Celebrated singer-songwriter Joshua Radin is launching a partnership with the non-profit organization Little Kids Rock in an effort to revitalize music education across the country amidst unprecedented budget cuts. Beginning this January, Radin will visit Little Kids Rock classrooms in select cities throughout his nationwide tour where he will work alongside teachers to incorporate his songs into the lesson plan. Each night, a group of students will be invited to join Radin and his band on stage to perform what they learned.
“We are so excited that Joshua Radin is supporting our children,” says Little Kids Rock Executive Director David Wish. “Getting the chance to perform on stage with a professional recording artist is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and for these children, Joshua is living proof that if they work hard and follow their dreams, they can be successful in their lives.”
Education has always been close to Radin’s heart. After college he spent a few years working as an art teacher in his native Cleveland before teaching himself guitar and pursuing a career in music. Over the years, he has participated in various events for children, but his partnership with Little Kids Rock affirms his deeper commitment to furthering music education. “Teaching kids to do anything creatively is the best job one can possibly have,” explains Radin. “Well, maybe rock star. It’s a tie.”
Radin is touring in support of his new album, The Rock and The Tide. Out now on Mom + Pop Music, the album debuted at #5 on iTunes while Radin performed on “Ellen,” “The Today Show” and CBS’s “The Early Show.”
He first burst onto the scene when his 2006 debut We Were Here garnered a 4-star review in Rolling Stone. His success grew with the release of Simple Times, with the Sunday Times proclaiming it “refreshingly honest,” and praising his “soft spoken finger-picked songs…their lilt and melodic simplicity recalling James Taylor and Paul Simon’s early solo releases.” Radin has performed on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “The Today Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and more, and his songs can be heard in countless films, commercials and TV shows including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “House,” “Scrubs” and “American Idol.”
About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in underfunded public schools. Little Kids Rock was founded in San Francisco in 2002 by David Wish, an elementary school teacher who had grown frustrated with the lack of music education funding at his school. Today, Little Kids Rock is one of the leading nonprofit providers of free lessons and instruments to underprivileged children in U.S. public schools, and has served more than 110,000 students at over 1,200 schools in 25 cities nationwide. Little Kids Rock Honorary Board Members include Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Ziggy Marley and other friends in the music industry. More information can be found at: www.littlekidsrock.org.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
*Little Kids Rock performance
January 29 Opera House Toronto, ON
January 30 La Tulipe Montreal, QC
January 31 Toad’s Place New Haven, CT
February 2 Lincoln Theatre Raleigh, NC
February 3 Center Stage Atlanta, GA*
February 4 The Cannery Nashville, TN*
February 5 Handlebar Greenville, SC
February 7 The Plaza Theater Orlando, FL
February 8 State Theater Tampa, FL*
February 9 WorkPlay Theatre Birmingham, AL
February 11 Jefferson Theatre Charlottesville, VA
February 12 House of Blues Boston, MA
February 14 The Trocadero Theater Philadelphia, PA*
February 15 9:30 Club Washington, DC*
February 16 Best Buy Theater New York, NY*
February 21 House of Blues Cleveland, OH
February 22 The Vogue Indianapolis, IN
February 24 The Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI
February 25 Blue Note Columbia, MO
February 26 Liberty Hall Lawrence, KS
February 28 Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
March 2 Club Sound Salt Lake City, UT
March 3 Knitting Factory Boise, ID
March 5 Starlite Room Edmonton, AB
March 6 Century Casino Event Centre Calgary, AB
March 8 Vogue Theatre Vancouver, BC
March 9 Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA
March 10 Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR
March 11-12 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA*