monkey
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Shampoo Me
Mama Don't Allow
Michael Finnegan
Grape Juice Hesitation Blues
No Nothing

In his songs for children and their families, Randy Kaplan blends American Roots, Country Blues, and Comedic Storytelling. He finger-picks and strums his way through unpredictable live shows, which, in addition to his original compositions, include Tin Pan Alley gems, Broadway numbers, and Delta Blues songs. "He doesn't dumb it down for the kids...he just expects them to come along for the ride. And they do," says Time Out New York Kids. Randy started his kids' music career in Park Slope, where he was a music teacher at Beansprouts preschool, and where he sung twice weekly at Perch Cafe. He now lives in Los Angeles.

Parenting Magazine praises him as "one of the most exciting newcomers to kids' music since Dan Zanes." Randy has released two children's albums so far, and both have been recorded by bluegrass master Mike West in Lawrence, Kansas. New York Magazine says, "Five Cent Piece (2006) combines a gloriously wacky collection of oldies (and originals)." Loquat Rooftop (2008), Randy's second kids' CD, is Kaplan at his best, full of "memories; images, figurative and literal; sights; sounds; flavors; textures; humor; and fun," says kidsmusicthatrocks.com. Zooglobble.com also called it "a mixture of blues and folk-rock, laced with good humor and heart." The CD was voted one of the Top Ten Children's CDs of 2008 by National Public Radio and Cool Mom Picks. Randy's songs "No Nothing" and "The Ladybug Without Spots" are among the most requested songs on Sirius-XM Radio's Kids Place Live. Randy has also guest-hostedThe Absolutely Mindy Show (XM ch. 116) and performed a concert at XM Radio Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In addition to his work with kids' music, he has recorded seven albums for adults. For more information, visit randykaplan.com