 Robbi K & Friends
.... Music for a shrinking world...
Robbi K's concerts are joyous and exhilarating, with a focus on amusing and edifying the entire family, from parents to grandparents, toddlers to teens. Everybody participates with voices, hands, feet and hearts. Her powerful lyric soprano has graced TV commercials for the likes of Coca Cola, Lincoln Mercury, and GE, while also establishing an active career as a back-up singer for such superstars as Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Jewel, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Daniel Rodriquez, Mary J. Blige, and Harry Belafonte. With these stars, Robbi has appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes, Rosie, Live with Regis & Kathy Lee, The View, VH1 Storytellers, The Today Show, and The Late Show with David Letterman. Robbi is married to Grammy-winning bassist Bakithi Kumalo, whose longstanding association with Paul Simon is a story unto itself. Robbi and Bakithi move easily among the jazz, pop, blues and world music genres. Robbi K presents a variety of lively, interactive musical and storytelling concerts for families including "Keep the Beat,” which has been performed most recently at Symphony Space in NYC, The Philadelphia International Children's Festival, The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida, The State Theatre in New Brusnwick, New Jersey, and The Berks Jazz Festival in Reading, Pennsylvania. Robbi’s two most requested shows, which play out in venues nationwide, are “Keep the Beat,” inspired by Paul Simon's Grammy winning Graceland and “Turtle’s Shell,” derived from her Parents' Choice Award winning CD Keep the Beat. These days, she’s performing a new live show based on her album, Music Makes Me Happy, with an emphasis on jazz, pop, and world music for kids.  |
 For more information about Robbi K or to schedule an interview, please contact Elizabeth Waldman Frazier @
415.334.2787 or waldmania@comcast.net  Robbi Hall, age 7  As a Lincoln Center Institute for Aesthetic Education Teaching Artist, Robbi K has created a new kind of artistic presentation, which successfully combines music, theater, and culture with a worldview that is informative and inclusive of all people. For years, she has been a major force in bringing a sense of the world community to children’s musical theater. Robbi sings and speaks English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. In addition she has developed a host of characters that incorporate a variety of accents, dialects and Zulu idioms in into her shows. Her award winning CD's for children attest to the fact that all children relate to great music and storytelling and that cultural differences are opportunities for sharing and celebration.
Born in New York City, Robbi Hall Kumalo, grew up funny, dramatic, and completely stage-struck. Her family nickname was “Sarah” (as in Bernhardt), and responding to the eclectic mix of musical styles (from R&B to Chopin) played in her home, she wrote her first song "A 'U' Monkey Face" – a tribute to her brother’s funny face – at the age of three. Robbi’s early years were filled with dance and piano lessons, singing in her church choir, and appearing in local musical productions. When Robbi K’s daughters were smaller, she began looking for outstanding children's music to share with them. What became evident was that, aside from the legendary Ella Jenkins, she couldn't find many other performers of color doing live, diverse and well-rounded children's music. Where were the role models for her girls and for millions of other kids? The burgeoning field of children's music was lily white and mostly male. She says, "My desire is to offer music kids and their families can really get involved with, and connect to the many cultures that flavor our lives. Our children are a lot hipper and smarter than ever; and much more swift than when we were their age. Music doesn't have to be pablum or speak down to them. It should spark their minds and hearts, as well as their hands and feet." Robbi K has released three children's CD's: Set It Free and Keep the Beat (honored with a Parents’ Choice Award), and most recently, Music Makes Me Happy, a 2007 Parents' Choice Silver Award winner, a Children's Music Web Award winner, and an iParenting Outstanding product award. |
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