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Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

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Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
BornIndiana
OriginAsheville, North Carolina

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo or (SAS23) is a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop musician from Asheville, North Carolina, United States. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has been performing children's music since 2008.[1] He performs hip-hop for children.[2][3]

After a decade of touring nationally as a rapper and producer in Granola Funk Express,[4] he released his first kids' hip-hop album in 2008.

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo serves as the official spokesman for the New York State Library System Children's Summer Reading Program[5] and is the 2010 and PSA spokesman for the US Library System Collaborative Summer Library Program.[6] He can be heard and seen on the radio and in TV commercials nationwide promoting summer reading programs at libraries.[7][8] He has performed for kids in libraries and schools across the country.[9][10]

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo actively has also participated in charitable musical activities; these include "Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti",[11][12] formed in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, "Science Fair", a compilation to support science and engineering education for girls,[13] which won a Parents' Choice Award.[14] In 2018, Skidoo contributed to Hold Tight, Shine Bright, an album to benefit detained immigrant children[15] and aid concerts such as the Camp Fire Benefit Jam[16] to help Californians affected by the wildfire.

Albums

[edit]

He released two albums on Happiness Records, Easy (2008), and Underground Playground (2010).[17] Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has had ten No. 1 radio hits on XM/Sirius Kids Place Live! and has played venues including Kidzapalooza,[18] Austin Kiddie Limits,[19] 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 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”, and “Speak the Truth” which features Gift of Gab. The national board of judges for Fids and Kamily poll ranked Underground Playground at #5 for Best Kids and Family Music of 2010.[20]

Make Believers was released in 2012. 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 would want to befriend. Lastly, "Back Home" is geared towards every listener with a pet.

The Perfect Quirk was released in 2015 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.[21] The album opens with "You're It". "Imaginary Friend" introduces a unique character and mind-opening perspectives and is the inspiration for an animated film.[22]

Infinity Plus One was released in 2017 and was nominated[23] and won a Grammy Award for Best Children's Album.[24][25][26][27][28] In addition to its space theme, the album includes actual astronomical elements, such as the electromagnetic emanations of Earth, which were recorded by the Voyager spacecraft in 1977.[29]

Wake up the Dream was released in 2018.[30][31]

Books

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  • What's It Like In The Stars (2007)
  • Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out (2015)[32]
  • Word Is Born (2021)[33]

Awards

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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.[34]

His book Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out won Silver at the 2014 Moonbeam Awards.[35]

Discography

[edit]
  • 2008 Easy
  • 2010 Underground Playground
  • 2012 Make Believers
  • 2014 The Perfect Quirk
  • 2016 Infinity Plus One
  • 2017 Mozartistic (with Asheville Symphony Orchestra)
  • 2018 Wake Up the Dream
  • 2020 The Figments of Polyglot: Mixtapes 1-12
  • 2021 The Beat Bach Symphonies (with Asheville Symphony Orchestra)

Collaborations

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
  • 2010 Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti
  • 2011 All About Bullies, Big and Small[36]
  • 2012 Science Fair
  • 2018 Hold Tight, Shine Bright

