Michael Ryther’s “Kids of the Earth: Songs For the Green Generation” produced by Willie Wisely.

Michael Ryther, a grade school teacher here in Los Angeles, approached me about producing an album of kids music. He had a batch of awesome rough demos, each with an important message about environmental activism. Gathered together these songs would become “the Soundtrack to Save the Planet!”

As a dad, I feel that the messages in Michael’s songs are critical to raising good citizens. For that reason alone, these tracks are among my proudest musical moments. As a musician and producer and co-writer, I love this album as if it was my own.

For the sessions we brought in many of my favorite musicians: James Voss on upright bass, Peter Anderson & Joey Ponchetti on drums, John Fields playing guitars and producing some, Ed Ackerson engineering, Chuck Zwicky the mixer behind my last three albums, Patrick Milligan on banjo, Suzanne Nichols on background vocals, plus help from Chuck Alvarez on electric guitar and Mike Bolger on trumpet and accordion & Kenny Lyon with additional production. The kids chorus is Anais Morgan, Kaila Sicam, Kelsey Longwill, Vanessa Lopez.

Michael is a theater teacher, and he dreamed up these songs while he and his young students were exploring conservation, eco-systems and environmental stewardship.

Throughout our recording sessions Michael told fascinating stories, often about under-privileged kids, who would respond so passionately to his lessons that utilize role playing, music, dancing and even the forgotten art of tableaux vivant wikipedia. He found that one of the most powerful ways to inspire empathy and positive action for the planet was to bring together science and the arts, using music to open up young minds.

Michael says: This Generation is in tune with how everything is connected. I strongly believe that they will be the ones to save the planet and I figured they’d need a soundtrack to go along with their heroics.

Please support Michael & I (and budding super heroes everywhere). And remember, “Kids Of The Earth” makes for a perfect back-to-school gift!

Thanks,
Willie