Press Kit


Contact Person

John Keenan
jkeenan7@comcast.net

Books by Jo-Anne Wilson-Keenan

Jo-Anne is the author of two books, From Small Places: Toward the Realization of Literacy as a Human Right (Sense Publishers, 2015), and Children at the Border: An American Human Rights Crisis (McFarland, 2021). 


Music by Bay Song

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Our singing duet consists of John Keenan and Jo-Anne Wilson-Keenan. From our home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts USA, we hear the wind and waves of Cape Cod Bay. This is why we call ourselves Bay Song.

We write, record, and perform songs for children and their families.  The songs are educational, heartwarming, and fun. The music is in a variety of styles, including folk, Latin, blues, R&B, country, gospel, and rock. Audience members are invited move to the songs and to sing along.

We wrote our first songs for a nature curriculum. We have never stopped. We  write songs about the environment, reading, social justice, and getting along with others. We also write songs that are just plain fun for kids.

Bay Song performs at libraries, schools, nature centers, and porchfests, 

Our music has won many awards which are listed at the bottom of this page.

Albums

“Children on Parade” is about the joy that music brings to children’s lives. Children and their families will delight to songs such as “Einstein Squirrel,” “Boo Boo’s Birthday,” “Mac ‘n’ Cheese Overture,” “Cookin’ Up a Song,” and “My Air Guitar.”

Library Adventure includes 14 songs about the power of literacy in children’s lives. The album features two songs about dogs that visit libraries and schools to motivate children to read. These songs are “Rover the Reading Dog,” and “Readin’ to Rosie.”

A highlight of the album is “Mirrors, Windows, and Doors,” a song about the impact of reading on children’s lives. This song is based on the work of Rudine Sims Bishop who taught at the University of Massachusetts and Ohio State University.

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Caring for our planet is of vital concern for everyone. Songs are an enjoyable way to get this message to kids, their families, friends, and caregivers. Spaceship Earth includes 17 environmental songs for school age children and for anyone interested in protecting our planet.

The songs encourage young people to think of Earth as a spaceship that needs our care. Young people are reminded to reduce, reuse, and recycle. They learn about habitats, the seasons, life cycles, the web of life, biodiversity, sustainability, watersheds, and the importance of the oceans. They hear about environmental heroes, including Rachel Carson.

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Literacy Songs for Little Ones includes 14 literacy songs that may be shared by children, their parents, and caregivers. The songs are fun and engaging for children. They are unique because they embed information for parents on how children learn language and acquire literacy. 


Where to hear our songs

Our music is available from  iTunes, Google Play, Songs for Teaching, and Amazon. Literacy Songs for Little Ones is available at Songs for Teaching.

Examples of our songs are available at http://SoundCloud.com/bay-song

A YouTube video of The Butterfly Song is available on this web site at http://Keenanliteracy.com/Videos



More about Jo-Anne

Jo-Anne Wilson-Keenan, Ed.D. has an undergraduate degree and a Master’s degree from American International College in Springfield, MA. She earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts. Jo-Anne has worked as a teacher, college professor, professional development provider, school principal, Director of Reading for Springfield Public Schools in Massachusetts, and literacy consultant for the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative. She has published numerous journal articles and book chapters. She is the author of From Small Places: Toward the Realization of Literacy as a Human Right (Sense 2015). In 2020, she published a second book, Children on the Border: An American Human Rights Crisis (McFarland).


More about John

John Keenan received a degree in English from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts. He has a Master’s Degree in Educational Media and Technology from Boston University, and he has studied computer science and television production. John has worked as a teacher, photographer, golf coach, library media specialist, and webmaster. He has helped Jo-Anne write and revise curricula for the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative. He now focuses on writing and recording children’s songs.

A few years ago, we began writing a nature curriculum for children’s summer programs. Today, it is used in over 20 locations in Western Massachusetts. We integrated literacy, music, math and art into the curriculum.  Another key component is getting kids to go outside and experience nature first hand.

Next, we did what songwriters do. We wrote songs–nature songs–to go along with the curriculum. We include specific curriculum content in the songs.


Awards and Recognition

2020 BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR, Children on Parade, National Parent Product Award NAPA

2019 BEST CD OF THE YEAR, Children on Parade, Creative Child Magazine

FINALIST,  New England Songwriting Competition 2019, “My Air Guitar”

2018 BEST CD OF THE YEAR, Library Adventure, Creative Child Magazine

SECOND PLACE, New England Songwriting Competition 2017, “Nature’s Outside Your Door”

2014 BEST CD OF THE YEAR, Literacy Songs for Little Ones, Creative Child Magazine

FINALIST, Best Eco Song, “Rachel, Rachel, Guitars in the Classroom and My Hero Project

FINALIST, Northeast Songwriting Competition, The Butterfly Song,” Eventide Arts 2016