Biography
Singer-songwriter, and Juno Award nominee Eddie Douglas has a knack for putting poetry into musical motion for kids!
Eddie’s music draws from a rich blend of children’s poetry that includes classic and contemporary poems, nursery rhymes, and originals. He has paid tribute in song to some of Canada’s best-loved children’s writers.
At left, Eddie pictured before his first solo performance, at the age of eight, ready to perform the 50’s hit tune, "Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaces" at Glasgow’s Lyric Theatre in a charity show presented by his mother's dance school, with his grandmother, Annie, playing piano.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Eddie took his musical cues from a family of dancers and entertainers. He loved to sing, and was often encouraged to 'get up on stage' with his Uncle Maurice and perform at family events! Other early musical memories include his grandfather singing Sir Harry Lauder songs (dressed in his kilt) and his dad belting out crooner classics in the shower!
The Beatles, The Stones, and Motown came along and Eddie was given his first guitar (an Eko Texan acoustic, built in Italy!) at the age of thirteen. He learned a few tunes and began playing locally with friends, among them, later rock musician, Jack Green. Eddie then began playing the club and dance hall scene with a band formed with friends Alan Park (keyboard) and Simon Bell (vocalist). The original five piece Glasgow outfit grew into an eight piece and they toured Scotland from 1967-68 as the popular soul band “Harlem Shuffle.” After moving to Canada at the end of '69 Eddie turned his attention towards acoustic guitar, performing at coffee houses, folk clubs, and festivals, and later, after becoming an elementary school teacher, as a children’s performer.
Eddie has recorded three CDs, Alligator Ice Cream – Jelly Delight (2002) Gonna Keep Dancing (2007) and Sleepy Sky Lullaby (2011). The first two recordings featured the lyrics of prominent Canadian writers including Dennis Lee, Robert Munsch, Jo Ellen Bogart, Loris Lesynski and Charles Wilkins. His newest CD, a recording of some of his favourite poems and nursery rhymes for young children, features both classic and contemporary pieces set to his original melodies. For his efforts on both Gonna Keep Dancing and Sleepy Sky Lullaby, Eddie has received two JUNO nominations.
Of course, all of this exposure to great poetry has had quite an impact on Eddie's own writing. While working in education for the past decade, he has been busy developing a collection of original poems, many of which have been influenced by the crazy things that kids do and say at school! His first published poem appeared in Chirp Magazine in the summer of 2008.
Eddie's ever-evolving school and library program for Grades K–5, features a selection of recorded and unreleased material, and even an occasional wacky poem or chant! Whether he is singing timeless lyrics from a classic poem or one of his many fun-loving interpretations of contemporary verse, audiences, teachers, and librarians alike will delight in his refreshing and original approach to children’s music.
Eddie lives in Guelph, Ontario, and is available for concerts any time of the year. He is a member of CANSCAIP Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators & Performers) and SOCAN Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada).
Publications
"The Ghost and Jenny Jemima." Dennis Lee / Music by Eddie Douglas. From Alligator Ice Cream Jelly Delight! In Poetry Speaks to Children. Ed. Elise Paschen. Sourcebooks, Inc. Naperville, Illinois, USA. 2005
Bugfest. Poem - in Chirp Magazine. June 2008
Recordings
Alligator Ice Cream Jelly Delight! Poems by Dennis Lee / Music by Eddie Douglas. Fat Flea Music. 2002
Gonna Keep Dancing Poems by Canadian Children’s Authors / Music by Eddie Douglas. Fat Flea Music. 2007
Sleepy Sky Lullaby Traditional, Classic and Original Poems / Music Eddie Douglas. Fat Flea Music. 2011
Select Performances
Festivals
Telling Tales Festival, Rockton (2009, 2011)
Books by the Bay, Callander (2010)
Eden Mills Writer's Festival (2010)
Peter Gzowski Festival of Stories and Song, Georgina (2007)
Millrace Festival, Cambridge (2006, 2009, 2011)
Franklin Children’s Garden, Centre Island, Toronto (2007)
Charities
Holly's Heart, Guelph (2011)
Creation of Hope, Hamilton (2009)
Libraries
Bracebridge Public Library (2008, 2010)
Calgary Public Library (2008)
Wellington County Public Libraries (2009)
Waterloo Public Library (2008)
Stratford Public Library (2008)
Mississauga Public Library (2007)
Richmond Hill Public Library (2007)
Oakville Public Library (2006)
Orangeville Public Library (2005)
Brampton Library (2005)
Kitchener Public Library (2005)
Eddie’s music draws from a rich blend of children’s poetry that includes classic and contemporary poems, nursery rhymes, and originals. He has paid tribute in song to some of Canada’s best-loved children’s writers.
