Mr Yipadee
Dean O'Brien, known by his stage name Mr Yipadee or Deano Yipadee, is a children's author, musician, and producer, who has performed in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.
![](../I/Yipadee_and_Crowd_NIK_Display_No_sign.jpg.webp)
Dean O'Brien aka Mr Yipadee aka Deano Yipadee | |
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Born | 2 September 1978 |
Known for | Children's musician, producer, and author |
Website | www |
Early life
O'Brien was raised in Mosgiel, New Zealand, where he was educated at St Mary's Catholic primary school and Taieri High School.[1][2] He became interested in performing music from an early age, and he played guitar in a number of bands in school.[3][4] He also spent a year in Japan teaching English through music to young children.[4] He began working in radio, initially for More FM in New Zealand, and then for 6 years on breakfast shows in Manchester, Liverpool, and Lancashire in England. He then spent over 4 years as the Programme Director for a radio station in Manchester, England.[1] He was made redundant in 2012.[5]
It was reported (incorrectly) in the Sydney Morning Herald after his Debut album went to Number One in the UK that O'Brien is from Melbourne, Australia.[6]
Music career
After being made redundant, O'Brien decided to pursue a career writing and performing children's music, using the stage name Mr Yipadee. His music is intended to promote positive thinking and self-confidence among children.[1] His first performances were at birthday parties and children's play centres near his home in Preston, England.[4]
He has released four albums under the name Mr Yipadee, The Animal Choir, about a mouse starting a choir, The Yes I Can Club.,[1] "Positively Nursery Rhymes", and World's Greatest Christmas Party. Yes I Can Club charted at number one on the iTunes Children's Best Sellers Chart in the UK when it was released.[5] and World's Greatest Christmas was at number two on the Best Sellers Chart in December 2014.[7]
In 2013, Mr Yipadee performed on the Kidz Field stage at Glastonbury Festival. After his performance, his debut album The Animal Choir peaked at number one on the iTunes children's chart.[3] In September and October 2013, he toured New Zealand with fellow children's entertainer Craig Smith.[8] He has also toured the UK between 2013 and 2016 with CBeebies presenter, Alex Winters.,[9][10][11] CBeebies TV actor, Joe Chambers who plays First Officer Ditti on CBeebies TV Show, The Rhyme Rocket,[12] Let's Play (CBeebies) presenter Rebecca Keatley [13] and Cat Sandion [14]
In 2015. O'Brien organised a dozen TV Stars to create an album called "Sing Along For Syria, this album included kids to stars from CBeebies, CITV, CBBC, and a star from iTV's Coronation Street.[15]
Author career
In 2016, under the name Deano Yipadee, O'Brien's first children's book Jingle Bells, Rudolph Smells was released by publishing house Scholastic .[16] and debuted at number one on the best sellers children's charts [17] and although it was only released in the last quarter of 2016 was number five in overall 2016 New Zealand Children's books best sellers list.[18] It also reached the top 10 of all genre of books in Australia in the Collins Booksellers Best Sellers List in 2017.[19] This book was taken from the song Smelly Christmas.[20] This song was on the World's Greatest Christmas Party album that went to number two on the UK children's charts.[21] "Jingle Bells, Rudolph Smells" is illustrated by Paul Beavis and Gruffalo's Alex Scheffler.[22]
Deano Yipadee's second book, Nee Naw The Little Fire Engine, debuted in the top 3 in the best sellers charts in the first week of February. It remained in the top 10 for over three months [23] and also made the Collins Booksellers Top 10 Best Sellers List in September 2017.[24]
His third book, Stink-o-saurus, reached the top 3 in the best sellers charts in October and November 2017.[25] and also topped the Collins Booksellers Top 10 Best Sellers List in Australia.[24]
In 2018, Deano Yipadee has had three books in the top 5 in the same weeks in the Collins Booksellers Australian Best Sellers Charts in March and The New Zealand best sellers charts in April.[26][24]
In 2019, Deano Yipadee had his books released in 21 countries by Scholastic Asia, Scholastic Canada, Scholastic UK and New Frontier publishing.[27][28][29][30]
In 2020, Deano released the third book in the Scholastic bestselling book series Nee Naw The Little Fire Engine, called Nee Naw Goes Bananas.
Personal life
![](../I/Dean_O'Brien_aka_Mr_Yipadee.jpg.webp)
O'Brien married Lani in Wanaka in February 2010.[2] They have a daughter, Evolet, who was born in 2012 and Ellora, who was born in August, 2015.[5] They currently live part of the year in Dunedin, New Zealand and part of the year in Queensland, Australia.[2][5][31] http://www.lep.co.uk/what-s-on/music/tv-stars-sing-along-for-syrian-children-1-7473649>[31]
References
- Houlahan, Carmen (23 January 2013). "iTunes hit for Mosgiel man". Southland Times.
- Benson, Nigel (20 September 2013). "Proving power of positive thinking". Otago Daily Times.
- Etheridge, Jess (1 October 2013). "From Glastonbury to Takapuna". North Shore Times.
- "Dean back on top with Mr Yipadee". Lancashire Evening Post. 19 January 2013.
- "If you have a dream, just go for it". Nelson Mail. 3 October 2013.
- http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-diary/first-lady-brings-fringe-benefits-to-presidents-round-two-20130121-2d397.html?deviceType=text
- http://www.lep.co.uk/what-s-on/music/preston-dad-is-no-2-in-itunes-kids-chart-1-6990325/
- "Former Hamilton man to perform at Glastonbury Music Festival". Waikato Times. 4 June 2013.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-02-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://gb.pinterest.com/mryipadee/summer-kids-fun-tour-with-alex-winters-from-cbeebi/
- http://thecrewenews.co.uk/childrens-tv-host-alex-winters-to-visit-crewe-playcentre/
- http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/CBeebies-star-Joe-Chambers-performed-Saffron/story-25712515-detail/story.html
- http://www.prestonguildcity.co.uk/events/details/3956/
- http://www.visitblackpool.com/latest-news/families-and-tv-stars-set-for-magical-day-in-black/
- "TV stars sing along for Syrian children". The Garstang Courier. 22 September 2015.
- http://www.scholastic.co.nz/media/3091/scholastic-xmas-2016-lr2.pdf
- http://www.booksellers.co.nz/book-news/nzs-bestsellers/nielsen-bestsellers-week-ending-5-november
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2017-01-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Bestsellers". Collins booksellers. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017.
- https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/smelly-christmas/id945425671?i=945425703
- http://www.lep.co.uk/whats-on/music/preston-dad-is-no-2-in-itunes-kids-chart-1-6990325
- https://yprl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/756202027_jingle_bells,_rudolph_smells
- http://old.booksellers.co.nz/book-news/nzs-bestsellers/nielsen-weekly-bestsellers-week-ending-10-june
- http://www.collinsbooks.com.au
- https://www.booksellers.co.nz/news/nielsen-weekly-bestsellers-week-ending-21-october
- https://www.booksellers.co.nz/news/nielsen-weekly-bestsellers-week-ending-21-April
- https://shop.scholastic.co.uk/products/Stink-o-Saurus-9781407196596
- http://www.scholastic.ca/books/view/stink-o-saurus
- https://www.scholastic.asia/es/authors/deano-yipadee
- https://www.newfrontierpublishing.co.uk/books/ron-the-royal-guard
- "Children in for top entertainment". Southland Times. 26 September 2013.