Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (or SAS23) is a Grammy Award-winning family hip hop musician from Asheville, North Carolina. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has been performing children's music since 2008.[1] He is described as being in the upper echelon of artists.[2] His music is unique and inspiring in the kindie rock scene[3] and is an entirely new breed.[4] Their lyrics are intelligent, positive and empowering, without being overt.[5]

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
BornIndiana
OriginAsheville, North Carolina

After a decade touring nationally as a rapper and producer in Granola Funk Express,[6] and sharing the stage with the likes of Run DMC, Mos Def and P Funk, he released his first kid-hop album in 2008. He has been on the kindie rock scene ever since and has celebrated reviews and features on NPR’s All Things Considered[7] and in Time Magazine,[8] Parenting Magazine,[9] Cookie, and USA Today[10] and on kid-blogs including Zooglobble.[11][12][13][14] His songs speak of dragons, blue grasshoppers and talking clouds and convey positive messages and simple life lessons through hip-hop. Both hip hop and storytelling artforms are presented masterfully.[15] They transcend generations and put on family music concerts that kids, tweens, and their parents can all enjoy.[16]

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo serves as the official spokesman for the New York State Library System Children’s Summer Reading Program[17] and is the 2010 and PSA spokesman for the US Library System's Collaborative Summer Library Program.[18] He can be heard and seen in radio and TV commercials nationwide promoting summer reading programs at libraries.[19][20] He has performed for kids in libraries and schools across the country, teaching meaningful art to the next generation through rap and poetry.[21][22]

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo actively contributes to social justice and positive change in the world. He generously applied his talent on projects such as "Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti"[23][24] in response to the devastating earthquake there. Also "Science Fair", a compilation to support science and engineering education for girls,[25] which won a Parents' Choice Award.[26] In 2018, Skidoo contributed to Hold Tight, Shine Bright, an album to benefit detained immigrant children[27] and at aid concerts such as the Camp Fire Benefit Jam[28] to help his fellow Californians who were affected by the wildfire.

Albums

He released two albums with Happiness Records, Easy (2008), and Underground Playground (2010).[29] Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has had ten No. 1 radio hits on XM/Sirius Kids Place Live! and has played venues including Kidzapalooza,[30] Austin Kiddie Limits,[31] The Winnipeg Folk Festival, The Philadelphia Zoo, NYC's Irving Plaza and the Smithsonian Museum.

Easy, his debut album, encourages kids to be themselves, overcome fears, appreciate family, value healthy living, and above all else to “Have Fun”. On Underground Playground, he encourages kids to respect uniqueness and live life to the fullest. The album includes songs such as “Ride the Butterflies”, “Chase the Rain”, “The Whalelephant”. “Speak the Truth” features Gift of Gab. The national board of judges for Fids and Kamily poll named Underground Playground as #5 for Best Kids and Family Music of 2010.[32]

Make Believers was released in 2012 and continues to inspire listeners. Themes include curiosity, individuality, and that love is greater than fear. "Magic Beans" dives into the classic tale of Jack and the Beanstalk from a new perspective. "Hot Sauce" encourages kids to try new things, and "Gotta Be You" describes the importance of being the person you'd want to befriend. Last, "Back Home" touches every listener with a pet.

The Perfect Quirk was released in 2015 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.[33] The album begins with "You're It", a song with funky rhythms and truisms no one can deny. "Imaginary Friend" introduces a unique character and mind-opening perspectives, and is the inspiration for an animated film.[34] "Pillowfort Pillowfight"[35] is every kid's anthem.

Infinity Plus One was released in 2017, was nominated[36] and won a Grammy Award for Best Children's Album.[37][38][39][40][41] In addition to its spacey vibe, the album includes actual astronomical elements, such as the electromagnetic emanations of Earth, which were recorded by the Voyager spacecraft in 1977.[42]

Wake Up The Dream was released in 2018.[43][44] Listeners rave about the track Makeshift Spaceship and its funky video.[45]

Awards

At the 59th Grammy Awards, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo was awarded a Grammy for Best Children's Album for his record Infinity Plus One. At the 57th Grammy awards, his record, The Perfect Quirk was nominated for Best Children's Album.[46]

2014 Moonbeam Awards - Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out (Silver)[47]

Discography
  • 2008 Easy
  • 2010 Underground Playground
  • 2012 Make Believers
  • 2014 The Perfect Quirk
  • 2016 Infinity Plus One
  • 2017 Mozartistic
  • 2018 Wake Up the Dream

Collaborations

Albums
  • 2010 Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti
  • 2011 All About Bullies, Big and Small[48]
  • 2012 Science Fair
  • 2018 Hold Tight, Shine Bright

Songs
  • 2011 – “Look Both Ways” with Egg[49]
  • 2011 – “Froggie Went A Courtin’” with Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights[50]
  • 2011 – “Cooperate” with Sugar Free Allstars[48]
  • 2014 – “Together” with Moona Luna[51]
  • 2014 – “You Are Beautiful” with Robbie Schaefer[52]
  • 2015 – “I <3 Ur Face” with Josh and the Jamtones[53]
  • 2018 – “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” with Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats[54]
  • 2019 – “Rock This World”, with Mista Cookie Jar[55]
  • 2019 – “Shadow” with The Pop Ups[56]
  • 2019 – “Everybody’s Crazy” with Formidable Vegetable[57]
  • 2019 – “Leaders of the World” with Renee & Friends, Addi Rose and Amelia Dektor[58]
  • 2020 – “Laugh At Life” with Secret Agent Hi-Fi[59]

