Music artists we recommend

Musical Ambassador:
Bunny Hull Creates Meaningful Music for Kids

published December 2003

Grammy Award-winning songwriter Bunny Hull is dedicated to using music to teach children how to make their dreams come true. Winning critical praise for her educational Kids Creative Classics label, Hull produces original music and books written specifically for children ages 5 to 10.

With three National Parenting Publication Awards, two Dr. Toy Awards and a Parent's Guide To Children's Media Award, Hull is a musical ambassador who has created a niche all her own.

Hull was born in New Orleans and raised in Las Vegas where she began playing piano at age 7 on an old spinet piano her grandmother bought for her. Encouraged to sing by her parents, she studied with many gifted, private music teachers and began writing music and lyrics at age15. In the mid 1970s, Hull moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter and background vocalist.

It didn't take long to achieve her goal. Hull's credits read like a music industry Who's Who list. She has recorded more than 200 albums with the greats including: Quincy Jones, David Foster, Babyface, Ricky Martin, Celine Dion, Bette Midler, Michael Jackson and Jimmy Buffet.

Her publishing company, BrassHeart Music, boasts a catalogue of more than 500 of Hull's compositions and master recordings, which are regularly licensed for use in film and television productions.

Best known for her song "New Attitude," which catapulted Patti LaBelle to the top of the charts in 1986, Hull has earned more than 20 gold and platinum albums. Among the many artists who have recorded her songs are Wynonna, Vanessa Williams, Diana Ross and the Judds. Recently, Hull's song "Ready For A Miracle" was featured as the end title theme for Universal's hit film, "Bruce Almighty."

Hull resides in Los Angeles, thankful to have access to her daily five-mile hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains, where she nourishes her physical, mental and spiritual needs and finds all the inspiration she can handle.

You have had great success in the music business and all your songs have a positive and uplifting thread. What is the personal philosophy or creed that drives your work?

My motto is "expect something good to happen." The big question for me personally and with my work, which includes Kids Creative Classics, has always been," What can I do to create a better, happier, healthier and more productive life?" We're barraged on a daily basis with what we see and hear about, who did what to who, and all the things that appear to go wrong in life. I think the only way to keep ourselves positive and in right perspective to everything that's going on around us is by taking a proactive stance. We can do this by feeding ourselves with ideas that are life affirming, and by using whatever tools that we can find along the way to nourish our hearts, minds and souls. I was moved some years ago to create these kinds of tools for children.

What tools have you discovered to help children - particularly in these turbulent times?

Music is the universal language I use - it's my tool. My last four releases are accompanied with books that give legs to that music – activities and exercises that expand what the musical ideas express. I would say that one of the most important things I strive to achieve through my children's music and books is to get kids to realize the power of their own creativity and to motivate a sense of confidence and self-acceptance within them. Also, to get them to be excited about the possibilities of life! To realize, on their journey, that their choices – what they think and imagine – create real results in their lives. Actually, these are also the same ideals I strive to impart in my music for adults. At 5 and 6 years of age, kids begin to be exposed to new environments and relationships. The music I produce is lighthearted and fun, pop oriented with a multicultural influence. It's designed to remind children that we're all connected, that each person is unique and creative and that every individual makes a difference in the world by just being who they are. All my work revolves around subjects that work from these core principles. My newest release "Dream A World" reminds children how important it is to have a dream and how their dreams, big or small, can change the world. The package provides them with specific tools for learning how to create their dreams.

What prompted your transition from "adult" to "children's" music?

I was asked if I wanted to create a workshop for children 6-10. This was something new, but I jumped in and naturally I wanted to use music to teach some of the important things I have learned along the way. I looked for children's music that embodied my beliefs but couldn't find much, so I wrote a couple of songs. It was a rewarding experience and a whole lot of fun working with the kids. Parents were beginning to tell me about the positive changes in attitude they were seeing at home and asked if they could buy the music. So I kept expanding my repertoire and ended up with my first album called "A Child's Spirit." That was in 1994, so I founded my label Kids Creative Classics. I was hooked. "Dream A World" is my seventh release. It's amazing how life takes those turns we don't expect.

Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?

My songs are inspired by my life – something within that relates to my experiences, the people I meet, or maybe the workshops I conduct for kids. The books I read, the things I see that touch me deeply, by my relationships with my friends and by the things that disturb me most in the world. I guess it would be my interpretation of all these things.

What is your latest project?

I'm very excited about doing a special 12-week workshop with a 5th grade class at Rosemont Elementary school in Los Angeles beginning in January 2004 to create poetry about their "Dreams" to coincide with this year's Kids Creative Classics "Dream A World" poetry and art contest. Kids 6-11 can enter at www.brassheartmusic.com and also connect with children around the world via ePALS to talk about their dreams. This is the second annual contest. The workshop is sponsored by Bonnie Homsey's American Repertory Dance Theatre's education outreach, with assistance from the Los Angeles Unified School District and will culminate with an interactive family event – a production called "DREAMS" at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on May 1st, 2004. The performance will feature many artists, including the Rosemont class and their poetry embodied in original music I will create for the event.

Learn more about Bunny Hull, her projects, and how to participate at www.brassheartmusic.com.

— John Wood