Wikipedia

Jonathan Sprout

Jonathan Sprout (born John Wells Sprout, Jr. on April 12, 1952 in Hightstown, New Jersey, United States)[citation needed] is an American songwriter, performer and recording artist. He has released twelve albums, primarily in the children's music genre. Between 1994 and 2014, he researched, wrote, and recorded songs about American historical figures, releasing four albums that received 26 national awards.[1][2] In 2010 his ninth album, American Heroes #3, was nominated for a GRAMMY Award in the Best Musical Album For Children category at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards.[3]

Jonathan Sprout
Born (1952-04-12) April 12, 1952 (age 74)
Hightstown, New Jersey, United States
OriginPennsylvania, United States
GenresNew Age/Classical and children's music
OccupationsMusician, singer, songwriter

Biography

edit
Jonathan Sprout

Sprout grew up in Hightstown, New Jersey.[4] His high school years were spent at the Peddie School in Hightstown; Sprout developed his interest in music while attending Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.[5] He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, participated in competitive swimming, and was a member of Cap and Dagger, the campus theatre organization.[6] He played small acting parts in Marat Sade, The Alchemist and The Wizard of Oz. Sprout received his B.A. in psychology from Bucknell in 1974.[7]

He performed regularly in the ski resort of Killington, Vermont; in Estes Park, Colorado; and at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.[8]

Career

edit

Early career

edit

In 1986, Sprout co-produced the first of four albums with recording engineer and guitarist Leslie Chew. Their On the Radio was the second album of rock music for children ever made in America. In 1990, Sprout Recordings released Lullabies for a New Age, the first album of original New Age music ever recorded for children.[9]

In 1991, Sprout released Kid Power, an album intended to support children's self-esteem. In 1994, he released Dr. Music, the title track of which remained in the top 10 for several months on Radio AAHS, a U.S. syndicated children's radio network.[10]

American heroes

edit

In 1994, Sprout began a 20-year stint researching, writing, and recording songs about American heroes.[11] This resulted in four albums that garnered 26 national awards, including a GRAMMY nomination for Best Musical Album For Children. Sprout wrote a tribute to John Muir because he co-wrote a song about him that appears on his Grammy nominated American Heroes #3 CD.[12][13]

Force For Good

edit

In 2016, Sprout founded Force For Good, a music and film project addressing social and environmental issues.[14] He collaborated with producer Joe Mennonna and filmmaker Rodney Whittenberg.[15][16][17] The project released monthly films starting in January 2020, along with two CDs: Passions (2020) and Innocence (2021). The film "Safe" was a finalist at the Independent Shorts Awards.[18][19][20][21]

Discography

edit

Music recordings

  • Angels Everywhere (Green Mountain Records, 1978)
  • A Light in the Night (Sprout Recordings, 1984)
  • On the Radio (Sprout Recordings, 1986)
  • Lullabies for a New Age (Sprout Recordings, 1991)
  • Kid Power (Sprout Recordings, 1991)
  • Dr. Music (Sprout Recordings, 1994)
  • More American Heroes (Sprout Recordings, 2000)
  • American Heroes (Sprout Recordings, 1996)
  • American Heroes #3 (Sprout Recordings, 2009)
  • American Heroes #4 (Sprout Recordings, 2014)[22]
  • Passions (Sprout Recordings, 2020)
  • Innocence (Sprout Recordings, 2021)

Short films

The film Safe was showcased at the Beloit Film Festival.[23]

The film Hunger was featured by the Warminster, PA Food Bank.[24] Sprout is a volunteer at the food bank.

References

edit
  1. ↑ "Jonathan Sprout". GRAMMY.com. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  2. ↑ Lauer-Williams, Kathy (31 January 2010). "Bucks County, Pa., kids' singer Jonathan Sprout up for a Grammy". themorningcall.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  3. ↑ Bruno, Mike (January 31, 2010). "Grammy Awards 2010: The winners list". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Ollestead, Berit. "It’s all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T at Alfred Vail School in Morris Plains", Morristown Green, October 15, 2013. Accessed July 23, 2019. "Growing up in Hightstown, Sprout set out to sing for grown-ups."
  5. ↑ Cregan, Amanda. "Making a Living: Bucks musician combines history, music in children's 'edu-tainment'", Bucks County Courier Times, April 5, 2016. Accessed July 23, 2019. "After graduating with honors from the prestigious Peddie School in Mercer County, New Jersey, he earned a degree in psychology from Bucknell University."
  6. ↑ "Site Archived".
  7. ↑ "L'Agenda - Volume I - The Yearbook" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Olympics over but inspiring stories live on".
  9. ↑ NMA, Team (2021-01-17). "Review of Force For Good's New Album: Innocence". Retrieved 2026-05-07.
  10. ↑ "Jonathan Sprout". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
  11. ↑ "When They Flew: Song for Teaching about The Wright Brothers". Songsforteaching.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  12. ↑ "Come Back Home (John Muir) - by Jonathan Sprout & Dave Kinnoin - John Muir Exhibit". Vault.sierraclub.org. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  13. ↑ "Come Back Home - Song inspired by John Muir by Jonathan Sprout - John Muir Exhibit". Vault.sierraclub.org. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  14. ↑ Dick Metcalf (2019-12-18). "Sublimely sensitive sonic experiences Force For Good - Passions". Contemporaryfusionreviews.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  15. ↑ Hannaleck, Keith "MuzikMan". "New Age Music Reviews". Newagemusicreviews.net. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  16. ↑ "Passions by Force For Good - Album Review". mainlypiano.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  17. ↑ "Jonathan Sprout | Force for Good | Passions Album Review by Dyan Garris". Newagecd.com. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  18. ↑ Dick Metcalf (18 December 2019). "Sublimely sensitive sonic experiences Force For Good - Passions". Contemporaryfusionreviews.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  19. ↑ "New Age / Ambient / World Top 100 Radio Chart". Zonemusicreporter.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  20. ↑ "Finalists: May 2020". Independentshortsawards.com. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Interview with Jonathan Sprout and Force For Good, March 2021". mainlypiano.com.
  22. ↑ https://www.songsforteaching.com/store/jonathan-sprout-american-heroes-no.-4-cd-pr-58966.html
  23. ↑ "Welcome to Warminster Food Bank". Archived from the original on 2023-12-05.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jonathan_Sprout&oldid=1353065660"