At left, Eddie pictured before his first solo performance, at the age of eight, ready to perform the 50’s hit tune, "Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaces" at Glasgow’s Lyric Theatre in a charity show presented by his mother's dance school, with his grandmother, Annie, playing piano.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Eddie took his musical cues from a family of dancers and entertainers. He loved to sing, and was often encouraged to 'get up on stage' with his Uncle Maurice and perform at family events! Other early musical memories include his grandfather singing Sir Harry Lauder songs (dressed in his kilt) and his dad belting out crooner classics in the shower!
The Beatles, The Stones, and Motown came along and Eddie was given his first guitar (an Eko Texan acoustic, built in Italy!) at the age of thirteen. He learned a few tunes and began playing locally with friends, among them, later rock musician, Jack Green. Eddie then began playing the club and dance hall scene with a band formed with friends Alan Park (keyboard) and Simon Bell (vocalist). The original five piece Glasgow outfit grew into an eight piece and they toured Scotland from 1967-68 as the popular soul band “Harlem Shuffle.” After moving to Canada at the end of '69 Eddie turned his attention towards acoustic guitar, performing at coffee houses, folk clubs, and festivals, and later, after becoming an elementary school teacher, as a children’s performer.
Eddie has recorded three CDs, Alligator Ice Cream – Jelly Delight (2002) Gonna Keep Dancing (2007) and Sleepy Sky Lullaby (2011). The first two recordings featured the lyrics of prominent Canadian writers including Dennis Lee, Robert Munsch, Jo Ellen Bogart, Loris Lesynski and Charles Wilkins. His newest CD, a recording of some of his favourite poems and nursery rhymes for young children, features both classic and contemporary pieces set to his original melodies. For his efforts on both Gonna Keep Dancing and Sleepy Sky Lullaby, Eddie has received two JUNO nominations.
Of course, all of this exposure to great poetry has had quite an impact on Eddie's own writing. While working in education for the past decade, he has been busy developing a collection of original poems, many of which have been influenced by the crazy things that kids do and say at school! His first published poem appeared in Chirp Magazine in the summer of 2008.
Eddie's ever-evolving school and library program for Grades K–5, features a selection of recorded and unreleased material, and even an occasional wacky poem or chant! Whether he is singing timeless lyrics from a classic poem or one of his many fun-loving interpretations of contemporary verse, audiences, teachers, and librarians alike will delight in his refreshing and original approach to children’s music.
Eddie lives in Guelph, Ontario, and is available for concerts any time of the year. He is a member of CANSCAIP Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators & Performers) and SOCAN Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada).
Publications
"The Ghost and Jenny Jemima." Dennis Lee / Music by Eddie Douglas. From Alligator Ice Cream Jelly Delight! In Poetry Speaks to Children. Ed. Elise Paschen. Sourcebooks, Inc. Naperville, Illinois, USA. 2005
Bugfest. Poem - in Chirp Magazine. June 2008
Recordings
Alligator Ice Cream Jelly Delight! Poems by Dennis Lee / Music by Eddie Douglas. Fat Flea Music. 2002
Gonna Keep Dancing Poems by Canadian Children’s Authors / Music by Eddie Douglas. Fat Flea Music. 2007
Sleepy Sky Lullaby Traditional, Classic and Original Poems / Music Eddie Douglas. Fat Flea Music. 2011
Select Performances
Festivals
Telling Tales Festival, Rockton (2009, 2011)
Books by the Bay, Callander (2010)
Eden Mills Writer's Festival (2010)
Peter Gzowski Festival of Stories and Song, Georgina (2007)
Millrace Festival, Cambridge (2006, 2009, 2011)
Franklin Children’s Garden, Centre Island, Toronto (2007)
Charities
Holly's Heart, Guelph (2011)
Creation of Hope, Hamilton (2009)
Libraries
Bracebridge Public Library (2008, 2010)
Calgary Public Library (2008)
Wellington County Public Libraries (2009)
Waterloo Public Library (2008)
Stratford Public Library (2008)
Mississauga Public Library (2007)
Richmond Hill Public Library (2007)
Oakville Public Library (2006)
Orangeville Public Library (2005)
Brampton Library (2005)
Kitchener Public Library (2005)
© 2011 Fat Flea Music Last Updated: 14/02/12