Songs

[edit]
  • 2011 – “Look Both Ways” with Egg[37]
  • 2011 – “Froggie Went A Courtin’” with Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights[38]
  • 2011 – “Cooperate” with Sugar Free Allstars[36]
  • 2014 – “Together” with Moona Luna[39]
  • 2014 – “You Are Beautiful” with Robbie Schaefer[40]
  • 2015 – “I <3 Ur Face” with Josh and the Jamtones[41]
  • 2018 – “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” with Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats[42]
  • 2019 – “Rock This World”, with Mista Cookie Jar[43]
  • 2019 – “Shadow” with The Pop Ups[44]
  • 2019 – “Everybody’s Crazy” with Formidable Vegetable[45]
  • 2019 – “Leaders of the World” with Renee & Friends, Addi Rose and Amelia Dektor[46]
  • 2020 – “Laugh At Life” with Secret Agent Hi-Fi[47]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Walsh, Dan (23 May 2012). "A Conversation with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo". dadnabbit.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  2. ^ Derdeyn, Stuart (September 4, 2018). "Kindie rock band the Oot n' Oots in it for the fun". vancouversun.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019..
  3. ^ Bream, Jon (April 4, 2015). "Meet the new breed of children's musicmakers". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  4. ^ "Mountain Express Music". Granola Funk Express. Mountain Express. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  5. ^ "Summer Reading at New York Libraries -". June 18, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-06-18. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  6. ^ "Collaborative Summer Library Program - 2011 Public Service Announcements". September 3, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  7. ^ ""Libraries Rock!" Summer Reading PSA 2018 (Extended version)". March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Summer Reading Champion: SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO - Kid's PSA "This Summer Libraries Rock!"". March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Rap joins poetry unit at Fisher Elementary". The Bennington Banner. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "Why do the arts matter?". Moss Arts Center. July 12, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via Vimeo.
  11. ^ "Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti". Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "Many Hands: Family-Friendly Tunes that Give Back to Haiti". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  13. ^ Kraft, Amy (July 11, 2012). "Science Fair: Girls Rock". Wired. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via www.wired.com.
  14. ^ "Science Fair".
  15. ^ "'Hold Tight, Shine Bright' Album to Benefit Detained Immigrant Children". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  16. ^ "Local Music Scene Steps Up to Aid in Camp Fire Relief - Submerge Magazine - Music + Art + Lifestyle". submergemag.com. 21 November 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  17. ^ "Happiness Records". Welcome to Happiness Records. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  18. ^ "Kidzapalooza".
  19. ^ "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo at ACL 2009". archive.is. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  20. ^ "The Best Kids and Family Music of 2010". Fids and Kamily Award Winners. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  21. ^ Holly Lebowitz Rossi (2021-10-24) [2015-01-23]. "This year's "Best Children's Album" Grammy nominees". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.[please check these dates]
  22. ^ Busch, Anita (January 6, 2017). "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo Song Inspires First Animated Film From Jeremy Renner & Don Handfield's The Combine". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  23. ^ "Asheville's 23 Skidoo nominated for Grammy". Citizen Times. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  24. ^ "Winners". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  25. ^ Marshall, Alli. "23 Skidoo takes home the Grammy for Best Children's Album". mountainx.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  26. ^ "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo captures first Grammy for 'Infinity Plus One'". www.theunion.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  27. ^ Blair, Brian (13 February 2017). "Columbus native wins a Grammy for best children's album". The Republic. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  28. ^ "Local hip-hop act Secret Agent 23 Skidoo captures 'Best Children's Album'". www.theunion.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  29. ^ Marshall, Alli. "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo debuts 'Mozartistic,' talks what's next after Grammy win". mountainx.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  30. ^ "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo To Release Amazon Original Album Wake Up The Dream June 29". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  31. ^ Cohen, Jeffrey (June 25, 2018). "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo Lives the Dream". geekdad.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  32. ^ "Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out".
  33. ^ Word Is Born – via Audible.
  34. ^ "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo". GRAMMY.com. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  35. ^ "2014 Winners". www.moonbeamawards.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  36. ^ a b "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.
  37. ^ "Listen To This: "Look Both Ways" - Egg with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (World Premiere) - Blog - Zooglobble". zooglobble.squarespace.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  38. ^ "Froggie Went A Courtin' (Featuring Secret Agent 23 Skidoo), by Joanie Leeds and The Nightlights". Joanie Leeds and The Nightlights. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  39. ^ "Together (Single) feat. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, by Moona Luna". Moona Luna. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  40. ^ "Robbie Schaefer | Music". Robbie Schaefer. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  41. ^ "rocksteady". Josh and the Jamtones. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  42. ^ "Are You Afraid of the Dark? (feat. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo) by Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats". lucykalantari.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  43. ^ "Mista Cookie Jar". mistacookiejar.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  44. ^ "GIANTS OF SCIENCE - For Your Consideration for "Best Children's Album" for the 61st GRAMMY Awards!". Tumblr. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  45. ^ "Everybody's Crazy (feat. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo), by Formidable Vegetable". Formidable Vegetable. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  46. ^ "Renee & Friends to Release "Kindred" featuring Ziggy Marley, Lisa Loeb, Elizabeth Mitchell, Chris Stills And More". New Music Weekly. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  47. ^ "Shazam".
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