Jack Forman
Jack Forman | |
|---|---|
 Jack Forman, Office Hours | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Seattle, WA |
| Genres | Children's Music |
| Occupation(s) | On Air Host on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live; Bassist frontman for Recess Monkey; Solo family musician |
| Instrument(s) | Bass, Voice, Keyboards |
| Website | http://www.jackformanmusic.com |
Jack Forman is the bassist frontman for the Seattle-based kids' band, Recess Monkey,[1] a solo musician for kids and family audiences,[2] a former on-air host on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Kids Place Live, channel 134;[3] and an author published on Compendium Inc.[4] Forman has produced sixteen albums for family audiences, earning a GRAMMY Nomination[5] in the "Best Children's Album" category in the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for Recess Monkey's 2016 release Novelties.[6] He and Recess Monkey bandmate Drew Holloway wrote a book for Compendium Publishing.
History[edit]
Forman attended The University of Washington in Seattle, where he studied English with a Creative Writing emphasis.[7] His work with children began in 1996 at Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, CA where he served as a cabin counselor, specialist and unit head for four summers. Immediately after graduating college he began teaching full-time at Seattle's University Child Development School[8] in various elementary and pre-school levels. It was there that Forman met Drew Holloway and Daron Henry, founding members of Recess Monkey,[9] and began playing music for kids and family audiences beginning in 2005.[10]
Discography[edit]
As solo artist[edit]
- Songs From the Monkey House (2017)[2]
- Office Hours (2019)[11]
- Hold the Phone (2020)[12]
- Can’t Buy a Thrill Ride (2021)
With Recess Monkey[edit]
- Welcome to Monkey Town (2005)
- Animal House (2006)
- Wonderstuff (2007)[13]
- Tabby Road (2008)[14]
- Field Trip (2009)[15]
- The Final Funkier (2010)[16]
- Flying (2011)[17]
- In Tents (2012)[8]
- Deep Sea Diver (2013)[18]
- Desert Island Disc (2013)[19]
- Wired (2014)[20]
- Hot Air (2015)[21]
- Novelties (2016)[22]
- Family Photo Album (2018)[23]
Awards and acknowledgements[edit]
Songs From the Monkey House won a 2017 NAPPA Award for its "witty" songs: "Taking a recess from his Grammy-nominated band Recess Monkey, Jack Forman has concocted a super fun solo album."[2] The album was also named the #10 album for families in 2017 by the Fids and Kamily Awards.[24]
Forman is also a GRAMMY-Nominated musician: Recess Monkey's 2016 family album "Novelties" was nominated for "Best Children's Album" in the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[5][6]
"Live From the Monkey House," SiriusXM's Kids Place Live, Channel 134[edit]
Forman began hosting his afternoon/evening live call-in show "Live From the Monkey House"[25] on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Kids Place Live (Channel 134)[26] in January 2013.[27] Jack broadcast from his home studio in Seattle via a dedicated line connected to SiriusXM's Washington DC studios. The show had daily themes that vary based on current events, listener-fueled ideas and game show style games. Forman was live for three hours Monday-Thursday, 5pm-8pm ET, 2pm-5pm PT; and presented "This Week in the Monkey House," a replay show of highlights from the week, on Saturdays at 7am PT, 10am ET for four hours.[28] The show’s final episode aired February 12, 2024. On February 28, 2024, Forman released the first episode of a new podcast, "Jack Forman's Monkey House" on Patreon.
Published works[edit]
Forman and Recess Monkey bandmate Drew Holloway wrote an interactive picture book for family audiences, illustrated by Rob McClurkan, entitled Dive In: A Topsy-Turvy-Say-It-Out-Loud Underwater Adventure in 2016.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "Musician Jack Forman's cool job".
- ^ a b c "Songs from the Monkey House by Jack Forman CD".
- ^ "Interview with Jack Forman, the leader of the band 'Recess Monkey'".
- ^ a b "Kirkus Review".
- ^ a b "Jack Forman".
- ^ a b "Recess Monkey".
- ^ "An Interview with Jack Forman".
- ^ a b Knox, Kelly. "STEP RIGHT UP TO RECESS MONKEY'S IN TENTS". Wired.
- ^ "Monkeying around". 28 October 2008.
- ^ "Teachers enrolled in school of rock".
- ^ "Kids' Music Not Regular Office Hours for Jack Forman". 14 February 2019.
- ^ Cohen, Jeffrey (June 3, 2020). "Jack Forman Refuses to Phone It In". Geek Dad.
- ^ "The Year in Music for Kids". NPR.
- ^ "Review: Tabby Road - Recess Monkey". 15 July 2008.
- ^ "Review: Field Trip - Recess Monkey". 21 June 2009.
- ^ "Recess Monkey – The Final Funkier CD Review". 17 June 2010.
- ^ "A Parent's Review: 'Flying' CD from Recess Monkey". 14 June 2011.
- ^ "Review: Recess Monkey – Deep Sea Diver". 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Review: Desert Island Disc - Recess Monkey". 28 October 2013.
- ^ "A parent's review: Recess Monkey's Wired". 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Review: Hot Air - Recess Monkey". 8 July 2015.
- ^ "We All Scream for Recess Monkey's New Release "Novelties"". 16 June 2016.
- ^ Family Photo Album. OCLC 1048602666.
- ^ "The Best Kids and Family Music of 2017: 12th Annual Fids and Kamily Music Award Winners". 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Kids Place Live". 27 June 2023.
- ^ "Jack Forman".
- ^ "Interview: Jack Forman (Recess Monkey / Kids Place Live)". 7 March 2013.
- ^ "Recess Monkey - This kids band is full of "Hot Air"". USA Today.