References
  1. Walsh, Dan. "A Conversation with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo". dadnabbit.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  2. "The Top 10: Best Children's Music of 2010". www.metrokids.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  3. September 4, Stuart Derdeyn Updated; 2018 (September 4, 2018). "Kindie rock band the Oot n' Oots in it for the fun - Vancouver Sun". vancouversun.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. Bream, Jon; April 04, Star Tribune; Pm, 2015-2:07. "Meet the new breed of children's musicmakers". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. "SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM". thehypemagazine.blogspot.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  6. "Mountain Express Music". Granola Funk Express. Mountain Express. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  7. "Hip-Hop And Vintage Pop: First-Rate Records For Kids". NPR.org. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  8. Barovick, Harriet (2010-05-17). "Parents! Are You Ready for Kindie Rock?". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  9. Parents (2010-05-31). "Cactus of Secret Agent 23 Skidoo Interview". Parents. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  10. "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Make Believers". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  11. "Archives". Archived from the original on September 6, 2011.
  12. "Itty-Bitty Review: The Perfect Quirk - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo". Zooglobble. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  13. "Interview: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo". Zooglobble. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  14. "Make Believers - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo". Zooglobble. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  15. Harris, Vincent. "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo Sacrifices Neither Craft Nor Storytelling to Reach Families". Free Times. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  16. Bogle, Jeff (January 10, 2019). "Hey, Parents: There Are So Many Reasons Why You Shouldn't Fear Your Kids Growing Up". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  17. "Summer Reading at New York Libraries -". June 18, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-06-18. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  18. "Collaborative Summer Library Program - 2011 Public Service Announcements". September 3, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  19. cslpreads (March 30, 2018). ""Libraries Rock!" Summer Reading PSA 2018 (Extended version)". Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
  20. cslpreads (March 31, 2018). "Summer Reading Champion: SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO - Kid's PSA "This Summer Libraries Rock!"". Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
  21. "Rap joins poetry unit at Fisher Elementary". The Bennington Banner. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  22. Center, Moss Arts (July 12, 2017). "Why do the arts matter?". Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via Vimeo.
  23. "Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti". Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  24. "Many Hands: Family-Friendly Tunes that Give Back to Haiti". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  25. Kraft, Amy (July 11, 2012). "Science Fair: Girls Rock". Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via www.wired.com.
  26. http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=31096
  27. "'Hold Tight, Shine Bright' Album to Benefit Detained Immigrant Children". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  28. "Local Music Scene Steps Up to Aid in Camp Fire Relief - Submerge Magazine - Music + Art + Lifestyle". submergemag.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  29. "Happiness Records". Welcome to Happiness Records. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  30. "Kidzapalooza".
  31. "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo at ACL 2009". archive.is. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  32. "The Best Kids and Family Music of 2010". Fids and Kamily Award Winners. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  33. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2015/01/23/this-years-best-childrens-album-grammy-nominees/
  34. Busch, Anita (January 6, 2017). "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo Song Inspires First Animated Film From Jeremy Renner & Don Handfield's The Combine". deadline.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  35. agent23skidoo (June 1, 2014). "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - PILLOW FORT PILLOW FIGHT (Official Video)". Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
  36. "Asheville's 23 Skidoo nominated for Grammy". Citizen Times. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  37. "Winners". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  38. Marshall, Alli. "23 Skidoo takes home the Grammy for Best Children's Album". mountainx.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  39. "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo captures first Grammy for 'Infinity Plus One'". www.theunion.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  40. Blair, Brian. "Columbus native wins a Grammy for best children's album". The Republic. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  41. "Local hip-hop act Secret Agent 23 Skidoo captures 'Best Children's Album'". www.theunion.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  42. Marshall, Alli. "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo debuts 'Mozartistic,' talks what's next after Grammy win". mountainx.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  43. "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo To Release Amazon Original Album Wake Up The Dream June 29". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  44. Cohen, Jeffrey (June 25, 2018). "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo Lives the Dream". geekdad.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  45. "BAEBLE FIRST PLAY: Video Premiere for Secret Agent 23 Skidoo's". Baeble Music. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  46. "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo". GRAMMY.com. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  47. "2014 Winners". www.moonbeamawards.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  48. "Hometown heroes of the 2012 Grammys: Oklahoma City's favorite kid's funk band Sugar Free Allstars". NewsOK.com. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  49. "Listen To This: "Look Both Ways" - Egg with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (World Premiere) - Blog - Zooglobble". zooglobble.squarespace.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  50. "Froggie Went A Courtin' (Featuring Secret Agent 23 Skidoo), by Joanie Leeds and The Nightlights". Joanie Leeds and The Nightlights. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  51. "Together (Single) feat. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, by Moona Luna". Moona Luna. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  52. "Robbie Schaefer | Music". Robbie Schaefer. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  53. "rocksteady". Josh and the Jamtones. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  54. "Are You Afraid of the Dark? (feat. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo) by Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats". lucykalantari.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  55. "Mista Cookie Jar". mistacookiejar.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  56. "GIANTS OF SCIENCE - For Your Consideration for "Best Children's Album" for the 61st GRAMMY Awards!". Tumblr. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  57. "Everybody's Crazy (feat. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo), by Formidable Vegetable". Formidable Vegetable. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  58. newmusicweekly (2019-02-28). "Renee & Friends to Release "Kindred" featuring Ziggy Marley, Lisa Loeb, Elizabeth Mitchell, Chris Stills And More". New Music Weekly. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  59. https://www.shazam.com/track/538577786/laugh-at-life
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