Get the latest gossip
Ella Jenkins, ‘The First Lady of Children’s Folk Song,’ Dies at 100
Jenkins is the best-selling individual artist in the history of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Jenkins, born on August 6, 1924, in St. Louis and raised on Chicago’s South Side, grew up immersed in the sounds of blues, gospel, and local singing games that would inspire her groundbreaking work in children’s music. Her televised appearances, including on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Barney & Friends and Sesame Street extended her reach to millions of children and families. Jenkins’s influence extended beyond her Grammy nominations and record-breaking sales; she inspired generations of educators, musicians, and families to embrace diversity through music.
Or read this on Billboard