 font
Wowy wow wow! I probably met you are one of the 200 shows I do every year - thanks for stopping by my website! I've had the opportunity to perform on TV, sing commercials, do animated voice overs, record CD's, sing in jazz clubs, and work on the stage - doing what I love to do most in life. I feel so lucky to be a singer and a songwriter, and I've enjoyed playing the piano since I was about 8 years old. How cool is that! Dreams really do come true. Life is grand!I grew up on eastern Long Island, NY, after college I moved to NYC to pursue my dreams, met Bakithi Kumalo, got married and I recently returned back to LI to raise my two daughters, Mbali and Daliswa (DiDi). I'm usually smiling and/or laughing. I think I have a great sense of humor and tell funny jokes but mostly my friends consider me dramatic. When I was little, my brother's nickname for me was 'crocodile tears' because I would cry big tears about anything anytime - and that would usually meant I could get him in trouble with our parents! But the truth is; I've always drawn to the stage and expressing my feelings. From reciting the traditional Easter Address at church, to dance classes & piano lessons, school projects and concerts, I was consumed as a child on creative expression. I used to make up stories and songs all the time as a kid! I can remember using spools of thread and batteries to be little people on a Hot Wheels track bus! And recording stories about martians and people screaming in fear as they ran out of town to safety on the portable cassette machine my dad gave me one birthday! I've learned over the years to speak 5 languages so that I can always communicate, no matter where I go. My first taste of children's theatre happened in 1981 when I had the opportunity to compose and produce a Sunday family performance at the local university theater. This experience had me truly bitten by the bug, and ever since I've pretty much concentrated my talents on working with, and for, kids. Along my life's path, I've been blessed to record, know and perform with great artists like Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Jewel, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Mary J Blige, Arif Mardin, Chieli Minucci, Eileen Ivers, and Harry Belafonte, among others. I've also appeared with various artists on TV shows like Oprah, 60 Minutes, Rosie, Regis & Kathi Lee, The View, VH-1 Storytellers, The Today Show, and Dave Letterman's Late Show. Hey, next time you go to the Bronx Zoo visiting your friends (ha ha), listen for my voice at the Congo Conservation exhibit - you'll hear my voice during the movie. You can also hear me on the "Between the Lions" theme song. |
|
 In case you were wondering...I speak and sing in Spanish, French, German, Zulu, and Italian - languages I studied in school. I've also worked with many children¹s arts groups including Shadow Box Theatre, Sneakers Music Inc., Arts Connection, HAI, TADA!. I founded my own entertainment company, BaliDali Productions, named after my kids, as well as a publishing company named 40 Shorty RE:kids, Inc. (ASCAP) Sometimes people ask me who inspires me. Many people do - as a matter of fact, I'm inspired by someone everyday. Musically speaking, Ella Jenkins, Ella Fiztgerald, Roberta Flack, John Denver....and so many more. But Paul Simon's Grammy winning GRACELAND rocked my world. It made me so aware of life, politics, music, people other than myself....as a result, I try to make music for kids and their families that inspire and excite - just like GRACELAND did for me. My concerts are joyous, with exhilarating music and a reminder that with intention and effort - we make the world a better place. My favorite colors are yellow and light blue.....I listen to all types of music, depending on my mood - and my most favorite food is Peri Peri grilled prawns from Madiba Restaurant in Brooklyn, NY!!!!! They're lekka! Anyhoo....the rest of my life story is happening now - and you're part of it! So thanks for being here and telling your friends and family about me and my music, and we'll see what the next chapter holds for us all! Keep The Beat Always and All Ways! Love,  (Robbi K) |
|
|
|
