Bob McGrath just celebrated his 38th year on Sesame Street. He has bridged two generations of viewers as one of the original hosts. “I can’t believe I’m really meeting you” is a common response heard by Bob from not only kids, but their parents as well, who also grew up with the show. He was recently inducted into the 2002 Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is the recipient of the American Eagle Award by the National Music Council and the Fame Award by the National Association of Music Educators for furthering the cause of music education.

In addition to his role as music teacher on Sesame Street, Bob is a successful author, recording artist and concert performer. His newest book “OOPS! EXCUSE ME PLEASE! And Other Mannerly Tales” has received tremendous acclaim. His previous Barron’s title, “UH OH! GOTTA GO !” is still one of the nation’s best-selling potty-training books and has been featured on “Regis & Kathy Lee”, “Caryl and Marilyn”, “Pat Bullard” , “Home and Family” and “Rosie O’ Donnell.”

Bob’s recent creative music curriculum, “MUSIC FOR FUN” published by Warner Bros. Publication, and co-authored with Marilyn Davidson, provides teachers with meaningful and light-hearted music classes. All seven sequential lessons are correlated to the MENC National Music Standards for Early Childhood. Included is a teacher and student book, and a CD with appealing songs by Bob which are the basis for the seven lessons.

Pre-school and early elementary teachers as well as parents will welcome Bob’s brand new “RHYTHM BAND SET” the winner of a Parent’s Choice award. This percussion set is manufactured by RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS. The set includes eight percussion instruments and an exciting play-along CD produced by percussionist Mark Walker and Bob. The 15 tracks introduce each instrument, and gives the child the opportunity to play along with five world-rhythms from Cuba, Japan, Egypt, New Orleans and Brazil.

Bob’s latest recording is entitled “SING ME A STORY” and features l3 original children’s songs encompassing many styles and musical themes from Pop/South African to Country & Reggae. The album hosts a stellar force of musicians including Nils Lofgren (Neil Young’s “MTV Unplugged” and former guitarist for Bruce Springsteen), Will Lee (Letterman Band), Cyro Baptista (Paul Simon Tour) and the great “Stride’ pianist and classic organist, Dick Hyman . Both “SING ME A STORY” AND “THE BABY RECORD” have won The Childrens Music Web Award 2002

His previous recordings have sold over half a million units and received both Parents’ Choice and American Library Association awards. They include “THE BABY RECORD”, “THE TODDLER RECORD”, “IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT, SING ALONG WITH BOB”, Vol. I & Vol. II, and “BOB’S FAVORITE STREET SONGS”.

McGrath has performed thousands of family pops, educational and holiday concerts for audiences who are now bringing their children or “Sesame Seeds” to see and hear their friend Bob. In addition to working with both small bands and Symphony Orchestras, the Pied Piper of Sesame Street always includes local children singing and dancing in his shows which include music from Sesame Street, Broadway and his latest recordings. He has been chairperson of national UNICEF Day, hosted World Children’s Dat at the United Nations and served as host and artistic director the the International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap for over fifteen years.

McGrath, born and raised on an Illinois farm, was a music major at the University of Michigan and received a Master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music. A lyric tenor, he began his professional career singing and recording with the Robert Shaw Chorale and Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians and has worked with such noted musicians and conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Pablo Casals and Igor Stravinsky. He spent five years as the featured tenor soloist on Mitch Miller’s popular NBC television series, “SING ALONG WITH MITCH.” As a result of a Mitch Miller tour, Bob was invited back to Japan and became a major star with a teenage fan club. During his career, McGrath has appeared with more than 100 symphony orchestras.

For over 15 years McGrath has acted as host and consultant to the International Children’s Festival at Wolftrap in Virginia. He is also active with the Variety Club Children’s Charity, having hosted the organization’s telethons in Vancouver for the last twenty-five years and it’s New York telethon for elevan years.

McGrath has been Chairperson of National UNICEF day and served as host at the United Nations celebration for the “Rights of the Child”. He served as the annual host for World Children’s Day at the UN General Assembly.

Bob hosted the World’s Largest Concert for MENC 1995 and recently was honored by the National Music Council with the American Eagle Award for his support of music education in the United States.

As a children’s performer, Bob has had many adventures. At one holiday concert, a small boy reached up to the stage and handed him a fist full of pennies. After the show he found Bob and said, “Hi, I’m the one who gave you the pennies.” When Bob thanked him and asked him what they were for, he answered, “Well, Bob, I just didn’t have time to buy you a Christmas present.”

McGrath is married and lives in Teaneck, NJ with his wife Ann. They are the parents of five children and five beautiful granddaughters and 2 wonderful grandsons.

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