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Schoolhouse Rock - The Voices (and Jazz Musicians) Behind The Songs ...
 I know I'm showing my age, but I remember that I was in second grade when Schoolhouse Rock first hit TV in 1973. it would become an ABC Saturday Morning Staple, and the series lasted through the early 80s. The show has become a classic over the years, spawning a revival of the series on DVD, an off-broadway Musical, Books, T-shirts, and generations of new fans.
In case you've ever wondered who the voices were behind those classic tunes, here's a partial rundown--most were Jazz musicians and vocalists:   
Trumpeter/vocalist Jack Sheldon was the voice behind such favorites as "Conjunction Junction", and "I'm Just A Bill" Jack Sheldon - 'The Joint Is Jumpin'  
Pianist/ Singer/Composer - Bob Dorough was the writer of most of the Schoolhouse Rock tunes --he was also the voice behind tunes like "Three is a Magic Number", Five -Ready Or not, here I come, The Good Eleven, and Hey Little Twelve Toes.... Bob Dorough - Yardbird Suite  
Pianist/ Singer - Blossom Dearie was the voice behind tunes like "Unpack Your Adjectives", and "Figure 8" Blossom Dearie - "I'm Hip" / Surrey With the Fringe on Top Drummer/ Vocalist Grady Tate was the voice behind "Naughty Number Nine", and "I Got Six" Grady Tate - "Sack Full Of Dreams"/ I Can Deliver Composer/lyricist singer Lynn Ahrens co-wrote many of the Schoolhouse Rock tunes with Bob Dorough, and she also sang tunes like "Nouns", "We The Pople" / The Preamble",No More Kings,and "InterplanetJanet" Lynn Ahrens - "Your Daddy's Son" There are still others, like Zach Sanders ('Verb -That's What's Happening"), and Ezra Mowhawk ( "Interjections", "Suffering til Sufferage") ... [Edited 6/8/09 19:42pm] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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This is amazing, thanks for posting it! [...i think i can, i think i can, i think i can...] | |
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sammij said: This is amazing, thanks for posting it!
You're welcome!
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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Cool thread! Loved Schoolhouse Rock as a kid in the 80s. I was learning English at the time and these songs actually taught me a lot.  | |
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Are we talkin bout Conjunction Junction(What's your Function)
and Lolly lolly get your adverbs here. 
I remember on sunday mornings me and my cousins would be watching bullwinkle and these little shorts afterwards before our grandmother would take us to chuuch. Don't laugh at my funk
This funk is a serious joint | |
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paligap said: Trumpeter/vocalist Jack Sheldon was the voice behind such favorites as "Conjunction Junction", and "I'm Just A Bill"
Great post. Jack Sheldon gigs regularly around L.A. His "orchestra" is scheduled to perform at the Playboy Jazz Festival this Saturday. tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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- Ha ha this is cool  | |
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Ha-ha! This was my shit! Thanks, dawg! Now who sang "Energy"? That was my jam!  nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
MuthaFunka - Black...by popular demand | |
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MuthaFunka said: Ha-ha! This was my shit! Thanks, dawg! Now who sang "Energy"? That was my jam!
The Energy Blues was Jack Sheldon. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: MuthaFunka said: Ha-ha! This was my shit! Thanks, dawg! Now who sang "Energy"? That was my jam!
The Energy Blues was Jack Sheldon. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 Thanks! He rocked that shit! nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
MuthaFunka - Black...by popular demand | |
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Jack Sheldon used to play on the Merv Griffin show... | |
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IAintTheOne said: Jack Sheldon used to play on the Merv Griffin show...
Ndeed! n fact, that second Sheldon clip above shows him on Merv Griffin...
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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...
Bob Dorough with Miles Davis - "Blue Xmas(To Whom It May Concern)" ... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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I love this thread.  | |
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This is an AWESOME thread!
Does anyone know the female vocalist who sang "The Great American Melting Pot?" I love that woman's voice. Ὅσον ζῇς φαίνου
μηδὲν ὅλως σὺ λυποῦ πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶ τὸ ζῆν τὸ τέλος ὁ χρόνος ἀπαιτεῖ.” | |
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Vendetta1 said: I love this thread.
 | |
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Lammastide said: This is an AWESOME thread!
Does anyone know the female vocalist who sang "The Great American Melting Pot?" I love that woman's voice. That was Lori Lieberman. I wonder if I can find something by her..... ... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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paligap said: That was Lori Lieberman. I wonder if I can find something by her.....
... Maybe her version of Killing Me Softly. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: paligap said: That was Lori Lieberman. I wonder if I can find something by her.....
... Maybe her version of Killing Me Softly. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 you beat me to it 
her version being the original, might i add  [...i think i can, i think i can, i think i can...] | |
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sammij said: theAudience said: you beat me to it
her version being the original, might i add Thanks!!!
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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paligap said: sammij said: you beat me to it
her version being the original, might i add Thanks!!!
... such a pretty song, all 3 versions (that i've heard) are wonderful for their own reasons the original was inspired by Lieberman seeing Don McLean in concert for the first time [...i think i can, i think i can, i think i can...] | |
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paligap said: sammij said: you beat me to it
her version being the original, might i add Thanks!!!
... Thanks so much, you guys!  Ὅσον ζῇς φαίνου
μηδὲν ὅλως σὺ λυποῦ πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶ τὸ ζῆν τὸ τέλος ὁ χρόνος ἀπαιτεῖ.” | |
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Lammastide said: paligap said: Thanks!!!
... Thanks so much, you guys! The Official Website of Lori Lieberman http://www.lorilieberman.com/bio.html | |
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You CANNOT use the name of God, or religion, to justify acts of violence, to hurt, to hate, to discriminate- Madonna
authentic power is service- Pope Francis | |
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I love 'Schoolhouse Rock' I got a couple of DVDs of this stuff,lol.Growing up in the 70s,I pretty much know the lyrics to all those songs! | |
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Ok, now who did the voice on "Verb!"? nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
MuthaFunka - Black...by popular demand | |
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MuthaFunka said: Ok, now who did the voice on "Verb!"?
Zack Sanders? | |
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Graycap23 said: MuthaFunka said: Ok, now who did the voice on "Verb!"?
Zack Sanders? You don't sound too confident, muh'fucka!nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
MuthaFunka - Black...by popular demand | |
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MuthaFunka said: Graycap23 said: Zack Sanders? You don't sound too confident, muh'fucka!I have that cd at home.....I'll try and dig it out. | |
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What a wonderful thread! I loved Schoolhouse Rock. Still do honestly!I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart. | |
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